The Care Kit is an organizational tool that will provide your loved ones with everything they need to carry out your last wishes and personal details. The kit is comprised of an easy to use, short instruction booklet; and is organized in such a way that it is easy to keep everything in one place!

If you would like to receive a Care Kit, please contact the Sonny Smiles Foundation or click here to simply download the kit to your computer.

Upon request, Lorin will also be conducting 30-minute seminars for military personnel, organizations, and businesses to motivate individuals to complete Care Kits and assist with the process.

BUILDING A LEGACY OF LOVE!

In the middle of the night on June 15, 2007, the horrifying knock came to my door.  My husband, Kevin Sonnenberg was reported missing in action.  After six heart-wrenching hours, it was reported that the F-16 he was flying in a combat mission crashed shortly after takeoff near Balad, Iraq.

My life changed in an instant, and I was overcome by grief.  Kevin and I had never really talked about what I should do if the unthinkable happened.  The day before he left, he showed me a drawer and said, "If anything happens, this is what you need".

Many people are shocked to hear that we never talked about the possibilities of him dying.  After all, he had a dangerous job flying a single-seat, single-engine aircraft.   However, since talking to many people across the country, I have found that Kevin and I were not alone.

Several weeks after Kevin's funeral, I was walking home from the cemetery on our country road. I distinctly remember the day, as the corn was growing so high, and Kevin would have been so thrilled anticipating the fall harvest.  As I pondered my future, I thought about the immense pressure and stress I was under from his untimely death.  I couldn't imagine the pain he would be experiencing if he could see me in these circumstances.  At that point, I decided to do something significant to help other American's prepare for the loss of a loved one.

So much of what Kevin did to prepare me was a true gift of love.  He was organized, thoughtful, and generous.  However, if he had known then what I know now, he would have prepared me that much more.

As the saying goes, there are two things certain in life, death and taxes.  Why don't we spend as much time preparing for our death as we do our taxes?   The Sonny Smiles Foundation was started to encourage people across America to put down the remote, cancel a dinner with friends, or take a "sick day" and complete a legacy kit. It is a true gift of love and commitment to your family.

Once you complete a kit, please share your story with me.  We will be so touched to learn how you honored yourself, your family, and Sonny.

God bless,

Lorin Sonnenberg

CARE KITS

& SEMINARS

419-748-7459 • sonnysmiles@me.com