Vance's beloved pet , Trapper

This is Trapper ... Vance's treasured pet. He went where Vance went except to work. He loved the water, as do all Labs, and he loved to ride in the back of the truck. Just a joy to have.

Vance once told me that when he first got the devasting news that he had a malignant melanoma that he was so upset. He was at home alone so he went outside and talked to his dog for about an hour then he was ok. Trapper was man's (Vance's) best friend.

Memorial by college friends

This brick is a memorial made in Vance's memory by a group of his college friends.
It is located in Harbor Way at Wrightsville Beach, NC. Thanks to you guys for your thoughtfulness.

Last Christmas with Vance Dec 2001

This is the last professional picture made of Vance and was part of my Christmas gift Dec 2001 .. the last Christmas we enjoyed with him. Truly a treasured possession.

Grave marker

It seemed like forever before we were able to get the maker in place but finally after about 6 weeks it was installed. Lisa did a beautiful job of this first arangement that was placed on his grave.

Memory Tree

This little Japanese Maple was given to us in Vance's memory by some special friends, Terry & Sammie Southerland. Terry came to our resuce in the last days and helped take care of Vance. He was truly a godsend. Thanks Terry for all you did. Be assured that your deeds will never be forgotten.

The 5 years mark is quickly approaching (Aug 2, 2002) since Vance departed this world at a young age of 31. It seems like an eternity. Sometimes I wonder just how long it will be before I get to the point that it isn't on my mind nearly all the time. I'm sure, as long as I have the presence of mind, that he will never be forgotten. To this day the memory of the last year of his life is still so vivid in my mind ... The trips back and forth to Chapel Hill, the surgeries, the hospital stays, the pain & suffering, the treatments and then the final month ... it's all so painful. Hopefully blogging some of my special memories or his life will be therapeutic for me. I've been told it will help .... so I thought I'd give it a try. Most of the time I feel like I am dealing with this well, then other times it is like I am re-living it all over again. I find comfort in the knowledge that he was a Christian and confirmed that to me while he still lived. He assured me that he was in good standing with God and that I need not worry about his eternal destination. I know for certain that it is my faith in God that gave me the strength to get through this time in my life. God provided me internal, spiritual strength but He also provided me with many, many family and friends that supported me along the way. So here goes..... soon I will begin posting posting periodically as time allows and I run across things that bring to mind special thoughts and occasions that we experinced during the 31 years that God allowed us to have Vance in our midst.