Monday, July 18, 2011

aunt vicki

i haven't posted about this yet and to be honest i didn't know that i would.  but i was looking through some pictures this weekend and i thought if there was a person everyone should know it was my aunt vicki.  vicki really was the most caring, loving, kind, and funny person that i knew.  she always put others before herself... always.  she could make you laugh until you cried for hours.  and i can't forget her cooking... oh it was the best!  vicki loved people so well through her cooking and it was delicious! she was the best mother, wife, sister, gigi, aunt, friend, and teacher.  
vicki passed away in january after a short but well fought battle with cancer.  she truly was such an amazing woman.  she was loved by everyone she met.  and i'm so serious when i say that there was never a person that didn't love vicki the second they met her.  she just had that special way with people that made them feel comfortable and loved.  her family misses her so much everyday but we are comforted in knowing that she is with Him and no longer suffering.  
here is her sweet family.  her son, matthew with his wife hiliary and their precious son william, then my beautiful aunt vicki and uncle jerry, and her daughter dayna.  
Screen shot 2011-07-15 at 10.36.54 AM
here is another shot with gretchen (their dog).  gretchen passed away just 2 days before my aunt vicki.  (they are loving on each other in heaven)
Screen shot 2011-07-15 at 11.20.57 AM
vicki was a great wife.  she loved my uncle jerry so much and would do anything for him.  her family meant the world to her.
vicki
vicki was the best mom and i know that my cousins miss her more than anything.  matthew is such an amazing artist and vicki was always so proud of everything he created.  and matthew and hiliary are so precious and the best parents to sweet william.  i'm so glad that vicki got to spend last year keeping william.  he brought so much happiness to her world and i know she treasured those moments.  dayna is like the most awesome softball player every!  she played for the arkansas razorbacks and vicki was her biggest fan!  dayna and matthew have grown into such amazing people and i know their mom was so proud of them.
william
dayna
vicki was not only my mom's sister but her best friend too.  everyday my heart breaks for my mom and the friendship that she lost.  i know not a day goes by that she doesn't think about and cry for vicki.  i'm so thankful that the two of them got to take a couple of trips together in the last couple of years... they definitely came back with some fun memories and hilarious stories.  when you got mom and vicki together there was always tons of laughter!  they are like 2 teenagers... i mean seriously who stands out in a blizzard to take a picture with a huge wooden bear!!!
vicki
this is one of my favorite pics, aren't they beautiful!
Screen shot 2011-07-15 at 10.33.27 AM
a funny story about vicki.  my husband's name is joe don baker.  he was named after an old actor that played in the movie 'walking tall'.  and if you know anything about that movie the sherriff's name (played by joe don baker) was buford, and he carried a big stick.  (there was a recent remake of the movie starring the rock).  anyway, my aunt vicki thought it was the greatest thing that joe was named after him.  needless to say joe was called buford on many occasions and received a big stick for more than one christmas and birthday... she was such a funny lady!  joe and walk past this picture from our wedding everyday and think about vicki (notice how she signed it).
Picnik collage
i wish that isla would know her aunt vicki.  just because she isn't here doesn't mean we don't tell her about vicki.  vicki gave isla this seahorse (named gretchen after aunt vicki's dog) that plays music.  it stays on her changing table so every time we change her diaper we talk about vicki and tell isla how much she would have loved her.  maybe that's why isles loves her changing table so much.
horse
we love and miss vicki and will cherish the many great memories we have of her.

2 comments:

drjbbgrace said...

I love you Vicki, and miss you everyday. I know you enjoy the stories I tell isla every time I change her about our adventures. Thank you for being the sister you were. Thank you Jennifer for such a wonderful tribute to Vicki.

kristen said...

that just made me cry. that was such a beautiful tribute to her. I think about her and your mom a lot. I cant imagine the hole that she feels now. I pray for her family and for your mom and everyone that knew her. i am just so sorry for the loss of such an amazing woman.