Hello everyone. Cindi here.
It
is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow to let you all know that my dear friend
Vanessa Morrison passed away Wednesday, 10/11/17, after an 8-year battle with
cancer. Many of you followed her on her blog, Van’s Doll Treasures, where she
posted stories about her various doll families in Morristown. She also showed
us photos of things she made, treasures she found and doll bargains she
discovered in her travels. She also kept us updated on her health condition.
I
was first introduced to Vanessa’s blog in the Autumn 2012 issue of Fashion Doll
Quarterly magazine. There was a 4-page article in there that featured her and
her doll collection. I started following her blog shortly thereafter.
Later
on, I started thinking about doing my own blog. Since I didn’t know anything
about how to do that, I sought Vanessa’s advice. She was very kind, patient and
helpful with my myriad of questions. After that, Moreville Life and Times was
born, and she became one of my first followers. Without Vanessa’s encouragement
and support, this blog wouldn’t exist.
When her dog
Buttercup had puppies, she posted pictures on her blog. She was looking for
homes for the puppies at the time. We immediately fell in love with the one she
called “Blackie” since she didn’t have a name for him. We named him Bruiser.
Here's a photo of the little guy.
After
several emails, we agreed to meet Vanessa in Buford, Georgia on a cold January
day to bring Bruiser home with us. I immediately recognized her by her big,
beautiful smile – truly a smile that could light up a room. We had a nice visit
that day. We were hoping to get together again sometime in the future. Sadly,
that never happened.
The
last time I spoke to Vanessa on the phone was this past August. She sounded happy
but tired, so we didn’t talk long. It was so good to hear her voice. In her
last email to me, she was excited about starting physical therapy so that she
could walk again. She was determined not to let her illness bring her down. She
stayed strong for as long as she could.
They
say that people come into your life for a reason. I know why Vanessa came into
mine. She taught me the power of a positive attitude, no matter what challenges
life throws at you. She taught me to enjoy life each and every day. I told her
this last Christmas. She cried. Now she’s an angel, lighting up God’s Heaven
with her bright, beautiful smile. Her light shines through the darkness.
Rest now my friend. The
battle is over. I love you and will miss you always…