Vanessa M Thomas

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. This was one of Vanessa's favorite quotes by Marilyn Monroe and I believe she truly believed she was still trying to become that beautiful butterfly but as we all know she was that and so much more.

Vanessa was always seeking out the underdogs to take care of. She was such a loving child with a very big heart and was always happy. She never needed anyone to entertain her. She could play by herself for hours because she had such a vivid imagination. I remember she would sit for hours and watch the Wizard of Oz.

Vanessa loved her pets. She had hamsters, gerbils, rats, a rabbit, dogs, cats, and fish. Now we didn't always have the best of luck with these little critters but we tried as best we could. She has left behind Bella a boxer and Trig a rescue dog part pit bull and boxer

whom I'm sure are missing her dearly.

Vanessa loved being out doors and was quite the little fisher woman with her Dad. She loved helping him with his bait like throwing it overboard. I have so many great memories of our days out on the rivers and camping.

Sports became Vanessa's life and ours. She started with fastpitch at Little Rock which became her passion. Such a good little pitcher and short stop and second baseman. She was so fast people were always coming up and timing her running. From Little Rock she moved on to the Mighty Road Warriors and history was made.Memories and friendships that have lasted a lifetime that I will cherish forever. We all became family and shared many tears and much laughter. I will never forget our tournament in Idaho and the fun the girls had at Silverwood on the way. Learning line dancing in Oklahoma and who could forget Colorado and the bull rider I talked into coming up and meeting the girls. They were so excited!!!! Yes we were family.Diane Stephanie Lucy Kasey Sharon everyone of us moms we had a bond as strong as the girls did. Although Fastpitch was her passion she also played volleyball basketball and soccer.

Vanessa was a strong little athlete. I remember when she was playing fastpitch with Saint Martins in Canada and her finger was dislocated and needed suturing and she sat there through that whole game not complaining once and made the bus ride back home before I could take her to the hospital . Or the time her finger was dislocated and TIm Norris called me out of the stands to put it back in place which I could not do because it was my baby so he had to do it. Then of course there was the soccer game against my old alma mater Elma where they bloodied up Vanessa's face and Momma Bear was ready to charge the field.

I remember all the school dances at Tumwater and how much fun we all had picking the themes decorating and the dresses oh the dresses. I will never forget Vanessa's black and white ruffled dress :) And with every dance and every get together at our house Vanessa always included her little sister Meagan who was 7 years younger. It took a really good big sister to at that age tolerate a little tag along but Meagan adored her big sister and Vanessa adored her. They as they called each other were SISWAS

Vanessa had grown into a very beautiful kind woman who always had a smile for everyone. She was very loved by all her coworkers wherever she went but Skanska became her family until recently. She always helped with charity events and always gave to the underpriviledged. Just this September she was out buying backpacks and school supplies for the kids in Welches.

Cooking was one of her passions but I will never forget two years ago our last Thanksgiving together she came in the door so proud of her double crusted pumpkin pies. We laughed so hard we cried over those. In fact we just laughed about them again when she sent me pictures of her pumpkins she had gotten for Halloween this year Vanessa started out in a back pack on my back as an infant rototilling my garden in McCleary and took over my green thumb with all her gardening and flowers She loved her flowers. She truly had a gift for creativity and also designed her own jelwelery.

Vanessa met Greg and life was good. They shared their love of nature and were always out camping and four wheeling and traveling to Central Oregon and Netart Bay to see his family. Greg's family loved Vanessa and she loved them.

My friend Donna Kuhn sent me this quote from Patrick Swayze and it's one I am promising Vanessa to apply to my life because I know that's what she want's from me and has for a very long time.

When those you love die the best you can do is honor their spirit for as long as you live. You make a commitment that youre going to take whatever lesson that person or animal was trying to teach you and you make it true in your own life. It's a positive way to keep their spirit alive in the world by keeping it alive in yourself. I promise you Vanessa to make my changes just promise me you will come and visit me from time to time. I miss you so much and I was not prepared for this I love you my sweet Vanessa today tomorrow and always.

A million times I've needed you a million times I've cried. If love alone could have saved you you never would have died. In life I loved you dearly. In death I love you still. In my heart you hold a place no one else can ever fill. It broke my heart to lose you but you didn't go alone. Part of me went with you the day God took you home. I love you.

Momma