A Remembrance Video of Mattie

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to me that you take the time to write and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful and help support me through very challenging times. I am forever grateful. As my readers know, I promised to write the blog for a year after Mattie's death, which would mean that I could technically have stopped writing on September 9, 2010. However, like my journey with grief there is so much that still needs to be processed and fortunately I have a willing support network still committed to reading. Therefore, the blog continues on. If I should find the need to stop writing, I assure you I will give you advanced notice. In the mean time, thank you for reading, thank you for having the courage to share this journey with me, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.


As Mattie would say, Ooga Booga (meaning, I LOVE YOU)! Vicki



November 20, 2016

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Sunday, November 20, 2016


Tonight's photo was taken in July of 2008, right before Mattie was diagnosed with cancer. Mattie loved taking baths and when he collected all the soap bubbles and placed them on his chin, I called him.... Santa Mattie. Mattie got a huge kick out of that name!!!











Quote of the day: Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished. Dean Koontz 



We took Sunny for his third training session today. His final class is next week and then on December 4th he and I get evaluated/tested. If Sunny passes his test, he will get a Canine Good Citizen certification. A certification which is needed in order for him to apply to a pet therapy program. If accepted into the pet therapy program, then we will take a six week training class plus undergo an internship within a hospital setting. 

Some organizations make qualifying for pet therapy training easier than others. I am going with the most rigorous program, so Sunny will qualify to work in hospitals with children who have cancer. 

It was frigid today and windy. Winds like I have never seen before. You felt like you were going to become airborne. Which made walking Sunny challenging. Later in the afternoon, Peter was on the couch watching a game and he was joined by our two furry family members! Seemed like the perfect place to be on such a cold day. 

1 comment:

Margy Jost said...

A beautiful blog, that started with the wonderful picture of Mattie!!!! I don't have a dog but I feel if I did this quote would absolutely apply to me!!! The wind was horrible. I bet SUNNY was like an anchor for you!!! How wonderful that you aim to have him eventually be a part of Pet therapy with kids who have Cancer. Makes me smile already realizing the happiness SUNNY will bring!!!!