Who am I?

• Lost my husband way too early but he gave me two precious daughters, he is and will always be the love of my life.
• I love to make lists, I also put things I have just done on my list so I can cross them off.
• I am addicted to paper and ribbons, every paper mixed with another tells a story.
• I am not good at telling people how I feel.
• I am a purse and shoe addict, they always fit.
• I use to think more is better, now less is more.
• Simple is more my style, I appreciate the small things.
• I wish I could play the piano, took lessons when I was younger.
• I adore pomegranates
• Y'all is a proper noun where I live.
• I never regret something that has made me smile.
• I am redefining my life, God has a different plan for me than I expected.
• I must be willing to let go of the life I had planned, so as to have the life waiting for me.
• I love love love Jesus.
• Sometimes, I think I will never be the person that I am meant to be.
• I can't remember when I wasn't some ones wife or mother. I love being those things but need to figure out who I am.
• I love that I can walk out to the mailbox and come back inside and my two dogs run and jump around like they have not seen me in days.   That is love.
• To love is to be happy.
• Green is my new pink.  Pink is still a fav.
• I have books and books of quotes, I have a very loved journal that I write my favorite ones down.
• I worry what the world will be like for my girls when they grow up.
• I would love to live in an old farmhouse with big closets.
• I love to drink out of mason jars, reminds me of summers at my grandparents.
• I love to read cookbooks, cooking NOT so much.
• I know what it feels like to have a broken heart.
• Dream big.
• I love anything monogrammed.
• Spa days are important to my mind, body and sanity.
• I am impatient, ask my kids.  
• One of my biggest fears is waking up one day and wishing I had done things differently.
• I love mani/pedi's
• I think confidence is so comforting.
• I married an incredible man with an incredible family.  I am so lucky.
• I have a beautiful Grandma that shows me what Grace looks like.
• My favorite athlete is my daughter Sydney.
• My favorite artist is my daughter Taylor.
• Kindness goes a long way.
• Life throw you curves, it is how you play the game that counts.
• Tears help heal the heart.
• I love going to the movies, and can watch the same movie over and over.
• I just learned to crochet in the last few years.
• I adore my two dogs, they make me laugh and love endlessly.
• I have the best brother in the world.
• I did not realize how talented my mom was growing up.  There was nothing that she could not make or fix.  
• My dad could always make me feel better growing up.
• I would love to own a bookstore by the beach.
• My niece and nephews ROCK!!!!!!!
• I have two sets of parents, and I truly love them both.  Alan's and my own.
• Girly things make me happy.
• I love vintage.
• I change my mind a lot.

Sydney, My Wishes For You.

My dear daughter,
You are now half way through your first year of high school and I am so proud of you.
It is such a fun and exciting time and will only get better and better.  This is also a time that you
begin making more of your own choices and decisions.  Be wise and follow your heart and your head.

You are a beautiful and charming young lady inside and out.

Here are my Wishes for you!

• Do not grow up too fast.
• Come to me with your fears.
• Try new experiences just don’t get in over your head.
• Realize how capable you are
• Your possibilities are endless.
• Your dad is always with you.
•     He loved you more than you will ever know.
• You remind me so much of him, especially your heart and talent.
• Laugh as much as you can.
• I hope your boyfriend will hold your hand, but doesn’t hold on too tight.
• No texting and driving. 
• Be proud of who you are.
• That you never lose sight of your journey with Jesus.
• Dance and sing as often as you can.
• Do great things in your life, but do small things as well.
• Taking charge of your life takes time--and a lot of faith and courage
• BE BOLD.
• You are loved beyond all time.
• So many treasures await you!

Her Favorite Coach in Life.  HER DAD....

My Hero

The alarm clock goes off at 6:30 am.  My first two thoughts are same thing each morning.  Is it already morning and did I just have a bad dream?  The house is very quiet, you see my wonderful husband and father to our beautiful daughters would have already been up and half way ready for work. Lights would have been on and the dogs already eaten and running around in anticipation for the day to begin.  He loved to walk the girls out to the bus stop each morning. Now there is just silence, a huge silence in our house.  The head of our household that meant so very much to each of us left this world too soon.  Our faith tells us he is an a better place but our hearts do not want us to let him go.

We are trying everyday to find a new normal.  So I get up at 6:30 in order to wake my girls up for school.  At that time, my 6th grader comes walking in my room all dressed, she has spiral curled her hair (hair is very important to her) and ready to go to school.  She proceeds to tell me that she has a poem due today in Language Arts and she forgot to type it up.  Needless to say, it is now 6:40 and I am thinking, wow, either something is up and she did not write her poem or I am so proud that she has taken initiative to correct her mistake.  I go and wake up my high schooler and we proceed to tackle a new day.   After everything slows down a little I go in my office to check my emails and there on my desk lies a poem by my youngest daughter.  The poem is titled My Hero.  I read this poem and realize that both the author and the subject are very special people.  I sit there not knowing what to say with tears in my eyes.  She comes in and sees this and immediately asks me, “do you not like it?”  My girls help me heal more each day with their unknowing knowledge and kindness that comes from their love and grace.  I learn something wonderful every glorious day from my daughters.  I know that the Holy Spirit is inside of me and I do my best to listen.  I knew at that point our day was going to be blessed.  We are still trying to find our “new normal” but we are not doing it alone.

My Hero

by Taylor Patterson

My hero is in my heart,

Catching me when I fall,

Helping me choose the right direction.

My hero feeds me when I am famished,

My hero taught me kindness and forgiveness,

My hero let me feel what it was like to have a friend.

I will always miss and love my hero,

My dad is my hero and he will always be.