Vote

I know you may think a post about the election doesn't fit here, but that's not necessarily true. This blog is all about Patti and remembering her. One of my earliest memories from my friendship with Patti is of her getting on and staying on me about my voter registration status.

Patti valued the right we have to vote in this country. She was very patriotic too. Every single election, national or local, she would always "remind" me to get out and vote.

I admit, up until about 10 years ago I did not exercise that right very often. But when I became friends with Patti... well, I don't think I've missed a voting opportunity since.

It is one of the most valuable rights we have as American citizens and we should all register and get out on election day and cast our ballot. Especially in these uncertain times. I feel this election is the single most important of my lifetime so far and very well could be the most critical the nation will have as a whole. America as we know it could be changed forever... for the good or bad.

Do not take anything for granted and don't let anyone in the media or your daily life discourage you or make you think for ANY reason your vote does not count. Get out and cast your vote Nov. 4th. It's your opportunity to influence the well being and future of our country.

Let's all go make Patti proud! :)

In Loving Memory

This post is in loving memory of Patti, who we lost one year ago today, from her every day family.

Patti, we miss your amazing spirit, your compassion, your smile, your laughter, your caring nature, your strength, your support, your hugs, our long talks... we miss all the ways you shared yourself with us every day. We laughed together in the good times and shared burdens in the bad times. You chose us and brought us into your heart as family and for that blessing we are forever grateful to God.

Though we may not be able to hear your laughter, see your smile, see those big eyes looking into us, wrap our arms around you or feel your arms around us, you are still here with us in so many ways. On a deeper level, we do see, hear and feel you.

You live on deep in our hearts. You have always had and will always have a very special place in our hearts. Our lives are better having had you in them. We are better people for having had the blessing of your strong presence in our lives.

The legacy you have left within this small, every day family is beautiful and lasting and has a far reaching ripple effect.

We love you more and more every day, even in your absence. We miss you more than you could have ever possibly imagined.

Always,

Janet, Vi, Prim and Allison

Stand Up 2 Cancer

Please check this site out and get involved if you can...

Stand Up 2 Cancer

Get One for Yourself!

Hey everybody. If you like blogs... and there are some really interesting ones to follow... then get out here and get your own going! It's a great way to journal, keep family and friend up to date on your corner of the world, share a hobby or interest, speak your mind, connect with good people, etc.

My sister Judi develops blog pages and is very creative and great at design! She also developed this site for me in memory of Patti. Patti loved her as she did the rest of my family and they all love Patti just as family too.

Check her out by pressing the button below and consider getting one for yourself! It's fun!

Be sure to let me know if you do so I can visit!

Stand Back Up

I was listening to some of my old music today and heard a song that described Patti so well. I couldn't get it for the playlist so I wanted to share the lyrics with you. I think those of us who knew Patti well will agree this song is just... her.

Stand Back Up by SugarLand

Go ahead and take your best shot
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got
I'm laid out on the floor, but I've been here before
I may stumble, yeah I might fall
Only human but aren't we all?
I might lose my way, but hear me say

I will stand back up
You'll know just the moment when I've had enough
Sometimes I'm afraid, and I don't feel that tough
But I'll stand back up

I've been beaten up and bruised
I've been kicked right off my shoes
Been down on my knees more times than you'd believe
When the darkness tries to get me
There's a light that just won't let me
It might take my pride, and tears may fill my eyes
But I'll stand back up

I've weathered all these storms
But I just turn them into wind, so I can fly
What don't kill you makes you stronger
When I take my last breath
That's when I'll just give up

So go ahead, take your best shot
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got
You might win this round, but you can't keep me down

'Cause I'll stand back up
And you'll know just the moment when I've had enough
Sometimes I'm afraid, and I don't feel that tough
But I'll stand back up

Patti went through some hard times in her life but I think we all can say she always turned the storms into wind so she could fly. She's flyin' now... standing up, looking into the loving face of her Jesus and smiling that beautiful smile I'm sure.

ASPCA... Please help

I wanted everyone to take a moment to visit the ASPCA website and consider helping. I know Patti really believed in this organization and would love it if we all considered helping in some way.

Please visit http://www.helpaspca.org/ for more information.

Patti loved animals more than anyone I have ever known. Please take a look and help if you can. You can donate in memory of Patti. Or if not, we can all say a little prayer that Patti said every time she saw these unfortunate innocent victims... "Lord, please surround them with your angels and protect them."

Be well and hope to hear from you soon.

Be Young...

Hi, everyone. Hope your new year is off to a good start!

You may be wondering why "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" is playing now as the first song. Well, two reasons.

1) This was Patti's favorite song of all time. It's one of the first things I learned about her many years ago. She loved it.

2) While "I Can Only Imagine" was one of her favorite Christian songs, it was played at her service and was pretty sad to hear over and over right now. "Bring the Rain" I thought did a good job of describing Patti's attitude throughout her sickness... she never complained and said many times if her suffering had to take place for God to be shown to someone then it was worth it. However, I was afraid this might make some sad too.

So, I went and got some of her favorite pop songs from the past and put them up to play. You can still hear the others while visiting here if you want too. I can see Patti now, bobbing her head and smiling while she sang along... "Be young, be foolish, but be happy..."

Thanks for visiting.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

One of my most favorite memories of Patti is from New Years 1999. Anyone close to her who knows the Oasis restaurant can probably figure out why. It was bitterly cold and we went for a burger. Fast forward to 2am and we were leaving! It was great fun. We laughed and laughed and talked. It is a great, great memory.

The only thing Patti didn't like about this holiday was the fireworks (scared all her babies!) and having to take the Christmas tree down. She absolutely loved the Christmas tree every year.

I know 2007 was a very difficult year to say the least. But I wish for all of you a much better 2008. It's hard to think about sometimes, but Patti would want us all to be happy and get the most possible out of life every day just like she always did.

So Happy New Year! Please drop in and share your stories by emailing me. I will be glad to post your memories, songs, pictures, anything.

Take care.

P.S. If you haven't already, don't forget to pick up your 2008 calendar from T-Town Paws. The money goes to support their work saving homeless animals. Also, there is information within the calendar about donating money as well as things they need to support day to day operations. Plus, it has some adorable pictures from their pet photo contest!

Shoe Box

One of Patti's favorite things to do at Christmas was to give to Operation Christmas Child. This is a project of Samaritan's Purse. You get a shoe box and fill it with items for a boy or girl, wrap it and label it and send it in. The gifts are delivered to children in other countries who will not have Christmas gifts any other way. Patti was so excited buying little things for these children. She got so much joy from it. She giggled and smiled and spoke about how much it meant the whole time we shopped and wrapped.

Patti organized this drive at our church one Christmas season and they still do it today. It is a wonderful organization. These children delight in not only toys but pencils, toothpaste, soap... all the things we take for granted are treasures to them.

There is still time if you want to give. Please go here to read more about it and get instructions for donating. Or email me and I will give you more information.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Christmas was one of Patti's most favorite things! Every year the first or second week of December she would go out and buy a real tree, bring it home and spend hours decorating it and everything in the house. She would play her Christmas music, make hot chocolate and build a fire. She absolutely loved it. She had a stocking for every single pet she had! She loved a fire going in the fireplace and the smell of the tree. Every year I lived with her Christmas was always filled with such joy and warmth. But that's how being with Patti was all the time.

Patti had a joy in her heart unlike anyone else I've ever known. Part of the reason why is the same reason why Christmas was so wonderful to her... Jesus. She never forgot the reason for the season.

I am guilty of getting a case of Scrooge at Christmas. I'm sure lots of folks do. But this year I'm trying to remember the reason. That's what Patti would want. It's difficult but doable.

That's my challenge to all of us... remember the reason and celebrate it. That's what Patti is doing for sure!

Now go make a mug of hot chocolate and turn on It's A Wonderful Life!

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Blue Star

The blue star you see to the right is the symbol of support for Colorectal Cancer research and advocacy as well as for recognition of its victims and survivors. It is like the pink ribbons you see for breast cancer.

The star is to be worn or displayed to represent your support. It is also to be worn or displayed to honor, or as a memorial to, those you know living with or taken by the disease. I have many blue stars and "preventable, treatable, beatable" items I wear, use or show in memory of Patti. When someone asks me about the star or slogan, it gives me the opportunity to share Patti's story, tell them about signs and symptoms, etc. I know Patti would do the same. Isn't it neat the symbol is blue... her favorite color?!

If you would like to purchase blue star items, click on the Get Your Blue Star link in the Important Links section. A portion of the proceeds goes to help the Colon Cancer Alliance and their work.

Also, if you are a close friend or loved one reading this, I have a personalized bracelet I would be happy to send you to wear in memory of Patti. To me it is a way to always show her, along with others, what she meant to me and how much I love her while supporting cancer awareness.

I hope to hear from you soon with stories, songs, pictures, etc.! Thank you for stopping by.

Share...

Hello everyone. Since losing Patti 9/4/07 to Colorectal Cancer, I have been struggling to find a way to make sense of this loss. Making sense of such suffering cannot be done. So I wanted to start remembering the goodness and joy Patti brought to all of us... let the positive root out the negative or at least have the upper hand!

This is a place to come to remember Patti. I know her absence leaves a big void in all our lives. Patti was truly one of a kind and a blessing beyond measure.

Please send me your stories, thoughts, memories, photos and songs to jm971@bellsouth.net and I will post them to the page for sharing. This is your space to share and remember the wonderful things Patti brought to your lives and read about what she brought to others lives. And please visit often to view new photos, read new posts, listen to new songs or just say hi.

Also, please check out the Important Links section. In this section you can link to cancer related organizations and learn more about Colorectal Cancer. You will also find links to some of Patti's favorite organizations she wanted donations to go to in her memory so that you can get the information you need if you are interested in donating time or money to these wonderful organizations.

Thanks for spending time here. I hope you share your memories.

In Loving Memory

In Memory of Patti Traywick.

I can only imagine, what it will be like, when I walk, by your side...