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!