Embracing the goodness

I always do my best to savor every moment of summer. From catching fire flies, riding bikes to the lake for an evening swim to riding the ferris wheel with snow cone in hand at the local carnival. There's just something awesome about summer. I think if the weather was like this all year long there would be less to appreciate. For these few months there's a comforting feeling in sandy toes, salty lips and sunkissed skin. I love summer with all my heart: )

Jordan and Taylor spent the week volunteering at the Creation Festival. They had a blast hanging with friends, being in the thick of all the action (music & speakers) along with camping out under the stars. So much fun!

Jess and the boys rolled in a  few days ago and it seems like we have been non-stop with swimming, hanging with friends and enjoying our time together.

There was not a whole lot of structure to the week, but that made it more of an adventure. It was great getting the kids comfortable on the paddle board, building sandcastles on the beach and watching Tristan and Gabe have a blast. We spent two days with Carrie, Joe and the girls. Carrie has been part of my life for a long time and now extending the circle to her kids and Jess's boys is pretty special. I love watching them laugh and giggle in ways only little ones do.

As a new week begins there is every intention of being productive and getting a number of things on the 'to do list' accomplished, but I will be sure to keep the balance of summer goodness in that list as well. Bring on the goodness!

Not just roll butter

I think it is easy to make assumptions or place labels on different races, religious groups, etc. Whether we admit it or not each of us have our own form of prejudice. I've been guilty of it. In past, my only interaction with the Amish has been with the pretzel guy at Dutch Wagon Market or the little boy riding  in a buggy with his family in Lancaster. So we'll just say there were no deep relationships being built.
The Amish have their own culture, veer clear (some more so than others) of the material things of society and have always intrigued me.For a little over two years my parents have maintained a business relationship with a few Amish families that live within an hour of their farm. In that relatively short amount of time they have taken quite a liking to my parents and I feel quite privileged to accompany them for drop offs and pick ups of jellies and pastas.
Yesterday we stopped by the Yoder's Farm and one of the young women brought me to their local hub for vitamins, spices, bread and toiletries. It was at some point someone's home that was now a little make shift Wawa for all things Amish. I was stoked and I think the lady thought I was a bit off with how I was so into the vitamin/herbal section. Only a few pictures were snapped out of respect to the family and without having my parents black listed from their new business partners.
I'm hoping to have one or two more visits before the summer's end continuing to learn a little more each time we meet, even if there are no words exchanged. It's all about dismantling misperceptions and reshaping what people are really about through our own personal experiences.

Father's Day Madness...or just colored goodness

Sunday started a little earlier than everyone in the Patterson clan would have
liked it too, but being the committed athletes that we are the crew was up and
Philly bound at 5:15 am. Ouch. We were bound for the Color Me Rad 5k that
was to be held in Fairmont Park. The sun wasn't even making its debut until
after we arrived in Philly and even though our surroundings may have been a
tad on the sketchy side, we were ready to have our attire to from all white to all
the colors of the rainbow.

There were thousands of people, young and old, lined up all in the name of goodness.
All of the proceeds raised went directly towards the Special Olympics.
Fun+Goodness= a total win for all. Yay!
As everyone either ran their hardest, did a little power walking or skipped their way
along the course it was a whole heap of fun. What other occassion can you run through
the streets of Philly with people pelting you with colored corn starch and not have the
inclination of getting mugged or asked for money that has the strong possibility of funding
someone's addiction? Never! We ran through clouds of pink, green, purple and blue with
smiles on our faces. Woop!

It was the perfect way to spend a day loving Keith, having us all achieve target heart rate
as a family along with being immersed in super goodness with thousands of other crazy
train peeps. Bring on the goodness!!! 

Dual Diploma Goodness

 The end of the school year is always the traditional whirl wind of attempting to tie up loose ends, saying last goodbyes to graduates and the attempt to maintain composure at the elation of summer's arrival. This year was a whole new experience as Jordan not only graduated from Shawnee, but managed to receive her Associate's Degree from BCC before even receiving her high school diploma. I would say that that's a pretty impressive accomplishment.

As a new chapter awaits I know she is excited to begin her studies at the University of Rhode Island to begin their six year pharmacy program. It's amazing to think how much life lies ahead of you when your eighteen. A whole canvas waiting for the color and new experiences to be added. I am excited for her and the future that lies before her. 

My prayer is that as each of us enters each new stage in life that we will be receptive to God's direction and open to His plan's. If you were to have told me at eighteen that I would be living 3 miles away from where I grew up, working in the same district that I attended high school and married with two teenagers I more than likely would have put the label of 'crazy train' on that statement. But God is in control and the path that I had for myself at eighteen and even twenty- five was so very different than the one God intended. 

But that's the cool thing about life, it isn't meant to be predictable. As Seneca and Shawnee's Class of 2012 forge their own paths it will be interesting to see where life leads these young people. Quite often the unknown can be daunting, but my belief is that if you are open to God's leading and maintain receptive ears, a willing heart and open arms the path will bring you to your intended destination. Live, love & laugh on this beautiful day! 

It's school, not work...

It has been awhile since I've taken the opportunity to sit and pen my thoughts. I guess I've been distracted and my mindset has been a bit clouded. Funny thing is, sitting in my office on the second to last day of school I'm flooded with thoughts and emotions that have quite rapidly tweaked what was briefly misaligned.

Working with teenagers is rarely easy, but I have come the realization that it is one of the most rewarding and beautiful experiences that have enhanced my life in a million ways. At the end of the day I chatted with two of my seniors who will be graduating tomorrow who I have watched blossom into amazing young adults. They have become two exceptionally outstanding human beings that I am confident will leave imprints upon the hearts of many on their journey of life. I am in awe having been blessed to be a part and a witness to their growth, their moments of enlightenment and transition for teenager to young adult.

Life is fleeting and having opportunities to shake things up, challenge and encourage the kids I work with continually inspires me to become a better person. In my past eight years 'attending' Seneca High School I have learned some of the greatest life lessons through the words and actions of teenagers. Never underestimate someone due to their age, because that goes both ways ....life's a journey and when we close our ears and cover our eyes we do a disservice to ourselves and those around us. Live, love and press onward...because getting  caught focusing on what's behind you keeps you from reaching your destination.

Congratulations Class of 2012!!!

Free Counter

I've been on the road since three this morning bound for Faith Farm and a weekend with the family. It's funny how much one can think in silence with a few cups of coffee pumping through the body and a pretty breathtaking full moon looming in the distance. I have come to enjoy my road trips that allow my head and heart to realign.

Within a half hour of my trip a song came on and I found myself in tears. I try not too think too much, but sometimes that's easier said than done. There's the reality that it has been thirteen years since I've seen my little sister. In all senses, that's a really long time. I think of Shana all the time. I don't ever see that changing. I miss my sister very much. There have been so many chapters that have been added to my life since her absence. It's hard to wrap my mind around.

The past two weeks we have been gearing up for another fun run and I found myself in awe of how many of my kids and staff members at Seneca have embraced a cause that started so long ago. Only a handful even knew any of the girls. There have been many moments where I've wrestled with the idea of just letting it sort of fade as things do. But what I have come to realize is that the kids memories live on and there are countless lives that have been changed by what occurred thirteen years ago. I'm not sure there are too many of us out there that can say that they have impacted hearts and minds in a way that the four girls have. But it is still tough.

As I drove along 95 with a moon that seemed to nearly fill the jet black sky I took a little time to think of where the kids and all of us might have been had fate been different. It's hard to imagine and maybe it's better the mind doesn't take that route. What I am confident of is how blessed I was to have Shana for seventeen years. There are days that I still struggle and wish that my husband, kids and nephews had the opportunity to know such a dynamic person. It's near impossible to paint a person so full of color, life and uniqueness with the sole use of words. Words and stories fall short, but I can simply close my eyes and a smile comes to my face. I am thankful for the memories and laughter that still cause my heart to pump with a joy that is precious.

I am thankful for the beauty of this day. I am grateful for the many loved ones in my life. I am blessed to have the confidence that I will one day see my sister again.

Free Counter

A bushel, a peck and a dodge ball game

Following many after school sessions and practices Shawnee's play, Guys and Dolls, was in high gear this weekend. Taylor was in a number of dancing scenes showing her skills along with a great big smile. I am always fully impressed watching Tay on stage and how talented she is. Golf clap times two : ) The kids did an awesome job and I give them absolute props for the amount of time and commitment required for such a big production. Taylor is already stoked for next year's production of Foot Loose. It's the six degrees of Kevin Bacon!


A short time after the 'Bushel and a Peck' scene I headed up to visit Carrie. It had been nearly five months since seeing my favorite asian in THE WORLD:) Way too long!!! No matter how much time passes nothing changes and it's old times in about 3.2 seconds. We're loud, but we have big hearts so I think maybe that compensates for the fact that we bring attention to ourselves whenever we're anywhere. Being able to laugh until your stomach hurts and that your on the verge of tears is one of the greatest gifts in life. I am thankful for her friendship.

On a totally different note, last week we held our 2nd annual Dodge Ball Tournament at Seneca. The Dodge Squad was pummeled, but we gave it all we had. The bottom line was that a whole bunch of kids and staff raised over $4,000 to make a local family's life a little bit easier. Talk about goodness. I had a slice of humble pie attempting to dodge balls being pelted at me in every which way direction. I am not sixteen, was indeed winded after each game, but it was amazing to be a part of something so absolutely awesome.
There are always opportunities to make a difference, leave an imprint and splatter a little goodness. Sometimes we just have to take the incentive to make it happen.