2020 has been a strange year.  I can’t think of any other way to describe it.  God has humbled me and changed me in ways that I could not have predicted.  Change has been all around me.  Sometimes, it’s hard to catch my breath. While sitting at home during my job’s shutdown, I was feverishly looking for a job.  I perused employment websites looking for a position.  Any position.  Through that time, the good Lord kept me.  He sent the right people to me.  He used them to bless me financially to keep me afloat.  I never went hungry or had utilities turned off.  Although I love to float in…

Although I haven’t mentioned Fitz, my cat, in a while, don’t worry.  He’s still here.  Not only is he now an official adult at one year old, but we have also officially been roommates for a year.  He has matured from a teeny, tiny little kitten into a hefty, plump, and rotund cat.  With all the changes going on in the world and with me personally, I forgot that it was time for his annual shots.  The vet sent a friendly e-mail reminder and a postcard.  I called and scheduled his appointment.  Then my prep work had to begin. I heard horror stories from other cat owners about vet time…

What they say is true.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  Maybe even a million words.  When I left work, I felt pulled to look at old pictures.  Google Photos is my friend.  It allowed me to peruse my life and recall different moments in time.  An added bonus to my trip down memory lane is that my cousin found an old jump drive.  She started sending pictures from ten years ago.  Back to the time that I cut off all my relaxed hair and embraced my natural hair. Baby, let me tell you.  I thank God for growth.  Super short hair was not my friend, but I was…

Happy Father’s Day!  Let me make a confession.  I spend lots of time thinking about a Mother’s Day gift.  I poke and prod to see what my mom wants way ahead of time.  But Father’s Day…well, that’s a different story. It is no secret that I don’t have a close relationship with my biological father or stepfather (is ex-stepfather a term)?  And while I have many men in my life that have stepped in to fill in the gap, I’m not as intentional about giving them the honor that they deserve.  Clearly, that’s a character flaw of mine.  I need to do better.  I need to be better. My biological…

Competition brings out the beast in me.  I’m a winner.  I like to win.  I want to win.  So, it should come as no surprise to you that I can turn any simple thing into a competition.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I don’t walk around like a big bully challenging people to duels.  I have a healthy appreciation for games and fun.  Being the big sister to Bible Study Brother helped shape his fiercely competitive nature.  I keep him on his toes. We were in a store one day getting groceries.  Occasionally, we like to have fat kid collaboration meals.  We decide on a meal that we want to…

Just last week, I was asked what I thought were my strong traits.  Patience is the first thing that popped into my head.  I expounded on my ability to wait out situations.  I really hyped myself up the more that I discussed it.  Yup…that’s me…patient Patty.  And then……life happened.  I had to confront some uncomfortable truths. Not too long ago, there was a viral video challenge going around.  Parents would secretly record their children.  They would place a bowl of candy or treats in front of them.  The parent would promise the child that they could have the candy, but they just had to wait for a moment.  The parent…

Navigating family dynamics has been a struggle at various times in my life.  The older I get, the more life that I live, the more I realize that everybody’s family has issues and struggles.  When I was younger, I would get so frustrated.  Why couldn’t my family just act right?  Why couldn’t we get it together and be “normal” like everyone else’s family?  I had a fairytale idea of normal.  I guess I was seeking perfection out of others.  Even though I knew that I could not live up to the idea of a perfect daughter. I was so fed up with my family when I was younger that I…

Once upon a time, people would go on vacation.  They would get on planes.  They would pile in their cars and go on road trips.  They would take cruises.  With the state of affairs in the world now, many people have decided to hold off on vacations.  I was sitting and thinking about some of the many trips that I’ve taken, and one vacation floated to the top of the list.  Initially, it made me laugh.  As I thought of it more, I realized that a great lesson emerged from the experience.  Ya’ll ready for our trip?  Let’s go to Jamaica! When Bible Study Mama turned fifty, we turned her…

I haven’t arrived at the place in my life where I make all the right decisions.  As a matter of fact, I spend a lot of time questioning my choices.  “Was that the right move?”  “Maybe I should have ______.”  “How did I end up here?” You would think that with all of my second-guessing that it would take me a long time to make up my mind about anything.  And your thinking would be wrong. Although I weigh my options when a decision has to be made, I don’t tarry long.  I do the thing that feels good to me.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I will pray and…

The past two weeks have been hectic.  The nation has had a lot to process.  In all my emotional ups and downs, I forgot to keep you guys up to date.  After weeks of wondering “how long Lord?”, I finally got a reprieve.  My job opened back up last week, and I dove back into the swing of things. Of course, I have had to adjust to the new normal.  Face shields and masks have been added to my daily attire.  They are my new accessories.  And let me tell you about my new accessories.  THEY ARE HOT!  Like, not as in stylish “hot” but temperature hot.  Put a big…