A little about me... Michael's mom

Born July '60 and grew up in Kansas and Missouri. My father, being a college professor, brought me up with a love for the classics. Because of the availability of wonderful art books in my home I grew up drawing after the masters as a child. Drawing and painting were my loves. I became a popular teenager due to my artistic ability, being on TV and News for illustrating a kids book for the Kansas Highway Patrol and for winning the "Outstanding Youth of the Year Award" for Topeka's Optimist club in '77 along with other awards. The High school art teachers said I had the most talent of anyone in school. I had great plans....

The best-laid plans of mice and men...We moved....
I had such wonderful dreams of being a world famous artist. The talent was there! I was headed to college. My dad took me up to see colleges but when it came time to go to one... my money 'strangely' disappeared.
Then this guy came along who wouldn't stop asking me out. He was the least handsome guy I had ever gone out with and not my type. But after weeks of his asking me out...this stupid young lady said okay. My dad jumped in about that time with his persistent "encouraging" (now my dad didn't care for this kid he just wanted me out of the house... my oldest brother was getting married, so if I was gone it meant only one mouth to feed. Being an obedient child and with my father yelling at me that I had to get married...) ... well ... my marriage was a nightmare from the beginning . The wedding day ('78) was awful and so began 16 years with an alcoholic man who was no more than an abusing piece of furniture.

My first child, Charity, was born in '79, Michael in '80 and Jessica came along in '84.

I became vice president of the local art league after being asked several years to be president. At this time I was also leader of the Cass County Home Educators, 1st flute in a local orchestra, teacher at a local art studio and private flute instructor. Also had a chance to take some Seminary classes, something I enjoyed immensely.

Valentines Day '95 that guy left us. A few weeks later we celebrated and when he wanted to come back 3 months later... No Way!


Free at last... started to college... I was soooo excited... okay it was just a community college but it was a college and so much fun! Got 2 semesters of art in before meeting Mr Computer and had a life threatening pregnancy... so ended my college experience.


But I had 2 of the most beautiful children, Katherine Chantelle (Kitty for short) '96 and Christian Mitchell '98.
Perfect artist and photographer's dream models!



April in 2001 my oldest son's back starts hurting. Life changed again. September of that year my son died of a rare, extremely painful, and aggressive cancer.

I had always been told there is nothing harder than loosing a child... I now know from personal experience.

In 2004 heartache turned into WoundedHearts.net. It is a place where bereaved parents can go to find others who have similar experiences or are in their general area.

April 2005... just now getting back into life. I home school my little ones and work at our computer home business. Have two beautiful grandchildren that I get to watch, so my younger children get to see them every week. Joined a community orchestra, and started back into art and photography.
Ready to live again... although there will always be a sadness in my heart, but Michael would not want me to waste my life.

January 2006... Life is much easier now. The deep sadness is gone and have been able to get back into drawing. Just put up the new page... "he's my son"... and of course that led to tears but these are the few since September. Figure that month will always be a time for tears.
The week before Christmas while backing up photos I ran across a picture I took of a little girl in a hat, she looked so cute a passion to draw her filled me.
Now let me brake in for an explanation.... I have not been able to draw anyone since Michael's death... have tried... however they always turned out wrong. Also been trying to illustrate a children book but had the same results.
Well.... I drew her... then drew more... and more: a total of 15 people the week before Christmas! It was so cool! I was back!
We went to my in laws in Alabama and drew 5 more faces. ... It's Jan 21 and now have done more than 30 and the last three are more complicated. I am soooo thrilled!
Been told it takes 5 years to bring normality back into ones life... well it is January 11 2006 and between 4 and 5 years and things are better.

      There is hope! There really is!

(Check out www.pattybird.com to see my newest artwork.)

March 28 06

December 2006           WooHoo!!!
My hubby got a job as in house programmer for Tyson Foods. We moved to NorthWest Arkansas. Now if anyone had told me I would love Arkansas I would have laughed at them. but.... It is not at all what I thought Arkansas would be like! It is sooo beautiful here. There are many companies here that have brought in a large and growing economy. The people are great here and being that it really is God's country...it is a much safer community.
Well don't have much time to write... I have soooo much unpacking to do... I feel like the mom in "The Incrediables" who say's "We are offically moved in... I just unpacked the last box" (after they had lived there 4 years)

Waking up as if from a bad dream, found I lost myself for the last 5 years. Filling out the following page actually helped me come back... you might want to do it also...Click Here....