puanoe manuia patterson

our newest addition to our family came to us wednesday, june 1, 2011 at 9am. she came out just perfect:) she looks much like her sisters and they, along with their older brother, just love her to pieces! we're so thrilled she's finally here with us and we're grateful to everyone who has helped us in any way as we're getting settled with this little girl. we are so blessed and fortunate to have wonderful people around us who give so much of themselves. thank you! and a special thank you to my beautiful mother in law, dixie patterson, who came to stay with us and helped tremendously with everything including: housework, children, cooking, cleaning, children, babies, chauffeuring,...the list goes on. she's an angel-literally. we couldn't have done it without her help and love. thank you mom, we love you. and thank you puanoe for being part of our family. we love you.

today

nani: mom, do you know who one of my favorite people in the whole world is?
me: who, nani?
nani: GRANDMA & GRANDPA!
me: yes, i should've known...they're one of my favorite people too!

countdown...

37 weeks pregnant and i'm soooooo feeling it! visited my dr. on monday when he informed me that he's "concerned" about this "pretty good sized" angioma on my placenta-ok. so, an ultrasound next tues. and a visit with him on wed. morning, will determine whether or not this baby girl will be greeting us as soon as next week via induction. unless of course, my water breaks before then-i won't mind if she's anxious to see us sooner:)

that easter morn

yesterday we celebrated easter with all it's traditions. we had our easter egghunt/picnic dinner on saturday up at oak glen and it was fabulous! we had good food, good friends, and a mighty good egghunt. the kids all had fun...and lots of candy! before going to bed, mason talked with the kids about the true meaning of easter. although egghunts, easter bunny, and candy are all fun, it's not the real reason why we celebrate easter. we then read in the bible the account of jesus' death & resurrection. i love these moments when we have the opportunity to teach & testify to our children of jesus christ! i don't think we can have too many of these moments either. our good bishop commented in sacrament meeting yesterday, on how we as latter day saints, should be just like nephi in the book of mormon..."we talk of christ,we rejoice in christ,we preach of christ,we prophecy of christ...that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." i absolutely love this verse. as a mother, this is what i want to accomplish. this is what i know to be true and what i strive to teach my own children. how thankful i am each day, for that easter morn so long ago, when the savior of the world,fulfilled what he said he would do, for me & for you! he lives and i love him with all my heart.

10 years

no title. no date. a poem from mason.

She was the most beautiful thing I had layed my eyes on
Her hair was long and dark like in my dreams
The best my 14 year old heart had ever seen
So I was convinced that she was what I wanted
Because her heart was pure and full of love
And so I tried with all my might to have her
But never could
I was convinced she was sent from somewhere above

But you can't force someone to love you
You can't make them understand
You can hope and pray that they feel the same
And one day you will walk and hold their hand

As the time passed my love just grew
Till the time had come to ask her out
So I went and picked a rose from my garden
Got into my friend's car and drove to her house
I was so afraid I could not think
To me this was just like a fairy tale
And all my confidence began to leave me
She was my princess and I was just a frog about to fail

Well the story hasn't changed much from the beginning
She is now a woman and I'm a man
So I sit silently around and I still wish she
Wanted me to hold her hand
But it is plain that love may never be between us
I wish with all my heart I was her man.


Mason's mom found this poem in the trashcan. She can't remember when but she took it out, read it, and thought she ought to save it. She gave it to me sometime during our engagement(a very long 5 weeks)and I read it and cried, just as I'm doing now. I'm glad she kept it and I'm even more glad to say that yes, I suppose Mason couldn't make me understand or force me to love him. I did that on my own, it just took me a while...12 years I suppose. But I did and it's the best decision I've ever made. I am my best because Mason loves me. We've made this rich life together along with our beautiful children and so often I feel like Ammon(in the Book of Mormon), I can't say the smallest part which I feel. Next to my relationship with my Savior, Mason is my greatest blessing. Happy 10th Anniversary honey. I love you.

sila bethany, 7

sila celebrated her 7th year of life...actually it's more like 1 and 3/4-she's a leap year baby. and boy, has she been doing lots of leaping! sila came to us 3 weeks early. her projected due date was march 20, 2004. mason & i walked, shopped ontario mills mall on sat. feb. 28th. i remember going to bed that night thinking,"wouldn't it be weird if i went into labor tomorrow because of all this walking!" 6 o'clock the next morning(which was sunday) my water broke:) i got in the shower,mason went to his early church meeting and came back in time to take mese & i to church...yes, church-not the hospital. i figured i wasn't feeling any pain so why not go to church! we got there and i told dixie(mason's mom) that my water broke 3 hrs. ago-i guess that's why she had that shocked/surprised/what are you doing here look on her face. needless to say, after some urging from dixie to call my dr., i did, then mason & i took off to the the hospital where later(around 5:35pm, oscars were on) sila bethany patterson would grace us with her presence. she did have the umbilical chord around her neck but that didn't stop her from getting to us! she's here. she's smart.she's feisty. she's independent. she's kind. she's headstrong. she's a leader. she's tenderhearted. and i love her with all of me. mason & i are so blessed to have her in our family. we love you sila girl. happy number 7:)

1 week to 10 years

and so, this journey is slowing coming to an end(it has been almost 10 weeks of posting this stuff). i've got another letter to share with you, so here it is.

entry#9 January 19, 1996

Dear Melina,
How's it? Me, I'm just chillin.(one of his fave words) Sounds like you're pretty excited about goin on a mission. That's cool! Me, I am startin to get excited to get off. Dec 7 marks one year-half way point.(no, he's not anxious!)
I love it here in Brive.I see lots of castles, chateaus and cool stuff. The work is tuff(did i mention mason's a master speller?:) but p-day is the bomb!(said only in true mason fashion)
Some crazy sisters don't take their p-day-what knuckleheads!(i concur)France is way too cool not to see everything. I love working in such a cool place. Anyway, much love and tell your punk brother to write.
Love,
Mason

what can i say? not much has changed...with his spelling:)

2 weeks to 10 years

here's another letter mason wrote. this time however, he wrote it in french...now, i'm not going to attempt to write it out in french and he wrote himself, that it was bad because he was still "green" on his mission and had to use a dictionary for most of it anyway. so, for your convenience, it'll be in english. enjoy!

entry #9 February 8, 1996

Bonjour Melina,

I'm well and I hope that you are well too. (always so concerned about me:)
I received your letter-it was very nice. Please excuse my mistakes. I'm having to use a dictionary for this letter.(see, proof he doesn't know everything!:)
I got your letter telling me about MTC & you're right, the food there is bad!(i guess we CAN agree on something)
I'm in Brive. It's very pretty here.
I love you(he just can't seem to stop saying that!) I hope you do good work and walk in the Lord's path. Bon Chance!I love you.(again, he keeps telling me that)
Love,
Mason

i have to admit, i thought it was quite-dare i say-romantic, that he wrote me in french...the language of love:)

3 weeks to 10 years

this week's entry is a letter, post mission, and you'll see(as i did)just how much growing mason has done since returning home from his mission...happy reading!

entry #8 January 11, 1999

Dear Nina(hold up-he NEVER calls me Nina...only family-what's he getting at here?)
I said I'd write you a letter and you said you'd write back so here's your chance. If you don't write back, I'll have to start praying for your destruction again.(ok, again? really? what's up with that already?!)
It's funny how you never really understand how blessed you really are til you have to be away from family and friends.(i agree)
For me, this Christmas was special because I finally realized some important things in my life. (uh huh, keep going)
I got to show the people I really care about that I love them. Christmas sure is the miracle we make it. (yes! it certainly is:)
I wanted to thank you again for asking me to teach primary.(i was prim.president then)I'm sure you didn't realize it but it was a great blessing. It helped remind me of some basic beauties of the gospel I had forgotten and how cool it is to be around little children and teaching them about Christ.(i heart primary:)
You may be wondering why I'm writing all this stuff.(yes, you are correct)It's because I really don't have anyone here to tell it and me & Mese don't write so you're the lucky winner.(yay for me:)
Also because I hope me and you can become closer friends...of course if you don't want that, just draw me a picture of a gun and send it to me and I'll get the picture.(always the jokester, that mason:)
Oh, by the way...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! and when I'm home in April, I'll bake you a cake if you want.(mason's baked me several birthday cakes-even before we ever started dating...he's relentless i tell you:)
Love,
Mason

mason, mason, mason...i'm starting to think (and maybe believe) that i did love you before i knew i loved you...

4 weeks to 10 years

this week's entry is a poem mason wrote me on valentine's day 5 years ago...enjoy.

entry #7 February 14, 2006

Sometimes when I doubt, I feel the strength you give
Suddenly I feel the power that I need to live
A thousand days of happiness, one word from you me gives
I care nothing for a life outside of the one we share and live
For you are worth more to me than centuries of wealth
Without your daily guidance I could not find myself
I love to hear you whisper and I love to hear you sing
I love to feel your kisses and the warmth they always bring
You are the passion of my life that makes me want to see
If I can really work hard enough to spend eternity with thee
I love you, just seems not enough to describe how I feel
But, I will try every day to show my love is real
A moment without you, for me is wasted time
And I would pay any price to join all yours with mine
So think of me in kindness and think of me in love
As I think of thee in gratitude for our lasting love

this one really did warm my heart:)

5 weeks to 10 years

this week's entry comes post mission. maybe he's wisened up a bit...nah!

entry #6 October 28, 1998

Dear Melina,
What's up girl! You must be tired cause you been runnin around my mind since I left your fine self-heh heh-that's one of my best lines & probably explains my lack of dates.(finally! some truth-the part about lack of dates:)
Ricks(now BYU-Idaho) is not as fun as I remember. But I am still getting down and you know this.(he's so modest)
I miss my family a lot. I realize I was a real jerk to them before I left.(the truth comes out!:)
I miss your family too. (uh yeah, there was no missing him on this end, my part anyway:)
Well, write me back or I will cry myself to sleep and I know you don't want that.
Love,
Mason

oh mason...how ever did i let you go for so long and not realize your greatness? i was such a fool:)

my sweet wife

Many nights spent dreaming of her hand in mine
Fitting us together as the passing of dawn and dusk
Perfecty she smiles and the feeling of eternity
Sweeps my soul into the place yearned for and always wanted
The favor of her heart's delight motivates to climb the highest mountain
To pass through the sorrow of a day without her company's comfort
To be reunited each evening with the hope of a few pure moments together
She is the power of my existence
The passion of my persistence
And the reason for which I feel this
Purely ,powerfully. Persistently I will LOVE her

6 weeks to 10 years

this week's entry is a bit different from the norm, in that it is not in a letter form, nor a poem. it is in the form of a pamphlet-just like those missionary discussions we used to teach way back when:)so, yes-he took the time to make a "special pamphlet" for me.

entry #5 june 25, 1996

Title: New Study Guide #1 for the Sinners (did i mention how compassionate he is?)

Question: Have you written your missionary this week? (again, i never said he was my missionary)

It's true, not all the world chooses to follow Jesus. The first step is repentance.(remember, he's chastising me for not writing him-whatever) The second step is to obey all of God's commandments.(hmmm, funny-i don't recall writing to mason as being one of those commandments)And the third step is, sacrifice brings blessings. We must be sincerely ready to give all that He asks...like writing Elder Patterson. (uh, ok) The 2 greatest commandments: Love God, and write to Mason. (the first one yes, the second one is questionable...)

this guy's nuts! ...or am i nuts? afterall, i married him:)

7 weeks to 10 years

in honor of valentine's day(i know,how fitting:),i thought i'd share one of many poems that mason's written for me through the years.


For some love is not so simple as they complicate their lives
Believe it ever changing like the seasons as they rise
Or as the old tree climbing, reaching for the sky
But in me it is different, so let me tell you why
Love is what surrounds me with every breath of air
I feel the sensation growing as each moment I meet the dare
Filling my every moment with riches of love's care
Many will ask themselves, was there really anything there?
So what is the secret, you may ask, to find these feelings too?
Look as I into someone's eyes and find your love returns to you
Never forget that a life alone was never life at all
Your heart be filled with thankfulness as it continues to fall
For my life without you is not a life. You are why my love is true
I am the most blessed man alive because you fill my life with you

happy valentine's day.

8 weeks to 10 years

it has been fun(mostly)reading these "love" letters from mason and maybe, just maybe, i did love him all along??? oh well, only time will tell. in the mean time, here's another one for you.

entry #3 dated May 3, 1996

Dear Melina,
Hey cutie pie. How's it going? Me, I'm doing pretty good but of course I am because I know everything. It's hard to be perfect but I do it so well.(did i mention how modest he is?)
Thanks for the letter. You should write your missionaries every week though! (i never said he was my missionary!)
Anyway, you are really going for the mission-that's awesome. I don't know if you will be able to not see me for that amount of time but hey, you can always dream about me! (now, HE must be the one who's dreaming!)
I hope everything goes well. I hope you know how much I love you. Really I do...(he does have a soft side:)
I know you can be a great missionary or anything you want, you have a wonderful spirit that is why I love you so much. (he CAN be sweet:)
Do well, prepare fast and eat a burrito for me!(no burritos in france for this cali guy)
Love,
Mason

hmmm...perhaps i did love him all along after all...

oh boy

today at lunch...


nani:mom, when i grow up, i'm going to be just like you are to us!
me:uh...ok. what does that mean nani?
nani:i'm going to give my kids just gum and pizza!

my poor daughter...she must be thinking of her fairy godmother.

9 weeks to 10 years

and so the saga continutes...

entry #2 dated march 7, 1996

Dear Melina,
Hey, if you want to go on a mission go for it. If you wait til you're ready, you'll never go!(he CAN say nice things:)
My handwriting is really bad isn't it. (he CAN admit to the truth)
Hey, try not to lay in bed at night thinking about how handsome I am!


as you can see, his unending charm just keeps pulling me in and i can't help but fall for him over, and over, and over again!

10 weeks to 10 years

in 10 weeks, mason & i will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary. so much has happened and i find myself(often) staring at this man i married sooooo long ago:)while many thoughts come to mind and memories that we've shared. i've been looking back at what it was that made me fall in love with him and i thought i'd share some of these thoughts and memories with you. i know, how did you get so lucky?:) well, before mason and i even started dating(after missions when i actually liked him), we went on dates-meaning, he asked me(because he liked me) and i said yes(i so didn't like him) and i didn't want to be rude. for those of you who don't know, mason is a poet. he writes all kinds of poems and he has written many for me through the years...surprisingly, i've kept all of them! (i guess this is proof that maybe, deep, way deep down inside, i did like him)and he's written me several letters during his college, mission years. so, i thought i'd share some of these with you so you too can come to know the man that took my heart away forever.

entry #1 date: february 1996

dear melina,
i know you're the one who really wants to hug me. but don't worry i'll be back and you can worship the ground i walk on once again...
thank you for finally writing to me now i am only praying the lord breaks your legs. if you send more letters your chances of working onto my after mission dating list will get better. anyway, write punk...
even christine & lauraine write to me. you are just not being righteous enough...

i know, i know...how can i not fall in love with a man who has such a way with words?!:)

2

this month on the 9th we celebrated 2years of being in our beautiful house! so, what have we done with the place you ask??? well, not much really, besides living in it and enjoying the space, a place to call our own...home. i love our yellow beautiful haven and although we may be outgrowing it real soon with the arrival of our 5th child in june, we still love it and consider it a blessing to have such a place to call ours. we have grand plans for our home, like...

*fixing back fence so, you guessed it...we can get a dog!(nani's constant wish)
*put up a front fence(white picket preferrably-my constant wish)
*paint living room, hall,kitchen/dining area, mese's room,both bathrooms,& my room
*plant tree in front yard with some flowers-gardenia, they smell sooo good.
*extend patio in back, and build awning of some sort
*build a stage(so, as mason likes to say-the kids can entertain us on those long summer nights)
*and of course, have lots of grand galas, parties, get togethers with our friends and family. it wouldn't be a patterson home without them!:)

thanks to everyone who has helped us in some way or another, with our home. and thank you for coming to see us, sitting with us, eating with us, laughing with us, crying with us, we love you all and are always glad to have you in our home. our door is always open.

35 & thriving?

yes. thursday i celebrated my 35th birthday. it was a lovely day and i had many many many calls, texts, and shouts outs via facebook-thank you to all who wished me well on my birthday! i have to admit, when i really started to think about turning 35(i did this the day before my bday) i started to get anxious, then sad, then depressed. i know-i don't make any sense and so here is where i blame it on the pregancy...again. my sweet husband told me i'm just being silly and i have so much to look forward to this year(as i pluck out the gray hairs i see on my head that happen to stick out like a sore thumb). but, i've made a decision. i AM going to look ahead with optimism. i AM going to do some things differently, better. i AM going to breathe a little more and relax. yes, my husband(and i'm so positive that my children would agree)that i need to RELAX and let things happen. this is hard for me. so, i guess what i'm saying is, i want to THRIVE and live life like i have the best life. because in reality, my life is pretty darn good!:)i have much to be grateful for and for that, i should be glad for another birthday, right? i AM.