My Portfolio

I've often wondered why such strange things happen to me.  Sure, I know sometimes I can bring them on myself, but there are those things that happen "just because."  Here's a little story about one of those times. When my daughter, Heather, was in her first year of high school, I was...

My son Justin has been battling Alopecia Areota; which is a hair loss,  since he was four years old. He is now 17.  We first realized this problem after Justin attempted to cut his own hair.  Due to the "creative hairstyle" he chose for himself, expert help was needed.  At the barber shop,...

Stacy has been taking piano lessons for one year.  On March 3, 2009 she particpated in the Gold Cup Festival hosted by the National Federation of Music, Conroe Chapter.  Stacy memorized her two solos and performed them for a judge.  She received a Superior Rating (5 points).  Good job Stacy!   Hold...

Alysia has been playing piano for a few years.  On March 3, 2009 she participated in the Gold Cup Festival hosted by the National Federation of Music, Conroe Chapter.  This is her second year participating.  She did very well and earned the highest mark possible, a Superior, worth 5 points.  Next...

Although I have collected family stories all of my life, I have only been involved with writing stories since the mid 1980\'s, around the time I started making patchwork quilts. My 2 children watched in amazement as I cut up pieces of fabric into tiny shapes and carefully, lovingly stitched the...

The older I get, the more I enjoy warm weather.  It's amazing how the sun has such a therapeutic effect on what lies deep beneath the skin.  Oh, I can perspire along with the best of them when I'm cleaning a bath tub or just climbing two flights of stairs, but that's different.  I'm...

Ronald Stephens, Uncle Johnnie's baby boy(correction-Until William).  The "I love my family gene" has shown up in Ron.  He is the person everyone in the family knows because he makes it his business to connect with them. In this way, he is very much like Grandmother. He is very proud of...

Okay, so you've been introduced to my son at 3-years old.  At least you think you've been introduced.  Actually, you have only seen him from a distance.  It's time you come inside our home and meet him up close and personal. </div>For most of us 5:30 a.m. is a time of quiet...

June 6 1991 a preschooler was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up.  She turned to the camera and said "a mommy".  I was both proud and horrified.  Others congratulated me on being a great role model. I feared my child would be another teen pregnancy statistic.16 years later I\'m proud...

Janie Shellman(1994 Smart Family Honoree)On September 22, 1917 twins were born to William Joseph and Ursula Smart Stephens, a happy bouncing baby boy and girl.  These babies were named Janie & Johnnie.  Janie was reported to be the second born.  She became the oldest sister of the 8 surviving sisters and...

Aunt Janie is holding a quilt started by grandmother, completed by Aunt Janie, made possible by Uncle Johnny and given to me who have wonderful and horrible memories about it.Uncle Johnny drove trucks and ever so often he would get a load he  deamed useful to himself or the family.  One...

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? age 10          One day my mother asked me,What do you want to be?  Do you want to be a teacher,Or a singer full of glee? Are you meant to be a writer,Who day dreams all day long? Thinking whether to...

Glasses(2009- age 16)         God works in mysterious ways; I've heard it all my life,But truly, I couldn't see it until I couldn't see, Until the nearest chalkboard was never near enough to read. In second grade my teacher knew there was something wrong with me,  When she came to...

A Child's Finger's (age 15)                A child's fingers grasp my own,Pulling with an energy I know I've never known Slow down for me! I frown, and instantly he settles down, And once again I marvel at how much my brother's grown.                  I remember my first look at him, his...

Patti’s Hot Pepper Salsa Recipe   5 lbs Peppers; hot and sweet r 2 lbs small tomatoes r 1 lb onions r 6 bulbs garlic r 2 shallots r ½ tsp all colors of Peppercorns, ground r 1 cup Vinegar r Pinch Sea salt r   7 1-pint canning jars with...

When C. Stephen Guyer's three children were growing up, he told themstories about how his grandfather, a banker, lost all in the 1930s, butdidn't lose sight of what he valued most. In one of the darkest times,Mr. Guyer says, when his grandfather was nearly broke, he loaded hisfamily into the car...

There is much to be admired in all of my seven sons and three daughters but I think James George is at the top of the list.     After being married for three months, my husband George and I were expecting our first child. Our apartment was in Waltham, Massachusetts....

How to Grow Old Gracefully March 9, 2009 It's a fact that we all grow old.  It's also a fact that we have little, if any, control regarding the overall aging process.  Yet, what is positive is the fact that we can control how we live while we age.  We control...

This was recorded during the 2008 Rice University Piano Camp.  During the course of this camp, we determined it was time to take Rachelle to the next level of Piano and soonafter switched her to a professional piano teacher, Khoren Ouzounian.Rachelle did a good job but her hands, arms and shoulders ached...