Officer Keith E. Houts EOW 9/30/06 "The Anchor Holds"

I have journeyed
through the long dark night
out on the open sea
by faith alone
sight unknown
and yet his eyes were watching me

THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the ships is battered
THE ANCHOR HOLDS
thought the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
as I faced the raging seas
but THE ACHOR HOLDS
in spite of the storm

I've had visions
I've had dreams
I've even held them in my hand but I never knew
those dreams would slip right through
like they were only grains of sand

THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the ship is battered
THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
as I faced the raging seas
but THE ANCHOR HOLDS
in spite of the storm

I have been young
but now I' older now
and there has been beauty, these eyes have seen
but it was in the night
that I faced the storms of my life
oh that's were God proved
his love to me

THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the ship is battered
THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
as I faced the raging seas
but THE ANCHOR HOLDS
in spite of the storm

I've fallen falled down on my knees
as I faced the raging seas
but THE ACHOR HOLDS
in spite of the storm

When ever I'm down or feel like I'm falling and just can't get back up these words always come to me!

Prayer Request!

I know everyone knows about the money problems Jefferson County is having. A few months ago several people in my office were under the impression we were going to be laid off. Well our boss saved our job till September 11th and that day is fastely approaching. Well today I was told that I needed to show one of the ladies in our office (whose only been there 2 years I've been there 4) what my job is all about. Later this afternoon I soon found out it's because September 11th will be our last day to work. I'm having a very hard time because I know I'm not the only person going through this but it was just a slap in my face. She is a state employee where I am a county employee. I just worry because I do have a family that does depend on my part of the income and to cut that out is going to be tuff. I'm just asking for prayer request not only for me but everybody else that is without work right now or on the verge of being laid off. I know God works his ways and I know he's going to work them with this situation also but if you could just pray for us and everybody else that would be wonderful.

Wonderful Day

Today was a wonderful day! Rusty, Braxton and I finally joined our church after going nearly seven months. The most wonderful news is Braxton was dedicated today. He was very shy being in front of everyone but when the people in the church came up to welcome us and hug and kiss Braxton he then got unshy and I think he wanted people to come through the line again so he could get more hugs and kisses. I didn't get pictures because our camera is broke and we have to get a new one.

Getting to know us!!!

Welcome to Keeping up with the Patterson's! Rusty and I met in November 1997. We dated all through my high school year and fell more and more in love everyday. We got engaged in July 2001 and it was a day I'll never forget. Rusty isn't the mushy type so standing in my parents dining room yes standing as his hand trimbled he pulled a ring out of his pocket and the famous words came out "So will you"? On June 29, 2002 at 4:00 in the evening I married my best friend. After 2 years we decided to start trying for a family and we soon discovered there were infertility problems. I took fertility drugs for 9 months and nothing happend. After Rusty and I prayed and prayed we decided to look more into adoption. God was showing us that we were going in the right direction so we followed his leads. We started our long and stressful paperwork in March 2006. We were told that all of our paperwork could take six months to get eveything back. We turned all of our paperwork and fingerprint cards and etc in at the end of April 2006. In May 2006 on a Wednesday night it finally hit me when my brother called to tell me I was going to be an aunt. Don't get me wrong I was so HAPPY for them but I just couldn't understand why this was happening to me and why I couldn't get pregnant. I soon found myself asking God why. Why are you doing this to me, what did I do wrong? I was still seeing signs on God working saying my child don't worry I have a plan. Saturday May 13, 2006 we got all of our paperwork back saying we had been approved to adopt. That was my sign of God working because we were told it could be six months or longer. On June 22,2006 we found our birthmother. We met with her on July 2, 2006. It was a very long process and very stressful but I wouldn't have changed anything if I had it to do all over again. On November 2, 2006 as the birthmother called me to say she thought she was in labor I was excited and neverous all in one. We got to the hospital and she was in fact in labor and I knew that on that day our lifes would change forever. At 1:28 p.m. I had become a mommy to a healthy and beautiful baby boy! Braxton Wright Patterson weighed in at 6 lbs 1/2 oz and was 20 1/4 inches long. Braxton is now a blonde hair blue eyed 2 year old little boy that is in to EVERYTHING. We currently live just outside of Helena, AL and have been around this area for five years (we've moved a few times since being married four to be in fact) :-) I will follow up with pictures soon!!!