60/80 Event Honoring Women

Kate wrote the article for the Watertown News Paper (Murfreesboro paper only reports on party's of over 100 people.).

For The Women Who Made a Difference in our Lives!

In what will go down in family annals as the party of the century, mother and daughter Gwendolyn Floyd Patton and Merry Patton Croft came together on Saturday, June 9th to celebrate their milestone 80 th and 60th birthdays. Gwen has been a resident of Murfreesboro for the last 48 years; Merry was born and raised here, and now resides in Atlanta with her husband Terrence and many of their children and grandchildren.

The girls-only event commemorated the women that have made a difference in the lives of the pair (though a handful of notable gentlemen contributors assumed an inconspicuous corner table); in attendance were many extended family members, high school chums, Sunday school comrades, Gwen's beloved coworkers from the Circuit Clerk's office, and cherished friends and loved ones from around the country. Ages ranged from Merry's three granddaughters, Isabelle, 6, and Morgan and Emily, both 8, to Gwen's sixth grade teacher and longtime friend Frances Mason, 96.

Murfreesboro's stylish Five Senses Restaurant hosted the festivities, serving guests a delicious three-course luncheon made from local, seasonal ingredients. The hydrangea themed decorations – towering cascades of flowers, artist-designed stationary party favors, and an elaborate cake – were inspired by Merry's personal artwork; name tags bore adjectives such as "generous" and "inspiring," lovingly selected by Merry and Gwen, describing their wearers. Harpist Patricia Wedemeyer set an elegant mood.

Merry's daughter Kim Sabonis-Chafee served as adroit party planner and designer of festivities.
The revelry began with gracious welcoming speeches by Merry and Gwen, a heartfelt prayer by sister and daughter Judy Gutting, and continued through lunch to a commemorative musical review performed by Merry's daughters Kim and Kate. A bouquet of toasts followed, closing with a nostalgic tale performed by storyteller Judy Cooper.

A touching tribute to the power women carry in each other's lives, this event celebrated a lifetime of love. Wow! What a party!! A very special thanks to Terr and my precious girls who made me feel so loved. You beautiful women top my life list.

-Merry, at 60 and 4 days...Happy Birthday Mom!

kpc/mpc

Father's Day Reflection

My dear husband (and wonderful father) heard from all of his children this Father's Day. Your calls were a sweet blessing and made this day important. As we traveled home from a business week end in Ponte Vedra, we talked about you and how proud we are of the way you are living your lives. It has been such a pleasure being your parents.

This is the first moment I have had today to stop and reflect on my own dear Father. Boy, I was a lucky daughter and I thank God for sending me to belong to such a man. Thank you, Mama, for picking so well and for taking such good care of Dad.

I know you're watching Daddy...Happy Father's Day.

I love you,

Merry

Happy Father's Day!

We Love our Dads.

"I am in the Army of the Lord!"

Look who finished Boot Camp at Vacation Bible School...and had a great time! Summer is looking good for these young soldiers.

We Climb to the Top of Everything!

I have a big post coming...telling all of you about the wonderful 60/80 Birthday Party that I shared with Nana this past week end, but while I am waiting for pictures and trying to gather all the memories of that wonderful event, enjoy my climbers!

No wonder we sore to the top of the world, we have courage and spunk. Just look at these climbers climb!

Kate leades the pack but the others are not far behind...

Keep climbing all you wonderful people, the view is good at the top...and I should know, I was there this past week end...For my 60Th birthday, I was loved and honored, along with my dear Mother, by some pretty special people. It doesn't get any better than that!

1. Kate 2.Keegan 3. Aidan 4. Andrew 5. Emily 6. Will 7. Morgan and Molly 8. Ford 9. Joe 10. Isabelle.
* Kate, note Ford is climbing in Rousillion!

-Mimi

The Graduate

I just got the sweetest call from Grandson, Ford, thanking me for coming to his graduation this morning. It touched my heart to get that call almost as must as it touched my heart to hear his graduation speech. Ford was so poised, articulate and generous with the people he thanked. I was ever so proud!

Because Molly was on the Board of The Children's School, she had the honor of being specially called up on stage to present Ford with his diploma. It was a beautiful sight to behold...

My pictures aren't very good as we were pretty far back in the gym. (Pretty far back indeed but in front of Hank Arron!)

Congratulations, Ford! We wish you the best as you leave Morgan and The Children's School and move on to bigger and I hope better things at Woodward Academy.

-Mimi

A COURTHOUSE LINE VII: LAWST

It doesn't get any funnier than a Hooter's Airline plane, crashing on a deserted Island, with a lot of lawyers headed on a firm retreat. The very same Island that once (some 30 years ago) imprisoned the Captain and Crew of the ill fated Minnow, better known as "Gilligan's Island".

Of course I am talking about the now famous annual "A Courthouse Line VII", put on by our own TLC and other fellow (attorney) actors, writers, producers, directors and choreographers of The Atlanta "Bard" Association.

Besides Lawyers "Lawst", there were Firm Staff running a law firm with out the burden of having lawyers around, *Airline personnel trying to find the owner of a can of Cheez Whiz, Cheerleaders with "talking sticks, *rumbles between Westlaw and Lexis leaders, the aging Cast-a-Ways (*TLC the Professor) and everyone's second favorite (not to surpass T's characters, of course), Pirates!

After weeks of long rehearsal hours, our Super Star was rewarded by giving a great performance and many adoring fans attending: Merry, Shannon, Molly, Morgan, Tom and Brenda Croft and friends, Tom, Kim, Andrew & Em, and all the way from Murfreesboro; Louis, Judy and his biggest supporter...Nana

The second night seating and production was much better for this Bard Fan (sorry Shannon, Molly and Morgan) than the first. I laughed until tears were streaming down my face and so did the rest of TLC's fan club. You could hear Kimberly all the way out to the lobby! A great night was had by all.

You did it again honey! "TA DA"

-Mimi

* (roles played by TLC)

Service ends for the Summer

Farewell...


From the "blue room" the cast of Apostlelot says goodbye for the summer.

Tom (the Knight) and Andrew (the Page) have tirelessly performed for Apostle's youth during the Sunday School hour this year. Lines have been learned and plays have walked children through moral and spiritual conflict. Every child sighed with sadness when they were told Apostlelot stories would end for the summer.

Truly, Knight and Page have been an inspiration to many (including Mimi and Grandad who have sat in on a few delightful performances). I'm telling you, folks, we have some talent in this family, only to be outdone by God's gift of giving. Bravo, Andrew and Tom! I am sure your crowns will be many.

Tom has used his long-running talent for God's glory and we agree he is a natural on the stage. The children love him, and when walking down the church halls with him, I often hear a child whisper, "Look, look, there goes the Knight!"

Andrew is graduating to the middle school group next year. He is so loved and effective as Page, that all have agreed he should come back to the kingdom for an encore next year! BRAVO ANDREW, BRAVO!

What a treat it has been to watch you give back the talents God has given you.

I know Mike gives his talent to run a charitable golf tournament. Mary, gives her time and talent to many homeroom and elementary school programs. Kim, to decorating and taking pictures at school functions. Molly is also a leader on the Children's School board and Shannon gives countless hours to Ford's little league ball team as assistant coach. Kristin and Brian, as well, are busy with ball clubs and the many other interests Keegan and Aidan are involved in. I mention this just to touch on a few of your endeavors.

I say this to support each of you. Your children and others you touch through them will long remember what great parents you are, and maybe one day, they will emulate the care and love you show.

Now rest and have a great summer!

-Mimi

Beth gets promoted to Vice Present, West Coast!

Official Notice reads...

Greetings all.

I am thrilled to announce that our very own Bethann Croft has joined my COS leadership team as AVP, West.

Bethann graduated with an undergrad degree in Anthropology/Archaeology from Northwestern University . After a few years of trying to make it big with her college folk band (yah, knowing Bethann I can't quite picture that either but I hear she looks darn cute in frilly dresses and used to have long, feathered hair!), she headed back to Atlanta to get a law degree from Emory.

She woke up one morning and realized she really just wasn't that into being a lawyer, so she moved on and began teaching LSAT with TPR 2002. She has been with us ever since and has done stints as a Marketing Director, as Executive Director of the Atlanta office and most recently as a Doyenne in our Exec training and mentoring program.

Over the next few weeks, Bethann will be transitioning out of her current role and dividing her time between Atlanta and the West coast.

Please join me in congratulating Bethann on her promotion.

Thanks,
Beth
_________________________________________________

Beth Milner
VP, Operations
The Princeton Review

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Wow! Her Father and I are so very proud of the things Beth has accomplished. We all know of her long hours and super human efforts to do the best job possible. Her reward is well deserved.

For us, losing Beth to San Francisco will be hard, even with the knowledge that she, Kristin and the boys will be close together at last. (I think we need a game plan girls...at least two visits a year!) In the mean time, congratulations Beth. Let's have a family dinner party before you leave.

Know that we love you and are pulling for your happiness and success in California.

Merry

TLC gets Distinguished Service Award!

Today my husband escorted me to the Piedmont Driving Club to attend the Annual Meeting and Member Awards Luncheon of the Atlanta Bar Association. Joining us at our table were Terr's law firm partners: Carlton King and Tom Croft.

Four distinguished services awards were given. One of those awards went to Terrence for establishing and heading up the Atlanta Bar Foundation Fellows Program, 2005-2007. He accepted with pride and didn't miss the opportunity to encourage others to join him on the list of contributors (a poster which he held high in the air for all to see) and also insisted that they not miss this year's Bard Show on June 1st and 2nd, which benefits the foundation.

Terr has tirelessly served the legal community all his professional life, and doesn't show signs of slowing down. It gives me such pleasure to see him rewarded for his years of service. I am so proud to walk by his side.

TLC's woman

A visit from Joe and Isabelle

I just wanted to share my delightful visit with Joe and Isabelle tonight. Issy has so much enjoyable stuff to talk about, and Joe is a just a prince of a fellow (even when sick). Whenever I am with any of my grandchildren I am so amazed at how delightful they are. Totally, a pleasure.

Will and I had an adventure in this AM. We set out to find a creek...and we found one! I wish I had had my camera.

I beam with pride at the results of our children's parenting. I can't tell you enough how proud I am of you. Keep up the good work...In all nine, I see great love and commitment.

Mimi

Mimi

My Decorator/Designer/Daughter

My decorator usually comes over well dressed, in high-heel shoes, a file bag under her arm, a full shopping bag in one hand and a telephone in her ear.

When I came up from my studio today, after working down there for an hour or so, I found her bent over paint chips in the construction zone of our bathroom, with the tile guys laying flooring in front of her. She didn't think I was at home but came anyway to double check paint colors in the light of the bathroom. Today was her office day yet she made the trip just to make sure she had the right colors selected, before she had to hurry back and pick up car pool.

My point is; not too many people have such conscientious talent, not only working, but working over time for them...and for Kimberly I am so very grateful. We have the old bathroom torn out, new wall and infrastructure in place and we are starting to install the stuff that will be seen. Because Kim knows me so well, she stays on top of the men, makes them clean up after themselves and fights to get every detail perfect.

Kudos to my Decorator/Designer/Daughter. The daughter part being the most important to me. Well done. I owe her big time!

Mom

To The Mothers in the Clan.

WOW! I cannot believe I have a place among these wonderful Mothers! You sure do make me look good. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all you mean in my life and to our family.

Happy Mother's Day to Mom/Nana (Gwen) and daughters Kimberly, Mary, Molly and Kristin.

To all other mothers who read Chatterbox (particularly my sister), I hope your day is filled with thanks giving and pride.

Mom/Mimi/Merry

From the pencil of a dreamer...

I am a bird playing in the wind.
I am a feather drifting.
I am the shadow of a child.
I am the wind brushing against the leaves of an oak tree.
I am the summer.
I am the yellow rays of the sun.
I am a dreamer, a dreamer of all these things.

By Keegan, age 8...
In the early morning, alone at home with his mother.


(Keep dreaming Keegan, for I am a dreamer too and I see you. Mimi)

The Children's School Presents...

The Rumpus in the Rainforest

That's right, Morgan and her fellow second grade thespians entertain us with a charming story about a couple of frogs trying to reach the canopy of the rainforest. We saw toucans, jaguars, sloths, boas, monkeys, ants, explorers and even shamans, but the best part to me was the Storyteller, Morgan.

In true Morgan form she did a great job, not only with her speaking part, but also with the singing, swinging, howling and dancing!

Family in attendance were: Aunts Kristin and Bethann, Mom and Dad, Mimi and Ford. A Croft sibling lunch was enjoyed after the cast party, which we were all invited to join. Great show Morgan!

Kristin was home for her Westminster Class reunion. She enjoyed seeing her classmates and we enjoyed having a little one on one time with her. Kris brought us a CD full of wonderful pictures of Keegan and Aidan, so expect to see them on the chatterbox in the future.

As always,

Proud Mimi