Heavy Hearts

My happy catch up posts will be delayed a little further. Kayla the silly blond girl in so many of my blog posts one of our "adopted" girls around here and Haliee's bestie lost her brother almost 2 weeks ago. They were finally able to bring their son home yesterday and we will lay him to rest Monday morning. We are all trying to get Kayla and her family through this hard time. Words cannot describe the pain to listen to, thank, embrace this Mommy and Daddy who have to bury their baby. Please pray for strength and guidance through this hard time. Hug you babies a little tighter, don't sweat the small stuff, and PLEASE shake the hand of every.single.serviceman young and old, listed and veteran. As a society we take for granted all these great soldiers who risk and give their lives for us. Breaks my heart. Anyway, I will be back in a few days with a happier post. I am off to watch my baby play some All-Star baseball so thankful I get this chance, every moment I am going to soak up. Here is a little about Tyler.

Tyler Patton, 20
Airman First Class Tyler Joseph Patton, 20, of Coeur d'Alene, passed away June 27, 2011, while stationed at RAF Lakenheath AFB, UK. Tyler was born in Riverside, Calif., Oct. 28, 1990, to T.J. Patton and Sherri (Laake) Patton. The family moved to Coeur d'Alene shortly after Tyler's first birthday.
Tyler grew up in Coeur d'Alene and went to Borah Elementary, Lakes and Woodland Middle School, Lake City High School and graduated Kootenai Bridge Academy in 2009. Shortly after graduation Tyler enlisted in the Air Force and was in Security Forces based in Suffolk, England. He was deployed to Afghanistan in September 2010 and served there close to seven months. He has made many friends during his military service who have become a large family. So many of Tyler's friends, old and new, would have gladly laid their life down for him and he also had no problem doing the same. Tyler loved music and was an accomplished guitar player. He dabbled at the piano and was a violinist (and a vegetarian) for a day. He loved the outdoors and was always planning the next adventure. He loved to travel and see the world. Most of all he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is in his mansion now.
Tyler is survived by his parents, TJ and Sherri Patton; brother Randy and sister Kayla, all of Coeur d'Alene; grandmother Toni Laake of Riverside; grandfather Gilbert Laake of Bellevue, Ky.; uncle Bryant Laake of Riverside; aunt Jayme Laake of Riverside; nephews (technically cousins) Dakota Laake and Jayden Laake of Riverside; great-grandma Madeline Laake of Bellevue; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in the Southern California area and the Northern Kentucky region.
Tyler had a great hunger and thirst to study God's word especially over the past year. He shared his faith and truly wanted everyone to have the same joy in salvation that he had. His desire was to go to Bible college after the Air Force. He would be very pleased if we could start a scholarship in his memory. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to this fund at any US Bank branch "Tyler Patton- Bible College Scholarship Fund."
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 11, 2011, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, in Hayden followed by a procession to Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens Cemetery for graveside services followed by a reception at Yates Gathering Center on Hayden Avenue.
Please visit www.yatesfuneralhomes.com to leave some thoughts or stories about how you knew Tyler.