Hey guys! I am Sydney Patten, but most people call me SJ because it’s easier. I’m just going to go ahead and bullet point some facts so you can get to know me a little better.
– I have 4 brothers and 1 sister, 3 of the brothers and my sister are adopted. I also have to pretty cool parents. Oh, and 2 dogs and 2 cats. They might be my favorite, but don’t tell anyone.
– I’ve grown up in Michigan since I was about 2 years old, but I was actually born in Colorado.
– I LOVE mountains. Even tall hills or buildings, really. Anything that gets me way up in the air but is still safe to stand on (not trees).
– I am the worst at picking favorites for anything: movies, books, colors, days of the week, etc. I can’t do it.
– I go to church here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and my church is probably one of my favorite places on Earth.
– I love black coffee. I used to not be able to drink it without 3 metric tons of sugar and creamer with it, but I eventually grew out of that based on my need for caffeine.
– I have a rough history with writing. (I’m adding this so you’ll give me grace if my blog posts are weird to read or if they are far and few between. I’ll try hard for you guys, I promise)
– I grew up in a Christian home, but I didn’t really start thinking seriously about following Christ until a couple years ago.
– I have no sense of style whatsoever. I will go out to dinner in jeans and a raggedy t-shirt, just watch me.
– I think pretty highly of my sense of humor, but it doesn’t always come through in writing, so if you want to witness it yourself, give me a call! Or set up a time to hang out with me! I’m really not that bad sometimes.
– I like to say “y’all” a lot, even though the furthest south I’ve ever lived (while I could speak) was in Grass Lake, Michigan.
– My first (and only) out-of-country experience so far was going to Jamaica on a mission trip last summer. It was a wonderful week, and it’s definitely something that inspired me to sign up for this. Maybe I’ll write a blog post about it later.
– All of the above, and much, much more, is all thanks to God. Without Him, I wouldn’t have my great sense of humor, my pets, or even black coffee, so I try and remind myself of that every day.
– I am ecstatic to see what walking with God looks like around the world and to witness his faithfulness in situations I haven’t encountered yet.
If you don’t have at least an inkling of who I am yet, post some comments or ask me some questions! I will answer to the best of my ability, and I’ll try and make sure my sense of humor comes through in my answers. 
