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| Mrs. Liisa and Mr. Pat Collins, taken on their 32nd Wedding Anniversary |
Pat and Liisa Collins
The old adage goes “It takes a village to raise a child.” No truer words have ever been spoken. The year that I turned 10, I met two of the kindest human beings this world has ever been blessed with. Forever I have been altered by that encounter.
Coming off of a very tough year, I was fortunate enough for my parents to have placed me in a church summer day camp. It is there that I met and quickly grew to love the wonderful Mrs. Liisa Collins. Yes, that’s Liisa with two i’s. A unique name befitting a truly unique individual. Her sweet, beloved husband, Mr. Pat, would stop by in the afternoons to check on her and us kids. Every day, upon his arrival, her face would purely light up.
That summer was one of the best of my childhood. It was filled with constant laughter, music, and sipping our morning hot chocolate in our special mugs (where this author thought she was grown). We learned so much that summer and we grew into our own skin, all the while being surrounded by so very much love.
As I have grown up, I have begun to see what a rare love Mrs. Liisa and Mr. Pat have. In this day and age of fly-by-night marriages, quickie divorces...and the notion that one’s “commitment” only lasts until the next best thing comes along...the marriage and commitment between these two individuals is a diamond in the ruff.
To be in the same room with them, their love for one another just radiates through the room. They still look at one another as lovestruck teenagers, even now, three grown children and one precious granddaughter later.
Their love is so incredibly special, and I hope to one day to have a love like that. No one was better suited to be the interview that I posted this Valentine’s Day.
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| Mr. Pat and Mrs. Liisa in 1986 |
What is your full name?
L: “Liisa Ann Lautiainen Collins”
P: “Francis Patrick Collins”
How did you get your name?
L: My mom wanted to name me Tiara (also a Finnish name), but my dad liked Liisa. Spelled with two "i"s because it's the Finnish spelling. I'm 100% Finnish, I speak, read, and write Finnish fluently.
P: “Both names are family names, passed down through the generations. Dad's name was ‘John Patrick,’ and I found the ‘Francis’ in my ancestry search, so it's also a family name.”
Did you have any nicknames?
L: “My mother always called me ‘Doodlebug.’ Also, ‘Honey.’"
P: “’Paddy,’ Irish for Patrick. ‘Big Pat’ and ‘Grumpy.’”
When/Where were you born?
L: “December 21, 1962 at Good Samaritan Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL.”
P: “July 8, 1964 at Good Samaritan Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL. Sidenote: We were born at the same hospital, and two of our kids were born in that hospital as well.”
L: “Liisa Ann Lautiainen Collins”
P: “Francis Patrick Collins”
How did you get your name?
L: My mom wanted to name me Tiara (also a Finnish name), but my dad liked Liisa. Spelled with two "i"s because it's the Finnish spelling. I'm 100% Finnish, I speak, read, and write Finnish fluently.
P: “Both names are family names, passed down through the generations. Dad's name was ‘John Patrick,’ and I found the ‘Francis’ in my ancestry search, so it's also a family name.”
Did you have any nicknames?
L: “My mother always called me ‘Doodlebug.’ Also, ‘Honey.’"
P: “’Paddy,’ Irish for Patrick. ‘Big Pat’ and ‘Grumpy.’”
When/Where were you born?
L: “December 21, 1962 at Good Samaritan Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL.”
P: “July 8, 1964 at Good Samaritan Hospital, West Palm Beach, FL. Sidenote: We were born at the same hospital, and two of our kids were born in that hospital as well.”
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| Mrs. Liisa's parents |
Best memories of your Father?
L: “My dad and I would fish together in Minnesota for hours, and then filet those fish together. Also, he was always the one who tucked me in and read me bedtime stories in Finnish.”
P: “This is a very tough question. Sadly, not many (or any) good memories there. I guess the best I can do is we went to Walt Disney World.”
Best memories of your Mother?
L: “Mom was an opera singer, so I got to hear her sing A LOT. As I got older, I started to accompany her. She is a DIVA with a capital ‘D’!!!”
P: “She loved making Halloween costumes for my sister and I, and she could get pretty creative (and competitive) with it.”
Tell me about your siblings.
L: “I'm an only child!”
P: “I have one sister, but she was quite a bit older than I was. She moved away after high school graduation, so I was pretty much an only child as well.”
Favorite childhood memory.
L: “Summers in Minnesota. Also, I spent a summer in Finland with my dad and all my extended family there when I was 12. Loooooooved it.”
P: “My Nana lived in Hazleton, PA. When we'd visit her in the summers, she and I would sit out on the front steps and wait for the ice cream truck to come by. I loved spending time with her and my Grandpop, I wanted to live with them. She always hid Pinwheel cookies in her drawer that were especially for me. To this day, when Liisa wants to surprise me with a treat, that's what she buys.”
What did you want to be when you grew up?
L: “Doctor, Banker, Lawyer....”
P: “Musician”
How do you remember holidays growing up?
L: “Because I was a child, our holidays were pretty low-key although they always involved some kind of musical performance(s). Often, we'd travel on the holidays...the Bahamas, North Carolina, Walt Disney World.”
P: “My mom loved to decorate for the holidays. She'd start in November, and at her peak she had eighteen different themed trees in the house!!”
What was your favorite food that your mother/father made?
L: “My dad's fish stew.”
P: “Senape's bread pizza (a local Pennsylvania specialty).”
What was your first job?
L: “Played the piano at Virginia Thomas Dance Studio.”
P: “Drummer at Stage Company (a local theatre company in West Palm Beach).”
L: “My dad and I would fish together in Minnesota for hours, and then filet those fish together. Also, he was always the one who tucked me in and read me bedtime stories in Finnish.”
P: “This is a very tough question. Sadly, not many (or any) good memories there. I guess the best I can do is we went to Walt Disney World.”
Best memories of your Mother?
L: “Mom was an opera singer, so I got to hear her sing A LOT. As I got older, I started to accompany her. She is a DIVA with a capital ‘D’!!!”
P: “She loved making Halloween costumes for my sister and I, and she could get pretty creative (and competitive) with it.”
Tell me about your siblings.
L: “I'm an only child!”
P: “I have one sister, but she was quite a bit older than I was. She moved away after high school graduation, so I was pretty much an only child as well.”
Favorite childhood memory.
L: “Summers in Minnesota. Also, I spent a summer in Finland with my dad and all my extended family there when I was 12. Loooooooved it.”
P: “My Nana lived in Hazleton, PA. When we'd visit her in the summers, she and I would sit out on the front steps and wait for the ice cream truck to come by. I loved spending time with her and my Grandpop, I wanted to live with them. She always hid Pinwheel cookies in her drawer that were especially for me. To this day, when Liisa wants to surprise me with a treat, that's what she buys.”
What did you want to be when you grew up?
L: “Doctor, Banker, Lawyer....”
P: “Musician”
How do you remember holidays growing up?
L: “Because I was a child, our holidays were pretty low-key although they always involved some kind of musical performance(s). Often, we'd travel on the holidays...the Bahamas, North Carolina, Walt Disney World.”
P: “My mom loved to decorate for the holidays. She'd start in November, and at her peak she had eighteen different themed trees in the house!!”
What was your favorite food that your mother/father made?
L: “My dad's fish stew.”
P: “Senape's bread pizza (a local Pennsylvania specialty).”
What was your first job?
L: “Played the piano at Virginia Thomas Dance Studio.”
P: “Drummer at Stage Company (a local theatre company in West Palm Beach).”
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| Photo taken when she was 20 and he was 19. |
Where did you meet your spouse?
“We were in the ACIC summer arts program. It counted as a PE credit, but we got to play the show they were producing that summer ("The Pajama Game").”
“We were in the ACIC summer arts program. It counted as a PE credit, but we got to play the show they were producing that summer ("The Pajama Game").”
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| Mrs. Liisa in 1982 |
What was the first thing that you noticed about him/her?
L: “He was shy. And sweet. And already a great musician.”
P: “I thought she was so pretty, her smile and her hair.”
L: “He was shy. And sweet. And already a great musician.”
P: “I thought she was so pretty, her smile and her hair.”
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| Mr. Pat's Senior Year Photo in 1982 |
When did you know that they were the one?
L: “The first time we kissed.”
P: “Before I graduated from high school. She had friend-zoned me. But I won.”
How long were you together before you got married?
“We met in the summer of 1978, we were married in November of 1984. We were best friends for a long, long time....”
Tell me about the proposal.
L: “(Laughing) He called me on the phone and said, ‘Let's get married tomorrow.’ I laughed. I thought he was kidding! There was silence. I said, ‘You're serious?’ At that time in Florida you had to have a blood test before you got married, and then a three day waiting period. We eloped a week after that phone call, on November 2, 1984.”
L: “The first time we kissed.”
P: “Before I graduated from high school. She had friend-zoned me. But I won.”
How long were you together before you got married?
“We met in the summer of 1978, we were married in November of 1984. We were best friends for a long, long time....”
Tell me about the proposal.
L: “(Laughing) He called me on the phone and said, ‘Let's get married tomorrow.’ I laughed. I thought he was kidding! There was silence. I said, ‘You're serious?’ At that time in Florida you had to have a blood test before you got married, and then a three day waiting period. We eloped a week after that phone call, on November 2, 1984.”
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| The happy couple on their wedding day |
Tell me about your wedding.
L: “Beautiful. Big Pat was working at Walt Disney World, so one of our friends from there was our witness. We were married in Lake Eola Park in the rose garden by a retired Navy chaplain. After the ceremony, we went to the Magic Kingdom, where friends of ours had a cake for us and they celebrated there in the park with us. Then we picked up a pizza and went home. We have never regretted eloping. Wonderful.”
How long have you been married?
L: “This November will be 33 years.”
L: “Beautiful. Big Pat was working at Walt Disney World, so one of our friends from there was our witness. We were married in Lake Eola Park in the rose garden by a retired Navy chaplain. After the ceremony, we went to the Magic Kingdom, where friends of ours had a cake for us and they celebrated there in the park with us. Then we picked up a pizza and went home. We have never regretted eloping. Wonderful.”
How long have you been married?
L: “This November will be 33 years.”
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| Max, Caitrin, and Pat, Jr., when they were kids |
If you could use one word to describe each of your children, what would they be?
“Patrick Jr.: ‘outgoing.’ Max: ‘artistic.’ Caitrin: ‘independent.’”
What was your proudest or most gratifying moment as a parent?
“Patrick Jr.: ‘outgoing.’ Max: ‘artistic.’ Caitrin: ‘independent.’”
What was your proudest or most gratifying moment as a parent?
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| Pat, Jr., Ridley, and Sarah |
“Different for each child..."
"For Pat Jr., seeing him be such an incredible father."
"For Pat Jr., seeing him be such an incredible father."
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| Max and Faith on their wedding day |
"For Max, watching him work hard and own his own home at such a young age."
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| Caitrin and Mrs. Liisa |
"For Caitrin, she loves and serves people; and doesn't let anyone know what she's doing."
"The best thing for us as parents has been raising happy, independent kids. I feel like them as adults, plus their significant others (who we consider our children), plus Ridley? They're like the crowning glory of our marriage. Another generation of love.”
What was your hardest moment as a parent?
“Hands down, for both of us it was when Pat Jr.'s wife left him and took our grandbaby. Those are the worst days we've ever walked through.”
What was your hardest moment as a parent?
“Hands down, for both of us it was when Pat Jr.'s wife left him and took our grandbaby. Those are the worst days we've ever walked through.”
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| Miss Ridley playing in the rain |
How is your life different now as grandparents?
L: “So good, so much richer. You always hear people say it's different, better, to be a grandparent, but until you experience it, it's hard to really give voice to the depth of love you have for your grandchild. When I say she's our sunshine...our everything? She really and truly is. It's like being a parent, but with wayyyyyyyy less responsibility and a LOT more fun, (she says laughingly).”
L: “So good, so much richer. You always hear people say it's different, better, to be a grandparent, but until you experience it, it's hard to really give voice to the depth of love you have for your grandchild. When I say she's our sunshine...our everything? She really and truly is. It's like being a parent, but with wayyyyyyyy less responsibility and a LOT more fun, (she says laughingly).”
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| Miss Ridley |
Tell me about your granddaughter.
“She's funny, outgoing, and smart like her dad. She calls us Grumpy and Honey, and she always wants to make sure everyone is ok. If she perceives you've hurt yourself in any way, she'll hurry to ‘kiss it better.’ She's also a little bossy, and that's ok, too. Those boys on the playground and at the library don't stand a chance with her.”
What is the key to a happy marriage?
“Thinking of the other person first. Each of us wakes up in the morning and thinks, ‘How can I make his/her day better?’”
What are some ways that you have stayed so in love all these years?
“We actually really like each other. We've always been best friends, And keeping it real, the physical aspect of marriage is important to us, and it always has been. We always say ‘We're still like teenagers,’ and that's a good thing!”
If you could describe your spouse in three words, what three words would they be?
L: “’Loving,’ ‘solid,’ ‘trustworthy.’”
P: “’Selfless,’ ‘loving,’ ‘caring.’”
What has been one of the hardest obstacles that you have faced as a couple?
“We like being together, so time apart, even if that's time spent at work (which is important) is hard on us. We really work to find a way to see each other during the day (I'll bring him lunch, etc.). We've never let what many people would consider hardships affect us - sickness, financial issues, etc. - because we feel like we're in it together.”
What do you wish you had known when you were younger?
L: “I wish I would have met Christ sooner. I was pretty wild and living hard. I didn't get saved until I was 21; after we were married.”
P: “Material things are unimportant and don't make you happy. That one took a while to realize.”
If you had one do-over in your life, what would it be?
L: “I passed on the National Tour of the musical ‘Tommy.’ It's always been a regret.”
P: “I gave up a full scholarship to study music in college because I was already working as a musician. I would like to have a do-over on that one.”
What advice would you give a young person?
“Don't rush life. Stop and enjoy each moment, you're only passing through that season once. Trust God, He's in control and He's never surprised.”
What legacy would you like to be known for?
“Helping others, loving others well, and pointing them to know God in their own lives.”
What is the key to happiness?
“Be thankful...gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. It's all a gift. Every moment, every day, even the difficult moments allow us to feel and to appreciate the good.”
Thinking of the future, what are some things that you are most looking forward to?
“Traveling together, enjoying watching our grandbaby grow up, seeing what our children do next, and just getting to love each other well every day. That's a gift in itself.”
“She's funny, outgoing, and smart like her dad. She calls us Grumpy and Honey, and she always wants to make sure everyone is ok. If she perceives you've hurt yourself in any way, she'll hurry to ‘kiss it better.’ She's also a little bossy, and that's ok, too. Those boys on the playground and at the library don't stand a chance with her.”
What is the key to a happy marriage?
“Thinking of the other person first. Each of us wakes up in the morning and thinks, ‘How can I make his/her day better?’”
What are some ways that you have stayed so in love all these years?
“We actually really like each other. We've always been best friends, And keeping it real, the physical aspect of marriage is important to us, and it always has been. We always say ‘We're still like teenagers,’ and that's a good thing!”
If you could describe your spouse in three words, what three words would they be?
L: “’Loving,’ ‘solid,’ ‘trustworthy.’”
P: “’Selfless,’ ‘loving,’ ‘caring.’”
What has been one of the hardest obstacles that you have faced as a couple?
“We like being together, so time apart, even if that's time spent at work (which is important) is hard on us. We really work to find a way to see each other during the day (I'll bring him lunch, etc.). We've never let what many people would consider hardships affect us - sickness, financial issues, etc. - because we feel like we're in it together.”
What do you wish you had known when you were younger?
L: “I wish I would have met Christ sooner. I was pretty wild and living hard. I didn't get saved until I was 21; after we were married.”
P: “Material things are unimportant and don't make you happy. That one took a while to realize.”
If you had one do-over in your life, what would it be?
L: “I passed on the National Tour of the musical ‘Tommy.’ It's always been a regret.”
P: “I gave up a full scholarship to study music in college because I was already working as a musician. I would like to have a do-over on that one.”
What advice would you give a young person?
“Don't rush life. Stop and enjoy each moment, you're only passing through that season once. Trust God, He's in control and He's never surprised.”
What legacy would you like to be known for?
“Helping others, loving others well, and pointing them to know God in their own lives.”
What is the key to happiness?
“Be thankful...gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. It's all a gift. Every moment, every day, even the difficult moments allow us to feel and to appreciate the good.”
Thinking of the future, what are some things that you are most looking forward to?
“Traveling together, enjoying watching our grandbaby grow up, seeing what our children do next, and just getting to love each other well every day. That's a gift in itself.”
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| Miss Ridley and all that sass :) |
** Author's Note: For all of us Chiefland kids with fond memories of the Collins'...I would also like to share this memory. This photo was taken of the cast of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which Mr. Pat and Mrs. Liisa helped produce. They did such a wonderful job, and it will always be one of my favorite memories of them. :)
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| The cast of A Charlie Brown Christmas |
#Love #FavoriteCouples #Interview #SouthernBlog
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