Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Happy Birthday, Angie

To my inspiration, my companion, my teacher, my sister but most of all my BEST FRIEND. Happy Birthday (one day late). You always post about other people, well, since I know your log in now, I am going to post in honor of your birthday.







Angie is a compassionate, strong, wise, intelligent woman. She is a wonderful mother, daughter, aunt, niece, friend and needless to say the most wonderful SISTER anyone could ask for. She is the one that is always willing to help when you need her. She is the one that will tell you the truth even if you don’t want to hear it. She is the one that I call for any advice I might need. She is funny and has a wonderful sense of humor, as I am sure most of you know.



She has taken so much interest in my family and helped me to be the mother I am today. She was the “sarge” of raising our children but it worked. She taught me how to get our kids to sleep through the night at a very young age and as some might think it is torture, tickling them and taking their clothes off when they are trying to sleep when it should be “awake” time actually does work. Tapping the bottle to make sure they finish every last drop of formula, really does work. Giving them three baths a day to wake them up, really does work.

When deciding when to come to Peoria over the last week, I was torn. I knew I needed to be there for her after the passing of Brian but I also knew she needed me before as well. I just got through telling my brother, Kevin, that no matter what happened, I was heading up on Tuesday after work, because even though she told me she had enough support during the tough times of the last days of Brian’s life, I knew there is nothing like having your sister around and I wanted to be there for her. When she called to tell me that Brian had passed at 1:00 am, I immediately turned to my husband, Matt, and said “I ‘m leaving, she needs me.” I drove 4 hours in the middle of the night because I wanted her to cry in my shoulders and I wanted to change the rolls for once and be her support and be strong for her so she could be weak, but I felt like I could get there fast enough, she needed her sister. It is times like this that I wish we lived closer to each other. I wish we could do more spare of the moment things together but at the same time, love the long weekends we get spend together and stay up until wee hours of the morning, just talking and reminiscing.


Being the younger sister, I am sure there was times that Angie thought why does she have to tag along again, but she never made me feel that way. She always had open arms for me and nurtured me throughout our childhood. She would help me get ready for school, sometimes do my hair or pick out my clothes. She even let me wear some of her clothes. She just cared.

I know she gets does not feel that she is this strong, amazing woman but she is far more than that too. She is powerful and inspiring to so many people, even one’s she has never met. She has this amazing talent of writing that so many can only dream of having (which hopefully, will some day become a book). We do everything together, we laugh, we cry, we smile, we play. Angie is my everything. I love you so much. Happy Birthday.

36 comments:

  1. Having 2 older sisters and a twin sister, I know the deep feelings for a sister(s) that you speak of. What a touching b-day tribute. You both are lucky to have each other! I'm sure that you'll be a great comfort to your sister in the time coming.

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  2. Happy Birthday Angie! Thinking of you!

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  3. Angie - You're so blessed to have Mindi.
    Mindi - You're so blessed to have Angie.

    You said it all - there's nothing in the world quite like sister love!

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  4. She is strong and amazing and you're lucky to have each other.

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  5. My sister gave me this quote.

    "Sisters, they are blessed with an extra sense that whispers when the other needs them."
    --Annie Danielson

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  6. This was beautiful! What a gift you two have as sisters. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Love and more prayers, Shawn from TN

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  7. Not having a sister myself, I'm extremely jealous of the relationship the two of you have ... but, being the mother of two little girls, it fills my heart to think of the relationship they will share.

    Happy Birthday Angie! May you always be blessed with the love of your family and friends that surround you.

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  8. Mindi Jane,
    Thanks for making me out to be someone way more special than I am, but using that humiliating photo to bring me down a notch!

    I LOVE YOU DEARLY!

    KEEP BELIEVING

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  9. What a beautiful 'birthday' blessing you have given to your sister...Happy Birthday Angie. May God bless you and be gracious to you and make His face shine upon you now and always..amen amen amen

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  10. There is something so special that only sisters can share - anyone who has experienced the love of a sister is blessed beyond their years! If only everyone could know this love.
    Gretchen

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  11. I hope my daughter's share the bond you two have. Perfect way to capture Angie! The pictures are great!!

    Noelle

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  12. You are both so blessed to have each other!

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  13. Great post, Mindi. Love each other always.

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  14. Mindi, What a wonderful post! The two of you are lucky to have each other. Thank you for sharing such a loving tribute with the rest of us. I'm glad you know Angie's log in. :-)

    Angie, Happy Birthday. I know that you know how blessed you are to have such a wonderful, supportive family. I feel blessed for having had the opportunity to meet them.

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  15. Mindi,
    Very smooth, squeezing in that part about being "the younger one!"

    Smooth!
    Kara

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  16. What a wonderful tribute to a truly amazing woman.

    Happy Birthday, Angie!

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  17. Happy Birthday!

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  18. I couldn't have put it better...THANKS Mindi!!!!
    please know that when you are not here physically...we will be here to hold her, laugh with her, and when needed...lift her up. We are NEVER going to fill your shoes, but will always be here for her, too!

    Angie...my prayer for you is that you see yourself as the woman that we ALL see you...AMAZING!!!! I love you dearly, and am so glad you are in my life. I am also so thankful for you that you and Mindi have each other.

    LOVE YOU,
    Kris

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  19. Happy Birthday Angie. You are so blessed to have a sister like this...who will sing your praises but will also post an embarrassing photo. I don't have a sister. :( Have a good day and let everyone care for you on this day. Blessings to you and the boys.

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  20. Happy Birthday Angie!

    The bond between you two is so special!
    I have one sister too and even though we don't see each other often, we're never far apart in our hearts! I'm glad you and your sister have one another!

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  21. I am thrilled to know Angie through Blogging. Yet again, wishing we could be neighbors down thre street. But she doesn't need me bugging the heck outta her. ;-) You are both so blessed. I wish I had a sis. :sigh:

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  22. Angie, you have a very dear sister and everything she said about you IS true - you are special and amazing!!! I have 3 brothers, I always wanted a sister. Seeing the relationship that you two have is one that I would have loved, I can only hope that my 2 daughters will grow up caring about each other as much as you guys do!

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  23. Great Post Mindi! The post is something I'd do to TJ too! I was especially cracking up about the tagging along...I'm 3.5 years younger than TJ and often wondered, but she never seemed to mind having me there. There is something very special about having a sister...I love watching my two girls together and truly hope they have the same close relationship that TJ and I have and that you and Angie have.

    Also, tell Angie looking forward to her inspirational book...I'll pre-order a copy when she gets it published!

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  24. Happy Belated Angie. I hope you were able to make it through your first milestone with peace and comfort. I am continuing to pray for you ALL the time. Not having a sister of my own....I really can't relate to the friendship it sounds like the two of you share. It is my prayer that I can create an environment for my girls so they can someday be saying these wonderful things about each other. So glad you have your sister during this time. You TRULY do touch the life of everyone you are around....thanks for being such an amazing testimony for all of us. God bless you Angie-

    Ashley

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  25. Happy birthday Angie. Thank-you Mindi.. Your both gifted women.. and it's obvious God has led in your life. I would also like to thank your Mother, and Father for their part in making you who you are.. I have thought about this alot.. They need to be commended on their widom, and Godly strength.. What they gave you, to prepare you for life, is more valuable than any bank account, or gold. It will never tarnish, or loose value, like other worldly treasures.. God Bless your whole family, and Thanks again for such a good example of Faith and grace in times of trouble. Liz, Wa.

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  26. Happy Birthday Angie,
    You have inspired me over and over again.
    Peace to you always....
    With prayers-

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  27. Sisters are the best! XOXO

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  28. Mindi & Angie,

    You girls are "totally" awsome your Mom and Dad should be and are very proud of the two of you. The more I am around you the happier I am to think of you as my friends !! Happy Birthday
    Angie we love !! oh yea nice ballons!!!!!

    Love, Mike , Kathy , Jessica & Nicole

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  29. What a great post! Mindi, thanks for sharing your sister with us!

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  30. i LOVE this...so sweet mindi!! i am blessed to have this same relationship with my sister and i love it! i think just as highly of angie myself and feel blessed to have her as such a great friend! mindi, i am happy we have gotten to know you better and have had so much time with you this past week! you girls rock!!! love to you both!

    Shawn

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  31. AWESOME POST and yes you (ANGIE) are all that your sister says you are. Love to both of you and your families
    Carol McDonald

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  32. What an inspiring blog. So glad that I found you. You are a great writer.

    Stop by my blog for a visit. Though I am relativity new to blogging, I am loving all my new friends.

    I am giving away my first EVER BLOG PRIZE.
    I have a gift basket business and it is the most requested gift over the last 15 years.

    From the comments I have already received, appears to be something a little different and something anyone could use.

    I have been so touched by the comments that I have decided to give 2 boxes . They will be the $100 deluxe size.

    I want my blog to encourage others. I have decided that giving is life at its BEST. The drawing will be Saturday!

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  33. As an only child it is great to see a family as united as your family. The support and the Christian living have inspired me more than I can say.

    Belated Happy Birthday to Angie and thank you to a wonderful sister who has shared a side of Angie that we knew existed, but now have seen the evolution of.

    Bless all of you, Karen

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  34. I'm sorry for your loss. You don't know me but my best friend died of brain cancer march 17th, her viewing was March 20th, and her funeral March 21st. My SIL came across your blog from one of her friends. My friend was 29 and has a husband and 3yo son. She has been battling cancer for 3.5 years. She had 7 brain surgeries, 2 rounds of chemo, & 2 different types of radiaiton. The cancer then spread throughout her whole body. The pain finally took over and her body couldn't fight it anymore. I feel comforted to know she may have arrived in Heaven at the same time as your husband. She would have someone that truly understood what it was like to go through this and leave a family behind. Feel free to read about her on my blog www.threefromabove.blogspot.com Please know that I'm praying that God comforts you and your children at this time. God Bless.

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  35. I'm glad you know her log in. Happy birthday Angie. :)

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  36. I loved the pictures and am so glad your sister hijacked the blog. We all have caught a glimpse of what an amazing person you are...so glad to have confirmation from someone who knows.

    Happy Birthday!

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