For My Sis!

So, I decided that I needed - and wanted - to do a blog post dedicated to my sister, Mindy! I miss her so much! She is an amazing woman and I have learned so much from her. She is also an RN (and a very talented one at that!). She helped me through SO much while Trent was gone and I was pregnant. The day that I had my "big scare" and went into pre-term labor, it was her that I called, and she who drove me to the hospital and held my hand through everything...always keeping a cool head. She also was amazing during the time that I was on bed rest. She checked in on me everyday, took my kids for the day...and overnight, brought me treats (more to come on that), went to my doctor's appointments with me (and knew what questions to ask him), just loved me and again, held my hand during this scary time when my husband was across the country! She also has amazing faith! I love it when she sends me facebook messages with her testimony, our scriptures, or thoughts, quotes or hymns! She always knows exactly what I need...and when I need it! She is the mother of 5 awesome children and wife to a wonderful man...truly one of the "good ones"! She is my sister, my best friend, my confidante, my shoulder to lean on, my rock, my example...and so, so much more! She is also beautiful...both inside and out! Just take a look:

So, you may wonder what the two of us share, what makes our bond so strong...well, we share a lot of things, most of them of the simple variety; laughs, cry's, successes, failures, joys, triumphs, trials, hopes, dreams...

...and then we share a few other things that are just ours! First of all: texting! We text each other at least once every day, usually more! This became a habit while I was on bed rest and Mindy worked nights at the hospital. When I couldn't sleep, I'd text her and we'd just chat...now I look forward to our chats on the nights that she works (and any other time!)

Next is "Sugar Babies" and "Diet Dr. Pepper". I have loved diet dr. pepper for years, but the sugar babies are relatively new. Again this stems back to when I was on bed rest. Mindy would call or text me to find out how I was doing and if I needed anything. The "Maverik" (a convenience store close to our house) had all of their boxed theatre candy on sale that month, and somehow I'd discovered (and fallen in love with) sugar babies. So, every day when Mindy would text me, I'd ask for Sugar babies and diet dr. pepper. And...she'd always bring them to me! And we're not talking a 20 ounce bottle of diet dr. pepper (which is what I usually buy), no, she'd bring me the 1 liter bottle of it! And of course, Mindy LOVES both of these also! So, whenever we're together, we have to have our "fix" of Diet Dr. Pepper and Sugar Babies! I still buy Sugar Babies every time I'm at Target (the Walmart here doesn't carry them)...and I even mailed a box to Mindy last week...just to let her know I was thinking about her! And of course, both her and I have our "fix" of Diet Dr. Pepper every day! I love drinking mine and thinking that she's probably having one also!

Ok, so this next one has been my well kept secret for the last 5 years...and then I introduced it to Mindy, and she's hooked to! So...get ready, because this is kind of weird...I love Honey Wheat Pretzels (Rold Gold makes them...but I buy the cheaper Walmart brand) dipped in Cottage cheese! And no, I don't double dip...I just scoop cottage cheese with my pretzel and then pop the whole thing in my mouth! You will ALWAYS find pretzels and cottage cheese in my house. If I run out, I will make a trip to the store that day to get some! So, now that I've got Mindy hooked...it's one of "our things". I told her the other day, while chatting with her on Face book, that I was eating them and she told me that she's been eating "a lot of pretzels and cottage cheese lately too." How great is that??

The last thing that I can think of at the moment is our little inside joke. We both "ride the roller coaster" while we sleep. We didn't find out that both of us do this until recently when we were talking. Mindy was holding Grace and Grace started doing it and Mindy said, "oh, she's riding the roller coaster". I asked her what that was and she explained to me that that's what Kyle calls one of her weird quirks. When she told me what the quirk was, I'm like, "I do that too". And, now Grace does it! Must be hereditary! So, you're just dying to know what I'm talking about, aren't you? Well, I'll explain it the best I can. When I'm dead to the world asleep, Trent will wake up to find me sleeping on my back with my arms straight up in the air. Sometimes one hand is "tickling" or rubbing the other arm. I know, crazy, huh? Sometimes I will wake up and catch myself doing it, so I know that it happens! So, Mindy does it also...and her husband gave it the nickname! So now you know something funny (and embarrassing) about me! And, I guess you know it about Mindy also (sorry, Sis!)

I often think that Mindy and I must have been meant to be twins because we are SO connected and our bond is so strong! Mindy has said that she just knows that we were together in the pre-existence, and I totally believe that! Families are meant to be together forever, not just in the next life, but I feel like we were in the life before this also!

So, sis...this post is for you (ok and for me). I needed to put it out there just how much you mean to me and how much I love you! I am so grateful for you, for our bond, our friendship, and most importantly, for our unconditional love for each other! You are one in a million and I often wonder how in the world I got so lucky! I am so blessed to have you in my life...and I'm a better person because of you!

I love you!

Mindy and I the day before I left for Florida: