Happy Birthday, Michelle!

Thirty-five years ago, I was born. To a blended family with a mom/stepmom, dad/stepdad, and three half-sisters. Are you confused yet? Well, let me explain...my mom was married to Ken, and they had two girls, Michelle and Kim. My dad was married to Carol, and they had one girl, Rhonda. They all got divorced, then my mom married my dad, and one year later, I was born. My sisters were 8 3/4, 7 and 5 years old when I arrived on the scene; Michelle was the oldest.

I love to hear her stories of how she treated me like I was her baby, getting up with me in the morning, picking out my clothes, carrying me all around, showering me with love and attention. (Heck, she still does all those things for me...
okay, maybe not, but I'm sure she would if I needed her to.)

One month after my arrival, Michelle turned nine years old. (Do the math...yep, she's forty-four today!)

I have so many childhood memories that involve Michelle, but even better than that, I have a gazillion adult memories of the two of us. When you're a kid, you have no choice but to be around your sister. When you're both grown up, with husbands and kids and jobs, you do have a choice. And Michelle and I have made the choice over and over again to be a part of one another's lives. She is my rock, and I am hers. We both know that nothing could ever separate us from the love we have for each other. I thank God that He knew to give me such an incredible sister, 'cause I don't know where I'd be without her.

Okay, enough of the mushy stuff...now for the fun part...pictures!

Michelle has always been game to my crazy schemes, and I to hers. Seeing Twilight together was a given, since she convinced (badgered, harassed, teamed up with Lula) me to read the first book, which she knew would get me hooked enough to read the next three. Did we love it? Yep. Did we have a great time? Yep. Did we totally crack each other up? Oh, definitely.

This one was totally me. After becoming online, then phone, friends with Lula, we began talking about meeting up in "real-life". I called Michelle and told her "We're goin' to Lulaville!", and all she asked was "When?". The rest is history, and another post altogether (I'm sure you've read it by now).

I love Michelle for so many reasons, but a huge one is how much she loves my babies. She always has. And they love her right back. Here she is on Gabe's 4th birthday, with a big bowl of her homemade macaroni-and-cheese (his faberit, dontcha know). She even put a candle in it! He loved it, and ate the whole bowl by himself, eventually.

When I started scrapbooking ten years ago, so did Michelle. Oh, we spent so many Thursday nights at her house, scrapping and talking and watching ER, then drooling over Pete Delkus, the weatherman on Channel 9. Good times. We have been on three scrapbooking retreats together, and I would never go without her. The girl has got some bitchin' computer talent (which I seriously lack), and her scrapbooks are awesome. My favorite: when she handmade a pool table, complete with balls and sticks, for a page. Michelle, you so need to scan that page and post it. I'm just sayin'. Here we are on our last retreat this past March. It was a fancy hat and pearls dinner night...

Although our sister, Kim, doesn't hang out with our family, like, ever, we're okay with that. We still have each other, and our sister, Rhonda. She totally gets us, and joins in on the fun when she can. This is last Christmas...don't even ask.

I looked and looked for the perfect quote for this post, and I found a few. This was my faberit.

"There is no better friend than a sister, and there is no better sister than you." Author unknown

Michelle, I hope you have a terrific day, free from pudding disasters at work and drama at home. I can't wait to see you on Thursday (especially 'cause you're bringing my faberit, spinach and artichoke dip...yum!). I love you to pieces, girl. And I always will.