All About Alabama..things you wanted to know, and maybe some things you didn't!

Hello friends & family!!
I am home from my week-long visit to Alabama. It wasn't long enough, I could have easily stayed another week, I already miss everyone SO much.

First off, I'm not going to give a play by play, you'd be sitting here reading 'til the early morning hours.
I'm going to start with seeing my sister & her family. My sister, Michele, is the only person in this world I've ever been able to totally trust for my entire 30 years. Never, ever gave up hope for anything, and always wanted the best for me. I feel so like myself when I am with my sister. She has always been my rock, and there when I've needed her, through thick and thin.
I love her more than she will ever know, and I am happy to add that Michele & I have a sister bond like no other. It's one that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
The kids are awesome. I didn't get to see my oldest nephew, Josh, because he is stationed elsewhere, but I got to see my niece Moriah, who is 17, (everyone calls her Mo) and my youngest nephew Caleb, who is 14.
Wayne is Michele's husband. He is a hoot. He talks more than most women I know, which isn't a bad thing, it just makes it SUPER easy to break the ice! He is perfect for her in every way. She deserves a man that treats her like the princess she is!

We rode horses in the Cheaha (pronounced Chee-ha) Mountains, which is gorgeous!! I enjoyed the entire 3 hour ride on Pep, my sister's cherished horse! We went through lots of forest, saw a rock wall, some old gravesites, crossed some magnificent mountain creeks, and just enjoyed the quiet in the mountains, being with nature & God.

And, the moment you've all been waiting for......I saw my birth mom again after 12 years. Up until a few months ago, I swore I'd never see/talk to her again. But if you've been following my blogs the past few months (and I know you have) you will know what brought me to the point where I booked a flight to Alabama, for the main reason to see her again.
Her name is Catherine, Cathie for short. She has 3 children, Michele is 37, Danny is 35, and I am 30. She was left a widow at the age of 27 with 3 kids to take care of. My Dad died in a drowning accident in the Missouri River in 1981, one month after I turned 2.

My sister picked me up from the airport on Monday, Aug. 10, and we drove to my Mom's house for lunch. Getting out of the truck and walking into her house and seeing her in person for the first time in 12 years was SO surreal. I should have pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. It was really nice to see her again, and hear about her life.
I stayed with her for 3 nights. We hung out, relaxed, and just were together.
Michele & Mo came over one night and we saw the movie Julie & Julia, and it was a hoot, but what was more fun was all of us having fun, girl time together. Just acting silly & not caring what anyone thinks of us!
We also got pedicures. The first of which for Mo & my mom. They BOTH enjoyed theirs so much, but I have to say that Mo was about to cave in, her feet were so ticklish, but lucky for her, I do have a video of that.

My sister & I hashed out a lot with our mom towards the end of the week. We said what needed to be said, and listened in return. I can only pray that as I put the past behind me, I look onto a new day & a new chapter in my book, for a relationship with a mother who is joyful over the reunification and from a daughter who can't get enough of her.

I must say a huge thank you to my friends & family for your huge support & encouragement. Knowing that y'all are behind me and supporting me makes it easier to cope with things and to know that everyone is cheering me on. THANK YOU!!

A thank you to my sister Michele, who like I said above, is the best sister I could ever ask for. I love you soooo much!!! Also, a shout out to Wayne, who will likely never read this, but thank you for putting up with my mouth, being hospitable, and giving up your bed for me, so my sister & I could have a 2-night slumber party! You rock Wayne!

And last, a thank you to my mom, Cathie. Thank you for being honest, for allowing me to put you on the spot, and for listening to me all week. Thank you for speaking from your heart, for wanting to see me, and for loving me. I love you, and every day is a new day, a chance for a new beginning, no matter what has happened. The past is the past, and the future is the best present of all. Love, your daughter, Mindy.


I hope y'all have enjoyed my saga the last few months, and seeing what God has done & changed in my life is nothing short of a miracle. I owe this entire experience and healing to Him. To God be the glory, forever & ever!!


Mindy

I figured it would be easier to share a link to the pics from my trip, rather than messing with uploaded a whole bunch to my blogspot. Of course, if you read this via Facebook, then just click on my album titled http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=136378&id=553119051&l=703efb14aa

If you'd rather access my pics through Snapfish, here is the link for that:
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1224709015/a=7515133_7515133/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/