Goodbye to Friends

       It seems as if this the season to be saying goodbye to the people I know and love. Heaven must be in need of some amazing people. First, to my Friend Corbyn Lowe who I shared a small childhood friendship at the camps we'd see each other at. Corbyn was full of energy, kind of like my sister Sarah. He wore a smile that lit anyone's face up and played as hard as any boy could. He never took it easy one me when we were kids, challenged me to do things, and made sure I knew he liked me. Corbyn became an actor as he got older and was really good. He recently got in touch with me on Facebook and we talked a little bit about our lives and the changes that have taken place sense we had last seen each other. To say the least of his last days on earth, it was to my knowledge that he was bullied and has been bullied most of his childhood. There is only so much abuse one can take from another, before it becomes so unbearable that you can't even live with yourself. So to all those reading this post, please remember that words have meaning, they have power, they effect those around you who hear them, words can build us up and encourage us, but they can also tear us apart. Do not let your words tear a person apart, and the next time you speak, think twice about what you are saying to the human in front of you. There is never an appropriate reason to take your own life, no matter how hard it is, but this young man with so much potential, saw no more use of his life. Fair well to you my friend and thank you for being apart of my life for a short time.
       To the man who thankfully had a longer life on this earth, however died of sickness. He battled sickness for most of his life. I first met this man and his wife at my church, Community Bible Chapel. Although I was not too close to this man, he had a major impact on my life in ways I cannot explain in a blog post. Without him, I would not be where I am today. Fair well and thanks you sir for playing such a huge role in my life. May you rest in peace, without suffering or pain at the right hand of your Lord and Savoir.
        To my distant young friend who died in a car accident. Although I did not know you in person, I heard much about you, and our parents love each other. I heard of all the things you had been successful in and all the goals you had still yet to achieve. You are now with God, enjoying piece and comfort from your Creator.
         To My Ski trip instructor and friend who lived a fairly long and active life, in the mountains of Colorado. I met Clint at Winter Park Colorado, where I quickly got know him and spend lots of time with him, as he and another man were my Ski instructors. For 4 days of skiing down mountains and doing things I was always told I couldn't, Clint was apart of my great accomplishment! I learned that even after leaving Colorado, he took interest in my life and all the many other accomplishments I had yet to do, as did many other instructors at Winter Park. He would truly enjoy receiving emails from me, as I would try to send him updates on a monthly basis. In return, he'd send me images of the beautiful mountains in Colorado and update me on the things him and his wife had done. By the grace of God I was invited back again to the ski trip, where I got to have Clint again as my ski instructor. Emails have continued to be sent back and forth on updates of each others lives. However, it was the last email I sent which he never saw. I was informed that two months prior, Clint passed away due to cardiac arrest after on of his biking trips, where as his wife said it best, "surrounded by gorgeous fall colors and outstanding temperatures." I'm grieved to know that I will not see this man on earth again and he will not have the pleasure of reading my emails. I am put to ease knowing that he is with his Creator, with no pains of this world, and enjoying the beauty that Heaven holds, which is greater than here on earth. I will continue to send updates to his email, knowing that his wife will be there to read every word I write, as she truly enjoyed hearing the updates Clint use to share with her! Thank you for being apart of my life for a short time and my condolences to your family.

Clint and I.

So to all those out there, who have or about to spend time with family over the holidays, please treasure every moment you have with them, hold them tight and "make every Heartbeat count!!"-Clint's Wife Julie.

Erika M.

Blessings Everywhere

Sarah and I are coming up on 1 year of working as pizza ladies at Little Caesars. It's been real fun, but also real hard. I have seen so many good workers and leaders either let go or quiet. The dude in this picture was one of the greatest team leaders and workers, in my opinion, and has taught me how to deal with hungry and sometimes angry customers. He also knew how to have fun in the midst of great stress and often times made me and Sarah laugh so hard we'd mess up on pizzas. He was a blessing to both of us at a most stressful place you could be!!.

A picture of me and these fun ladies. (only taken because the majority workers at LC were guys!)

I wrote about this wonderful lady on Facebook not too long ago about how absolutely wonderful she is: "Thankful for this amazing mama. She is filled with so much love, kindness, and tenderness."

She is all that and so much more. She is like an angel to me, which God placed in my crazy life. She represents everything that is good and portrays kindness and love like no other human being on this earth. She is everything I want to be! She is my blessing. 

She laid on my bed on the first day of school, praying for Sarah and I to have a safe and great day at College. When I came in she was sound asleep, peacefully dreaming in the comfort of a daughters bed. It was a great ending to my first day of College!!

This picture represents another huge blessing in my life. As a lot of you know, I received a scholarship which will be paying for my college education. What I didn't know was that I would be receiving a car package filled with small gifts to help me through the 1st semester. After about already two weeks of school already in motion and stress building up, I received a bundle of small precious gifts, which brightened up my whole day. 

On a Thursday afternoon, after a morning class at Collin, I headed over to UTD (a possible school I may choose long term) to go visit my older brother who studies and works there. It was a real joy walking through the very same halls that my genius brother Mark got his Masters in Accounting and my brother Tim who worked for years getting a Teaching certificate for special ed. And now my brother Joseph who is working hard to get his Masters in History. It was so quiet and peaceful, filled with students who were committed to homework and learning the things they were there for. It was really cool to be walking with my brother and having so many students and other employees coming up and asking him permission to do something, or asking him for help. We had lunch together and talked for 2 hours about almost everything. It was very much needed and I loved it. Another sweet blessing.

Sarah and I got together with a group of friends and spent hours out on the boat the day before the new semester started. I love being in the boat on the water, feeling the wind against my face, hearing the laughter of my friends, and seeing the determination of those who were willing enough to push themselves past what they think they can do.

Speaking of friends, this guy is perty cool too. After a night of youth group at our house, we got to hang out with this guy, singing, sharing movies with this guy and enjoying favorite songs.

So Sarah and I can be a bit crazy when it comes to late nights. She was doing laundry and made a statement about playing hide and seek in the dryer when she was younger. I replied by stating she couldn't fit in there anymore and she decided to prove me wrong. So here's the proof.

I got the pleasure of training this girl in the sound booth at out church to make slides and adjust microphones. It was a fun night filled with uncontrollable laughter and so much sarcasm.

And then there's this gal. My sister, who brings me so much joy and laughs at the most stupid things I do or say. We have so much fun together, from getting gas for my car together, to going shopping for our mother,  and to driving up to college looking like the coolest girls alive!!!!. I am soon to move out to a college campus and start a new phase of life, and boy will I miss these precious small memories with this gal.

I'm trying to remember if I've written about this crazy guy. He is the one person at Collin College who has brought out the most crazy and wild side of my life. We have this game we play at college, where the first to spot the other takes a picture and sends it to him or her saying "I see you". This guy makes my college life so much fun and has given me a great friendship.

 Photo Credit to John.

This gal is soon to be home, has worked hard to get back to family life, and will soon be given the chance to do so. This is a selfie we took at our church, when she got to spend a weekend with us.

Lastly, I want to end with two blessings that have been in my life. The last few weeks have been extremely rough and demanding. I lost a friend to suicide, another to old age, and another distant friend to a car accident. Classes have been really demanding and many due dates have been keeping me endlessly busy. I have spent many late nights studying at College, and thankfully with a friend who also stays late and normally studies alone. Never would I have imagined how amazing this dude is and that he would be the one to remind something I tend to remind those around me. He had time to breath, time to do things spontaneously, he had no one to answer to career wise, not stressing, and was totally sailing through life. I envied that and was totally curious as to how he got so far ahead. He talked with me and explained how he managed to do so. He told me that life is too short to be rushing from one thing to the other. When one of my long and stressful day of studying ended, this friend walked me out to my car, but stopped me half way. He told me to close my eyes, breath slowly and open them gazing at the sky. "Slow down, and don't forget to enjoy the little things around you." In doing this, he was trying to show me the beauty of what God had put in place right before me. The beauty I have missed throughout this whole semester right before me, all because I was trying to meet the demands of this world. It was a great reminder and a great ending to my very stressful day. There have been many more reminders like these during late night studies and the most recent was when it rained. I have never been a big fan of rain, because the rain always brought clouds which covered the brightness of the sun. It was depressing to me, but this guy reminded me of the beauty of it. We both sat on the ground, outside the library waiting for the rain to calm down and he had me close my eyes, stop thinking about everything going on in my life, and listen to the sound of the rain. I closed my eyes, listened and then asked him to describe the scene as if I was a blind person. He did, and it was beautiful. It was right there, I could see it with my own eyes, but was so caught up in my own thoughts and tasks, that I missed it all. It was a great reminder that even in the cloudier and darker days, there is still beauty....we just have to look deeper.

The last wonderful blessing I will end this post with is my sweet, and oh so energetic mother. I have recently been extremely busy with many duties, and have lost a lot of the time I use to spend with fun lady. She is so spontaneous and loves to do random things. Last Saturday, I had a full day of not having to be everywhere and was able to stay home doing small chores. When mama took my baby sis to work, I tagged along to spend some time with her. She looked at me with the face of, "I finally have time with you!" She took me out to a late lunch and we both got to talk. It was great cause I had so much on my mind and hadn't talked to her like this for a while. She then took me to Hobby Lobby to get my Christmas ornament early. This is a tradition in our family. Every year, we buy a new one to add to our tree, so that when we grew up and became adults, living on our own, we had these ornaments to remind us of the many wonderful Christmas's spent in the Minich house. Each ornament told a different story and we were apart of it. We both came home and got back to life in the home. I sat down to study in the kitchen, and she had two laundry baskets to fold. Now normally, when mama finishes baskets, there is always a sock left without a matching other. This time, she finished both and all socks had matchings. She was so excited she nearly started dancing with joy. It was such a sweet moment, a small moment, a moment that put absolute happiness in my heart and a smile on my face.

 Needless to say, I am beyond blessed with family and friends. It is so easy to get caught up in this chaotic and stressful world, forgetting the small things that we are often given! :)

Hope you all enjoyed. 

An Update On My Busy life

Hey there guys. I apologize for not posting as much as I had planned but life once again got ahead of me, keeping me from updating all you interested readers. :) I have a few pics to kinda show you about my eventful life that will show ya'll what I've been up to.

Have I ever told ya'll how wonderful my parents are, and oh how much fun they bring in my crazy life.!! They bring me absolute joy from day to day. The picture below captures who they are perfectly! My father is the most sarcastic man I've ever known, filled with excitement in his heart and the joy of watching his children grow up. He loves every single one of us Minich boys and girls, the ones who have done well, as well as the ones who continue to do poorly. Papa loves receiving hugs and then sneaking in a tickle a time or two. And I love giving it to him. Even with his crazy silliness and sarcasm, he has such a gentle and loving spirit which makes him such a wonderful man and father.  My mother, who is absolutely beautiful or "drop dead gorgeous" has the love of saint. And I don't say this lightly. I have never met another woman who has given so much love to the most unlovable people on the planet. I have watched this wonderful God fearing lady love every single one of her children in a way that I've seen no other parent do. She has endlessly given up her desires and wants and put others first. She has a gentle and loving heart, which shines brighter than any jewel. This gentleness is portrayed almost everyday and it is beautiful to see. She has taught me the real definition of what love is and what sacrificial love looks like. The beauty you see in the picture below, is also a small glimpse of my mom's beautiful big heart. Oh, and did I mention how crazy this mama can be. Yes, She has the spirit of a young adult which is so much fun for Sarah and I. 

This pic below was taken at Winter Park, Colorado with an Amputee Ski group which Sarah and I were amazingly invited to again. It was a great week spent with some amazing people who have overcome great obstacles in their life. This is one week in our lives, where we spend time with teens who understand our circumstances, make jokes and laugh about it with us. 

Went down 36 mph this year. The fastest on record for my ski group!

Um, yes. My sister and our church friend. This was after our Church service was over and we were goofing off in the church parking lot. Oh and Sarah has her permit so she's been enjoying time behind the wheel. 

Sarah and I got invited to a birthday party with a bunch of boys. Our Friend John, turned 17 and wanted both us to be apart of it. We had a blast with them, I didn't realize how much fun guys could be. Thanks bro, Sarah and I really enjoyed it. 

This guy though! Happy birthday brother from a different mother, and thanks for having us apart your birthday event. 

Not to long ago, we had the pleasure of witnessing a baptism in our Church. 

So I was scrolling through my pictures on my ipod one day and came across this memorable picture of me and my father dancing to a song called "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman. I love this song, way more than I should, but it captures in words the relation between a father and his daughter, and oh how precious the time is. It captures how fast this time goes especially in the fathers eyes, and how the days may be long, but the years go by fast. Mama took this picture during the daddy daughter dance at our neighbors wedding and I absolutely love it and will always treasure it. And then one day, if this day does happen to me, another picture will be recaptured, but I will be wearing the white gown and he will once again, dance with his Cinderella, but this time, after the clock has struck midnight. 

Sarah and I got to meet up with some former ski trip friends on a Friday in which we enjoyed a wonderful lunch talking and catching up on each others lives. 

So putting aside my crazy life, I've been blessed with a full payed scholarship to any College I choose!! Life really has amazing opportunities and I can't wait to go out in the world to experience more of it. I'm super excited to put this scholarship to use, and can't wait to learn more. Watch out UTD, here I come!

I surprised myself this year and passed all my college classes with all A's! Feeling very successful in my education this semester. Fingers crossed for the next semester. 

Okay so this picture is my favorite at the moment. This is mama and Sarah doing workouts on the floor before heading to bed. I'm telling you, if you were there, you would not have stopped laughing the entire time of watching this. My mom's determined face and Sarah laughing so hard captures only the small part of an end to our busy day! You got this mom. I believe in you. 

Oh, did I forget to mention I'm graduating this year. I am. I have finally done it. Finished up all my high school years and already in the midst of some college education. I had the pleasure spending time with a photographer friend who captured my graduation pictures for the invitations I've been sending out to all the people I love and have been apart of my life. Thanks Mr. Palmer. Really enjoyed last Sunday. 

Sarah and I continue to work at Little Caesars, me as the cashier, and her as the pizza maker. I can't express how much fun it is to have her there. We laugh together while making pizza, make other employees laugh while cleaning dishes, converse with those about Christianity who are willing to listen and have questions to ask! When it's not busy at the store, Sarah comes up and joins me at the Register, in which we both have the pleasure of making customers either smile or laugh, and often times all I have to do is tease her about forgetting the penny she owes to the customer, or the pizza she forgot to get out, and even make fun of her when she tries to tear the receipt for the customer to sign, but she can't. LOL. She brings me absolute joy and lifts my spirit when I'm tired of dealing with hungry people who want their five dollar pizza pronto!

Life in the Minich family continues, with it's hardships and joys. Some of us have chosen wisely in life, and others not so much. Some of us have moved away and chosen a different life than we knew before, and others are still awaiting to come home. C. S. Lewis once said that “Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” Life is this teacher, and boy have I learned! I still have much to learn, some of which will be taught through more suffering and other things which will discovered through joy.

Hope y'all enjoyed.
More about life to come!!

Erika M.

Wishing a Friend Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to this kiddo. Good job on surviving another year!

Thanks for your friendship, your kindness, for the pun jokes that seem to be brilliant every time, and for all the memories made with loads of friends. Your awesome and I hope you enjoy your special day.  

The one below about captures perfectly two great friends.

Erika M.

Wishing a Friend Happy Birthday

 Thinking of this friend and remembering his birthday! 

Happy Birthday Pat, and thanks so much for all you do and have done for me.

 Thanks for all your silliness.

 and for letting me save you seat.

 For all the snowmobile rides and the many small talks.

 For talking with me and letting me get to know you and hear your story. 

Enjoy your special day.

Erika M.

Skit Trip 2016

Hey there guys.
My life has been a crazy roller coaster, as some of you know. But something recently that Sarah and I both were invited to is taking place right not. Something so wonderful, I can't believe I'm apart of it. The Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Ski Trip. Sarah and I have both gone a couple times before and truly have enjoyed it. After our last trip, we thought it was it.....but no. We got called back to be apart of the 35th Annual Ski Trip. A trip that was first thought of by Doctor Tony Herring, Chief of Staff Emeritus at Scottish Rite. I can't express how amazing this Dr. is. He has operated on many of us kidoes and has cared for each one. He is like a father to many of us kids, and even to some colleges which he's taught at Scottish Rite. Many people are apart of this trip and have helped to make it what it is. Saint Bernards donated many useful things, American Airlines provided us free trips to Colorado and back to Texas, and all the staff at Scottish Rite. They have all made this trip what it is. AMAZING.

Here I am, on the plane with my sister and  12 other awesome teens, ready to take on the Colorado slopes.

Greatest cake yet.

Here's goofy Amy. She's the media lady who will have camera's in our faces for the week.

Dr. Herring speaking.

Dr. Herring made Sarah and me laugh. He's such a cool doc.

This guy is Daniel Masy. He is missing both hands and feet is responsible for much of the things I'm able to do on my own. We met him first at camp and he gave my mom some great advice, about how not to do everything for you kid. He's married an has two kids and does about everything in life. 

Last pic with an American Airlines guy I met last year.

Getting ready to board.

Selfie before take off. Sarah and were assigned seats together.

In Colorado!!

The most lovely drive to Idaho springs to get some pizza.

It is tradition to stop at this restaurant to get pizza and get to know each other. I happen to sit with all the boys, so buy the time we left, my table had no pizza left, whereas the others had loads leftover.

This was our first day out to skiing. The bus ride to NSCD.

Found out that there's a pic of me and my in-structures daughter hanging in the equipment room. Felt so honored. 

Ahh, feels so good to be back here. I got Smoky as my trainer once again, and Meridith who is an intern. Such a great day.

Got to hang out with this awesome old man, who is super funny and also know very well what he does in the equipment room. Pictures rather blurry cause I couldn't get him to look at the camera. Love this guy.

And this is Karen. She is absolutely wonderful and works great with loads of people. I had a bad headache, so she came and sat with me, talking about all the things to do this afternoon and what she planned. I absolutely love her.

This post covered the two first days! Probably more to come.
Thanks for reading.

Erika M.