Thursday, January 7, 2010

Chance Made Us Sisters - Hearts Made Us Friends

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHEILA



Oh today is a special day.....my sister Sheila's 65th birthday. Sheila lives in Evanton, Scotland and has for over 35 years now. This picture was taken in her kitchen which is her favorite room in her home. She has always been a wonderful sister, her passion is her family and she is one of the best cooks I know. She has the biggest heart in the world and would do anything to make the lives of her family and friends a little bit better and brighter.

Sheila is very special to me. When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer she flew from Scotland to Alberta to spend 3 months with me. She was with me through my surgery and all the preparations for chemo and radiation. She went with me to see doctors and kept track of medications, appointments and helped me organize everything that this horrible illness required. She cleaned my home, made meals and did laundry. I so appreciate all the sacrifices she made to leave her home and family to be with me at one of the worse times of my life. Of all the many things my sister did the one I remember the most - which brought so much comfort to me - was she slept beside me every night, we laughed together and we cried together....as only sisters can do.




This is my sister with her husband, Murdoch. A wonderful man who loves to hike the hills of Scotland and cycles many miles through narrow trails many times a year with his son Murdo and friend Jimmy. He is so good to my sister and I love him for being such a wonderful husband to her.




This is a picture of Sheila and I when I visited her in 2008. We took a vacation to Ireland together after touring Edinburgh with her son Murdo and daughter in law Katy. We also toured the area around Evanton. Scotland is a beautiful country. I'm sorry this picture is so small, I had reduced it to fit my side bar and am unable to enlarge it to normal size....something about me and pictures that just doesn't click.
Sheila is not a blogger but reads my blog every day and always comments to me in our daily e-mails, she doesn't hesitate to correct any spelling errors, I call her my editor.

Happy Birthday Sis, I love you very much and miss you even more. May you have many more wonderful birthdays with your family and friends. I am so proud you are my sister.

Thank you my friends for allowing me to share one of the most important people in my life and I know you join me in wishing her a very Happy Birthday.

Good Night, God Bless.......and many, many hugs:-)

74 comments:

quieten said...

Happy, Happy Birthday Sheila!!!!!
Bernie, your sister sounds just wonderful. How loving for you to have someone so very, very special in your life. You are truly blessed.
Wishing her many more birthdays to share! Thanks for sharing her and her special day with us
Huggz,
Quieten

Bernie said...

Thank you Quieten, everyone should have a sister like Sheila. She got me through a rough time, before she left our older sister arrived and stayed the next 9 months with me so I am doubly blessed with wonderful sisters.....hope all is going well with you and George, you both are always in my heart and prayers.......:-) Hugs

The Retired One said...

Awwww, Bernie, what a touching post. I am sure your sister appreciates you too...and can I say you must be a remarkable family..because I can tell from your blog and our conversations back and forth that every word you say about her could just as easily be said of you.
You spend all of your energy helping others and sending love out into the world.
Your parents did something very, very right.
So, Happy Birthday to your sister and may you both have the happiness you so deserve.
Luv to you!

Mary N. said...

Bernie,
God bless her heart! Your sister sounds like a wonderful person and I wish her a very happy birthday! I am glad I met you Bernie :)

Bernie said...

Oh Joan, thank you for your kind words but she is much better than me. I do have a wonderful family and with me losing my husband, son and then the cancer they were all there for me always.....I am so blessed with such good family and friends......:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Mary I am so happy to have met you as well, another one of many blessings.
Sheila is pretty special....:-) Hugs

Eileen said...

Happy Birthday, Sheila!

I loved hearing about your wonderful relationship with your sister, Bernie! And I can relate to it too, I feel the same way about my sisters, it's such a special bond and I understand how Blessed you feel.
We are lucky to have such wonderful women in our lives!

Best regards to your sister on her special day!
Love to you,
Eileen

Bernie said...

Eileen, thank you. I agree those of us who are blessed with sisters have been given a very special gift. I thank God every night for my family......big hugs to Jayden and Mia.....:-)

Gail said...

HI BERNIE-

Oh my this so wonderful to read about. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR AMAZING SISTER SHEILA"!! :-)

I am so happy you shared about her and how close you two are. As you know, I so appreciate 'sisters' - and yours is such a blessing. And Bernie, when you described her and all her qualities and gifts you two could be twins.

Love and happiness to you both
Gail'pece

Donna said...

Happy Birthday Sheila! :)
I know both of you are happy to have each other as sisters. My sister has been there for me through the tough times and for the good times that will come. My daughter, Jennifer misses her sister, Amber so much.
God Bless both of you,
Donna

Bernie said...

Gail that is why I hurt so bad for you when your sister had a heart attack....I know how much my own heart would of been breaking had it been one of my sisters.
Sheila is much better than me my friend, she can cook, clean and move around me in circles but we both love the same and that is a blessing......Thank you sweetie, have a great day.....:-) Hugs

Barb said...

Happy Birthday Sheila! You sound like Bernie's Guardian Angel. All the best to you in the coming year!

Bernie said...

Thank you Donna, Jennifer will always remember and know the special bond she had with Amber, nothing can ever change that so she too knows how powerful a sister's love is. I'm sure Jennifer will always feel Amber with her.
Thank you Donna, you are a very special lady......:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Oh Barb, if Sheila could I know she would thank you herself, I know you would love her almost as much as I do......:-) Hugs

Lisa Smith said...

happy birthday sheila!! what a blessing you are to each other =)

Bernie said...

Thank you from my sister, Lisa.... hope all is going well for you and your family......:-) Hugs

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tribute to your sister. Happy birthday Sheila!

Anonymous said...

Your sister sounds amazing...but I am sure her friends say the same to her about you. It is fantastic that you have somebody so wonderful in your life...and of course I like her more because she is from Scotland ;))

Happy Birthday Sheila!

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

What a special relationship..... and how lovely to sharing a posting about your sister in honour of her special day.

♥ Liz ♥ said...

Happy Birthday Sheila.
She sounds like a wonderful person so very caring and loving. We who are lucky enough to have sisters are truly blessed. I hope my sister and I are still laughing together in another 40 years time :0)

Wanda..... said...

Good morning Bernie...I would love to wish Sheila a Happy Birthday, I guess it would be a belated one this morning! You are a most wonderful sister Sheila and you have a most wonderful sister in Bernie! Your parents would be proud of your closeness. I agree with Joan...they certainly did something right! I have 2 wonderful sisters myself, I know the love!
Have a wonderful day Bernie and you too Sheila!
Love,
Wanda

Rebecca said...

Bernie, I'm so glad you're feeling better. I hope the rest of the winter finds you healthy and able to do all your little heart desires!

Happy Birthday, Sheila. The two of you were very definitely "cut from the same cloth"!

I especially like the picture of the two of you laughing and crying together at night as she cared for you after your surgery. What a tender, heart-warming picture that SPELLS "sisters".

May God bless you both on this special day even though thousands of miles apart.

Anvilcloud said...

Wow, that is a very special person to make a trip like that an to "do for you" for so long. She deserves a great birthday, and I trust that she will get one.

Bernie said...

Charlie and me, thank you and I hope you have a wonderful weekend my friend......:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

ED, oh you would enjoy my sister's company, she is so much fun and she is now far more Scottish than Canadian.......:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Thank you Brenda, have a wonderful weekend....:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Oh Rebecca, thank you for your kind words, my sister is pretty special........:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Hi Wanda, you are right on time sweetie....Sheila's birthday is January 8th and there is a 7 hour time difference between us. Thank you Wanda, have a wonderful weekend. Big hugs to Alivia.....:-)

Bernie said...

A/C oh she is special, our older sister arrived and the 3 of us had a couple of weeks together before Sheila went back home. Sylvia stayed the following 9, yes 9 months with me until I was on my feet again and all treatment was finished....I am so blessed....Hugs

Bernie said...

Liz, it is a wonderful thing to know you will have a sister to laugh with in 40 years times, sisters are pretty special.
Have a great weekend Liz....:-) Hugs

Dani said...

I'm glad that you're close to your sister. They are so important!

I hope that I didn't offend you with my post today. I just get so tired of people thinking they are doing good or changing the world through facebook. But I understand your point that things like that raise awareness about the cause. And I should have been more gentle in my words towards that.

I'm glad that you had your sister with you through your battle with breast cancer. Happy Birthday to her!

Abbey's Road said...

Bernie, you have the most beautiful spirit. You think of me, someone you only know through written word, and you pray for me and my needs. You are a treasure of a friend. Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. I am winning the fight with satan. My prayers are answered every day. Today is a very good day. God is taking care of everything, one at a time and I am patient with His works.

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your sweet sister!

God bless you, Bernie,
Abbey

Bernie said...

Dani,of course not, I understood your post completely and was happy you care enough about the subject to post about it....I love your post.
Thank you for my sister's birthday greeting, she is so special to me.
Have a great snow day with your girls and that pizza sounds so very good right now......:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Oh Abbey you are so easy to care for with your beautiful heart.
So glad you are having a good day and I wish more joy in all your days.
Thanks for the shout out to my sister, she is such a lovely person and I love her to bits.
Have a great weekend.....:-) Hugs

Jackie said...

Happy Birthday Sheila...
What a sweet post you wrote, Val.
Sweet hearts must run in the family...you have a beautiful one...and from your writing, I can tell that she is a sweetheart.
With many hugs,
Jackie

Bernie said...

Hi Jackie, thank you. Sheila really is a wonderful sister.
I hope everything is going well with you, still waiting for your e-mail, know I care so very much for you and your family.....:-) Hugs

glnroz said...

Not for us allowing you to share, but for you sharing,, Happy Birthday to your sister.

Bernie said...

Thanks Glen, have your most wonderful weekend ever my friend and I am enjoying your post, wish we could get more involved in this discussion......:-) Hugs

Anne said...

Hi Bernie,
Such a wonderful tribute to your sister. I am sure she feels the same way about you. My brother has always been there for me and it is a wonderful feeling. It is very special to have that kind bond.
Hope your sister had a wonderful day.
Take care.

Bernie said...

Anne, a family is everything...they always gives a soft place to land when we fall. I am blessed to have wonderful brothers and sisters....:-) Hugs

Marian Dean said...

What a wonderful tribute to your obviously much loved sister Sheila! Happy Birthday.
Love Granny

Bernie said...

Granny, thank you the Good Lord blessed me with wonderful parents and my brothers and sisters are such a blessing to me.....:-) Hugs

Garnetrose said...

Happy Birthday to your sister, Bernie. The two of you are blessed to have each other as sisters. The closest thing I have to a sister is my Foster sister, Shirley and I am going to do a a post about her some day. She has been dealing with colon cancer now and it has been a struggle.

Bernie, I am of the thought that you have a wonderful sister because you are a wonderful sister to her. My mom and my aunt were much like you and your sister. Blessed, very blessed to have each other. All three of you are blessed to have each other.

Bernie said...

Garnet, thank you sweetie. I do believe that to have a great sister you have to be a good sister just as to have a friend you must be a friend so God has blessed me with beautiful sisters and wonderful friends....I can't think of a world without either. Looking forward to your post on your foster sister, I will pray for her and her battle with colon cancer.......:-) Hugs

Valerie said...

A lovely post, Bernie. Best wishes to Sheila on her birthday. Having a sister like her is a blessing and I'm sure she feels the same about you. Hugs

Bernie said...

Hi Val, I do hope you are warm and the weather is finally giving you a break over there. Seems so unusual.
My sister is pretty special. Take care my friend.....:-) Hugs

Brian Miller said...

happy birthday to your sis. she sounds like a wonderful person. it took me many years to get back on even ground with my sis...so glad we did though.

Bernie said...

Brian, I am so glad that you and your sister have worked things out.
I just can't imagine a world without either of my sisters or my brothers for that matter.....Hugs

Just Be Real said...

Bernie, this is a lovely post. Thank you for sharing your sibling with us and Happy Birthday to her! Blessings.

Bernie said...

JBR....thank you. I do wish you a wonderful weekend....:-) Hugs

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Oh, what a fantastic sister you have!!! The two of you are truly a perfect match, it sounds like...because I can imagine that you would have done the same for her!!!! I think you have simply an amazing family!!!! This post brought tears to my eyes...so beautiful the love you have and share!!! Thank you, dearest Bernie...you're a gem! ~Janine XO

Bernie said...

Janine, I have been blessed with 2 wonderful sisters and I love them dearly....and yes I would be there in a heartbeat for either of them for sure........:-) Hugs

Cheryl said...

Happy Birthday to Sheila! What a wonderful sister you have. How much comfort she must have brought you during such a stressful time, and I smiled when I read she slept beside you, laughed and cried with you. You both are blessed!

Bernie said...

Cheryl, thank you for your kind words, my 2 sisters and I are very blessed being in each other's life. They are a realy blessing to me.....:-) Hugs

Elizabeth Mahlou said...

What a wonderful relationship you have with your sister!

Bernie said...

Hi Elizabeth, oh yes it is wonderful to have two wonderful sisters....hope Ray is doing better...blessings to you and your family.......:-) Hugs

Tranquility Speaks said...

A very Happy Belated birthday to your sister. You truly are blessed Bernie to be able to experience the love of god in the form of your sister :-) Am very Happy for you and I hope your sister had a great day :)

Bernie said...

Stillness, thank you....I have been so blessed in many ways and to have two sisters like I do makes my life so good....:-) Hugs

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Sheila. I was with my sister too through the breast cancer, chemo and radiation, but God had other plans for her. I joy in your relationship with your sister and consider you so lucky. Blessings
Hope you are feeling better Bernie.
QMM

Diana said...

Well a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your sister Sheila. She sounds like a true gem. I think you are both very fortunate to have each other!
Love Di

Bernie said...

Peggy, you were there for your sister and she knew she was loved, that's what important.....:-) Hugs

Bernie said...

Hello Di, my sisters owns a huge part of my heart.....:-) Hugs

tattytiara said...

That is definitely a sister worth celebrating.

Bernie said...

tattytiara.....she is celebrated by all who know her....:-) Hugs

Kelly said...

Just read the blog -Meditation from the Cardinal Nest - by Ruth !
At January 7 post ,you will see one amazing story about one amazing sister .She`s looking for founds to feed some hungryes childrens .
I just thinking how i can realy help !??
I pray that Joy For All will minister to it's visitors
and will encourage and bless everyone in some way.
We can identify with the disciples. At times, we have
a tendency to focus on the things that are going on around us instead of the One that is in control of all things. When that happens, reality may seem overwhelming, and the problems appear unsolvable. However, we must realize to be fearful
is to lack faith in God and in His provision for us. True faith focuses on God, not on the things that are happening.Psalm 139:11-12
If I say, surely the darkness shall fall on me,
Even the night shall be light about me.
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide
from You, but the night shines as the day,
the darkness and the light are both
a like to You.
in Jesus love >>

Bernie said...

Kelly, I'm not sure we have met, thank you for visiting my blog.
Have a good day......:-) Hugs

Donna's Book Nook said...

Bernie--sisters are really special people--I have 2 sisters who are also really good friends. You are blessed to have her--and she is blessed to have you.

Thank you for the sweet comments on my blog from time to time. Have a great day!

Bernie said...

Hi Donna, so happy for your visit. I lost you a while from my reader, blogger sometimes does this for me.
I am so glad your back on.....Hugs

Kelly said...

I follow the blogs where the catholic sister are !
I just love you blog .
I made one new sister in Christ ,shes name is Violeta and she have one touching story about her past and now she work with so much passions for others and shes so sweet!
I just love her ,her story inspired me so much !

Thanks for hugs...:-)Hugs and blessings from me ,too!!!

Bernie said...

Kelly, do you have a blog? I think you might enjoy blogging and you will meet many sisters in faith if you desire.....:-) Hugs

Kelly said...

I looking and i working on hard to have one al least in two weeeks !
I will be happy to have you and sister in Christ !
Violeta want to meet also many sister in Christ , i will mail her you blog adress and she will visit you .
I live in York United Kingdom and I`m catholic !!
Violeta live in Romania shes grandma was catholic ,shes father and shes mother to evanghelic church !But she lost the parents when she was achild , just read her story you will find one amazing woman !
Love and blessings !!!

Bernie said...

Kelly, please send me Violeta's blog address and I will visit her and read her story. Thank you....Hugs

Kelly said...

Violeta didnt have a blog also - Debby Alten one writer from SUA will make one blog for her ,soon.
You can read her story on this blog - Meditation from the Cardinal Nest - is blog of one amazing sister - Ruth !
Ruth posted in 4 January ,this month about this amazing sisiter !
The little foundation where Violeta works have one dutch name and i will ask her on mail right now !
blessings 11

Kelly said...

Violeta didnt have one blog , one writer from SUA -Debby Alten -will help her for that .
You can find her story here at this blog - Meditation from the Cardinal Nest by sister Ruth !
She posted on 4 january Violeta`s story .
I just love her passion and shes insights are so blessed from above.
She have just 32 yrs and one great heart !
blessings in Christ Love !