The holidays are hard without Angie

[rhiannon55]

I posted here a while back about my missing niece, Angie, and received such kind responses. My sister Marianne, Angie's mother, has been actively trying to find her and recently posted the following short essay on http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/ a website for families with missing loved ones. I wanted to share it with you all.

Monday, December 18, 2006
Home for the Holidays--Angie Yarnell

It's Christmas, AGAIN! I remember so vividly when it so seemed impossible for my daughter, Angie, to have been gone for 4 months. This will be our 4th year without our lovely Angie. You would think it would get easier but it does not for me. The first Christmas Angie had been gone only 2 months so I just knew that she would come home for the holidays. I thought that, at the very least, she would send a card. Well, really I knew she wouldn't because she couldn't. I wouldn't dare to say that aloud, so I allowed myself to think it.

Angie and I were always so excited about Christmas and she was a "card person", just like me. The first Christmas she was gone we bought her presents, wrapped them, and put them under the tree. A couple of weeks later, I carried them upstairs and put them in a closet. Soon after, I bought a big trunk and put them in it. Every year since, I've bought her a gift but just took them straight to the trunk. I've filled the trunk with gifts that I've bought throughout the years at various holidays. I also have 6 notebooks full of letters to her that I've written, and videos of various TV spots regarding her being missing...all in the "famous trunk".

I remember the Christmas of 1999 fondly. Angie was such a help to me that year. I had been diagnosed with throat cancer. I had just completed the long, aggressive radiation treatments shortly before the holidays that year. I was weak and pretty sick. Angie bought me a stained glass chicken lamp. It is sort of a night light. I have never turned it off. I've only had to replace about 3 or 4 bulbs in all these years. I find myself staring at it every single day, treasuring it as if it were crystal. That year she also made up an elaborate basket of herbal teas and flavored honeys, etc., as my throat was such a mess. I always bought her things for her house as that is what she liked. She and her husband never had a lot of money for household decorations. She always insisted on making most of the gifts she gave. She was quite artistic, and she never forgot the pets. Blossom, her beloved dog, always came with them. Blossom was the sweetest little girl!

Today, I hate everything about these holidays. I don't let on though. We still have my son, Eric, and his 8 year old daughter, Samantha. And we still have my husband's son, Tommy Jr. So, for little Samantha's sake, we have a nice Christmas. We are so blessed to have this little girl. She reminds me of Angie. I miss Angie so badly that I'm certain that there is a hole in my heart.

Marianne, Mother of Angie Yarnell
http://www.blogger.com/www.Geocities.Com/FindAngieYarnell

Name: Michelle Angela Yarnell
Classification: Endangered Missing Adult
Alias / Nickname: Angie
Date of Birth: 1975-05-20
Date Missing: 2003-10-25
From City/State: Ivy Bend, MO
Missing From (Country): USA
Age at Time of Disappearance: 28
Gender: Female
Race: White
Height: 60 inches
Weight: 170 pounds
Hair Color: Lt. Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Complexion: Light
Glasses/Contacts Description: Glasses with round gold wire frames or clear contacts.

Identifying Characteristics: Pierced tongue, pierced ears, tattoo of a jagged barb wire fence in black ink around right wrist, tattoo of a green "frog" on left shoulder blade, tattoo of the word "obey" written in black cryptic writing, small surgical scars on each side of her hip.

Jewelry: Possibly wearing a white gold or silver watch, white gold or silver bracelets worn on right wrist, emerald earrings.

Circumstances of Disappearance: Unknown. Michelle was last seen at her residence in the vicinity of the 3900 block of Ozark View Rd. in Ivy Bend, MO. All personal belongings were left behind.

Investigative Agency: Morgan County Sheriff's Office
Phone: [phone]
Investigative Case #: MCS03-1296

[crim son]

1. The letter brought tears to my eyes.

I am so sorry that your family has suffered in this way. :hug:

[wildhorses]

2. there are no words to express myself adequately --i am SO sorry

:hug:

[Bullwinkle925]

3. This is the worst sense of loss - unanswered questions.

I feel very badly for your entire family. You're all in my thoughts.

[xchrom]

4. blessing of peace and good hope to you and your family.