A Patient Heart: Andrea Cole is nothing if not patient, compassionate and heartfelt

Mike and Andrea have had some ups and downs in their relationship over the past 25-plus years, but through it all they both have never wavered in being good to each other and the love for their kids. Life is very complicated at times and full of surprises, and at the end of the day nobody is guaranteed how things will turn out. But as long as you stick together, you can get through anything.

“She is an awesome person,” Mike said. “She is my favorite in the whole world. She has the ability to be beautiful and cute at the same time.”

It’s more than just her amazing looks that constantly remind Mike how awesome Andrea is. It is her deep-rooted personality, as she is someone with so much care, so much compassion, and so much heart.

Andrea was born in Arizona, but moved back and forth several times with her parents and brother from Arizona to Wisconsin, and it was during that time that she learned the importance of family. Between that and having the closest mother-daughter relationship with her mom Kathy you could ever find, Andrea learned what it means to be part of a loving family unit, and she worked so hard to provide that for her and Mike’s kids – Jacob and Mitchell.

“Still to this day, she’s firm with them, but they are her world,” Mike said. “She is very fair. The kids had a great childhood.”

From the moment Jacob was born premature and she spent weeks in the hospital by his side, everyone in her life could tell she was born to be a mom. Andrea was in the hospital for a couple of weeks because Jacob’s lungs weren’t developed enough, but she did not give up on him, and eventually he was able to breathe on his own.

Ever since, it’s been all love and adoration for her sons, along with so many others. Although if you cross a line, her exuberant patience does wear thin and it is difficult to get back on Andrea’s good side. And if you are on her good side, you do everything you can to remain that way, as she is the kind of friend who is a friend for life.

“She listens first,” Mike said. “She thinks things through and then speaks. If she disagrees she will let you know, is very supportive, and then will go out of her way to help.”

When it comes to helping, that is even what her current job is all about. Andrea cannot escape the pattern of wanting to help people at all costs, and that is very much seen and appreciated.

“Five years ago, she had done several jobs. Then, she became a hearing instrument specialist,” Mike said. “It was a major undertaking. She taught her way through it. She is board certified. When she gets into something, she gives 110 percent. She sets her mind to it to get it done.”

That is one of the many life lessons Mike and the boys have learned from Andrea along the way, as well as how to live life to the fullest. Whether it was attending Jacob and Mitchell’s baseball games when they were growing up, or whether Mike and Andrea are stopping to smell the candles, life with her is very special and memories are bound to be made.

Andrea, Mike hopes you have the best holiday season, and he wants you to know you are one-of-a-kind. Your family and friends love you very much, and they admire you in so many ways.