Simply Saturday–Mothertime

This past Tuesday, we celebrated my twin daughters’ 15-year birthdays. Each year as we approach their birthdays, I find myself reflecting on the weeks that led up to their premature births. I remember the fear and excitement I felt as they were brought into the world eight weeks early. I also remember the joy and gratitude I experienced as I held my two beautiful infants in my arms, looking at their peacefully serene faces, their full heads of dark brown hair, and watching as they both breathed completely on their own. True miracles from their conception to their births.

This year, because of just returning from my trip, I found myself trying to re-enter my life at home and prepare for their birthday in short order. There was no time for reflection. But that blessed joy, gratitude, and awe that resurfaces every year was there just below the surface. As my husband and I chose birthday cards for each of them, I felt the lump in my throat and then the tears, acknowledging that they have been a profound gift in my life. He and I talked about the passing of the years as well as the memories of their first days in this world.

Their birthday is a wonderful and profoundly moving day for me as I watch my once premature infant girls continue to evolve into beautiful young women. I am so honored to be their mother–so often humbled by the wisdom they’ve brought into this world and yet also grateful for the wisdom I carry which enables me to help them navigate life’s challenges.

Today, my eldest daughter is arriving with her family from California. Her husband, along with my ten-year old granddaughter and nine-year old grandson, will be visiting us for the first time since we moved to Colorado almost five years ago. I adopted my daughter when she was two years old. Although I did not give birth to her nor did I experience the first two years of her life, I feel deeply connected to her and will always consider her my first-born. I know she and I were intended to experience this lifetime with each other as mother and daughter–she is another miracle in my life.

As I reflect on the events of this past week, leading up to today, I am filled with gratitude for being a mother to all three of these lovely female creatures. Each is uniquely different and yet all three are amazing and awe-inspiring women. No matter what may unfold in our future lives, I know that I will be eternally grateful for having been given the gift of being mother to these three passionate, creative, and compassionate human beings.