Today is a special day. It's special to many people - to me, to Darrin, to my friends and my family. But today is probably the most special to my parents. Today is an anniversary for them. It's an anniversary of an excited day, filled with joy and wonderment. Today, 26 years ago, my mother gave me life. Yes, today is my birthday.
I guess that now I'm a mother myself, I see birthdays a little differently. On one hand, I couldn't care less of another year older. Birthdays are more fun for the kids and now that I have kids of my own (and having Rylee's birthday the day after mine)- my birthday seems to be just another day. However I also see birthdays differently because I've had the privilege of creating someone else's birthday--two birthdays, as a matter of fact. And now I see the anniversary of one's birth in a whole new light.
So with my newly found perspective, I want to say thank you. Thank you to my parents, who for 9 months or so planned for my arrival. I'm sure they laid in bed wondering how the "big day" would pan out -- when it would come, what would happen, how Lana would take to a new sibling. They gathered things for me to wear and to play with . They rejoiced with family and friends. I'm sure my mom and dad talked to me through the belly and my mom probably stayed awake many nights due to me kicking and playing inside. Sorry, mom, for keeping you up - and sorry that it wasn't the last time I kept you up at night either! They did think I was a boy and that I was due June 8th. However, I came out May 28th....as a girl. :) (I think it was the first and last time I was ever early) Thanks, mom and dad, for not being too disappointed you didn't have a boy and thank you to Lana for naming me.
Thank you mom for enduring hours of labor and for delivering me. It might sound silly, but it's truly a labor of love and I thank you for that. Thank you, dad, for being by her side. For holding her up when her knees crumbled in pain and for helping her breathe to get through one more contraction. I'm sure you helped a lot that day, thank you for that. Thank you for holding me close, all wrapped up and probably still a little gooey. Thank you for being excited that I came into the world and praying for me, as I know you did so many times. Above all, thank you for loving me. From the first moment you looked into my eyes and counted every finger and every toe --I'm sure you kissed my little head and told me you would love me unconditionally. Thank you for keeping that promise.
So although, today, people may celebrate me and my life, I will celebrate my parents. This really is their day. Congratulations, Mom and Dad, on the birth your baby girl - I'm sure you remember it like yesterday. Thank you for giving me a wonderful 26 years.
wow jen...i never really thought of it this way. reading this gave me goosebumps and i literally pictured my parents with me in their belly as i read this. Now i want to take the time to thank YOU for this blog...I think i will look at all birthdays in an entirely new light...a better light. Happy Anniversary to your mom and dad!!! ---nikki
ReplyDeleteWow, as I read your blog, there are tears streaming down my face. A mere, "thank you" cannot come close to the gratitude I want to convey to you. We certainly do not feel deserving of your kind words, however, we are so appreciative and blessed by them. There have been times that I have thought, "someday, when you are a mom you will understand!". I believe that day has come. What a wonderful testament you have created for us. We have often said that we are not raising children, but by God's grace, we strive to raise adults. You are a shining example of what we hoped to accomplish. We truly treasure the woman you have become. Proverbs 31:28 reads ~ Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her. I know this is how Darrin, Rylee and Jake feel. Please include us in this group. We are so proud of you and are privileged to call you our daughter. Thanks again, and by the way, happy birthday. Love, Mom and Dad
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