Today was Ruby and Nora's third birthday! It is so cliche to say, but wow the last three years have gone by so fast. It is hard to even imagine what it felt like on day one of twin parenting. We had so many uncertainties about the future. We had no idea what lay ahead except for foreboding predictions of how hard the next couple of years would be. and they were! They were so hard. They pushed me further than I knew I could be pushed physically, mentally, and emotionally. There were days that were tough. I can't stress that enough.
But the reality is that today, their birthday, is always so special to me. Every year feels monumental. We've made it another year! I've jokingly called it the McCracken Family Holiday. It is a big deal for all of us. The last two birthdays have had an overwhelming feeling of, "whew! We've survived! We've made it!". and today felt like just a complete celebration. A celebration of how far we've come. Of how much we have grown. Josh and I have never been more solid than we are now. We have never taken better care of each other than we do now. Having three children so close together forced me to really learn how to take care of myself. I realized that my emotional and mental health were essential to being a healthy mom so I went on a journey seeking ways to care for myself, even while caring for my family (If you're wondering, that looks like exercising regularly. Eating well. and having time for myself every morning to drink coffee alone on my front porch or in front of my fireplace depending on the season. Self care doesn't take much for me right now.)
So today, while the girls were out with their grandpa, I went for a run. But I didn't listen to upbeat music that would motivate me to run faster, I listened to music by Sleeping At Last, which is music that really touches my heart. I have just recovered from a couple of injuries and I was yearning for a good run. As I ran, I felt so strong and so healthy. Mentally and physically. I was listening to the lyrics of the song "Light" which is about parenting, and on a path by myself, and a momma deer and her baby paused on the path in front of me and I tell you what, I just raised my hands just praising God and praising life and praising all of the good in my life. Opening my hands, skyward, just feeling utterly present and open and grateful. Overflowing. I could have cried, honestly. How is this my life? How did we survive and come out stronger, better, and happier? Isn't it supposed to go the other way? Won't it eventually anyway? None of it mattered. We are good. We are good. My girls are good. All of them. They are healthy and beautiful. Precious and wonderful. Thoughtful and kind. I came home and cut flowers from my garden and got ready for the day. I told Josh that my run felt worshipful. It was. I don't know how to explain it, but it was.
It was a perfect day. We woke up with balloons on the stairs ("Mom?! ARE THESE BALLONS FOR MY BIRTHDAY??" -Nora) We spent the day spontaneously singing happy birthday. We got mcdonalds for lunch (what a treat ;-)), we swam together off of the pontoon. We opened gifts. We ate pizza for dinner because I didn't want to be cleaning and cooking rather than enjoying my girls birthday. We ate cake. We camped. (I'm writing from the camper now.) It was so special.
We got Piper a gift. Something small, a Moana necklace. Ruby and Nora got the little gifts they requested too. Sometimes I wonder if someone might think it is silly that we get Piper gifts on Ruby and Nora's birthday. I couldn't care less if they do. The thing is, the birth of twins at such a young age... for Piper... they are completely intertwined in her life. They do everything together. They are a tour de force, these girls of mine. Flanked on either side by their sisters. They enter any room and any scenario with the confident assurance that they are already surrounded by love and outnumber any bully. It almost makes no sense that they have different birthdays at all. and so I didn't see a point in forcing her to sit out the festivities. She has put up with a lot over the last three years and I wanted to celebrate what having twin sisters meant for her, too. So she got a small gift. She will probably always get a small gift.
Anyway, I am rambling. This is writing I don't do. I prefer to be much more carefully crafted and thought out. I worry about what people think who read this, but the reality is that almost no one reads this, haha! So I just want to reclaim this space to be a little more free with my words and thoughts. Today was perfect. It was such a gift.
But the reality is that today, their birthday, is always so special to me. Every year feels monumental. We've made it another year! I've jokingly called it the McCracken Family Holiday. It is a big deal for all of us. The last two birthdays have had an overwhelming feeling of, "whew! We've survived! We've made it!". and today felt like just a complete celebration. A celebration of how far we've come. Of how much we have grown. Josh and I have never been more solid than we are now. We have never taken better care of each other than we do now. Having three children so close together forced me to really learn how to take care of myself. I realized that my emotional and mental health were essential to being a healthy mom so I went on a journey seeking ways to care for myself, even while caring for my family (If you're wondering, that looks like exercising regularly. Eating well. and having time for myself every morning to drink coffee alone on my front porch or in front of my fireplace depending on the season. Self care doesn't take much for me right now.)
So today, while the girls were out with their grandpa, I went for a run. But I didn't listen to upbeat music that would motivate me to run faster, I listened to music by Sleeping At Last, which is music that really touches my heart. I have just recovered from a couple of injuries and I was yearning for a good run. As I ran, I felt so strong and so healthy. Mentally and physically. I was listening to the lyrics of the song "Light" which is about parenting, and on a path by myself, and a momma deer and her baby paused on the path in front of me and I tell you what, I just raised my hands just praising God and praising life and praising all of the good in my life. Opening my hands, skyward, just feeling utterly present and open and grateful. Overflowing. I could have cried, honestly. How is this my life? How did we survive and come out stronger, better, and happier? Isn't it supposed to go the other way? Won't it eventually anyway? None of it mattered. We are good. We are good. My girls are good. All of them. They are healthy and beautiful. Precious and wonderful. Thoughtful and kind. I came home and cut flowers from my garden and got ready for the day. I told Josh that my run felt worshipful. It was. I don't know how to explain it, but it was.
It was a perfect day. We woke up with balloons on the stairs ("Mom?! ARE THESE BALLONS FOR MY BIRTHDAY??" -Nora) We spent the day spontaneously singing happy birthday. We got mcdonalds for lunch (what a treat ;-)), we swam together off of the pontoon. We opened gifts. We ate pizza for dinner because I didn't want to be cleaning and cooking rather than enjoying my girls birthday. We ate cake. We camped. (I'm writing from the camper now.) It was so special.
We got Piper a gift. Something small, a Moana necklace. Ruby and Nora got the little gifts they requested too. Sometimes I wonder if someone might think it is silly that we get Piper gifts on Ruby and Nora's birthday. I couldn't care less if they do. The thing is, the birth of twins at such a young age... for Piper... they are completely intertwined in her life. They do everything together. They are a tour de force, these girls of mine. Flanked on either side by their sisters. They enter any room and any scenario with the confident assurance that they are already surrounded by love and outnumber any bully. It almost makes no sense that they have different birthdays at all. and so I didn't see a point in forcing her to sit out the festivities. She has put up with a lot over the last three years and I wanted to celebrate what having twin sisters meant for her, too. So she got a small gift. She will probably always get a small gift.
Anyway, I am rambling. This is writing I don't do. I prefer to be much more carefully crafted and thought out. I worry about what people think who read this, but the reality is that almost no one reads this, haha! So I just want to reclaim this space to be a little more free with my words and thoughts. Today was perfect. It was such a gift.
and here is the series of pictures depicting me falling in, after I had carefully boarded the flamingo without getting wet, ha!
I read! You are a beautiful writer, honest, transparent and genuine.... I loved the rambling! HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY AND NORA! -Kate M
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