For my Beautiful Mom

Dear Mom,
In times past I have selfishly viewed my birthday as something all about me. Now that I have three blessings of my own and have had the opportunity to go through the "Birth Day" process twice I have decided that maybe MY birthday is actually a little more meaningul to you. While God gave Eve the duty of child bearing as a curse for her sin and labor pains are most definitely pains, my personal experience giving birth to your precious grandsons was something that I will never forget. I only hope that my birthday blessed you in the same way. That though I'm sure you experienced a tremendous amount of pain and discomfort that you somehow don't really quite remember that quite so vividly but instead remember what it felt like the first time you saw my face. Seeing Elijah, Jonah, and Noah for the first time was breathtaking. Was it that way for you?  I realized last night that I have never actually asked you how YOU felt on my birthday. When you first saw my bald little head did you cry? Smile? Laugh? Did they put me on your chest right away or take me and clean and wrap me first? What did it feel like to hold me for the first time? Did you and Dad smother me with kisses? Was the utter exhaustion worth it? I know you weren't expecting me for another few weeks...was I a pleasant surprise? I am sorry my early appearance made you miss your baby shower. That was your time to glow and enjoy yourself. Instead you traded it for cuddling your new baby daughter close to you to feed and burp and change stinky diapers all while having to smell the strong aroma of spices and Lord know what else from your roommate's visitors. If only you were able to experience single patient rooms like I did.... I remember feeling overwhelmed with wonderful emotions after having my children although even though my experiences were not so long ago I can't exactly pinpoint them. In any event, I hope that after 31 years at least one word can be used to describe the events that took place on that February 5th...amazing.

I love you Mom (and Dad) and thank you so much for being wonderful parents. I hope you consider this day all those many years ago to be one of the best days of your life. Although I cannot possibly remember all that went on, I know I do.