Twenty years ago today, The Deer Hunter and I were planing and packing for my scheduled delivery of the girls. The photo above was taken on the following morning. The big day had finally arrived and there was no turning back.
Every time I see the photo I think “We’re looking at each other like how in the world did we end up here and what the heck are we going to do about it?” Not that we weren’t happy to be expecting parents, but twins? Geesh we didn’t even know if we were ready for one child and somehow we were about to end up with two.
I won’t bore you with the details, but my pregnancy was a nightmare. From the start I had every pregnancy aliment you can think of and a few you’ve probably never even heard of!
By the time I had the girls I had already been admitted to the hospital at least a half a dozen times for one complication or another and then the scheduled delivery ended up in a rather hurried c-section on top of all of that.
We knew very early on that I was carrying twins. It seemed like everywhere I went someone told me they prayed for twins or that having twins was their life long wish. Honestly, I felt so miserable that having twins wasn’t something I was happy about. Every time someone shared their twin dream with me I thought “Well I wish you were having twins too-instead of me-then maybe I wouldn’t be so sick!
After the girls were born, it didn’t take me long to realize I had been given the ultimate gift. No wonder all those people wanted twins.
Having the girls in our lives has filled every day of the last 20 years with brightness and joy. We will be forever grateful they were given to us.
Today the girls will be playing in Gainesville, GA the city were they were born. We scheduled the gig months ago and I never even thought about it being the day before their birthday, but it somehow seems fitting.
I’m thankful we get what we need…even when we don’t even know we need it.
Tipper
Wishing the girls a belated Happy Birthday! And what a coincidence, 20 years ago this Thursday we were at that very same hospital in Gainesville being blessed with the gift of our son Noah. Great memories!
tipper thank you for sharing your memories…happy birthday chitter and chatter….you are two beautiful ladies…much love to you and your family…sending big ladybug hugs
lynn
I don’t say this lightly.Those babies are beautiful.I’m sure you agree.
LG
Awww, so sweet.
Thanks for sharing this miracle and the blessings with them with us.
God truly DOES fulfill all of our needs. It’s often sad to me to see some complain about their every desire not being fulfilled, seeming to be confused of the difference between a need, a want and a desire – a difference which can sometimes be HUGE.
Prayers everyone has a truly blessed Sunday, and a safe one too.
God bless.
RB
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Happy Birthday to the girls, I hope they have a wonderful birthday! My birthday was the 22nd. I loved seeing your beautiful photos!
Pam
scrap-n-sewgrannt.blogspot.com
You both did a beautiful job of raising such lovely girls. Happy birthday to all of you.
Happy Birthday to the Lovely Young Ladies, and I hope to finally see ya’ll at the Festival next weekend!
Tipper,
It was worth all the troubling hardships. Happy Birthday Chitter and Chatter!!! We are all so proud of you and have got to watch you grow up into Beautiful Young Ladies. God is sharing His Blessings with us. …Ken
I thought this might be appropiate for tomorrow!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KYW3uKwzvE
Happy Birthday! All sorts of adventures are waiting for you!
Happy birthday! Children are such a blessing. I remember the quote about having your heart outside your body for the rest of your life–so, so true and yet I’d never want to live without my son.
As I began reading today’s entry I became giddy with excitement. Even though I don’t have direct Appalachian ties, I am country, and I’ve always felt a “connection” to you and your family (probably because of your skills as a writer. But then, I thought, could it be – perhaps some astrological connection – for today is my birthday – – but then I ascertained that the girls birthday is tomorrow – – sigh – – close – but not quite the same. Even so, Happy Birthday girls – – and to your parents who celebrate every time they see or think of you.
Happy birthday to Chitter and Chatter. They have grown up to become young ladies you can be proud of.
I observed births as a student nurse, and believe it to be the most exciting experience we can observe or have. God certainly knows how to give us wonderful gifts. I read once a long time ago that babies are so much trouble that nobody would want one. Therefore God chose to make them so sweet and cute that we would find them irresistible. So, so true! All the trouble and work becomes a labor of love.
Hau’oli lā Hānau (Happy Birthday) and Aloha from Hawaii!
We have twin great nieces that were were born yesterday. So far I’ve only seen pictures – haven’t held them yet. We have two other sets – a boy and a girl in each – all great nieces and great nephews. My wife had twin sisters so I guess it skipped a generation. I love them all whether singles or in bunches.
Happy Birthday to the girls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YozC9wlp8-A
“Happy Birthday”
Peggy L.
Happy Birthday to two very talented young ladies, Looking forward to seeing you guys tomorrow at church. Joe and Mary
Happy Birthday to all four of you!!!!
And a Happy 61st wedding anniversary to Jean and her young man from Kentucky!!
Happy Birthday girls. Gayle
Happy Birthday to the Girls, and Congratulations to Mom and Dad for raising two Beautiful Babies to be wonderful, respectable Young Ladies.. God knew what he was doing..
The pediatrician told us, “They will change your life.” And they do. And they have. It doesn’t take so very long before we think, ‘How did I think I had a life before children?’ But then of course we’re left with, ‘How will I have one after they leave?’ But somehow we soldier on.
I am glad to have become acquainted with you all, even if only remotely. I am encouraged by every relation you make to what is good and true and beautiful.
Happy birthday, Chatter and Chitter. I hope you are not sad to no longer be teenagers
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS! Jean
Happy Birthday to two beautiful and talented young ladies.
Being the husband of a labor and delivery nurse I know more about pregnancy complications and delivering babies than I really want to but the miracle of life is a fascinating thing.
Congratulations to you and your husband on a job well done in raising your girls!
Hi Tipper,What beautiful memorys and pictures of a very dear family.thank you for shareing, 61 year ago today I married a Ky young man and we took the gray hound bus on my first trip into the mountains.May God bless! jean
Happy Birthday to my daughter’s favorite band! My wife and I are in Boone NC this weekend and we wanted to make tomorrow’ show but it is 3 hours in the other direction. Plus, Alex would be hopping mad if we saw the Pressley Girls without her!
Happy Birth Day – to all four of you! 🙂
Happy birthday, Chitter and Chatter!
AND, the hurried c section was in a closed unit of the hospital because they we in the process of moving to another location!
It has been an amazing time, watching those pretty little girls turn into stunning , sweet, and talented young women. Gifts of God!
Happy birthday to the twins, and continued blessings to you all.