Evendays

I can remember coming home from school at 2 pm at the age of 17 and finding my mom laying on the couch crying. She was 5 months pregnant and had had a doctor’s appointment that morning. I thought the worst, but then she started laughing, which was very weird.

She explained that the doctor had been concerned after listening through the stethoscope and wanted to do x-rays, which were quickly done. Mom heard quite a bit of commotion in the adjoining room when the doctor finally came in with the film and said something like: Mrs. Smith, there are three heads and three spines. You are going to have triplets.

Mom cried some more there on that couch. I remember thinking what all this would mean to our family. Sister was 15, a high-school sophomore. I was heading off to University the following year. Mom and Dad were in their late 30’s…

And they were starting a second family.

My parents’ trust that children (especially triplets) are a blessing from God, and the expectant joy that entered our home that day changed our lives forever. And early on a Wednesday morning, December 1, 1976, our family nearly doubled in size. And tripled our joy.

Happy birthday B, B, and B.