The Essence of Thirteen-ness

Today is a crossroads of sorts.
Today is a turning point and a defining moment.

Today, these precious bundles of sweetness will officially become teenagers.

The day they were born was the happiest day of my life up to that point.
After five long years of waiting, hoping, wishing, longing, I became a mother.
There is no other joy like it.
There is no other love quite like it.
They captured me, heart and soul.

And you know what?
Thirteen years later, I can still stay that I have never gotten over the thrill of having these two.
They are not perfect kids, but they are the perfect kids for me.

I wanted to find a way to preserve their personalities, their thoughts, the essence of their thirteen-ness today so that as they continue to grow and change, I can remember what thirteen was like.

The other day I ran into a mom who's son is a classmate of Lincoln & Rachel's. She asked me if I had seen what the twins had posted on the class website.  When I went home and read these couple of paragraphs, I knew that their own words would do more to remind me who they are, than mine ever could.

Each week the teacher poses a question and the kids have to respond.
Here are their words:

Question for week #7
If you had to give a gift to someone, who would you give it to and what would it be?

Rachel:  I would give a gift to my cousin Lauren.  She has Down Syndrome.  She is so cute!  My gift would be that she wouldn't be treated differently than other kids.  Even though she might talk and act differently than other kids, she is the sweetest little girl I have ever met.  I wish people would never be mean to her or make fun of her.  I look up to her so much!  She is only eight and yet she has had open heart surgery.  I am glad that she is special because she has taught me to be a better person and to be grateful for the many things that I have.  I love you Lauren!!!!  Thank you.

Lincoln:  I would give my beloved sister a mall.  Yes, a mall.  She loves clothes, accessories, the boys she could meet at the mall, the whole shabang!!!  She is such a great sister and I love her.

Rachel:  Thank you Link!  You're the bestest friend I have!  You are an amazing person and I really look up to you.  I love you and always will.  I would love a mall!  That would be pretty sweet!!  You know me too well!  You are one in a million, thank you.

Love for others.  Malls and clothes.  Accessories and boys.  (In all fairness, we should include girls on this list for Linc, but as part of the Motherly Code of Conduct I will refrain from elaborating at this time.)

But my favorite part of their thirteen-ness is the love they have for each other.  They are different in so many ways and yet the same in all the ways that count.  They really are the best of friends in an old married couple sort of way.

Welcome #13, I think we're going to get along just fine.

Happy Birthday my Twins.
I love you.