Let me tell you a story. A story about a little girl who was born June 2, 1955. She was a blonde haired, blue-eyed precious bundle of joy who went on to live a magnificent life. To be adopted by the most angelic woman in the world. To marry the epitome of a gentleman and a scholar. To have 4 children who she would lay down her life for. To be called Mimi by 12 (and counting!) grandchildren who think she hung the moon.
A few months ago, her life forever changed when the results from her Ancestry tests came back. Then as she decided to take the 23&Me DNA test, she discovered an entire part of her life that for 60+ years she never had answers to. She learned who her birth parents' names. She learned that she had a whole slew of half-siblings. She had pieces put together of how & why her birth parents gave her up for adoption. And for the first time in her life, she had pictures of her as a newborn, baby, and toddler. A simple pleasure that we all take for granted.
Mother's Day weekend, she had the opportunity to meet her birth mom. It was an emotional, private meeting between just the two of them. A bittersweet moment for each as they were face to face for the first time since my mom was 2 years old.
We spent that Friday evening meeting many of her cousins on that side of the family. Their kids and grandkids gathered to welcome us with open arms. The family resemblance was something out of this world and caught us all off guard. But the hospitality and commonalities that we share was nothing short of the best kind of special surprise.
On Mother's Day, my dad spent an hour making the perfect picture for my mom. A recount of her life and the things that have made her who she is today. You will see my mom, the flower, surrounded by 22 petals (which is the amount of people in our immediate family). The sunshine is my dad as he came along and brightened her life but also my grandma Comley's. "MC", as she was so affectionately referred to as, is the water. It was her who watered my mom to life and love from the first day she met her. Below the flower are her 4 children, 4 in-law kids (because in our family they are part of the whole package!), and her 12 grandkids.
But the text was the sweetest and most true part, "We've always known who you were; Now you know who you are!"
For we have always known exactly who she was and what her heart holds, but now she knows her complete story from birth until now.
That story is the story of my mom, Sandra Jane Collins.
And what a glorious one it has been to be a part of.
I
was also loved on by my sweet babies as we celebrated and honored my
mom for all that she has done for us, our spouses, and our kids. Sweet homemade cards and goodies from those who I love most! But my favorite part was the little arms around my neck giving endless hugs throughout the day...I am a lucky daughter and a lucky mom!
