Double the Blessings

My mom at Race for the Cure

Double the blessings – that is what it means to me to have two mothers.  Being adopted at birth, and then reunited with my birth mother 20 years ago means that I have had two mothers and two families.  Some people might consider this a curse, but to me, it is a blessing.

God knew what He was doing when He put me in the Gaver family.  Despite some pretty treacherous teenage years, my mom never gave up on me.  My mother continues to bless me today.  Not only has she always supported my kids and I in school, and extra curricular activities, she is my biggest supporter in my personal life.  She encourages me in my business ventures, giving me much needed advice and is always there if I just need someone to listen.  My mom always has a positive attitude.  Over the last few years, she has been plagued with health issues including two different cancers, but she keeps on going.  She has not quit playing bridge, or going out with friends or traveling around the world!  She enriches our lives by taking us to cultural events around town and telling us about the things she has learned at BSU lectures.  This morning, she attended the Race for the Cure, walking 1 mile as a survivor of Breast Cancer, then she went with us to see Hello Dolly, an event in Boise Music Week, out to dinner, then to a comedy fundraiser for our group the Treasure Valley Down Syndrome Association.  My mom is amazing!

God also knew that I needed to know my birth mother and her family.  Those treacherous teenage years were the height of identity issues.  Struggling to figure out who I was, I searched for and found her at age 25.  Knowing my birth family was like being able to look in a mirror.  It took many years before I had much of a relationship with any of them, but I got to know myself better.  I like to think that I shared many things in common with my birth mother.  She was a strong and determined, yet private woman.   We lost my birth mother last year, but since then, I have met even more of my birth family and our relationships continue to grow.  Learning about my heritage and my family has been a blast.

I celebrate my mothers on Mother’s Day.  One, I treasure here with me for as long as I have her and one, I keep in my heart.