A Tale of Two Girls

This is a tale of two little girls that in the end proves not only the determination of the human body, but the conquering nature of the eternal spirit.

It was a beautiful fall day in November when these two little girls became known to the world. There were only a couple pairs of tear-filled, anxious eyes that day that looked in on them. But in the months to come, there would be many more eyes that would glimpse into their fluid world. Every week it seemed someone was peeking and peering into their warm cozy existence. It didn't bother them too much, sometimes it even made them excited and they would twist and twirl, kicking with joy.

As months went on, noises, sounds and movement from the outside increased. Finally in early February, the girls stopped hearing one particular, special voice that they had grown so accustomed to. It was one they loved to hear as they grew and became bigger and bigger. It seemed only on Wednesdays and Saturdays would they hear that comforting sound. Now the "peeking" became a daily habit and sometimes the outside would look in on the girls up to four times a day.

Closeness, warmth and security are something the girls have always known. Even before they were introduced to the world, they knew not only that every cell and fiber of their beings were the same, but that their hearts were knit together as well. Previously, today and forever will they feel, cry, hug, play and laugh together. Hearts that are connected can never be broken. The girls knew that, even before they came on this journey. Sometimes people on the outside doubted that both girls would come, but the girls always knew they would...together.

Growing, breathing and moving were sometimes challenging. One girl may never know why the other seemed to squeeze and twist around her. She was always content just holding still, but the other was not. Maybe the other was jealous of her because she was always slightly bigger or maybe the other just couldn't contain her enthusiasm and zeal for life as well as she could. Regardless, the outcome was the same: the pressure would restrict her, and she would be held still by the movement of the other. The more still one became, the more intent the outside world became on listening, looking and waiting.

The outside could not touch the girls and could not tell them to be still. It seemed as though they would put the girls in time-out by having another, whose heartbeat was almost as close to them as their own, hold still for many hours at a time. Ears always seemed to be listening at the door, but the girls did not understand why the outside could never quite come in. Finally the girls could stand it no longer and they would start playing again, knowing that with every movement they were growing and learning, figuring out how they were going to enter this foreign world one day. But for now, snuggling, sleeping and eating was as natural as a snail emerging from its shell on a cool, crisp morning.

One of the girls' favorite pasttimes was to listen. Listen closely for the small voices, the ones with lots of energy and enthusiasm. Those voices only seemed to be around on the weekends. There was always lots of movement and excitement when the small voices were near.

As time passed, the girls noticed that their spirits seemed to be getting restless. Occasionally, there would be little blips, little signs of encouragement from the spirits. The girls little bodies did not agree with those encouragements. The outside world seemed to notice because all would become still and the "peeking" became intensified. The bodies kept telling the spirits to wait, to let them get stronger, to let them get bigger. But finally, the girls' spirits could not contain themselves any longer. The spirits needed to know who those voices belonged to. The deeper, warm voice; the anxious peaceful voice (very strange that one voice can contain both emotions at the same time, but it did); the two smaller happy voices. The girls needed to know. They decided it was time to begin their adventure now. There was one last panicked "peek" by those on the outside and six minutes later, the spirits won out. The premature girls were here.

One little girl's body did not want to come. She did not breath and her heart fell silent...but her spirit would not allow it. Her spirit rallied and cheered her on, reminding her of the other one, her sister whose heart was intertwined with hers. Long ago, they knew their destiny was together. A small but strong cry filled her ears and she knew who it was. Her sister was telling her that she needed her here to share this grand adventure.

With some intensified assistance from the others, the little girl who was faltering was now fighting, buoyed up by her sister and her own divine spirit. The spirit and the body became united in goal and destiny to continue on with her sister here on earth. There was also that deep warm voice that followed her, never leaving her side. She and her sister would not hear the anxious peaceful voice for another couple of hours, but that was OK- they had each other. Each little girl craved to be close to the other. Their spirits were connected but so were their bodies as evidenced by the quieting of machines and monitors to which they were hooked up. Things became steady, calm and quiet when they were together.

Pretty soon, many voices filled the room. But the little girls' ears picked out two small voices that were excited and happy, voices that they dearly loved and with whom they would become forever friends in the years to come.

About one week later, the two little girls were separated. One girl needed the others to help her little body even more. While she was gone, her sister heard many beeps and alarms. There seemed to be more commotion and those sounds did not quiet until her sister was beside her again. When one girl would fail, the other would rally around her, each taking turns to buoy the other up. This same pattern has continued on to this day. Their fighting and conquering spirits would be crucial in the years ahead, as they went along on their adventure.

The two little girls eventually came home to all those familiar voices. Special people came into their lives in various capacities, with loving hearts and special abilities that have helped their spirits and bodies defy what others told them was not likely. As the girls' spirits and bodies work together, they inspire, they challenge, they love, they teach those who enter their adventurous world. These little girls may still have bodies that are small, but their spirits are giants. They will continue on connected forever in a deeper way then is comprehensible.

I, as their mother, will be eternally grateful for that beautiful Easter morning in April of 2004 for the loan my Heavenly Father sent to me. He gave me His Son who atoned for my sins and He also gave me my spirited, beautiful little girls, my twins...Samantha and Sophia.

Happy Birthday girls. I love you so much and know that you were sent to help refine me, uplift me and teach me. May I be guided by a loving Father in Heaven to help me raise you up to become the divine, courageous spirits that you were foreordained to be.