Because They’re Twins

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Although I’ve personally known only a handful of twins, I’m currently getting an up-close look at twin grandbabies. The fact that Evelyn and Thomas arrived together, when unexpected, seems a bonus of immense proportions. Katy is often asked if twins run in her family, and she can’t give a definitive answer. It’s possible Katy did have a twin who was lost in early pregnancy, and she has had the unexplainable feeling she was half of a twin couple. In that case, the answer should be “yes”.

Evelyn and Thomas are, at only one month, already beginning to evidence personal likes and dislikes. For example, Evelyn likes to be warm; Thomas is a hot-body. Evelyn is a slow, steady eater; Thomas prefers short, frequent meals. Evelyn cries in a “snuffle”; Thomas cries with a wail. Evelyn is a night owl; Thomas is a morning lark.

They do have one fascinating thing in common, though. They genuinely like each other. If they’re crying simultaneously, placing them together stops one or both of them. It’s as if one is comforted by the close proximity of the other. They remind me of the magnetic Scottie dogs we had as children. As we moved the white dog toward the black one, suddenly they’d rush together and hold tight.

This afternoon Katy was enjoying a little cooking time while I was on twin duty. Both were fussy, so I pulled these still-floppy babies into my lap as best I could. Sure enough, the minute they touched each other, they turned their heads together and began sniffing in each other’s direction like inquisitive puppies. They tried to suck on each other’s heads and quieted down immediately, breathing each other’s air. Katy says she’s found one of them sucking on the other’s nose on several occasions, with both the sucker and suckee lost in contentment.

Might there be something unusual about this preferred togetherness? They spent nine months up close and personal before they were born, the last few weeks quite squished. No doubt there was some nose-sucking going on in that environment, also. It’s possible that being born produces extra stress on multiples due to the separation imposed on them at that time. Maybe Evelyn and Thomas are longing for each other’s company in a way the rest of us can’t understand. When they come face-to-face or front-to-back it might be a mock-return to a blissful memory.

Today while handling our twins, my thoughts went to the first biblical twins, Jacob and Esau, multiples who squabbled from the get-go. They never really appreciated each other and fell into a competition that was almost deadly. I’m sure God has a different plan for twins. Their togetherness is a marvel, an unusual gift from him, and I can’t help but think he wants them to take advantage of it.

I’m anxious to see if Evelyn and Thomas remain close pals as the months and years roll by. Thomas may gravitate toward his older brother, Nicholas, both being boys. But something tells me he’ll always look out for his twin sister. Having spent nine months and four weeks in pleasant togetherness, they’ve got a healthy head start on living their lives in one accord.

“Be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:2-3)

Team Gran

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As we move through the months and years of our lives, we also move through relationships, some sought out by us and others arriving on their own. For example, when our children marry, their in-law families become shirt-tail relatives, and we are put together on important occasions. Some of these required relationships remain formal. Others are treasures.

Nate and I “clicked” immediately with Hans’ parents-in-law, Cliff and Sarah. Because they live in England, I knew we probably wouldn’t see much of them, but in the last four years, we’ve been together over seven different chunks of time. It’s been much easier to develop relationships than any of us anticipated, and we are counting our blessings.

When Nate died, Cliff and Sarah made their way from Britain to the States to be a part of his visitation and services. Flying six time zones away from home for just three days on two expensive plane tickets is a sacrifice of immense proportion none of us will every forget. And this week we are together again, although Nate is not among us. He is the subject of many conversations, though, and I’m thankful Cliff and Sarah miss him greatly. We are of one mind in that.

 

Today Sarah and I spent some good grandma time with each other and with our three little charges, giving Katy some well-deserved time off. She went to town and then walked in the hills on a beautiful sunny day in the UK, providing us with feeding bottles for the twins before she left. Sarah and I enjoyed working with and playing with our miniature relatives, twins Thomas and Evelyn (four weeks old today), and Nicholas (16 months).

We sang with the children, did dishes, read stories, ate and fed, admired the wonder of it all and hung up the most adorable laundry in the neighborhood. In addition to that, Sarah and I had a happy time being together, continuing to strengthen our friendship and add to our store of memories. What a privilege it is to know her. She is a woman of grace, love and patience. When she was working with little Evelyn today, I watched the baby grab Sarah’s necklace, pulling it tight and hanging on for dear life. Her granny, a natural, never noticed. When I watch Nicholas relate so lovingly to her, I feel less badly that I’m 4000 miles away during most of the year. Sarah is grandma enough for both of us.

Today she and I experimented with a camera, struggling to take video footage of the twins while they both chirped with the hiccups. As much fun as my kids will have watching those mini-movies, Sarah and I had an even better time making them. Although my visit is twinged with sadness because Nate isn’t here, the days are themed with gladness because of the people God has brought into our/my life through Katy’s parents.

 

In addition to sharing three grandchildren, Sarah and I share a faith in the same Savior, and his name pops up in our conversation frequently. She and I are co-grandmas, and we’re also sisters-in-Christ. For both relationships I am exceedingly grateful. Together we will teach these children not only how to toss a ball and ride a scooter but how to love the same Lord we love. And there is no better project for the two of us to share.

 “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” (Psalm 78:4)

The Key to Success

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My 16 month old grandson, Nicholas, has a love affair with keys. Before I came to England I asked Hans, “Would Nicholas like anything from the States?” He answered, “Keys.”

Every child watches his parents use keys to make the car move, open the front door and unlock special places. Nicholas, a quiet, thoughtful child, had been watching and becoming frustrated that no one would turn over their key ring to him.

More than 30 years ago I remember being at an Ace Hardware store near home where I noticed a basket full of keys on the counter. “Help yourself,” the key-maker said. “They’re all duds.” That day I made a key ring for our two year old, Nelson, and it was his favorite toy for weeks.

Last month, after visiting two hardware stores in Michigan and being told I’d have to buy blank keys, I passed an Ace, and sure enough. They were still saving dud keys. “Help yourself,” the key-man said.

I chose car keys, padlock keys, house keys and a motorcycle key. Back home I added a few small luggage keys, then a small silver wrench and put them all on a microphone key-ring in honor of Elvis, one of Nicholas’ daddy’s favorites. When the hefty key ring was finally put into this one year old’s pudgy hands, you’d think I’d given him the keys to a candy store. He lit up with glee and toddled off in search of something to open.

 

I love watching Nicholas work with his keys. His young mind is purring on discovery speed as he tries and tries again to succeed. When he finds a hole to shove one key into and when the heavy key ring stays in place after he lets go of it, he looks at us with his eyebrows raised as if to say, “Did you see that?!” Then he wrestles it out and repeats the process.

Nicholas isn’t even two yet but recognizes the importance of keys, and as adults, we know hanging onto ours is critical. We go to great lengths not to be without them, hiding an extra car key in a magnetic holder under the bumper and putting an extra house key under a rock.

Jesus also acknowledged the value of keys. He used the word picture of a key to talk with his disciples not too long before he was killed, as a way to explain the important plans he had for them. He would be giving them the “keys to his kingdom,” he said, by the power his Spirit would give to build his heavenly kingdom through believers on earth. I’m sure he used the image of a key knowing these men would appreciate its importance.

 

Today Jesus offers all of us an important key, the key to understanding. I’ve often asked the Lord to “open my spiritual eyes” so I can “see” what he’s trying to teach me. As I pray for the readers of this blog, I regularly ask God to open each one’s spiritual eyes to understand exactly what he has in mind to show them. And the beauty of his having the key to understanding is that he also has the ability to answer that prayer.

Nicholas has his own hook on which to hang his keys. The problem comes when we’re ready to hang them up, and they can’t be found. Thankfully, Jesus keeps careful track of his keys, and he doesn’t even need a spare.

”The Lord… will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” (Isaiah 33:5-6)