Today we celebrated Du’s 24th birthday. (A few days late.) When I walked through the door after work I was met by eager little girls clutching a cake mix box and ecstatic that I’d beaten Du home. We got to work right away, their enthusiasm leading the way for a heartfelt celebration for one of our favorite people in the whole world. We had 6 candles on the confetti cake because 2+4 equals 6. Obviously. (Life hack: Always keep a confetti cake mix in the pantry for unexpected celebrations.) They planned a “surprise” party for “Dorothy” right under Du’s (knowing) nose. We played a complicated party game contrived by a certain 8-yr-old that involved a deck of Go Fish cards and those terrible-tasting jelly beans. They kicked Du out of her own room so they could use her coveted office supplies to make presents and paper signs. It was the perfect party, and I hope through it all, Du knows how much she’s truly loved.
There’s one life lesson my fragmented family gave me above all else - an understanding that family has far less to do with biology than it does with belonging, and we can draw circles of belonging around whomever we choose. These three girls came into my life in dramatically different ways. But they each are irreplaceable to me; filling 3 unique daughter-shaped holes in my heart and teaching me about bravery, strength, love, resilience and courage in their own unique ways. I’d choose them again any day. Happy belated birthday, @duhiangchin - thank you for sharing your life with us. Remember, no matter what you will always belong with us.
