Twinsight 15 of 50: Be Your Best You

August 26, 1993, and June 12, 2011, and were two of the most memorable days of my life. They were both days on which people came around us to celebrate our daughter, Leah. There is something that makes my heart just about burst with joy when other people take time to get to know our girls, and love them for who they are. I want to do that for others as well.

On that day in 1993, Leah arrived to us from South Korea via the Northwest Airlines stork at the Minneapolis St. Paul airport during the days when non-ticketed passengers could go to the gate. As you can see at the beginning of the video below, family members and friends surrounded us as we received her into our arms for the first time. She had a calm and serene spirit about her that has continued to this day.

Sometimes people will ask if we regret not having a birth child…you know, someone who has our genes. I actually have no regrets because without our genes, our children have the chance to be beautiful and smart in things like physics. And low and behold, she’s both. She’s not a stereotypical 18 year old. She has a deep, quiet strength, and is like a “horse whisperer” with animals and special needs kids. She also loves the adventure of experiencing a wide range of places in the world, and has a responsible head on her shoulders. She carefully guards her heart, and is a true friend.

A couple of weeks ago, family members and friends (some who were also at the airport in 1993) came around us again to celebrate her graduation from Minnetonka High School. If you've hosted a grad party, you'll get this. It's more work than it appears, unnerving to not know how many people are going to come and if the weather will cooperate, but a ton of fun. At the graduation ceremony a few days earlier, I loved how Principal Dave Adney encouraged the students to be their best for the world. It does make you pause when you think that as an individual, you are the only one impacting the world in a positive way with your unique blend of gifts, abilities and passions. I’m excited to see how Leah will make her corner of the world a better place as she embarks on the next chapter of her life.

Many thanks to the Lighthouse Media guys - Peter, Dan and Steve - for creating this video of photos that span these two dates. Enjoy.

Leah Swenson Grad Video - June 2011

Steve * Chloe * Leah * Jo
Grad Party 6.12.11