Ripley's triplets are born!

Ripley had three kids this afternoon. I wanted to share their first few minutes of life with you. I was feeling pretty down about the world today but watching these three born turned me right around. It is a total miracle every single time.

Ripley is a first time mama. Her kids are named: Selma (looks like mama), Sedona (Buckling), and Juneau (spotty girl). At first, she looked at them like, wait where did you come from? But in short order instinct kicked in and all were up and drinking in minutes!

While under stay at home orders due to Covid 19, we thought it would be fun to name the kids after places around the world. The name Selma is a small tribute to my dad, who, long ago, went to march in Selma for racial equality even though his boss said he would be fired. (He was not fired in the end.) He knew that he could not continue to be a minster and lead people in his church if he was unwilling to show up when called by his conscience to act. Selma to me has always represented moral courage in all forms, the kind that bridges all gaps and reminds us of all that makes us most human.

Sedona is a place Tess and Chris live to hike and a place I hope to visit one day. To me, it symbolizes expansive dreams on the other side of today that fuel us even when the current reality feels confining.

And Juneau, also a place I hope to visit someday, represents the wild call of nature in us all that reminds us constantly even when we get lost in the complexity of modern life that we are all connected.