Regina and Katie were friends for several years before sparks flew one night under the stars on Orcas Island.

“We fell hard when it happened,” said Katie.

“I knew this was it, for life,” said Regina.

Katie already lived on the island and Regina decided to move soon after. They decided they wanted to stay on the island as it would be the perfect place to raise a family.

They remember the early days of their relationship walking on the beach, hiking in the dense forest of Moran and watching the early morning light filtering through the fir and pine.

“There is a specialty quality to light on Orcas,” said Regina.

Within a year after Regina moved to the island, the two women purchased a house.

The Zwillings had a private marriage ceremony just for themselves in 2010.

Then in 2013, when same-sex marriage became legal, they received a document stating that they were married. For the new parents, it was important that marriage for all had become legal in the state, but personally it had little effect because they felt they already were married.

What did have a profound effect on their life occurred two years earlier when Katie became pregnant. They say that is when life really changed for them, but perhaps not as people would expect.

Whereas starting a family can feel very chaotic for some, for the Zwillings time seemed to slow down.

“It got very simple,” said Katie. “Life became about gardens and the baby and living in the present.”

Baby Grace is now three years old.  Five months ago the Zwillings gave birth to another child, a boy named Paul.

“I never knew how much love was possible until we had kids,” said Regina. “Having children made me willing to be a better person, and that includes showing them what a loving relationship is.”

Katie describes spending time with her babies and Regina as the best time of her life.

“I don’t want to miss a second of it,” she said. “I can’t top this: having this family.”

Their biggest piece of advice to other couples is to make room for yourself in the relationship.

“We can be good to each other because we are good to ourselves,” said Katie.

They both have their own lives. Regina is the office manager at the food co-op as well as a book-keeper and massage therapist. Katie is a stay-at-home mom, but she still makes time to sit and watch the waves or take a walk in the forest.

Regina is known for her morning walks into town along Orcas Road. The Zwillings both love to go horseback riding and now Grace is learning too.

One of their biggest passions is growing their own food and preserving and processing it. They try to have as much integrity in their meals as in their relationship. The values of hard work and persistence apply to both.

“We live in a society where things change quickly, and it’s easy to give up,” said Regina. “You have to be willing to stick with it. You have to choose to see the good.”

After six years of being in this relationship, Katie sums up their family in a few words: “We can love our kids this much because we love each other.”