Melissa - I think she totally looks like B in this pic! :)
Growing up way TOO fast!
Her first smiles after a nap!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Updated pictures
Melissa - I think she totally looks like B in this pic! :)
Growing up way TOO fast!
Her first smiles after a nap!
Thanksgiving
Happy early Thanksgiving everyone! We have so much to be thankful for. What a last year we have had...
I recently read a father's blog that Tadd directed me to. It was one I have commented on before, but his entry really struck me again. I got literally add "Laynie" to where his wife's name was and all the same emotions, questions, pleadings would go hand in hand. His blog is www.tysonaschliman.blogspot.com and the entry I want to you to go read is called "Prayer and Suffering". Many people asked us the questions on why pray? why isn't God answering our prayers? why is Laynie suffering? and why pray if God is going to do His will anyways? His blog addresses these common questions and puts into words what I never could. He lost his wife at a very young age to cancer and is raising his son Tyson now. His experience although different, is similar in many ways.
Hope you all have a great week with family and friends! I will try to add some pictures soon. Selah is growing bigger every day. Her newest thing is just intently staring at you and then of course sharing her biggest full faced-eye squinting smiles :)
I recently read a father's blog that Tadd directed me to. It was one I have commented on before, but his entry really struck me again. I got literally add "Laynie" to where his wife's name was and all the same emotions, questions, pleadings would go hand in hand. His blog is www.tysonaschliman.blogspot.com and the entry I want to you to go read is called "Prayer and Suffering". Many people asked us the questions on why pray? why isn't God answering our prayers? why is Laynie suffering? and why pray if God is going to do His will anyways? His blog addresses these common questions and puts into words what I never could. He lost his wife at a very young age to cancer and is raising his son Tyson now. His experience although different, is similar in many ways.
Hope you all have a great week with family and friends! I will try to add some pictures soon. Selah is growing bigger every day. Her newest thing is just intently staring at you and then of course sharing her biggest full faced-eye squinting smiles :)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
We Made It!
This morning we got the email from our attorneys....It went through! Everything was finalized in the courts yesterday and she is now and forever more...Selah Malia Gerst! It is such an exciting day around here. So many emotions....
I wish every mother who contemplates terminating her pregnancy could see our faces now and see Selah. Or anyone who is wondering whether adoption an option for them. Selah is such a miracle in our eyes. We praise God that her birthmom made the extremely selfless choice that she did. For there is no greater love that you can demonstrate than putting your child's needs above your own. Sometimes I have questioned God as to why I was blessed with such a love for children, but unable to conceive myself. It made no sense and I knew that God must have a bigger plan for me. Some way that I could share my love with His children. And that is how I felt led to adoption. Others sometimes would say "the birthmom should be so happy that you are taking her child and caring for them", but in my mind it was the opposite I was blessed that they would think highly enough of me to allow me to raise their child as my own, I was the blessed one. So to all of those birthmothers... thank you for chosing life for your child. We felt overwhelming joy in our lives when we were blessed with Laynie and now again can feel the joy of being parents with Selah. My love for my girls is overflowing. Selah is loved beyond measure, smooched on all day long, and snuggled with until she goes to bed. She brings us joy each moment and for that I feel blessed. God has truly been faithful on both ends of this adoption. With both of our adoptions I have no doubt that God handpicked our birthmothers and their girls. I love them both! And Selah will know what an amazing mother and family she had and their love for her. God is faithful. I know that our journey is far from being over. Each day is a new day of experiences. And as always, we look to Him to carry us through this world as we make memories with His children.
I just want to say one last thank you to all of you that have been with us each step of this journey, through the ups and downs. Your prayers are what have kept us going, kept us seeking His will in our lives. And thank you Tiffany. We love you for loving Selah enough to trust her in our care. And we pray that God will bless you and J in all that you do!
I wish every mother who contemplates terminating her pregnancy could see our faces now and see Selah. Or anyone who is wondering whether adoption an option for them. Selah is such a miracle in our eyes. We praise God that her birthmom made the extremely selfless choice that she did. For there is no greater love that you can demonstrate than putting your child's needs above your own. Sometimes I have questioned God as to why I was blessed with such a love for children, but unable to conceive myself. It made no sense and I knew that God must have a bigger plan for me. Some way that I could share my love with His children. And that is how I felt led to adoption. Others sometimes would say "the birthmom should be so happy that you are taking her child and caring for them", but in my mind it was the opposite I was blessed that they would think highly enough of me to allow me to raise their child as my own, I was the blessed one. So to all of those birthmothers... thank you for chosing life for your child. We felt overwhelming joy in our lives when we were blessed with Laynie and now again can feel the joy of being parents with Selah. My love for my girls is overflowing. Selah is loved beyond measure, smooched on all day long, and snuggled with until she goes to bed. She brings us joy each moment and for that I feel blessed. God has truly been faithful on both ends of this adoption. With both of our adoptions I have no doubt that God handpicked our birthmothers and their girls. I love them both! And Selah will know what an amazing mother and family she had and their love for her. God is faithful. I know that our journey is far from being over. Each day is a new day of experiences. And as always, we look to Him to carry us through this world as we make memories with His children.
I just want to say one last thank you to all of you that have been with us each step of this journey, through the ups and downs. Your prayers are what have kept us going, kept us seeking His will in our lives. And thank you Tiffany. We love you for loving Selah enough to trust her in our care. And we pray that God will bless you and J in all that you do!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Court date
Well, we just got word that our court date for the adoption finalization for Selah is Tuesday November 18th at 3:34 pm! We are so excited and can't believe that by Thanksgiving time this whole adoption will be final. Our hearts overflow with joy for all that God has done in our lives and for this day to be here this soon. Although we will not actually be there to hear the words "SELAH MALIA GERST" receiving her birth certificate after this event will be a day to write in the books.
This weekend we took Selah to Michigan to Steph and Phil's wedding. It was a great time and Selah did awesome as usual. Slept for most of the time in the car. Of course the hotel night for me wasn't as restful, as Selah bless her heart is quite the squeaker and makes many noises while she sleeps, but it was a fun weekend and Selah also got to meet her cousin Paige (who is two weeks younger than her). I will try to add pictures later. It was great seeing all of the G family!
This weekend we took Selah to Michigan to Steph and Phil's wedding. It was a great time and Selah did awesome as usual. Slept for most of the time in the car. Of course the hotel night for me wasn't as restful, as Selah bless her heart is quite the squeaker and makes many noises while she sleeps, but it was a fun weekend and Selah also got to meet her cousin Paige (who is two weeks younger than her). I will try to add pictures later. It was great seeing all of the G family!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Moments of reflection...
First, our 30 days of waiting are over... The birthfather's rights are now technically terminated. Now it is just a matter of paperwork and court dates being set for the final hearing to be set and Selah's name written on her birth certificate. We are so excited for this day to come. With Laynie the day didn't happen until after she had passed away and it was quite bittersweet to hear her name being said..Alayna Christine Gerst.
The last couple weeks I have to confess that I have been a pretty overprotective mother. Memories of Laynie still come and go at different times without any warning. As Selah continues to grow..way too fast in my opinion :) I often find myself staring at her. I can't seem to take my eyes off this blessing God has given me. And then it makes me sad. I think...why couldn't I have taken more times to sit and stare at Laynie. Thank God for that time, that moment He was giving me with her. So many times in my mind I was exhausted, doing the errands around the house, and overall just "caring" for Laynie. And I could have stopped and stared. Time seems to continue at such a fast pace. Selah changes each day I look at her. I seem to be going through the stage of starting my dreams for Selah. You know...what you want your child to be able to experience. Wondering how you will instill in her the values of life, to respect others, and to be able to first and foremost share the love that God has for her. I think of the times she will get to spend with her grandparents...fishing with Grandpa, shopping with grandma, playing outside with her cousins. All the times that Laynie will never have. We will never get to hear Laynie say her first word, take her first step, or see her love for her family. And it literally breaks my heart! Not because I don't know that she is in a better place, but sad for myself and the memories that were cut short. I know that some day we will be reunited in heaven and there I can picture her. Fuzzy hair and all laughing and rambling away about all that she has done while she was waiting for me. All the kids she was playing with and how she can run and not be in any pain or struggling to breathe. And it gives me peace. Knowing that when I am missing her here, now, God is up there holding her for me, giving her the kisses I can't give her.
The hope...the hope and joy I have for Selah. The praise I feel towards God for allowing me to be a mother again. Immense gratefulness towards her birthmother for her selfless gift and for including me in the pre-labor memories. I will never forget them. I look at Selah's pureness of heart and her personality that comes out more each day and it excites me. I am in awe. I wonder what she will be like at 6 months, a year, a toddler, a teenager :) and I have such hopes and dreams for her. And every night I pray that God will allow her to live out her dreams because now I know how fragile life really is. That at any moment God can take us from this earth...and we need to be ready. For those of you who don't know Christ as your Savior...I plead with you from the bottom of my heart for you to seek Him out, pray...and He will answer you. The peace that He alone can give you is enough to carry you through any trials that Satan throws at you! More than ever when this world is gone, I want to see each one of you personally in heaven so that we can throw Laynie the birthday parties she missed, that she can share with her aunts and uncles the times that she missed, and that her grandparents can rock her like they would have if she was still here.
I love you all and if I seem overly protective, please forgive me. I feel as though I don't want to miss anything Selah does. But, I also want to share her with all of you. For without you and your prayers Tadd and I wouldn't be where we are today. So thank you.
The last couple weeks I have to confess that I have been a pretty overprotective mother. Memories of Laynie still come and go at different times without any warning. As Selah continues to grow..way too fast in my opinion :) I often find myself staring at her. I can't seem to take my eyes off this blessing God has given me. And then it makes me sad. I think...why couldn't I have taken more times to sit and stare at Laynie. Thank God for that time, that moment He was giving me with her. So many times in my mind I was exhausted, doing the errands around the house, and overall just "caring" for Laynie. And I could have stopped and stared. Time seems to continue at such a fast pace. Selah changes each day I look at her. I seem to be going through the stage of starting my dreams for Selah. You know...what you want your child to be able to experience. Wondering how you will instill in her the values of life, to respect others, and to be able to first and foremost share the love that God has for her. I think of the times she will get to spend with her grandparents...fishing with Grandpa, shopping with grandma, playing outside with her cousins. All the times that Laynie will never have. We will never get to hear Laynie say her first word, take her first step, or see her love for her family. And it literally breaks my heart! Not because I don't know that she is in a better place, but sad for myself and the memories that were cut short. I know that some day we will be reunited in heaven and there I can picture her. Fuzzy hair and all laughing and rambling away about all that she has done while she was waiting for me. All the kids she was playing with and how she can run and not be in any pain or struggling to breathe. And it gives me peace. Knowing that when I am missing her here, now, God is up there holding her for me, giving her the kisses I can't give her.
The hope...the hope and joy I have for Selah. The praise I feel towards God for allowing me to be a mother again. Immense gratefulness towards her birthmother for her selfless gift and for including me in the pre-labor memories. I will never forget them. I look at Selah's pureness of heart and her personality that comes out more each day and it excites me. I am in awe. I wonder what she will be like at 6 months, a year, a toddler, a teenager :) and I have such hopes and dreams for her. And every night I pray that God will allow her to live out her dreams because now I know how fragile life really is. That at any moment God can take us from this earth...and we need to be ready. For those of you who don't know Christ as your Savior...I plead with you from the bottom of my heart for you to seek Him out, pray...and He will answer you. The peace that He alone can give you is enough to carry you through any trials that Satan throws at you! More than ever when this world is gone, I want to see each one of you personally in heaven so that we can throw Laynie the birthday parties she missed, that she can share with her aunts and uncles the times that she missed, and that her grandparents can rock her like they would have if she was still here.
I love you all and if I seem overly protective, please forgive me. I feel as though I don't want to miss anything Selah does. But, I also want to share her with all of you. For without you and your prayers Tadd and I wouldn't be where we are today. So thank you.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Trick or Treat!
Selah's 1st Halloween...a little duckling! It was a great night for being outside, almost too hot. She was nice and toasty in her yellow costume. We got to go visit the aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas, and friends too. It was really fun and Selah had a good time too.
Of course Uncle Tadd had to put on Brooks' hat and get in on the picture!
The Indian, duck, and cowboy
This cute little skunk came to visit us too...she sure gave Selah a run for her money on cuteness...what a pair!
Of course Uncle Tadd had to put on Brooks' hat and get in on the picture!
The Indian, duck, and cowboy
This cute little skunk came to visit us too...she sure gave Selah a run for her money on cuteness...what a pair!
Time flies!
Here is Selah on a day of shopping and runing errands...we are breaking her in early!
Our beary special girl!
(her bottom had..."so adorable" written on it...too cute!)
4 weeks old
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