Before Gotcha Day I wanted to just give everyone a warning about the future posts to come. I plan on being very real on this blog. I use this blog to notify family and friends of our journey, but I also use this blog to educate and most importantly to have a true keepsake for Shelby. So what I am saying is that there are going to be good, bad, and ugly parts of the journey. I don't plan on editing out the bad and ugly. So far our trip has been basically all good, so please don't be shocked when you may read some of the bad and ugly. Adoption is a very exciting but also a difficult emotional event for everyone involved. Shelby will not be happy to see us and that is going to be challenging. We have tried to prepare ourselves, but I know that is hard to do until you have lived it. We have also tried very hard to prepare the boys; however, they are young and do not understand how true "rejection" may feel. We will all do the best we can and with God's help, we will survive. I will keep the attitude of "this too shall pass" as I have learned to use this from others who have already taught me so much about this experience. So needless to say, I did not want everyone to be overly concerned if this blog turns into a "not so happy all the time" blog. It doesn't necessarily mean that things will be all bad, it just will mean that I will post and journal about the bad as well as the good!
Amazingly I had the best night of sleep last night than I have had the whole time in China. I broke out the @mbien around 11PM and was asleep by midnight. I slept an entire 6 hours, WOOHOO! It was a sound 6 hours as well. I feel very very rested for this big day. The boys slept well last night too. CJ didn't do so well in the sleep department as that is definitely understandable with no drugs :) In less than 10 hours we will have our daughter!
PS-Travis wants me to tell Ashlee that he will bring Shelby over to her house when we get home :)
17 comments:
I prayed for little Shelby and her foster family for the entire church service this morning, and we had baptisms so it lasted almost two hours!
God has all of you in his loving arms and is with you every step and breath of this journey...may you all somehow be filled with his peace in knowing that this is a blessed event - tears, rejection and all!
Love to all of you,
Christi Protis
Thanks for being candid! Just be real. We will all be following your journey and know more of how to pray for your posts. May God far exceed your imaginations. :)
We'll be sending prayers too! My heart goes out to Shelby's foster family. We pray for their strength and your strength and patience during this transition.
I had to laugh - I had a great (well, relatively) night's sleep the night before out Gotcha! You are being very smart about this. I look forward to seeing you hold your smiling (or crying) little girl!
I think Shelby is ALREADY blessed to have such a "concerned, caring and loving" forever Mom. You have done a great job in trying to prepare your families and friends for this special event that's about to take place in ALL our lives. We're traveling this journey with all of you...good, bad and ugly included!
Can't wait til we see Shelby with her new "Forever" family!
Love and Blessings!
I'm so glad to hear you had a good night's sleep. It will be the last one for quite a while! Be prepared that Shelby may have night terrors, which are quite different from nightmares. Grace had them, Analiese did not. Hopefully that sweet little girl has at least a little understanding about what is to happen to her in a few short hours! We will be thinking of you!
DeaR straight family this is austin taylor hope your having a great time, i bet you cant wait to you get your daughter tommorow and i cant wait to you get home to see shelby.
love,
austin taylor
We are praying for you. Not that any experience that I have had could ever compare to those that your family is encountering right now. But I can tell you I have experienced the rejection of a child, a child who before I ever got to meet her loved her so truly and so deeply that it couldn't been anymore than if I had given birth to her. I know that feeling of rejection when you try your hardest to do the right thing for them, and unfortunately they are just a child and don't realize that all you do for them is because of how much you truly love them and want the best for them. That doesn't ease the pain that you deal with at the time, but as everyone transistions and becomes adjusted with the values that you both have as parents and that you have taught those two wonderful nephews of ours, that soon very soon Shelby will adjust and learn the true value a loving, happy, and supportive forever family. Not that being a step mom is anything like being a forever mom but at times I can relate. I love Jessica, but being a step mom is the most difficult thing I have ever had to be, but in camparison to becoming a forever mom you are just awesome, you are so brave and so special to have been chosen by God to be Shelby's forever mom. Especially as I sit here teary eyed reading your warning to everyone I feel your pain and pray that God will make this transition as easy as possible for each and every one of you, Shelby, her foster family and all of those who are waiting here at home to meet Shelby. Each experience of every minute of every day shape who we are and who we will become, and with the guidance that God gives us we truly can turn even the ugliest of moments into some of the greatest memories! God Bless You on your final countdown to hold Shelby. With All of Our Love
Leslie & Jessie
Caleb:
It was good to hear your voice!
I did catch a bunch of fish today...5 fish weighing a total of 8 lbs. 4 oz. but I was not the winner this time.
More later,
God is working through you guys and I feel blessed to be able to be watching it and experiencing it with you. We can not wait to meet this little girl! Our prayers are with you for your meeting today and for the rest of your trip and journey home.
Tymm & Laura
Keep it real - we want to know what it's really like so we know how to pray for you.
As I type, you are less that a couple hours from your Shelby baby!
Only 2 more hours!!! I am going to have a hard time sleeping tonight thinking of you all. You know, Donna as you told me from day one God has been guiding this journey. Even before you knew about Shelby God laid on your heart 9/11. I know the beginning is going to be an emotional rollercoaster and very challenging, but God will continue to see you through!! We are holding up Shelby and her foster family up in prayer for comfort. Shelby is very lucky to become a Straight. Both you and CJ are wonderful parents and she is going to have 2 of the best big brothers!!
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, plans not to harm you, but to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
God Bless! Rhonda
Last chance to check in on the activities before I go to bed! Sheridan said a special prayer for Shelby tonight and he is constantly asking, 'Donna, where are you?' I think he misses you as much as we do. I have been teary eyed all day just knowing that Shelby is getting ready for the most important day in her young life. Be strong and know that many prayers are being said for a smooth transition. Hugs and kisses to all.
Just thought I would check before going off to sleep- I am so excited- Michelle and I have been looking at all the pics and she loves to see the Ger Ger (big brothers) that Shelby will now have. You only have a few hours to go and when I wake up - Shelby will be in your family forever. God is so good - I keep praying that he sooths her and allows her to be comforted by all of you- The first few days can be very difficult - but as soon as she realizes all of her needs can and will be met- things get much better. It is good to be realistic but also hopeful. We saw signs of Michelle's sweet personality within the first 24 hours. I will pray for that and more to comfort you all.
Liz
I am biting my nails!!! I'll be checking the blog all day long! God bless, Ellen
Scott and I woke up @ 4am and both were feeling relief that you must have Shelby at that time. I'm thinking of all of you and praying things are as you have hoped for. It is such a wonderful thing what you and Cj are doing to complete your family. Shelby and the boys are blessed to have such great parents.
Love and kisses and hugs,
Sheila
well now your journey has begun. we all know how much love you and cj and the boys can give to your beautiful little shelby. we have said a special prayer for you last night and this morning. i am so glad that real is what you are and will let us feel your feelings with you. god bless you all. i am so happy to see shelby with her beautiful family. Love Mom
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