In the very early morning hours of this day nineteen years ago I met another precious baby girl for the first time. Her birth, like Nora’s was extraordinary and unique, but in a different way. This was the birth of my first born, my birth daughter. As a mother, even at the young age of 20, I would do anything to protect my children, even if that meant protecting them from myself. I knew then that it was not in this little girl’s best interest to parent her as a single, barely-employed mother, also attempting to get through college and still living at home with my parents. If you are a parent, you are fully aware of that incredible, undeniable, powerful love that is compounded into that beautiful moment when you set eyes on your newborn baby for the first time. From that second on, it only blooms and flourishes. None of those emotions were absent then. As you might imagine, parting with her was gut wrenchingly painful, but I was somehow confident that I was making the right decision. Highlighted in a Beth Moore Bible study book it reads, “At times, to choose the will of God over our own is excruciating. We love our flesh and it hurts to have its desires crucified! Never misunderstand pain as permission to forego the will of God.” I didn’t realize it then, but looking back I can clearly see how I was being led by the Holy Spirit. Somehow, I had the good sense to listen! In April of 2011 I had the absolute pleasure of meeting the grown up version of the little baby girl I had parted with all those years ago. I’m blessed beyond measure to have a friendship with her. If she’s reading this: I hope you continued to have an amazing, wonderful, perfect birthday! I love you!!!!!!
It’s day 2 of our Michigan vacation–a very laid back day. Nothing exciting to share except beautiful photos!
Enjoying a milkies with Nana & Papa under the pine trees.
Gavin and his Dad
Various stages of the magnificent sunset:
It was very windy today, thus the wispy clouds.
A faint rainbow halo arched over the sunset. A beautiful God wink if I've ever seen one!
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
iwillcarryyou 
Wow. Surprised by this post. Mostly because I thought you were still very young lol. As a mother of an adopted child, you have no idea the gift you gave her parents. My daughter does have contact with her birth mother and sister as well. We have never hid the fact that she was adopted. That just means she has more parents that that love her. And now her father and I are divorced and re-married. She is blessed with a step mother and now a step father who love and care for her too. Once again is just goes to show what a loving mom you are.
Now go enjoy that vacation.
I ALSO WAS VERY MUCH SURPRISED. YOU MUST HAVE BEEN VERY VERY YOUNG. AS I READ YOUR MESSAGE TODAY, I COULD FEEL THE LOVE YOU HAD FOR YOUR FIRST BORN. THAT WAS THE MOST LOVING THING YOU COULD HAVE DONE. I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU THAT YOU HAVE MET HER SINCE SHE GREW UP, AND THAT YOU ARE FRIENDS. THAT HAD TO BE HARD, BUT YOU DID WHAT WAS BEST FOR YOUR BABY. ALEISA YOU ARE SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON, AND THAT GOES TO SHOW JUST HOW WONDERFUL!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT WITH ALL OF US. I LOVE THE PICTURES TODAY. THE ONE OF YOUR MOM AND DAD FEEDING NORA IS REALLY SPECIAL. SHE IS AS CUTE AS A BUTTON IN EACH AND EVERY PICTURE. I ALSO LOVE THE ONE WHERE YOU ARE HOLDING NORA AND LOOKING DOWN AT HER WITH SUCH LOVE. LOVE THE PICTURE OF WILLIAM AND GAVIN WALKING TOGETHER. I DID NOTICE THEY HAD DITCHED THEIR FLIP FLOPS. I ALSO GO BAREFOOT A LOT. THE PICTURES YOU TOOK OF THE SKY IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE ONE WHERE THE SKY IS SO RED. ALMOST MAKES THE SKY LOOK LIKE IT IS ON FIRE. WELL IT IS 4:10 A.M., EVERYONE IS ASLEEP BUT ME. GUESS I WILL CALL IT A DAY AND GET SOME SHUT EYE. ENJOY EACH AND EVERY MOMENT OF YOUR VACATION. LOVE YOU ALL. GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS.
Perfectly said Ethel
Aleisa, bless you on your first daughter’s birthday! Thank you for sharing your life and choosing to give your babies life and love.
Happy Birthday to Sophie (I am pretty sure that is her name). Looks like you are all having a wonderfully relaxing time. Enjoy!!!
You continue to amaze me with the strength you possess. You are such a gift. Enjoy your vacation!
Happy birthday to the beautiful Sophie Rose. She’s a true blessing. The echoes of the yes to her life resound in the yes to sweet Nora’s life. Makes me want to be neighbors with y’all in Heaven. Don’t mind me crashing your family reunion every now and again -for all eternity.
YOU are an amazing human being! Happy Birthday to your first born! So nice to see you relaxing & enjoying your vacation! Love you Yusko family
thata the sweetest post ever ! I love you so much! I had a wonderful birthday and I can’t wait to celebrate when you get back from vacation! I love all of you so much!
Awesome! I’m so proud of you both… how blessed you are to have each other in your lives now!! ❤ This post left me breathless!!! ❤
As an adopted child, thank you for remembering your first daughter! I often wondered if my birth mom ever remembered me.
I was reunited with my birth sisters in ’04 and they never knew about me. So, if she did think about me, she never told anyone.
I pray God’s continued blessing on your renewed relationship with your oldest 🙂
Always praying for God’s blessing and protection on you and your family, too!
I have to say as a mother, I can promise her that you cross her mind not only on your birthday but everytime the wind blows. If you have children… Or when you do… You will understand what I mean.
Thank you, Amy!!
I am a mother to 3 children. The oldest has been in Heaven for the last 20 years after spending 5 months with me.
That is the main reason I can’t understand how she never thought about me.
I have a feeling that I could have been one of the reasons she drank so much (she died in ’89)
When I was eleven years old, my older sister gave her firstborn son up for adoption, a gut-wrenching process that I couldn’t even begin to understand at that age. I do know that it affected our whole family, but that baby got the childhood he deserved from his adoptive parents instead of one full of struggle that he would have had from my teenaged sister.
How wonderful that you and your daughter now have a friendship based on that unselfish love. Thanks for sharing such in intimate part of your life with us, your readers.
I never knew you had an older daughter. My mom and dad adopted 2 baby girls and to confirm an earlier comment it is an amazing gift. I love my sisters and can’t even imagine them not being part of our family. I’m glad you shared this post. 🙂
I have been keeping up with Nora’s life for months now. We learned, just a few weeks ago, that our just-turned-20 year old, oldest daughter is pregnant by a guy she barely knows. I’m already a bit hormonal, as we are expecting baby #11. Oh, please, please pray that my daughter can make the choice to place her child in a loving, Christian home. You guys have had our prayers, and will continue to!
As an adoptive mother, I hope and pray that your first daughter’s adoptive parents are as eternally grateful to you as I am to our birth mother. The depth of joy brought into our lives by her selfless act makes me marvel at her strength literally more each day. I hope to someday express that gratitude to her again ( sadly she has chosen to leave our lives). Your depth of strength and giving and selfless love is astounding. I wish you peace and love and warm milkies 🙂
I was led to your blog by the Vogt family and have been following your site for months now. I think of you all often and pray God continues to work miracles in precious Nora. I often find myself watching for three birds. This week you are in my neck of the woods. I live in Michigan and the UP is truly a magnificent place to kick back, relax and enjoy all the beautiful creations He has made. May you make many fond memories this week with your family. God Bless!
Melissa
Thank you so much for sharing about the birth of your firstborn. What a beautiful sacrifice you made. May God bless you and your daughter today on her birthday.
Awesome! I’m so proud of you both… how blessed you are to have each other in your lives now!! ❤ This post left me breathless!!! ❤
Lisa
So I’m a little behind in reading… As the forever mother of an adopted little boy, thank you. Thank you for having the courage to place the life you helped created into someone else’s arms to love and raise. Without people like you, I would not know the joy of being a mother.