First, let me apologize for being so delinquent in making any posts. It has been a whirlwind of a weekend and now we are at home! I am trying to figure out how to put pictures up here because there are so few words that I can come up with to express my joy and my gratitude.
We went in on Friday, filled with apprehension and some shock - after living for so long under a cloud, having to accept things as they were and embracing the bleakness of our reality as a part of a plan that we didn't choose but could live through with the Lord - it seemed strange, almost wrong, to be anticipating something so enormously wonderful. The surgery went smoothly, however, and within moments of delivery, we heard the first sweet cries belonging to a child we'd waited on not just nine months, but years. Conor and I wept. She had a head full of hair and, upon really getting a good look at her, we realized she was almost a carbon copy of her big sister! Five years difference in age doesn't seem to affect how genetics work. We even see resemblances to Copeland in our newest girl.
Many of you have asked about her name, even when we learned we were having a girl. For a long time, we deliberated and the only real consensus Conor and I could reach was that we needed it to be unique - after all, we had Sellers and Copeland as our first two! - and we wanted it to have significance. Emerette was Conor's great-grandmother's name. We never knew her, but this was the first time we'd chosen a name from his side of the family. I agreed that it was time to do so, but I wanted her middle name to somehow connect back to Copeland, which was my great-grandmother's maiden name. Looking back at family records, we found that the first Copeland to this country - a man by the name of George - had married a certain Sarah McClure in something like 1755. I immediately loved the way the names sounded together, and it seemed like a special way to honor our precious daughter who won't ever get to know her new baby sister.
We are, as I recently said to some friends, "delusionally happy"! It seems as though we have entered a season of tremendous joy and we are walking in it with great appreciation and deep praise for the Father. May He be given all the glory and all the honor!
More to come...
56 comments:
Wow. Tears in my eyes!!!! I am so happy for you all! LOVE her name! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!
I'm so happy for your family. I checked so many times on Friday to hear and see your good news. I followed Copeland's tearful journey with you through this blog. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. I'm sure that Copeland is celebrating in Heaven knowing her baby sister has arrived to bring you joy.
"Delusionally Happy", oh that sounds so perfect Boothe. My heart is full for you and the joy that is flowing in your home right now. I love the history of her name. And no apologies for delayed posts when you have such amazing joy all around you. I hope your Thanksgiving is a wonderful one as you share new life while always remembering Copeland. Be blessed more than you are already.
I love you guys and am so happy for you.
Love and Hugs, Laurie in Ca.
We are celebrating with you at the joy that now fills your home. Praise be to God :)
I cannot begin to express how happy I am for all of you with the arrival of your precious little one! I have followed your inspirational story from before Copeland was born, and check on you all so often. I know that you all have suffered tremendous loss, and so admire your determination to praise and seek the Lord in ALL circumstances. You are an amazing example of truly living by faith.
Enjoy this new amazing chapter in your lives with your beautiful daughters. I know that we will probably never meet this side of Heaven, but please know tht your sweet family has been and will continue to be in my prayers.
Blessings-
Suzanne in SC
That is just so wonderful!!! I'm beyond thrilled that you all had such a wonderful experience with Emerette in the hospital and that you are now enjoying your precious new daughter at home. David and I are so happy for you-what a wonderful gift just before Thanksgiving.
I have been following your blog for over a year, but I don't think I've ever commented. Congratulations to you and your family on the arrival of Emerette! You all deserve this blessing, and I am so happy for you. What a wonderful addition to your family just in time for the holidays! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
With tears in my eyes, giving all praise to the One who has blessed you so abundantly.
Tina in Ohio
What a neat way to name your girls!
I think Emerette will always know her sweet sister in a special way!
Congratulations! We've been praying for you and your family. We will continue to keep you in our prayers! We're praising the Lord for this precious miracle!
Thanks for sharing. It's great that the name you chose has such a special meaning to you and your family. Take care Boothe!
What a wonderful blessing! Congratulations!
Aimee in Texas
I am happy with you. Love the names!
Blessings,
Sumi
Congratulations! She is absolutely beautiful!! I know you are just so proud of her!
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving & Christmas!!
Emily in Mississippi
what is the history behind sellers' name?
So happy for your sweet family. Lots to be thankful for!!!
Love, Shannon & David
So happy that you are experiencing new life and joy! Emerette is a beautiful name. And is even more special being a family name as well. One gift that comes with a baby after a loss is the fact that no baby is ever more fully appreciated. I remember so vividly the birth of my daughter after we had lost our son to trisomy 18. She didn't replace him but did bring a new season of joy. Enjoy your new little bundle of joy :)
What a great story! Rest and enjoy!
my heart is filled with praise for Him and happiness for your little family, boothe! what joy!! jenny britain nickoli
Have a WONDERFUL WONDERFUL Thanksgiving Boothe! Enjoy every moment!
Oh... I am so happy for you guys.. I love those days when the baby first comes home... you just absorb every second of it.
IM so glad to hear of the good news and the tears it has brought to my eyes, what a way to Celebrate the holidays, from the picture and then looking at Copeland you can see a part of her, and Sellers. They are all such beautiful girls.
IM so happy for you and Conor, and may the joy continue as God Continues it with you, I will keep all on our prayer list at church as you continue to heal from surgery and that peace and happiness bring to you this Holiday Season.
I love reading your blog I have been with you for awhile now and it has been a joy.
Happy Thanksgiving and once again Congradulations!
We are so happy for you guys. Love the name. So beautiful. What a wonderful way to start Thanksgiving, huh?
Congratulations a million times over!! It has always seemed so appropriate that this baby, for your family, was due at this time of the year :)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Congratulations!! What a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl. Thanks for the history on the name. I am curious, as well, on the history of Seller's name. Also curious to know her middle name?? I am sure Copeland is watching carefully from her perfect place in heaven. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving holiday.
I am sitting here feeling complete and total joy for you and your family. This is a true blessing and does show that God is Good. I am glad to hear that all went well and you are all home safely! Have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving!
Much Love from Bedford, KY
She is beautiful and I think you did a GREAT job at finding a perfect name fo rher.. ENJOY HER ...
Praise the Lord. This baby has been prayed over...and is brought from up above.
Kristi in Texas
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Couldn't be more thrilled for you all! YEAH! What an awesome Thanksgiving present! I am thankful!
Emmy : )
AMAZING! I am SO happy for you all! I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend - I just join you in praising Him! Sunshine
Wonderful. Truly wonderful.
God is so so Good! What a blessing, thank you for sharing your sweet family's story with us. It is a true testiment of God's promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. Enjoy your newest gift! She has been prayed for by many.
Michelle, Arkansas
Congratulations!! She is stunning!
so thrilled for your family! so thrilled to see the Lord's grace in bringing you such a beautiful daughter! No doubt in my mind that precious copeland adores both of her sisters. blessings and grace to your amazing family. jennifer (archer) wade
beautiful girl!!
PRAISE GOD FOR THIS NEW LIFE CREATED IN HIS IMAGE IN OUR MIDST!!
Nicole
She's BEAUTIFUL!! Congratulations on your newest blessing.
Boothe,
Thank you so much for sharing this with friends and strangers. I can't tell you how I have prayed for you and waited on our sweet Jesus to pour out the sweetest blessings on you and Conor. I am teary as I praise Him for this beautiful baby girl. Congratulations! M
Though I've never met you, I love, love, love you and your family and am so very thankful for this news about your sweet baby! God is so sweet to bless, to heal and to encourage!
We chose the name "McClure" as a middle name for our 3rd child as well . . it's a family name for us. We love to have spiritual meaning for our children's names, and since we couldn't find one for McClure, we created one of our own - "The Lord is my strength" from Psalm 28:7. "The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
May the Lord shield little Emerette with His very hand from every danger. May she tell of His goodness, and may her little heart burst out in thanksgiving for the One who created her, who ordained her, and who sustains her.
Blessings!
Rejoicing with your family in the gift of your newest daughter!!! So happy to hear that you are entering into a season of JOY! Sweet blessings from Oregon
Just stopping by this morning to let you know I am thinking about you and praying too. I hope your days have been filled with unexplainable joy and peace as you settle in with your new sweetheart. I am so happy for you and continue praying for balance in your hearts. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and journey with us. You are a blessing.
Love and Hugs, Laurie in Ca.
i came across your blog from some mutual friends and i love reading your updates. God is good and does provide so much bigger and richer than we imagine. Blessings to you and your family!!
I love her name! I wish I was having another girl so I could borrow it from you! God Bless
congratulaions she is beautiful!!!
I thought for sure I had wished you congratulations earlier, but just in case I haven't - A BIG CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am overjoyed with you! However, - I have been checking every day for pictures of this new babe, and I realize two little ones is a handful, but I surely do hope we get to peek at this little one before too long! Hope all is well with you in your household - and that your joy is overflowing! Praising God with you!
Hugs from Michigan - Diane
So happy for you guys! Absolutely love her name and how it came to be. You are a precious family and loved and prayed for by so many!!
New pictures PLEASE!!!!!!!! :)
Boothe,
I love reading your blog. You speak so beautifully and pour your heart out to this crazy world of people. I admire that about you.
Hope all is well with you and yours. Thinking of you this Holiday Season. How are you guys? New pictures of Emmarette or Sellers? I sure do love checking the blog and having something new pop up. :)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God bless your beautiful family.
Just thinking of you and praying that all of you are well.
Hi Boothe,
Just stopping in this morning to see how you are and let you know I am thinking about you and praying for you guys. I hope your Christmas is a most wonderful one with your family. Hoping too that your absence here is just a sign of adjusting to life at home.:) Many blessings to you and your family.
Love and Hugs, Laurie
CONGRATULATIONS to your whole family. I understand the "delusionally happy" thing. Today as I walked through the mall, kissing and lovingly gnawing on the sweetest girl I know--my 10-month-old daughter, Hannah--I found myself telling her, as I often do, that she couldn't possible know why I love her so much. And then it occurred to me--I only know the intensity of this love because I first knew the intensity of the loss of my son. There are many spiritual analogies waiting to be found there, but I'm sure today, as you snuggle baby Emerette, that you can imagine what I mean.
Thank you, Lord, for the state of delusional happiness in which I find myself. Help me cling to you tightly when again the road turns rocky...or just simply not as happy as it in in this moment. But while this moment is here, I praise You with all my being and say with all my heart, "Thank You."
Merry Christmas Farley family!
Merry Christmas Boothe. I hope your day is a blessed one for all of you.
Love and Hugs, Laurie
sure would love to see a glimpse of this new little girl. Hope she is doing well
Hi Boothe and Connor,
Just stopping by this afternoon to wish you a Happy New Year and hope your Christmas was a wonderful one. I have a new blog and was tagged today. It ended up being about you and I hope you won't mind. It just happened that way. I think about you guys all the time and pray that you are just settling in and adjusting as you go. Emerette is such a beautiful little girl and I am sure Sellers is such a big help. I love you guys and continue praying for you.
Love and Hugs, Laurie in Ca.
Boothe, It has been a long time since I checked into your blog world.
WOW what a blessing God has placed in your hands! I am overjoyed!
Please forgive me for the lack of attention and prayers these past few months. Uniquely odd, I became close to a blogger friend thru my friends daughters struggle living life w/o her sweet Jason (cancer took him was to young in life)
Anyway, Laurie from CA and I have begun talking to each other thru email and blogs. She is talking to me one day about your book and I cried....a wonderful book that I have to get.
Praying for your family before/during and after Copeland blessed you, I must lead others to your story!
Emm is beautiful! Joy for your tomorrows!
DeeDee
many congrats and blessings to you and conor, boothe!! we don't know each other, but our parents are friends. (carl and claudia kornmeyer are mine...) and i know conor through work. i'm the studio manager at paragon studios, and he knows my boyfriend, fred paragano pretty well. anyway, i saw your parents' Christmas card with your sweet family's pictures on it hanging up at my parents' house, and i was so thrilled to witness the joy of the birth of your precious new daughter! i've been following your blog for the past year, and have always wanted to write but for some reason or other, haven't until now. i wish you a happy and peaceful 2009. enjoy the sweet bliss with your lovely little family! :) Love, Meghan
meghan@paragon-studios.com
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