[null, {"document_url": "http://achosentreasure.blogspot.com/2008/", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/SVWr1377w0I/AAAAAAAAAOI/7vUIt9fTBmw/s320/photo.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/SVWr1377w0I/AAAAAAAAAOI/7vUIt9fTBmw/s320/photo.jpg", "formatted_filename": "photo"}, null, {"document_url": "http://achosentreasure.blogspot.com/2008/", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/SOrb02iB8mI/AAAAAAAAANY/jBBkp84P4s0/s200/girl+or+boy.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/SOrb02iB8mI/AAAAAAAAANY/jBBkp84P4s0/s200/girl+or+boy.jpg", "formatted_filename": "girl or boy", "rendered_width": 97, "rendered_height": 108}, null, {"document_url": "http://achosentreasure.blogspot.com/2008/", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/SOmNBTt_lvI/AAAAAAAAAM4/iFEnvZNOLvM/s200/100_0206.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/SOmNBTt_lvI/AAAAAAAAAM4/iFEnvZNOLvM/s200/100_0206.JPG"}, {"document_url": "http://achosentreasure.blogspot.com/2008/", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/SOmMjZXjieI/AAAAAAAAAMw/B3jbeAeW-LE/s200/100_0210.JPG", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/SOmMjZXjieI/AAAAAAAAAMw/B3jbeAeW-LE/s200/100_0210.JPG", "rendered_width": 200, "rendered_height": 173}, null, {"document_url": "http://achosentreasure.blogspot.com/2008/", "unformatted_src": "//1.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/S-I8XYCXosI/AAAAAAAAAVM/vxVJF93Z9u0/S220-s80/Jax+and+Nat.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H8KehxJ91vA/S-I8XYCXosI/AAAAAAAAAVM/vxVJF93Z9u0/S220-s80/Jax+and+Nat.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Jax and Nat", "alt_text": "My photo", "rendered_width": 64, "rendered_height": 80}, null, null, null]


Oh YES I will park here!!!!! Last week Jason and I were out doing some Christmas shopping. We had to go to Toys R Us and of course it was a mad house. All the parking spots were full EXCEPT for the two parking spots up front that say "STORK PARKING/ EXPECTANT MOTHERS." I told Jason to park there and he said, "Linds, you aren't expecting...that would be wrong." OH BULL...I am too expecting...I have been expecting for THREE very LONG years...but officially PREGNANT for OVER A YEAR...HECK YES I AM EXPECTING!!!! Since he was driving and he is the boss of our family (I wish I would have been driving) we did NOT park in the "Expectant Mothers" parking spot.
And my heart ached SO BAD...I am expecting...no I am not physically growing a human in my tummy but I have been developing a love for a child for so long that there are days I FEEL PHYSICALLY PREGNANT...and I think I should be able to park in the "EM" parking SPOT...and I WILL when I go back in a couple of weeks to order our NEW baby bed. I will park there and I will park there WITH NO shame. And if you don't think its "right" for me to park there, well then don't leave a comment on my blog! Cause I WILL park there...and I WILL TAKE A PICTURE!!!! I AM EXPECTING...I am expecting God to DELIVER (haha...totally intended that pun) what HE has promised...and HE asked us to adopt...OH YES...I AM EXPECTING!!!!!
(You must read the last paragraph of this post with some humor...and HORMONES!!!!)
Posted by Lindsey G at 11:07 PM 4 comments:

No Card!!!

Last Christmas I remember being so excited about THIS CHRISTMAS. I just knew we would already have our baby home with us. So, although I have enjoyed this Christmas with my family...I have to tell you there has been a bitter sweet feeling this season. I wanted to celebrate Nat(i)e's first Christmas this year...I wanted to have a sweet bundle of JOY wrapped in my arms but unfortunately that hasn't happened. YET!!!!

Last year...well I didn't do a Christmas card because I was so excited to send out birth announcements and I am cheap so I didn't want to spend the money on postage for Christmas cards AND Birth Announcements...well I did the same this year! Friends are probably wondering...but I AM SAVING MY POSTAGE FOR BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS! So weird...but I just can't put "The Gerdes Family" on the Christmas Card...we are missing someone for the picture. I cant wait for that day...can you even imagine that sweet little coco love bug next to the sweet little vanilla 4 year old we already have. What an adorable picture that will be!!!

All I wanted for Christmas was a healthy baby...maybe my Christmas will come later!!!
Posted by Lindsey G at 10:57 PM 1 comment:


One Year Ago today....

....We drove to Houston to meet with our adoption agency, for the first time. Jason and I pulled up to NEW LIFE and I felt like I was going to throw up...I was so nervous. Jason and I sat in the parking lot and he prayed over this journey that we were beginning.

Our meeting went wonderfully...Jason and I had so many light bulb moments sitting in Cindy's office. We were there for several hours and when we left we felt more educated in the area of adoption and we knew we were making the right decision by using New Life.

I remember leaving the agency and crying, my heart already yearning to receive a child. Little did I know...I wasn't ready to receive a child then. God has had to do a lot of breaking and molding on my heart, that's why the "wait" is such a learning experience. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

After our meeting with the agency we began ALL of our paper work...I worked so hard to get all of it done REALLY FAST.

And well....we are done with everything we need to be done with...and we are just waiting on the call. A call that will forever change our lives. A call that will tell us we have been chosen.

So, today marks ONE YEAR.
Posted by Lindsey G at 10:05 AM 2 comments:


Random Thoughts...

I don't know why we haven't been chosen....I mean I do know why...it hasn't been God's timing but oh my goodness....COME ON!!!!!

I am on a roller coaster ride...it was SO fun at the beginning but I am getting a little sick to my stomach now. Don't get me wrong, I am still learning every day, still trusting everyday....but I am ready to get off the roller coaster ride and then look back and go...WOW that was FUN...and I want to do it again.

Jackson and I went to Target tonight and he totally cracked me up about how he thought all the baby stuff was "SO CUTE." He wants his baby brother or sister...or both....to be the best dressed child EVER. He told me last night, "Mom, I am really ready to be a big brother." And he is thrilled.

Jason is ready to be a daddy...again. I know that when he sees our precious treasure he will be filled with so many emotions. I can't wait for him to hold our gift in his arms, that will be one of the most wonderful moments for me. I love the way he looks when he is holding a baby...something totally dreamy about him.

I am getting ready to be a mommy again...the emotions I have are so deep and so strong, I sometimes want to break out in a song and do a little jig. I can't even believe that God loves me so much that he is going to give us another child. Children really are a reward!!!

My family is ready for this precious baby. Mom and I almost couldn't help ourselves the day after Thanksgiving...we wanted to shop for a baby so bad. I showed her outfits that she HAD to get once we find out if we are getting a boy or girl...they were MUST HAVES...I'm serious!

My friends...oh how precious they are. They have literally GOTTEN ON THE ROLLER COASTER with me!!! I am forever thankful for how they have been devoted to pray for our family, our baby, and our birthmom.

My heart aches daily for our birthmom, we don't know her yet, but I can't wait to talk to her. My dear, sweet, precious, really hottt, best friend....told me tonight..."Linds I wish you could do a phone interview with the birthmom's that are looking at your profile." I know why she said that....when I start talking about our birthmom, my heart is OVERFLOWING with JOY. I CAN NOT WAIT TO MEET THIS WOMAN...I can not wait to see her face, touch her skin, love on her, pray over her, touch her belly (okay so maybe not all of these things will happen...she is going to think I am crazy). I just simply cant wait to express LOVE and GRATITUDE to her. She is BRAVE, COURAGEOUS, SPECIAL, and if she chooses...she will ALWAYS be a part of our family.

This morning I felt the Lord telling me..."Linds, your family's time is coming." I hope I heard that right and that it wasn't my imagination.

Oh my heart is leaping with pure excitement...I cant wait to change diapers, get up in the middle of the night to do feedings (uh...Jason...help), I cant wait to hear that precious cry, I cant wait to have a baby in the house again....oh help me Jesus. I am going to remind myself of this post....at 3:30am when sweet baby ISN'T SLEEPING.

Lord, you hear me...you know my hearts desire. You know that I wanted to adopt from early on in my life and its been a journey to get me HERE...and I love you MORE today than I ever thought possible. Bring our child home, please. I pray for your protection over the baby, the health of the baby and the health of the birthmom. I give you all the glory!!! Thank you for adoption. Thank you for adopting me, thank you for making me your own, thank you for letting me be your chosen treasure. I owe my life to you!
Posted by Lindsey G at 12:50 AM 6 comments:


Not my Plan! But Yours!!

Have you ever planned your whole day...just the way you like it...then out of right field something happens and ALL YOUR plans are thrown by the waste side.

I'm totally there right now. I had it all figured out in my HEAD how our whole entire adoption journey was going to be played out. But God is doing something new and fresh in me...I'm scared to death but I love that HE KNOWS what I can handle.

November is Adoption Awareness Month. I have been challenged this month in my thinking about adoption...James 1:27 is SO clear...look after orphans and widows in their DISTRESS. It doesn't say...look after orphans and widows who are perfect, have it all together, healthy, look like you, smell like you, act like you, same color as you...NO...it says in their DISTRESS care for them. Haven't we all been in distress at some point...and haven't we all desired to be cared for.

I am challenging myself and my heart (and brain) to be more concerned with the orphans and widows than "what I want my family to look like." What will you do...will you care for orphans and widows? What if they are in distress?? Will you still care??

***Obviously I want our child to be healthy...I'm not saying I am not going to continue to pray for our baby to be a healthy child...I just want us to think about the DISTRESS part of that verse.
Posted by Lindsey G at 11:26 PM 3 comments:



Hey Blogging World!! Well I am finally feeling better. After all the test were done...I don't have anything life threatening...just cluster headaches. God is SO good!!!! Stress might be what causes Cluster Headaches...so I am going to learn to CHILL OUT. I know my family and friends will appreciate that. I still want to post about something God taught me while lying on my back, unable to do anything! But...I will have to do it later.

Please pray that the cluster headaches DON'T come back....they can be reoccurring. Also, please keep praying for the strength to continue on this adoption journey. It is emotionally draining...I need an extra dose of Gods grace, mercy, and strength!
Posted by Lindsey G at 6:23 PM 2 comments:


Clusters of Babies...not aches!!!

This week has NOT been fun!!! I know this blog is about our adoption but our family is needing prayer right now.

Last Thursday I began having really bad headaches that continued until Monday morning and I couldn't take it anymore so Jason took me to the doctor. The doctor diagnosed me with Cluster Headaches. Its a severe debilitating headache behind my eye and temple and the pain shoots down into my neck and shoulder. They did blood work on Tuesday and an MRI on Wednesday. We have been trying to find something that would relieve the pressure and pain and I think, after 4 different meds, that we have finally found something...but its been a whole week with severe blinding pain. We hope to get the results back from the blood work and MRI on Monday. These cluster headaches are worse then anything I have ever experienced. Please be praying that we get good results on Monday, that the meds will continue to work, and that my blurry vision in my right eye would clear up! My mom flew here and is helping Jason with Jackson, please pray for Jason as he is doing all of the jobs I normally do along with everything else he has on his plate.

Also, please continue to pray for the adoption. God is so amazing at his timing and we are trusting in HIS amazing truths! God's been teaching me this last week, while I have been laying on my back, about how faithful he is! I want to share some of those things but that will have to be another post!!!

By the way...the best thing that happened this week is that my blog got a NEW LOOK!!! I love it!

Posted by Lindsey G at 1:56 PM 1 comment:



Just Pray everyone!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!! God is stiring it up and making something happen! Im trusting in that and I need the body of believers to TRUST it to....I love my creator! More today than yesterday!

Posted by Lindsey G at 12:02 AM 1 comment:


Boy or Girl

(I took this picture the other day in Kohl's...baby fever!) When we first started our adoption journey we wanted a little boy and we were going to name him Nathan. But we quickly realized with our agency that we couldn't pick the gender of our child, we couldn't specify a boy or a girl. At first I was so upset and confused because I really thought we were being called to bring another little boy into our family through adoption. I remember sitting at my kitchen table, reading a letter from New Life, informing me that we couldn't pick the gender of our child. Floods of emotions ran over me.

"Okay God, I thought you wanted us to adopt a boy...and I know you want us to use New Life...so WHATS UP." I threw myself a quick pitty party and then just sat there with my head on the table...what was the Lord up to??

Here is where the lesson has been learned. God KNEW that Jackson Gray Gerdes was going to be born to US...Jason and Lindsey. He knew that before Jason and I even conceived that little bundle of joy. We didn't care if we had a boy or girl, we just wanted a HEALTHY, sleep through night, loves people, full of joy, world changer BABY!!! And praise you LORD...even though he is only 4, he changes my world every day and brings JOY to people. God knew.

So with our adoption underway I am trusting, knowing that God still KNOWS!!! Its weird going to Target or cute baby boutiques and really wanting to buy baby stuff and not knowing if I should buy girl or boy clothes. I bet God gets a kick out of me in those stores...."Linds, I know what you will hold." Makes me want to shout for JOY (side note: God if you could just give us a glimpse of what is ours or should I say YOURS).

There aren't any FOR sures when having children biologically or adopting. I couldn't PICK what gender I was going to have...God chose Jackson to be in our family. Just as he has chosen our next baby. Jackson FITS us in every way. I know Nathan and Natalie will FIT as well.

Lord, I Love you! I praise you for adoption. Its such a glorious mystery yet you have it planned out...detail by detail! I am sure you have color coded the WHOLE thing (for those of you who don't know I am an organizational freak). Thank you for being my adoption planner, thank you that I really don't have to wonder...you have it all under control. You know if we will have a NATHAN or a NATALIE...or BOTH (I mean really at this point...go ahead...give us 2). I LOVE YOU! I mean I really love you! Thank you Jesus! Oh yeah by the way...if you give us 2 will you give us a Nanny as well :)
Posted by Lindsey G at 11:21 PM 3 comments:



I was thinking the other day about the timeline of our adoption...I am going to attempt to put it on paper (or blog I guess). Jason and I knew we wanted to adopt even before we were married. Basically he told me I would need to be willing to live in a hut in Africa and I told him he needed to be willing to adopt...we agreed!

August 2005: We weren't sure if we were going to do international or domestic. International adoption has always been what I thought we would do. But then one day I came home from a meeting and Jason was sitting at the computer, he had been researching adoption, he said "What do you think about adopting from America and adopting either a bi-racial or African American child." I thought about if for a brief moment and said "YES." We started researching adoption agencies at that moment! Through research we did research international adoption...we still feel called to adopt internationally at some point but know for right now we need to focus on domestic adoption.

Okay so this is where is gets blurry,

from August 2005-August 2007: We were with two different agencies and things just didn't feel right. I cant really explain the the uneasiness but we both knew God had something else.

Finally in September 2007: God opened our eyes to NEW LIFE ADOPTION AGENCY!!!! It was amazing how it happened. We were telling our Pastor that we were really having a hard time find an adoption agency that we felt secure with and passionate about. He told us about New Life, he actually grew up at the church that started New Life. So we gave them a call and they sent us a packet.

October 26th and 27th, 2007: Our wonderful friends put on a Adoption Garage Sale...and we raised $2,700, I was so amazed! November 29th, 2007: Had our first meeting with New Life. It was amazing! We fell in love with Cindy and she gave us so much encouragement! AND SO MUCH PAPER WORK!!!

January 2008: We went back to New Life for another meeting. This time we met with Sara Black, the director of New Life. This meeting was mainly for Sara to ask us EVERY question you could possibly think of. The women of New Life really get to know the adoptive family, we love this about them.

February 13th, 2008: We completed our Home Study. Sara drove to Corpus and spent some time with Jackson and also spent time looking around our home. I was so nervous...I mean I was freaking out on the inside. But it went great! Our family LOVES Sara and Cindy! These women have really been amazing...its worth using New Life just to get to know them. They are incredible women who love Jesus, love birth moms, love babies, and love adoptive families...and they both have adopted so THEY GET IT!!!!

From January 20078- March 2008: We were doing LOTS of paper work, having our house inspected, reading lots of books and doing reports, getting check ups from our doctor, TB test, working on our profile, and working on picture pages of ourselves for our birth mom to look at. And PRAYING!!!! (still doing that)

May 3rd, 2008: Adoption Training at New Life

August 21st, 2008: We had another visit by Sara Black. Every 6 months until the adoption in finalized our agency comes for a visit!

September 2008 and October 2008: Waiting!!!! But God is at work and he is bringing people into my "world" with a passion for adoption. The people I am getting to connect with are amazing and its really helping during this time of waiting!!!

*I am going to look through my calendar and make sure I didn't forget anything!!!

Posted by Lindsey G at 10:39 PM No comments:


Been too long

Well its been a while since I have blogged about our adoption. Mainly because I haven't had anything NEW to blog about! Still same old same old. Still NO news! Still NO baby!

Okay so I emailed our adoption agency last week and said "UH why isn't this happening faster." Our wonderful adoption director, Cindy, asked if she could give my email address to another family that has recently adopted from New Life...so the wife could encourage me. Obviously I said YES.

I received an email from Heather, the encourager, just several days later. It was so nice to have someone "get" my feelings and not think I am totally crazy. Adoption is hard and it hurts! Its like nothing I have ever experienced. In our case its been SLOW.

But something I have been reminded of over the last several days....from Jason, Heather, and my wonderful BIBLE (oh yes this is the book for me) is that God IS working! We don't always see it but he IS working! I can rest in HIM knowing that he has EVERYTHING under his wings! I CAN have faith in the unseen and I don't have to fear the unknown.

I wonder what he is getting us prepared for? I wonder what its going to be like that precious day we hold our CHOSEN treasure.

God is working in me. God is working in Jason. God is working in our marriage. God is working in our family. God is working in our ministry. God is working in US so he can do something through US. He is working...and I trust he is working on bringing our child or children home to us (SOON???).

Several scriptures that I read today were specifically written for me to read at this very moment in time:

I am going to REMAIN in HIM and know he will bear fruit in my life...I just have to REMAIN in him...the REWARD will come...I must REMAIN to RECEIVE my REWARD!!!

I praise you Jesus, I praise you that you desire for me to produce fruit. I will remain in you...all the reward I need is to know you love me but I know you have promised EVEN more! I wait upon the fruit, the reward! I give you glory in advance...for this fruit that you will produce...OH ITS YOURS!!! Thank you for being my resting place. Thank you for being SO ON TIME!!! Thank you for working even though I can't see! I trust you Jesus!
Posted by Lindsey G at 4:19 PM 1 comment:



Hey Everyone
I spoke to our wonderful adoption agency today...still the same news, but I am encouraged. I have a prayer request...Please be praying that birthmom's would find out about our agency and actually have the courage to go to them for help. I am trusting like never before, our birthmom is out there, she just needs to KNOW about NEW LIFE Adoption Agency. Obviously God is going to lead her there eventually...hopefully soon. So that's my prayer request for today.

Lord, please lead our birthmom to New Life. Where ever she might be RIGHT now I pray Lord that she would some how find out about New Life and CONTACT them right away. What a glorious day it will be when I meet her face to face. Lord, if she feels ashamed or guilty for what has happened...please Jesus give her peace and mercy and the courage to come in and get help. Lord she will never be too far gone...YOU WILL RESTORE!!! Praise you Lord that Nathan or Natalie are NOT a mistake...THEY ARE NOT A MISTAKE...they were planned from the moment you created the universe!

I love you Jesus...I'm not enjoying this waiting time but I am enjoying learning from you.

Posted by Lindsey G at 9:39 PM 1 comment:



00000000....these are the #'s I am really wanting to appear on my cell phone. You see when our agency calls us that's what shows up. Their # isn't published on the caller ID for security purposes.

I really want this # to appear and then to hear Sarah or Cindy say "Lindsey, yall have been chosen." I might pass out! I am not joking, hopefully I will be with Jason when it happens so he can catch me before I fall. Its like taking a pregnancy test and waiting to see if it gives the + sign...I jumped and acted like a crazy person...along with shaking and freaking out! I can't wait to have that feeling again.

Please Lord...let something amazing happen this week! Give us some flicker of light in this adoption tunnel we are in. Thank you Lord that you already have this ALL figured out.
Posted by Lindsey G at 11:55 PM No comments:


Hardest Part

Sitting in my office @ home wondering to myself...what is the hardest part of adoption??

Is it the constant waiting? The endless hours of paperwork? The comments from people who just have NO idea what adoption is about? Is it the pain I feel every time in my heart knowing that the child God created for me is NOT yet in my arms?

What is it? The Hardest Part??

Is it seeing children around town...my eyes have never been so drawn to bi-racial children. And for some reason I see their wonderful faces more and more with each passing day.

Each day we wait I love our baby more. Each day we wait...it gets harder. If I pause long enough during my day to think about it...well the water works begin to flow.

Is the hardest part knowing that my life, our life, will drastically change when our baby is given to us? Will the baby bond to us? Will Jackson freak out? Heck, will I freak out??

I think the hardest part is just not knowing...but PRAISE YOU LORD that you know EVERY detail.

God we are yours...we say YES...even to the HARDEST PART.
Posted by Lindsey G at 11:25 PM 2 comments:


And we are STILL waiting!


Praying God's Word, Part 2


May 3rd, Seminar with Agency

A Post from September

5. For the adoption process to go smoothly.

Thank You so much and we love you dearly!

Jason, Lindsey, and Jackson Gerdes

A Chosen Treasure
 Lindsey G
 All things Adoption