What a roller coaster it has been as we are left with broken hearts and joy all at the same time. Our beautiful daughter Elaine Raquel Dyer arrived stillborn on February 4, 2013 at 9:13 pm weighing in at 5 lbs 8 ounces and 19 inches long with a head full of dark hair!
We are humbled and grateful that we were blessed to have been able to give such a perfect daughter of our Heavenly Father a body. We know she is with Him and also my Grandma Ada Elaine Garlick and Travis' Grandma Raquel Dyer. How grateful we are that there is life after this and that there is purpose in all things. Yes, we have lost time with her on this earth, but in the end, it isn't a loss at all; she is still ours forever! {http://mormon.org/}
And she is teaching us more than we could have ever taught her.
And she is teaching us more than we could have ever taught her.
"All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ."
{love this talk} -Elder Shayne Bowen
{love this talk} -Elder Shayne Bowen
A big thanks to Tracy Anderson {volunteering through Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep} for taking these priceless pictures! www.tracyandersonphoto.com
My heart is so full for you and your sweet family. Your sweet little Elaine is simply so beautiful. I am so sorry and many prayers are going your way. Thank you for sharing your pictures of this sacred moment, the joy on your faces is inspiring. Love and prayers!
ReplyDeleteShe is so beautiful. What a wonderful thing to do to record this slideshow. You two are amazing. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. Someday soon we will understand, but for now Heavenly Father does and that it enough. We send our love as we gather peace from your example to all of us. Ben and Pam Cluff
ReplyDeleteThank you. Thank you for sharing your beautiful girl with us and letting us love her with you. She is perfect. I am honored to be your friend and grateful for you. God knew you were strong enough that He could trust you with the job of being her parents.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful little girl. You don't know me, but I want to share my sympathies. I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I had a stillborn in 2009 and that sweet angel will forever leave an imprint in your heart. She is so blessed to have you as parents. You have amazing strength and I'm grateful for your example of enduring this difficult trial. Stay close to each other and to the Lord and you will feel your sweet Elaine in your daily life.
ReplyDeleteSending you many prayers.
Robin
Sweet Jessica, I am sending much love and praying for you to continue to feel that peace. My own mother went through this back in a time when they tried to "protect" the mom by whisking that baby away. She never saw or held my little sister. Thank you for sharing the photos with us. I can tell you with surety that my little sister, though she never took a breath in this life, lives on! I felt her presence most powerfully in the room with us on the day my father passed away. You will be with your dear little one again, I am certain!
ReplyDeleteHey you don't know me but I wanted to just reach out. It was always helpful for me to know other people knew what I was going through. Although I wasn't as far along, I had no choice but to deliver at 20 weeks. I think it's great that you are putting yourself in a positive minds pace, after experiencing such a hard thing. If you ever feel the need to talk to someone my email is mindywburton@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteThings do heal with time, I have learne and am still learning that
Oh Jessica, you two are so strong and so wonderful. My heart aches for you but admires you so much for being able to see Heavenly Father's love and plan for you. She is so darling and your video shows how strong you are to accept it all. You have already shown what a wonderful mother you are!
ReplyDeleteI saw this through a friend's post on facebook and feel so blessed to able to see this little beauty and your love and faith. My husband and I were in the hospital room with our closest friends after they delivered and then blessed a beautiful little girl who was already back in heaven (though we could feel her with us in the room). I think it was the sharpest pain I have ever felt. I am crying with you from Texas today. I know that all the things you know are true, and that God is faithful, and that his promises are sure. And I am crying and crying with you. Thank you for letting others mourn with you. I pray that you will feel everyone's prayers and love encircling you today.
ReplyDeleteOh Jess and Travis, thank you for sharing these precious pitcures and for your amazing testimony. Elaine is absolutely beautiful! I know you yearn for the day when you can hold her in your arms again. What an amazing day that will be. Tears are streaming down my face from watching the slideshow. What a beautiful, beautiful family! Love you guys! You are in our our prayers!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. My heart hurts for you. She is a beautiful baby. Our prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteJessica and Travis, you are in our prayers. Teasha and I love your family and keep you in our thoughts. I asked the Lord to help me know the perfect awesome thing to say, and that was it. You are loved by us, you are loved by Him, and the angels will support you when friends cannot be near.
ReplyDeleteElaine is a beautiful girl and no doubt her spirit is just as beautiful! You have always been wonderful examples to all of us and in the most trying of times, you continue to be for each of us. We love you and thank you for sharing such a tender, sacred moment with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful girl, and a beautiful slideshow. Thank you for sharing this tender moment. Jessica, I knew you back in elementary school (I was Brittany Thompson then), but even then you were beautiful and such a wonderful example. That example continues. You are in our thoughts and prayers!
ReplyDeleteTrav and Jess,
ReplyDeleteI listened to that talk the day I flew out to Utah. I love it. My heart reaches out to you from these miles away. I am just grateful that we were able to remember her with you yesterday. She is beautiful!
Dear Jessica,
ReplyDeleteYou amaze me! Your strength and faith through this trial is beautiful and breathtaking. I have been so inspired by you and the truly amazing person you are now and always. I hope you know how loved you are! You and Travis are in my prayers.
Such beautiful pictures! What a beautiful spirit you have in your little family. Thank you for sharing this. You don't know me, but your blog came to me thru Joslyn Wilson, my daughter. She shared it with me because it is so beautiful. You are both right on track. Cleave to the promises of your covenants. I send my prayers and support and an added witness of the truth of what you know. Thank you for your strength in your adversities.
ReplyDeleteMelanie Wilkes
Trav and Jess,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your beautiful daughter with everyone. It was very emotional to watch the video, but I appreciate the opportunity to spend a few moments with my niece. I can't wait to hold her in the eternities! It is not easy to lose a loved one, but it is the love of our Heavenly Father and the promises of the sealing power that bring us through the tough times. I love you both and want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayer.
Doug Lacher
Jessica and Travis,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your incredible faith and testimony in God's plan. I know that Heavenly Father and many others will take great care of your daughter until you see her again. She is absolutely beautiful, and you are a wonderful, strong family. You are in our prayers.
Lots of love,
The Harrisons
It's beautiful. We love you.
ReplyDeleteJessica and Travis,
ReplyDeleteThe slideshow is wonderful and moved me to tears, once again. Elaine is so beautiful. It was truly special to be there at her birth and to see your family together. It brings me comfort to know that you will be together again, and what a glorious day that will be. You are in my prayers.
Tracy Anderson
She is beautiful and precious. Thank you for sharing with us. I am so glad you have each other, your love for one another and for a Elaine is very tender. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteLove, Kristie
Jessica -- I'm your cousin (Joe and Leslie's daughter) and my sister emailed me your post. I'm glad she did because I wouldn't have known otherwise. I feel so grateful to Tracy for taking those pictures, to capture that small time you had, and I also can see the heartache that it was {and still is}. Sweet Elaine :) and never has the veil seemed so thin than when you can send this little one back up to heaven, knowing that your grandma Elaine (my Aunt) is there to welcome her home. Bless you!!
ReplyDeleteYou can visit my blog (or at least see a pic of my family to see if you recognize me from reunions past) at steveandkerri.blogspot.com
DeleteJessica, I'm sorry to hear about what happened. What a tragic thing to go through. I'm touched that you were willing to share your thoughts and feelings with others. I know other women will be comforted by your words here.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and your family.
(I'm in your ward/was in your major.)
I do not kknow you but I know the Kellers. I knwo of the pain and lost dreams you mourn at this time and in the days to come and my prayers and heart felt wishes are yours. My daughter had a stilborn twin at 34 weeks 2 years ago and has a blog about the last two years and loves to connect with those who also have babies in heaven. Her name is Cyndi Taylor and her blog is lovejoylane.blogspot.com. If you want to read of the journey she has taken. Cyndi also has a book that she read from someone else who lost a baby that she recommends. she wrote about this on her blog also. May you find hope and joythrough the Savior who can carry you through the pain. Connie Anderson
ReplyDeleteTravis and Jessica,
ReplyDeleteDuring this bittersweet time in your lives, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you for sharing your beautiful baby daughter and also your testimonies of the wonderful plan of salvation. During our times of trial and suffering it is the promise of what awaits us in the eternities that keeps us moving forward.
Claudia and Jim Keller (David's mom and dad)
What a beautiful daughter for a beautiful family! Our thoughts and prayers are with you-thank you for sharing this moment of your life with us.
ReplyDeleteAll our love-
Romney and Kristin Stewart and family
Jessica and Travis,
ReplyDeleteThe true measure of our faith is when we can experience a tragedy and find God in it and feel Him with us all at the same time. You have done both. You have been in our thoughts and prayers since we heard. We love you and your lovely family. May God continue to help you experience peace.
Carl and Susan McKneely and Sarah
Oh Jessica, she is beautiful. My heart aches for you but I am so grateful for your example of strength and faith! My prayers are with you.
ReplyDelete-Melanie Peris
I don't know you personally but I work with Jon and friends with Rachael and her family. I heard about your loss and many heart broke. My mom commented earlier about CyndiTaylor my sister.I still cry for the nephew I never held,but he has taught me so much. Sweet Elaine will never be forgotten. I know sorry isn't enough too heal the loss you feel and I wish I was better with words but I just want you to know that you Travis and Elaine have been in my heart this week. Families are Eternal!-Kara
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