In The Window Behind Her
This woman was observing her daughter, who was rehearsing for her upcoming dance recital. As she twirled and leaped, she was filled with pride and simply loved watching her daughter. It is a mother’s pride and joy to see their children in action and nothing quite like watching your own daughter rehearse, she simply couldn’t;t wait to watch the production come together. Little did she know, this would be a day that took her right back to a terrible life event. As some time passed, Evie approached her, where she had been watching their rehearsal. Gina noticed her daughter’s face suddenly shift, her emotion changed entirely, mid-step something had happened…
In The Window Behind Her
Sending Chills Down Her Spine
Gina was worried, she could see something had simply changed. Her daughter’s expression truly took her aback. She asked her what was wrong- Evie could not gather her words together and just pointed behind her. She indicated at one of the floor-length windows that stood behind her and her mother. There was a young girl looking at them, who was she? Something made Gina freak out too.
Sending Chills Down Her Spine
There Was Something Missing
Originally born in Saratoga Springs, Utah, Gina Crotts had made some previous life decisions that she thought were in her past. After all, that is where she wanted them to stay, deep in her past. Most people like to leave difficult times behind them but it just so happens that sometimes these decisions come back to find us later in life. Gina was now married and madly in love with her husband Brandon. Gina and Brandon are parents to three beautiful children- one girl and two boys.
There Was Something Missing
Something Was Missing
Gina was happy and at peace in her life, she was comfortable with her life too but there was something she had always felt that was lacking. She had a feeling in her heart that something was missing but now, the time had come for her to face it straight on. She was taken aback and never truly thought about facing it. The girl looking through the window was named Kalyn.
Something Was Missing
She Made A Tough Decision
The story dates back 18 years prior, Gina had been carrying this with her ever since then and it was quite the burden to carry for such a long time. Gina had made a decision then and she simply had no choice but to get on with her life. As much as she wanted to go back, she was never able to rid her feelings of regret and never able to overcome the guilt. What did her family have to say about Gina’s past?
She Made A Tough Decision
The Moment That Changed Everything
Gina had lived the moments, events, and the whole ordeal over and over again for almost a decade, it was something that changed her being. She had vivid images in her mind and is able to recall the events as if it was just yesterday. It truly affected her. Gina said, “The double red lines on my pregnancy test kept presenting itself, in my mind, like flashing neon lights. Positive. Positive. Positive.”
The Moment That Changed Everything
What Was It Going To Be?
Gina went on to explain, ” That $6.99 plastic stick read everything about me, my past, my future, and who I would be labeled as for the rest of my life.” A pregnancy test can mean many different things to different people, depending on where they are in life and what they want out of life. In this case, Gina was shocked, shaking and simply confused. She was faced with so many questions and she needed to make a decision. What would it be?
What Was It Going To Be?
She Was A Young Girl
Gina was only 19 at the time, she was still an adolescent basically a child. This was a lot for her to deal with and to be faced with at that age- as it would be for most. How could she have let that happen? Gina knew she had to calm down, she took a relaxing hot bath and kept saying her mantra to herself. She repeated, “I’m fine. I can do this. It’s ok. I’ll be ok.” She said this over and over again.
She Was A Young Girl
Reflecting
She went over everything, she reflected on everything that had happened and simply could not understand how she had ended up at this point. Regardless, gong over her life events and continuing to reflect was not going to solve the situation not change it. She knew she had to decide, but this was the hardest decision she had ever been faced with. At 19-years-old she held much responsibility in her hands, what was she to do?
Reflecting
It Broke Her Heart
As one can only imagine, to endure through a pregnancy and then give the baby up for adoption is practically torture. The baby is part of you, and a mother always gets attached. 9 months of life growing in you, to give that away is terribly hard. Gina struggled each and every day, she was uncertain every step of the way too, had she made the right decision? Would she be able to go through with it?
It Broke Her Heart
A Mix Of Emotions
An attachment a mother grows towards her child is an unbreakable bond, to know that you are giving away a part of you must have been truly tough for Gina. She said, “It was really hard… the whole pregnancy leading up to that one moment of delivery that’s supposed to be joyous, bringing life into the world… “ she said, “It was a mix of grief and happiness… but knowing what was coming after, a lot of heartaches.”
A Mix Of Emotions
Her Little Butterfly
“She spent a night with me and my family in my parents’ home before placing her the next day,” she said. “Having time with her outside of the hospital helped a lot.” Gina wrote a poem for baby Kalyn on the day she gave her up for adoption, a truly devastating and difficult day for Gina- especially at such a young age.The poem was titled ‘My Little Butterfly,’ it spoke of the difficult decision she had made.
Her Little Butterfly
She Tried To Forget About It
Thankfully, Kalyn was adopted by a wonderful couple. This truly helped Gina go trough with her choice. This couple would be able to give little Kalyn everything and more, something Gina would not be able to do. Gina was struggling to pay her own bills after moving out of her parents home, she would not be able to afford a child at this point in her life.
She Tried To Forget About It
It Was Tough
Gina had, of course, never forgotten about the child she had once birthed and had to giveaway. That child was naturally a part of her and would forever carry a piece of her heart. Gina tried to forget about the events, tried to move on- she immersed herself in anything and everything to distract her from thinking about the whole situation. It was truly so hard…
It Was Tough
The Love Of Her Life
Her path led her to Brandon, and she was swept off of her feet as they began a magnificent romance together. The couple eventually married and decided they wanted to start a family of their own. Gina and Brandon had three beautiful children. She thought that this new chapter in her life would certainly let he move past the moment that had been somewhat tormenting her.
The Love Of Her Life
Gina’s Other Daughter
Naturally, Evie- Gina’s daughter with Brandon was a constant reminder of Kalyn. She would always be reminded and think of Kalyn, it was something she had to accept eventually. Besides that, she never thought that their paths would cross. However, Evie was the one to recognize Kalyn, her sister! How could it be that Evie would recognize someone she had never seen or met?
Gina’s Other Daughter
Looking Through The Window
Evie was only 13-years old at the time. As Gina observed Evie at her rehearsal, she was encapsulated by her daughter and mesmerized by her, she never noticed someone watching them through the floor-length window. Evie was in utter shock, she completely froze…so did Gina. Gina truly could not believe her eyes, what she was seeing could not have been real.
Looking Through The Window
Their Eyes Met
Gina had seen Kalyn on the day of her adoption, and that was the last time for 18 years. Kalyn identified her immediately, how was that even possible? Maybe it was simply their fate to meet, but it was truly crazy how this was all happening. Gina explained, “I was sitting with my back to the window, I turned back and that single wall and six feet were all that was between us.” Moreover, did Kalyn want to cross paths with her?
Their Eyes Met
What To Do Next
“I was shocked at first, then a second later full of sheer excitement, then hesitation in case she didn’t want to see me,” Gina ellaborated. “I stopped at the door, I didn’t want to walk out and see her walking away because she wasn’t ready. Her adoptive dad gave her a choice, I didn’t want to confuse her and needed to be sure it was what she wanted.” This was destiny.
What To Do Next
Time To Find Out
She could feel her pulse, her heart was pacing and beating terribly fast. Gina held herself back and paused even though she was extremely excited. She had to know, she calmed herself down and proceeded outside. Gina was hoping and praying that Kalyn had not left, that she had wanted to meet her. Gina braced herself for the worst but naturally wanted to see her child again.
Time To Find Out
In A Heartbeat
Gina further explained, “I could have run out there in a heartbeat, but I was cautious for her feelings.” This was truly considerate and very well thought out of Gina. However, she would too be disappointed if Kalyn did not actually want to meet her. Gina continued to say, “When I opened the door, she was standing in front of me.” She had never felt a feeling like this before, she was ecstatic yet very emotional. It was all a whirlwind.
In A Heartbeat
The First Question
“The first thing I asked her was, ‘Are you happy?’ she said ‘Yes’ and we were hugging, I had to pull away because I wanted to look at her,” Gina explained. “We couldn’t help but stare at each other, as we talked for longer, we would just look at each other and laugh.” The pair had been reunited, and it had really gone down very well. The meeting exceeded both their expectations.
The First Question
Completely Unbelievable
“It really is wild and extraordinary to think about the odds and how it was such a great moment for me, I feel very fortunate,” Gina said. What a relief it must have been for both of them! Relieved that she had stayed to meet her but also for Kalyn- she must have had terribly mixed emotions waiting to see what Gina’s reaction would be too. Thankfully, it was great.
Completely Unbelievable
She Recognized Her Older Sister
The real question is how Evie managed to recognize her half-sister, especially since they had never met before? Well Kalyn’s adoptive family actually sent updates of how Klayn was doing. They let Gina know about important accomplishments and other things that had happened for Kalyn over the years, to somewhat keep Gina in the loop and involved.
She Recognized Her Older Sister
Grateful For The Updates
Every year Gina would receive a photo of Kalyn from her adoptive parents. Gina said, “I would receive a letter and a few pictures every year, I was given quite a bit of detail on how she was doing, how her life was going and more. I got to know a little about how happy she was, her hobbies, and seeing the pictures helped to settle my heart.” A nice gesture!
Grateful For The Updates
She Did Not Leave Them In The Dark
Gina never kept Kalyn a secret from her children and husband, not for a second. In fact, Evie had a picture of Kalyn, her older sister in her bedroom! “It was our decision not to surprise our children with their big secret sister and for them to know everything about her,” Gina explained as they obviously did not want their children to suddenly find out or feel lied to at some point.
She Did Not Leave Them In The Dark
Always A Part of Our Lives
“Kalyn was a part of our lives before meeting again, she wasn’t there but it always felt like she was with us,” Gina said. It was truly cool that her adoptive parents were open and honest with Kalyn, they were happy for her to know who her biological mom was and left the decision to her to make. Gina and Kayla exchanged numbers after they met.
Always A Part of Our Lives
Getting To Know Each Other
The pair began texting and grew their bond. Finally, Gina was given the opportunity to actually know her long-lost daughter! She felt somewhat at peace and less guilty about her past. “We are very fortunate it played out in this way, I’m very aware most birth moms don’t get this experience and I’m very lucky for how my story ended up,” she explained with joy.
Getting To Know Each Other
Becoming A Better Person
Gina went on explaining, “Placing her for adoption did not mean I forgot about her but actually pushed me to be a better person, I wanted to be someone she would be proud to meet someday. And I certainly hope that’s how she feels.” Wow, we hope that Kalyn understands the circumstances Gina was placed in and sees her biological mom in this light.
Becoming A Better Person
What She Had In Mind
“I’m pretty overwhelmed but just as excited to see where the relationship goes from here,” said Gina. How does Kalyn feel about the entire situation and coming into Gina’s life where she is now a mother to other children? Kalyn was now a senior in high-school and had never met Gina. However, she said, “When I first met everyone, walking into the door I felt wrapped in so much love.
What She Had In Mind
Forgiving Teenager
Kalyn further elaborated, “Here were all these people who had been loving me for 18 years, and I was just meeting them.” It is truly special and rather mature of kalyn to not have any negative feelings or feelings of resentment directed to he biological mom. WIth such a story and meeting her later on in life Kalyn too must have had tons of emotions, but she handled it very well.
Forgiving Teenager
Meeting ‘Angel Gina’ At Last
Kalyn had been raised knowing and being told about ‘Angel Gina.’ Kalyn also had been sent letters over the years, not just from Gina but from the entire family too. the feelings had been mutual. She had been apart of the regardless of whether or not they met previously. Evie after all had even kept a photo of her. Kalyn had an entire folder filled with all the letters from the family.
Meeting ‘Angel Gina’ At Last
A Huge Dream
Gina had walkways dreamt and yearned for them to be reunited, however, she never thought about how or when it would happen. She knew that the decision was not hers to make but she could long for such regardless. If you ask us, this is a sign that the universe has a plan for everyone all along and what will be will be. What had taken Kalyn to that specific window on that day at that time?
A Huge Dream
What Drew Her There
kalyn had actually taken ballet classes when she was younger and had always had a love for it. Simple fascination drew her to the window as she wanted to see what they were performing inside. She felt drawen to the window and even wanted the girl to move so that she could see the dancers better, she had no idea that her biological mom and half-sister would in fact be in the studio.
What Drew Her There
A Seemingly Unfillable Heart
Kayln truly had no idea that it was Gina and Evie talking to one another, she truly had no idea. It was not until Evie noticed first that Kayln started piecing the puzzle together, she knew with the look on their faces. Howver, if you are fascinated by this unbelievable story we highly recommend you give Gina’s book a read: “A Seemingly Unfillable Heart.”
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