Tuesday, August 7, 2007

It's Official! We Have a Finnish Navajo Joining the Clan!


Well, it's official! Andie Walker Dayton is our first finnish Navajo in the family! Yesterday, we went to the court where everything was made official before the judge. Pretty much everything went smoothly except when the judge read that she was navajo. There was some back and forth that went on between him and our attorney about the Indian child Welfare Act, but in the end he luckily said since there was a signed affidavid from our attorney in Arizona he would go with that. He could of put her in foster care until he contacted the indian council. We didn't realize how serious of business this was adopting an indian. Luckily, everything has gone smoothly for us. Believe me, we have heard horror stories.

At one point in the proceedings, our attorney asked me how has Andie changed our life in our home. How do you answer that after everything we have gone through to get her? I got a little tearful and said that she has turned our life upside down in the most wonderful way.

At the end, the judge walked up to Cole and Riley and got down on their level and said that he was issuing a court order on their parents. They had to take them out for ice cream after to celebrate - the kids loved that.

If anyone is going to be in town on September 2, they are welcome to the blessing of Andie at our ward. Our family is going to take Andie through the temple sometime this month. After much thought, consideration and prayer, Taylor and I have decided that it will only be Cole, Riley, Andie and us going through the temple. This is as much a special day for Cole and Riley as it is for Andie and we don't want them to get lost in the shuffle of the 75 of so people that would be in the temple. We hope you all understand but we just really want to eat every minute up that we can with our children in the temple. We will tell you all when it is so you can be thinking and praying for us.

Andie is truly the biggest "tender mercy" in my life. She is the missing puzzle piece. The kids can't get enough of her, Taylor doesn't want to let her cry in the middle of the night and I hold her all day long. We are so blessed to have her.

7 comments:

Sarah said...

Molly- when I read your note on Sister Skinny, I just cried and cried for you and your family. We are so happy for you and your family!

katieo said...

THe more I think about the temple thing, the more I think it's totally the way to go. When you look and to remember, it'll all be happy memories (ah!, I'm getting all choked up!) no stress, no crowds. Just the most important parts!

GordonandChrissy said...

Congratulations, we are truly so happy for you guys. I know it's been a struggle for you, and it has to be such a relief to have everything official and settled. She is such a sweet little girl, and we are so glad we were able to meet her. :)

Lindsay said...

Trevor and I are so happy for your family! We will be sure to be there the day she is blessed!

Also, what a special day that will be for your family to be in the temple together! I agree with Katie, with only your family there you will be able to focus on and enjoy the most important parts!

Stephanie said...

What a neat thing for Cole and Riley to get to go to the temple with you and Taylor and their new sister. They'll remember that day forever and will always want to go back. How wonderful. And congrats on Andie being an official Dayton. I'm SO happy that things have worked out for you. And to think that you stuck those needles all over yourself...Andie's lucky to have you!

molly said...

Thanks for all of the comments. I also have to say, I noticed that it is all my cousins responding. How do I really know all of you? The 3rd sunday dinners is a start. We have awesome grandparents...

GordonandChrissy said...

That's for sure. Gordon and I were talking about that the other day, how we would probably not know all of the cousins very well at ALL, if it weren't for those. Life just gets busy, but when you have something planned...you can't forget! They were very smart to start those. :)