Monday, August 27, 2007

Andie is Ours!




Andie is ours forever! What a wonderful day today. It started with Cole having his temple recommend interview w/ President Stratton. On one question regarding the word of Wisdom, he asked Cole how he knows its true. Cole said how he just follows it. Very plain and simple. President Stratton and Taylor got teared up. President Stratton after told Taylor how he just knew that Cole was such a strong boy in the gospel. President Stratton also said at the end that Andie had been waiting a long time to come to our family.

Last night, John called (who is Kimberly's dad). I had invited John and Annette 6 months ago to the temple. (Annette is the step mom but she has raised kimberly since 7th grade). I called them 2 weeks ago and told them when we were going but I didn't think they would come. At 9:00 p.m. he called to see if it was alright that they come. Of course. When we got off the phone with him we were truly excited that they would come. They ended their date, went home and packed, got in the car and drove 8 hours. They arrived at our home at 6 in the morning and spent the morning with us. Also last night we had a great talk with our kids about going into the temple, who John was, putting their minds at ease that John wouldn't take Andie, why I can't have more kids through my tummy, how Heavenly Father just made a detour for Andie, etc. Just a great night with our kids.

Today was plain and simple and wonderful all wrapped in up in one. The sealer gave some words of wisdom to Cole and then Riley and then he said some cute things to Andie. When he was done, on cue she just responded to him. It was seriously the cutest thing. We went to the alter and they placed Andie there with her hands on ours. I can't remember much of what was said except, "as if she were born under the covenant." It was just the sweetest experience.

Selfishly, I probably would of just liked it with our family. But there was no way we were going to say no to John. Remember, he did not want his first grandchild to be adopted. He wanted to raise her. For him to want to come was huge. Just think, the grandpa unselfishly sitting there, giving up his cute granddaughter. It was just about too much for Taylor and my hearts. He was truly happy for us. I'm just so grateful for this wonderful plan of salvation. Andie is ours. I can't even type anymore because I can't see through my tears...

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.