So Blessed

I'm definitely a little slow at posting, but tis the season of busy...right? So with some precious nap time minutes I'm posting about our amazing trip to Utah over Thanksgiving. On the 16th of November (our 9th anniversary) we finalized our adoption of Leilah! We got to the court house around 9 and met up with my parents, Hayden's parents, my sister Rachelle and her cute little guy, our lawyer and caseworker. The judge was amazing! He was so happy for us and just so wonderful. We answered a few questions and got to express our feelings about Leilah and adopting her; needless to say there were some tears :) I got to go first and just said how much I loved Leilah and how we already feel like she's 100% ours and we're just ready to make if official :) Then Hayden went and man the water works came on for me! He was so sweet in expressing his love for her and what a blessing and miracle she is :)

Then on Sunday the 21st Leilah received a name and a blessing. It was so wonderful to have so many people present and to see all of the priesthood in our families supporting and taking part in the blessing :) I think there were 13 men in the circle. It's hard to express in words how special that blessing was... the spirit was so strong. Leilah is such a sweet girl and it was a sweet blessing. I'm so grateful for a husband that honors his priesthood and has the spirit with him.


Then Hallelujah, on November 24th we were able to go to Mount Timpanogos Temple to seal Leilah to our family! We stayed at the Kimball's house the night before to avoid any traffic stress :) Then got up and ready. Hallie was SO excited! When we got there my parents and Jacob and Kimberly were already there, THANK GOODNESS! My mom went to the children's area with the girls and was a life saver helping with Hallie. Hals is such a mama's girl and has some separation anxiety so to have my mom there to help her through was so amazing! We had to go do some paper work and then get ready for the sealing. After we were dressed in white our sweet temple helper let us spend some time alone in the Celestial Room. That's when the water works started for me... I just thought about how our little family was going to have the opportunity to be together forever and was so overcome with love and gratitude. I can't express very well what the temple means to me; just love and hope and joy... Then we were taken to the sealing room where so many of our family and friends were waiting :) It was SO wonderful to see everyone and all the support and love around us. Our sealer came in shortly and explained that there was a last minute switch on sealers because our designated sealer wasn't feeling well. I am sure that was part of Heavenly Father's plan for us that day. Our sealer was amazing and the spirit filled the room as he spoke, testifying of the truth of his words about sealings and our special way of multiplying and replenishing in our family ;) There were so many insights he gave; it will be something I remember forever. In fact they called down for the temple workers to bring the girls in two different times and the communication got lost so he had a lot of time to talk while we waiting thinking they were coming... and I'm SO glad! :) Finally though they brought in our two sweet angels, dressed in their gorgeous white dresses (thanks mom and cherie for the hours and hours and hours and days of work!) I can't even write this with out getting teary! It was SO amazing to have my family in the temple all in white together. Then to have the sealer use the power of God to seal our little girl to us as if she had been born from us... words can not express the love and peace and joy I felt at that moment and still today. I am so incredibly blessed. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and my family and this is it and I am so incredibly grateful!

Then after everyone said congratulations and left the room we got to hold our girls and look in the mirrors in the room, looking at our eternal family :) It was a special experience I'll remember forever. While we were in the room I also asked Hallie how she felt, she said she felt good. I asked why she felt good and she said the spirit was touching her heart. I persisted and asked what that felt like..she hesitated then looked at me with her perfect innocence and said, "love."

Later she was so adorable again and said, "Now we get to keep Leilah forever and ever and ever!"
So blessed.


(sorry for the small pics! It's all I have for now, but don't worry there will be many later ;) )