A Heavenly Day

Saturday, August 23 was a special day for our family. I realize that many friends who read this blog are not of my same faith, so I want to explain why this day was so special to our family. 

Our family was sealed together for time here on earth as well as eternity. I like the scripture from the Bible that explains about being sealed. 

Jesus Christ gave power to His disciples to seal families together forever when He said, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

 When a husband and wife are sealed together as a couple, their children born to them are automatically sealed. With adopted children, there is a special ceremony where the baby (babies) can be sealed to the family. In the temple, we dress in white to symbolize purity. As a result of the sealing ceremony, a parent/child relationship is legally binding in heaven as well as on earth.

 We had a wonderful group of friends and family who joined us. I'm sad Mom isn't in this picture because she was grabbing something for me. Sorry, Mom! We only had a quick chance to grab a picture of the group before everyone scattered! This pictures makes me smile…it is full of some of the people I love most dearly. We missed those who couldn't come! It was overwhelming to walk into a room and see all of these people…all there for us! Some traveled far and wide to come be with us and we so appreciated it!

 It was an interesting trip to have lots of visitors but no cousins for the kids to play with! On my end, it just meant tons of adult helpers to help with all we had going on all weekend! Our family with my parents, Chad, Alicia and Shannon!

 Our family with Dave's parents. We were so glad they could come!

Dave, Anna and Susan

Double Miracles

I can't even see the computer very well because I have eyes that are filling with tears as I think about my double miracles. Anna and Audrey. 

Today was a big day!!! This morning our adoption was finalized in court in Utah. Even though they already felt like an integral part of our family, the finalization is a day we have dreamed about for a long, long time. Talk about miracles! I wanted twins so badly. We wanted twins early on in our marriage and with every pregnancy we hoped for twins. We even got pregnant with twins but then miscarried early on. When we were applying for adoption, we wanted twins. When we would get situations, I would hurry and look to see if it was one or two babies. I would sigh when it would be one baby. I really, really wanted two! I wanted two for many reasons, but I think deep down I just knew there were two on their way. I asked our social worker how many of the other adoptive families wanted twins. She said that pretty much all of the families want twins. 

 A quick snapshot of our LEGAL family! The best part was reading the decree and seeing how many times it said "David K Walton and Melissa A Walton are the PARENTS of Anna and Audrey." It made me happy every time I read that line. "Miracle" is the only word that keeps coming to my mind.

 We took a few pictures of our miracles today. They were so happy and so cute.

 Anna and Audrey

 Audrey was giggling and giggling at silly Sadie.

 Anna

 Audrey

 Audrey

Audrey playing with Anna's foot. They have a blast in bed together. Sometimes they are supposed to be sleeping but they end up playing for a while first. Or sometimes I go to get them from their nap and they are on their sides, facing each other, giggling and looking at each other. So cute. And sometimes I go in an one is crying and kicking and happens to be kicking her sisters' face. Oops. Not as cute. Poor girl getting kicked! Soon they will be able to move out of the way easier when they are more mobile.

Today I woke up with a very, very thankful heart. Tonight I will go to bed with a very, very thankful heart for this special, special day. I am so thankful for the double miracles that came from a very loving Heavenly Father.

One of my miracles

Our life has been full of tough times as well as miracles. Most of the miracles have to do with my babies. And most of the heartache has to do with my babies. 

Celebrating Nate's birthday will always be a reminder to me of one of the biggest miracles in my life. After losing three pregnancies, it was nothing shy of a miracle to hold a breathing baby in my arms. Oh, the joy that he brought into my aching heart! Another miracle was that he didn't kick a hole in my uterus since the doctor said it was "Saran wrap thin" in a huge area. 

Happy 7th Birthday, Nate! 

 Nate trying out his new birthday bike!

 Chocolate cake, caramel filling the holes, cream and toffee bits. Nice choice, Nate!

His dinner choice was tacos and Grandma Shelly's fruit salad with 7-up (from her childhood and from my childhood).

Goodbye, Jack

I've dealt with allergies for years. They come and go. Sometimes they are pretty strong and other times just lots of itching and sneezing. I've had some rough bouts with it lately, and finally it got so bad that I decided I better get tested. Everyone was worried that I would be allergic to our dog, Jack. And sure enough, after the 69 tests of different allergens, I am very allergic to dogs, among some trees and a few other things. I felt awful when I had to come home and tell the news to the kids. We tried to think of keeping him as an outside dog, but with how much he sheds and how much the kids would bring his hair inside, and how bad I was, we knew we just had to find a home for him. There were lots of tears. 

 Ashlyn wrote a note to give to the new owner. Dave placed an ad and within minutes we had a family that seemed like the perfect fit. They have a son who loves dogs, a very playful dog who needed a playmate, and a very loving and friendly mom and dad who love dogs. They came over to meet us and the dogs got along so well. Nate got the giggles many times watching them chase each other and be silly. Amidst many tears, Nate was so mature about it all. He kept saying that he wanted Jack to be happy most of all, and he thought Jack would be even happier having a best dog friend.

 We all huddled together and cried when Jack drove off. It was a very sad time. We were about to head out to go bowling for Nate's birthday and that helped us all cheer up a bit. (Yes, Nate's birthday was the day after we gave Jack away. Awful timing.)

 This is Nate and I the night before we gave Jack to a new family. We were all tired which made the crying a lot worse! Nate sobbed and sobbed. I couldn't keep the tears back to see my boy so sad and to think that I was the cause of it! Hard on the mama!

 I think Jack was sad, too.

The new owners were soooooo nice. They texted that night to let us know how Jack was doing and even called the next day so we could FaceTime with Jack. Here are the kids talking to Jack on the iPad.  Surprisingly, they are all doing pretty well with the adjustment. There have been more tears, but mostly they are doing ok. I still feel awful that I took Nate's "brother" away from him. Nate and Jack were the best of buddies and it still makes me cry now when I think about it.

10 days and who's counting?

Nate is counting down the days til his birthday on the 10th and we are counting down the days til our adoption is finalized on August 13! I don't think it could feel more "final" as far as having Anna and Audrey as part of our family. We feel like they've been part of our family for a long time now. But, it will be really, really, really nice to be done with social worker visits and have the state give final approval of our adoption. We've waited for this day for a long time now. 

 We feel kind of guilty with all the rain we've gotten in Colorado this year when California is in such need! Sadie and Nate fully took advantage of the rain and mud and spent about 3 hours playing outside. So fun! Ash was at girls' camp getting rained on…but having a super fun time!

 Nate led us on a hike up the side of the mountain. It was definitely tougher terrain (especially when hiking it with a baby in a front pack) but pretty fun to watch Nate lead us along. Nate can't wait to take Grandpa on this route in a few weeks!

 We made it to the top of the hill where Dave and the kids are building a fort.

 We took Anna and Audrey swimming for the first time. This was the first time we've seen much of a difference in their personalities. Anna LOVED the water and Audrey didn't like it one bit.

 Having fun at a family campfire/s'more's night (which ended with a sleepover on the trampoline). I have fond memories of sleeping on the tramp as a kid. I wish I could have joined them but someone needed to sleep inside with the babies!

 It was a bright morning! Luckily no wildlife happened upon them in the night.

 I guess we are teaching the babies about guns at an early age around here. They might as well learn about them now as they will be a part of their lives with Dave as their dad!

It was sooooooo fun to have Dave's brother, Scott, in town for a visit! Nate wanted to play a song for the big boys on the guitar. 

 Nate stood here for at least 20 minutes (but I think it was longer) waiting for Scott to arrive. He was so  excited to have his uncle here!

 I loved hearing Dave and Scott play the guitar and sing together. Dave had to use the kids' guitar but it worked!

 It was so great to have my cousin, Andrea, and her family come visit us for a weekend. As kids our families did things all the time together, and she was one year older than me so we were cousin buddies. It's been years since we've really had time to hang out and talk and be together. We've seen each other here or there but this was so fun to get well acquainted again. The best part is that our kids all had such a blast together. When we took this picture of Sadie and Jenna, I did a double take and just couldn't believe how the years have gone by. It was like I could see Andrea and I in a picture together years ago at this same age.

 The older kids enjoying french toast casserole with buttermilk syrup!

 The older girls at our picnic before we went to the Lego store in Denver!

 Cousins! Don't think that 25 years ago when we played together at Christmas we would imagine that some day we would be shooting guns together!

 Anna and Audrey are at such a fun stage. They still sleep together in the crib and we can't even think about separating them. They have so much fun together. Often times they will play together for a while and then fall asleep. Or they will wake up and play and babble for quite some time before they are ready for us to get them. I think that's my favorite thing about twins…their relationship together.

 Hanging out with us in the kitchen!

 In the same pose...

 I laughed so hard when I saw this position. They are getting comfy!

 Snuggling...

 More snuggles. They are always touching when they sleep. Sometimes I will put them down apart from each other (so they won't wake the other) and they ALWAYS find their way to each other.

 Happy to see us come get them!

 It's really funny trying to take a picture of them together…with one not falling on the other or grabbing the other, both smiling, etc!

 Audrey

 Anna and a lot of drool

Nate and I were singing songs at the piano together after church. His voice was so sweet as he sang, and he kept playing with my hair the whole time. I loved it.