The trip that we had been looking forward to for 6 months was finally here!
The day after Christmas we ate a nice breakfast with my Grandparents and then headed to our next stop, Boise. Adelé had gotten a new DVD player to use in the car for our ride so we were hoping for smooth sailing. We made it to about Pendelton and then she was done with riding in the car. After numerous breaks we were finally able to arrive at Lauralynn and Doug's house around 8 o' clock.
We wanted to make it to Idaho Falls fairly early on Friday so we left first thing in the morning. We had plans to meet up with Oley's parents for dinner after my mom finished Adelé's dress. While we were waiting to hear back from Oley's family I made the headband Adelé would wear for her sealing and blessing.
Oden helped by letting me try it on him while Adelé napped! We were so excited for the next day to be able to finally take Adelé to the same temple we were sealed in.
When we arrived at the temple the spirit was so strong! As we walked up to the front doors people were congratulating us. When one particularly cute older couple stopped to tell us how beaming we were the Spirit overcame me and I knew that this was what Heavenly Father had planned for us. I always had faith He had a plan but it was on His time and through His ways not mine, which at the time was always extremely difficult but I knew this was His way of blessing us for never losing faith in Him or His plan. When we dropped Adelé off in the nursery I was certain that she was going to scream when we handed her to the temple worker, but she only gave us a few unhappy squeals and we were off.
The last thing I asked Oley as we were leaving our house in Washington was, do you think we need to take any of the adoption paperwork with us? I knew I should have followed that intuition becuase the first thing the temple worker asked us for was for the decree of adoption. Ugh!! They were able to let us go forward with the sealing as long as we faxed them the decree as soon as we got back home.
All of our family brought their tissues into the sealing room assuming they would probably need them, but as soon as they brought Adelé in she was crying. She isn't sure about strangers now days and they woke her up from her nap to put her in her white dress.
I wish I could say that the sealing itself was an extremely spiritual experience for everyone, but Adelé only wanted me to hold her close and never let her go. Which for me was all that I needed. Knowing that Adelé has so much love in her life from family, friends and especially her birth family always brings me comfort, but to be kneeling in the temple with her that day realizing that I am the one that she needs, reinforced the Lord's plan for this amazingly special spirit. I am the one that needs to teach her that she is a Child of God and that He has sent her here to be in Oley and I's family, I am the one that needs to be there when she needs comfort, I am the one that will need to hold her when she cries, and I am the one who needs to show her unconditional love the same love that has been demonstrated to her by her birth mom when she trusted in the Lord's plan for her.
Knowing this is overwhelming, but as I looked around the room I know that Oley and I have the support of all of our loved ones, especially that of Allison and her family. I am so grateful for them and the love they have for Adelé. Having the trust of Allison and our Father in Heaven brings peace to our life. We are so grateful for all of the trials we have had to endure to be able to kneel together and be sealed to the most perfect little girl. We love Allison and appreciate all that she has done for our family and continues to do for Adelé. I am grateful we share such a bond with her that as Adelé grows she will always know she has the love and support of an amazing birth mom. We could not have asked Heavenly Father for a more incredible blessing!
I love the way she is staring at Oley!
Families are Forever
