A Forever Family

On July 2, 2011 we were sealed to our new little guys. It was a beautiful ceremony. It could not have been more perfect! Now their journey to become part of a forever family is truly complete. After the sealing we went swimming and then topped the day off with a huge fireworks show at the city park. Everyone turned out to support us, even the city put on a huge fair complete with a Ferris wheel and cotton candy...okay, okay...all that may have been for the Fourth of July holiday but the boys don't know that. They think it was all for them. Fireworks were a new experience for them. Big man loved them with every ounce of his being. Little man had mixed emotion. Blowing things up and creating a spectacle is totally up his ally. However, they were a little louder and larger then he was ready to deal with. To quote Rapunzel in the Big Mans favorite movie 'Tangled'...This was the "BEST DAY EVER!!!!!"

The next Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting. Little stud man was determined to bare his testimony to the congregation. In our house we have a rule that you can't say whatever anyone else says. You have to talk about your own experiences not repeat the usual child's testimony. If you have ever been to a LDS fast and testimony meeting you know what I mean. It goes something like this..."I wanna bare my testimony and I know the church is true and I love my mom and dad and brothers and sisters and I'm thankful for the prophet."

So Stud Man went by himself to the front of congregation and waited for the Bishop to lower the mic and get the stool (mind you, he is 3 years old but there is reason I call him stud man. He has an air of coolness all about him.) He looked out over all the people and said "I love Fireworks and I know Jesus Loves me." It was so stinking sweet! Then Big Man felt he should share something which made me nervous since I seem to be the only one who can understand him here. Yet, I could not deny him this chance. I walked him to the front and he went to the mic. He said a lot that I could not understand but I could tell he was feeling the sweet spirit and was trying to express it. Everyone could understand "Mommy and Daddy" "Married" and "Temple" and you could see the happiness in him which pulled at everyones heart strings and left no dry eye. He set a perfect feeling for the rest of the meeting. Others bore testimony of adoption and temples and it was just a great meeting.

I am truly grateful for the Ward that I am in. The love my boys have felt and the understanding everyone has had since so many adoption have happened in our area. I am grateful my children, though still a minority, aren't alone with other friends who look like them.

Just Grateful, Grateful, Grateful!