I honestly have to say that this is one of the best parts about adoption. Besides having your baby of course. The opportunity that we have to take our babies to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity is a sacred experience that I dream about. Not only do we get to be sealed in the temple to our baby, but our other children get to be in the temple, dressed in white, as well.
We were able to go to the Ogden Temple on Tuesday, September 29th, 2015 to be sealed to Ren for time and all eternity surrounded by our family. I couldn't wait for this day to come. I have been looking forward to this day for so long. The temple brings us so many blessings! The sealing power brings so much peace into my life. Knowing that no one, no thing, not even death can take my baby from me brings me so much peace and comfort. Knowing what it feels like to have a baby taken away, this day means more to me than you will ever know.
We arrived to the temple early and met up with my Dad and Stepmom. I had asked my Stepmom to hold Ren during the sealing. I had also asked Stephanie to go into the kid's area with Reese and Nora because I thought the girls might be afraid to go on their own. Which ended up being a good idea because the girls were a little overwhelmed and needed a familiar face. While we were waiting outside of the temple, we ran into the stake president that married my Dad and Stepmom. He asked what we were doing and my Stepmom told him that we were about to have Ren sealed to us. He told us that he was about to go in for his shift as a sealer. He also said that it was interesting that he was prompted to just sit outside the temple for a little bit. It was as he was sitting outside the temple that he ran into us. He said, I'm not sure why, but I feel that Heavenly Father wants me to be involved in the sealer today. After we went inside the temple, we talked about all of these "Tender Mercies" that had taken place that day so that he could be our sealer. He started asking us questions about ourselves and trying to learn more about our situation and our family. I shared with him some of the struggles that had happened to get Ren into our family and he shared with us some very sacred experiences that I am unable to share. The spirit was very strong and I was bawling before I even saw my children. I felt Heavenly Father's presence in the temple that day more than I ever have before. As Ron and I were waiting for our kids to come into the sealing room, it felt like we were in heaven and we were just waiting for our children to come "home" to us. I was sitting on the bench waiting with excitement to bring in my babies when I see Nora peek into the room. I could only see her head because she was peeking around the corner and she didn't want to come in until she saw us and so I stood up and stepped forward so she could see me and she came running to me all dressed in white. Reese came in right behind her and then Stephanie came in holding Ren, who was sound asleep on her shoulder. As I looked at my family all dressed in white, surrounded by our family and friends, I was overwhelmed with love, peace, and comfort. My stepmom took Ren and the sealer sealed Ren to us. It was such a beautiful and spiritual experience! There is nothing quite like being in the temple, with your family, all dressed in white and knowing that they are your forever. Not even death can separate you. I felt that every sacrifice and heartache I have ever had and will have is nothing compared to the blessings that Heavenly Father was blessing with me in that moment and will bless us in the future. The sealer let our family stand in front of the mirrors in the sealing room, which go on forever in both directions. I hope that Reese is old enough to remember this experience. I pray that my children will always have a love for the temple. My sweet friend Val Dahlin took our pictures outside of the temple. She is an incredible photographer and very talented photographer. When she found out that we were adopting Ren, she was so excited for us and wanted to take our sealing pictures as a gift! This is one of the sweetest gifts we have ever received! Reese and Nora loved the ladies in the children's area and wanted to come back and play with them for the next few weeks. This was such an amazing and incredible day! I am so grateful for the priesthood, for temples, and for the sealing power. I have a testimony that I know this church is true with all my heart. I know that temples are truly the house of the Lord and the work that is done in the Holy Temples is the work of salvation. The sealing power is real! Our Savior lives! There are a lot of things that I don't quite understand and I walk by faith, but one thing that is simple and that I know for sure is that our Heavenly Father loves His children. He loves us so much that he sent His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He loves His children so much that he made a way that they can return home to him to live with Him forever. Just as I love my family and want to be with them forever, he loves us as well, with a perfect love. The simple truths of the gospel are that Heavenly Father wants us all to return home to him. Living worthy of these blessings are worth ever sacrifice. I felt that love and and a little piece of heaven in the temple this day. I know our Savior lives and that this gospel is true! I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!
