Thankful Tuesday-Come share our joy

It is Tuesday today. We just returned home from visiting with our whole family in Utah.

I am feeling very thankful which is appropriate since...

...Fall is the season of thanksgiving.

Our family has a lot to be thankful for.

We all joined together in Utah last week to celebrate with Erin, Patrick and little Calan

Last Friday, Oct. 16th, was a very special day for our family.

Early that morning we all went to court with Erin, Patrick and Calan.
We have waited for this day to come for 6 months since little Cal was born.

It was an emotional and special occasion.
Erin and Patrick were asked what this adoption meant to them.
They were asked why they wanted to adopt little Calan.
Their hearts were so full.... and their feelings so tender.... that they could hardly speak.
There was hardly a dry eye in the court room as they told the Judge of their love for little Cal and how thankful they were to his birth mother that she would allow them to be his parents.

Patrick's parents had come from Indiana. We had come from California.
All of Erin's siblings and their families also came.
John and I were thrilled that all of our children came to celebrate with Erin and Patrick.
It was quite a sacrafice for them to come.
Mindy and family came from California. David and family came from Ohio. Lynell and family drove down from Northern Utah.
We all got there early Friday morn and waited anxiously for court to begin.

The Judge said he was pleased to declare the adoption finalized.
He wished us well....and...at last...
Calan is legally ours!
...
What a blessing!
What an answer to all of our prayers.

The Judge invited us up to take this formal group picture.

When the Judge left we all burst with excitement.
Little cousins from around the country rushed to welcome baby Cal officially to the family.

After court the adults went directly to the temple.
We joined together in the same room that Erin and Patrick were married in and
little Calan was sealed to Erin and Patrick and our family for time and all eternity.
In our religion we believe that through the power of the priesthood families can be sealed (joined) together for all time.

Families can be together forever.
Now Calan is both legally and eternally ours.

What a joy it was to be in the Holy Temple with all of our children and their spouses.
Nothing could bring John and me more joy than this.

Later Friday afternoon, Cal was blessed by his father and assisted by his grandfathers and uncles ...who all hold the priesthood.

For us a baby blessing is similar to a baby christening in other churches.

It was the third special event of the day.

...

I was not able to get to a computer to do my Sunday Six Smiles but you can believe that I was certainly smiling.

I will tell you more about the wonderful time John and I had with all of our children and grandchildren (except Justin who is at Fort Knox in basic training) at another time.
...
As you can see.... thanksgiving has come early to our family... we feel very blessed and grateful.
Hugs, Grammy Lura