Blessing and Sealing

So now that everything is final we are planning Z's sealing and blessing. If you are reading this we invite you to his blessing on Sunday, September 6, at 1:30pm at our chapel. The address is 2618 N. Lindsay Rd. Mesa, 85213.

We hope to have all of our friends and family join us this day. If we work with you at Mayo or Schwab we would especially love to have you with us. The blessing takes place during our regular church meeting beginning at 1:30pm with all of our congregation present. Because it is Labor Day weekend we expect there will be lots of extra seats. The meeting will finish at 2:40pm and we will be serving lunch/dinner at our house just after this meeting.

If you are unfamiliar with blessings for babies, here's a quick explanation. Babies born in The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-Day Saints (Mormon church) are typically given a blessing within the first few months of life. It is performed usually by the babies father or other special man in the child's life who holds the priesthood to perform such a blessing. Steve will be performing Z's blessing. Several men (usually grandfathers, uncles, special friends of the family) who all hold the priesthood form a circle while holding the baby in the center and the father blesses the child. At this time the name the parents have chosen is formally given to the baby and then a blessing is pronounced upon them. Typically a blessing consists of good health, righteous living, and other gifts or blessings the father may feel moved by the Holy Spirit to bless the child with.

If you would like a better idea of what to expect in a typical LDS Sacrament meeting you can go here.

We will also be sealing Z to us that same weekend on Saturday. We will be doing this in the LDS Mesa Temple. Again if you are unfamiliar; a sealing is an ordinance or ritual performed in temples to create eternal families. We believe that marriages performed in temples are blessed with a sealing power that allows the marriage to continue on after this life.

Children born to parents that have been married in the temple automatically inherit this sealing and they are blessed to be a part of that family after this life, forever. However, when children are adopted or a couple goes to the temple to be sealed after they are already married the children must have this sealing ordinance performed to be a part of the family eternally. Thus the statement, "eternal families" is something we believe to be true if the family has had this performed in the temple.

We are very excited, as is Norma, to have Z sealed to us forever. In fact, Norma will be accompanying us in the temple that day along with some of our closest family and friends. We are looking forward to seeing a lot of family and friends that weekend.

If you would like more information about sealings or blessings of the temple, this is is a great youtube video. You can also visit Mormon.org to have any questions answered via live chat. Or just ask me!

ITS FINAL!!!!!

He is officially an Owensby! We can hardly believe it. Today, July 9, the adoption of our precious, happy son is final! We were really expecting the judge to tell us that we needed to take some further steps to make it all final. We had done things a little different as far paperwork with the birthfather goes...but it went off as planned. We stated our names, introducing ourselves and then we were sworn in (something neither one of us has ever done). Our attorney asked me several questions; ie: will you state your full name, date of birth, date of marriage, if Steve was my husband, please state your address, the date we received our son, if we were living in the same place we were when we received him, if I was related by blood to Z, and if I believed adoption to be in his best interest. He then asked Steve the final two questions and if what I had stated was correct.

That last question was hard for me, sometimes especially after spending last weekend at Lake Powell with Norma and my parents; I see her as being able to be one of the most capable mothers. In fact, she would be more than capable, she would be great. The fact that she has sacrificed so much of herself to see he has everything she has always dreamed of for him proves that point even more. I can only hope I would do the same for someone I loved that much.

Having everything go so well and maybe because we are still a little tired from The Lake we both just started to tear up as the judge was saying, "All legal paperwork has been filed correctly and meets all requirements for the state of Arizona. The state of Arizona recognizes the adoption of ZPO (he stated his name) as final on this day the 9th of July, 2009." We looked at each other with tears in our eyes and then at our little boy who sat in daddy's arms quiet and content to look at whomever was speaking.

We were there with only our attorney and caseworker so we just hugged them and cried. Again I was overcome at what a miracle this has all been. Us, Steve and I as parents, officially now, it seems almost unreal. Even though the everyday routine of having him has pretty much set in now (it has been over 5 months) it is strange to step back and believe we are really here. Parents, what does that mean? Its overwhelming to think about at times.

We went out to lunch with our bundle and walked into the restaurant telling everyone we were "parents." Then we had to explain that our adoption was just made final so they would stop looking at us with that weird look. We just sat at the table with tears in our eyes, kissing over the table throughout lunch, and making plans for his blessing and trip to the temple!!!

Can I just say that after all the waiting we did, there are SO MANY exciting things you get to do when you adopt. It's like the celebration just keeps going and going! I am thankful for the bits of down time in between but for anyone who knows me, I always love having another party or reason to celebrate!

Just a little peek at Zad's first trip to Powell!

Poor Z!

Please know that while we have not posted pictures on here for a very long while it is because we are enjoying so much time with our Z boy! Our court date was changed to tomorrow. Tomorrow is the BIG DAY, hopefully all will go well in court and he will be officially ours.

In the meanwhile and to celebrate our upcoming day tomorrow and our recent trip to Lake Powell (his first) this is what we have been serenading him with tonight. We will let you decide who is dumb and who is dumber!



Lake Powell pics coming soon!