We got a bill of sale right here...

I know that it has taken me so long to write about the great adventure, but mostly because I
have been trying to get it to gel and be set in my mind. Also, because all heck has broken loose in the week we have been home. I am not going to even try to be eloquent or pithy, so just bear with me and I'll break it down for you.

Tuesday the 11th we flew into Utah, after having to pay extra for 16 pounds of baby crap in our suitcase. We were able to fly, because my mom generously donated two tickets. Were we to drive, we never would have made it there. The Jooj was amazing on the plane, as you will be able to see from this picture.

Attendants kept stopping and offering extra peanuts just so they could play with her. W let me read the Skymall the entire time, and he held her on his lap. FYI-Skymall has an amazing upsied-down tomato grower that I would like someone to purchase for me. Maybe a business man who spends a lot of time on airplanes, such as Papo or Dad.

We laid-over in Phoenix, and had some disgusting Japanese food. (We were too eager for the DeMae in Provo, and paid for it.) As soon as we landed in Utah, W discovered he had an urgent message from LDS Family Services: "Your agency in Texas has not completed the paperwork and you are not going to be able to adopt her." Nice. When we finally made it off of the plane in SLC, we proceded to the rental car place, only to find out that Enterprise will only take debit cards if you give them $300 in advance. We no longer have credit cards, because we have absolutely no willpower, and we also did not have an extra $300 laying around. So, we had to find another rental car. This took some time. FYI--not using Enterprise ever again. (Luckily, W had given me a Priesthood blessing the night before, because I was freaking out, and had been inspired to promise me that we would get the baby, get the car, and make it to Grandma's safely. So I was not too concerned about the car or baby situations, what with God always keeping His promises, and what-not.) We piled into our tiny tiny tiny Chevy two-door and drove to West Jordan.
It was great to see Grandma and Grandpa, except we did not see Grandpa--he had a cold. We greeted the cousins (Connor asking W if "that man was a boy or a girl" in reference to Georgia) and Tyler showed us the Crane Kick he has learned in Karate. Oonagi. We were so tired that we pretty much collapsed into bed, because we had to get up and see the attorney.

Day two, Wednesday: Well, it turns out that Grandpa has Bronchitis and Pneumonia, so we are not going to be staying there anymore. Sad, but true. We pile into the tiny tiny tiny car and drive down to Provo. We have to see the attorney, just in case we can purchase the baby after all. Thank heavens for W's amazing knowldege of bureacracy, because he knows the exact questions to ask, and the exact suggestions to make. We are able to finish the things that need to be finished, and are told that as soon as we send the money, we can finalize her adoption. Ah. The money. Problem. The thing with the money is, we have none. My dad and Step-mom have promised us some, the Army will reimburse us some more, and the rest we will get back from the government. But none of it is in our pockets. Preisthood blessing had told us that we would have it, so we went to get it at the bank. FYI--we KNOW that we can ask our parents to help, but we really wanted to do it on our own. It just seems grown-upper. SO, we go to UCCU, where I had an account rolled over from Payless many moons ago. We had actually forgotten about this account, and had no idea what was in it. As I go in, I am terrified. I have had such tough luck with money since the big move to North Mexico, and am so afraid that people are going to be mean to me. Also, this is our last-ditch effort. I should not have been afraid. When you have God on your side, you should never be afraid. I was really reminded of the advice President Lee gave to President Packer: " You must learn to walk a few steps ahead into the darkness, and then the light will turn on and go before you." (I put that in my scriptures next to Ether 12:6, for any of you smarties...) I told the cute little zoobie at the bank that I needed to withdraw money, and he told m ethat it would be no problem, and that the balance was EXACTLY FOUR DOLLARS MORE THAN WE NEEDED. Blessings of heaven. Thanks.
So, I cried, the teller cried, W turned noticeably less purple, and we sent the money off to the agency.
Day three, Thursday. My dad flew in the night before, and drove my grandma down to the courthouse, to witness the proceedings. We were met there by her birthmother, who had come to watch, as well. We absolutely adore her birthmother. She is awesome, and not just because of the love and sacrifice she made. She is also a fun, cool, girl. The court proceedings were kind of surreal to me. I know that it will sound weird to my non-LDS friends, but it just seemed so silly. She is mine. It makes no difference wether a judge tells me she is or not. The most important thing to me was going to the temple with her so that she is mine for all eternity. BUT, it was still awesome. The judge made the pronouncement, they video-taped the whole deal, and then we got to take pictures. It was short and sweet. (Not the judge, he was really tall.)

After, we went to Lisa Clark's to get Bek's ridiculous amount of baby clothes (which I am washing and sorting today, by the by) and bragged about the baby. FYI--Chris and Lisa Clark have an awesome house, and Lisa is the only person IN MY LIFE that can pull off wearing gauchos and boots. We met up with my dad and I made him buy me some new Danskos. Yay for my daddy! It was great to have him there all to myself. I never get to see him, and so it was so awesome that he came up for the court--everyone else came up for the next day, and so I didn't have to share my time with anyone else. I felt realy spoiled and princessy. Jooj? Whatever, it is my day with my Dad. We went out to dinner with my sister and her finace, later that night, and it was an awesome mini-reunion!

Day four, Friday. We just maxxed and relaxed. Went to dinner with Georgia's birth family, and had a wonderful time. I could not choose a greater group of people--I want them to be my family anyway! Jenny and I went to the Costco to purchase things for the party on Saturday, and I remembered my intense love of all things Provo. Came home with some Stephen's cocoa, spinach-artichoke dip, Nordstrom's Decaf Mocha Ice-Storm, and listened to the "Banana" song (Hollaback girl) the entire time.

Day five, Saturday. I can't believe that we were able to cram so many things into one day. We took pictures at the Kiddie Kandids--the only place to take pictures, as far as I am concerned. Her birthmom came with us, and they took a gorgeous picture togethere. I think that they look identical, but she sees differently. Met up with my brother and his amazing wife and daughter, and my mom and step-dad. I made W buy me a new outfit, because the pictures with the judge were so horrifying. We raced home, changed clothes, and went to the temple. I wish that I could do justice to the ceremony, the feeling, and the love that I experienced. Georgia's birth-family came, as did our family and favorite people in the world. I had been pushing aside how much I wanted her to be sealed to us, and it all came out. I was crying tears of relief, joy, and saddness all at the same time. I was so relieved to know that she is truly my daughter, no matter what, for all eternity, joyous that this day had come, and sad that her birthmom had had to go through this trial in order for me to receive these blessings. No sooner had the officiator pronounced that The Jooj was sealed to us, did Georgia make the loudest rasperry that I have heard her make. She is a Galan!
We headed back to the Ecktons to party down. The rest is a blur, but my friends and family came and celebrated, and we ate a lot of cake. Also, I signed up for Mary Kay.

The trip home was easy, and the rest of the time was wonderful. Unfortunately, life was waiting for us in the EP, so we had to get back to the squallor. It has actually been really great to remember these fellings, as I sit surrounded by ants, watching my baby eat a coat hanger. Thanks to all of my fiends and family, I love you so much--I can't express my joy adequately at seeing you there supporting me, and knowing that those who couldn't make it were supporting me in spirit (or sying prayers in the Old Navy pants section, Shannon and Cathy.) I love you all!
ps--buy some skin care products.