Before we knew it, the week had arrived for my Mom and Dad to come out from Florida to see us! This visit was pretty much happening because Aleeya had asked if they could come out for the finalization, but now we were excited they were coming even if the date of finalization had been moved out a few weeks! It would allow for us to have more time with them, instead of working on planning for the "big day" and the party to follow. I felt more relaxed for sure. Plus, it was a good distraction from the feeling of waiting for one more week to go by . . we all knew this week would fly (sad, but true)!
The Sunday before they arrived, Aleeya and I were the only ones in the van on the way to church (I had dropped the others off earlier since the boys are involved with the band and a discipleship group and Ashley wanted to go to early service). I mentioned that I had some pretty crazy dreams the night before and told her how I was supposed to cook Thanksgiving dinner for my entire extended family and somehow got busy shopping for food and was like two hours late and everyone was upset with me. I told her I think it meant that I still had much to do to prepare for my parents coming and was feeling a little behind. She said she had a dream too. She said that Nana and Pop Pop had come to visit, but that every time she went to give them a hug, they didn't see her. I told her that dreams sometimes have reality built into them and tell us something of what we are actually feeling. (At other times, they seem totally off the wall!) She had never heard of that, but her dream made a lot of sense. I told her it sounded like she might be worried that my parents would see everyone else and pour their love on them, but maybe not her since they didn't know her as well. It sounded like she was wondering if they would really "see" her and love her? I realized at this point that she really was nervous and wondering what it would be like. I reassured her that my parents would totally love her and spoil her with lots of love just like they did their other three grandkids.
They arrived on Tuesday, and they did exactly that! They are very good at spoiling their grandkids, especially since we only see each other about once a year. They were thrilled to see her, to get to know her better, and to love on all of us. I loved watching them give her big HUGS and get to know her better! They walked in and began handing out gifts, giving them some spending money, and hanging out and playing games and talking with the kids! On Wednesday morning, the girls had chapel at school and Aleeya invited them to come. I told her they might be too tired since they had to get up really early (like 1am our time) to fly out and be here. Then they had stayed up with us and talked until about 9pm. She understood and we went to bed. I mentioned it to them, and they said, "oh yes, we'll go!" They were up and at the school for chapel, and I was told by a sweet friend later what a special time it was. They had both come in to sit by the girls. At first, it was Dad, Mom, Ashley, and Aleeya. Then Dad got up and walked all the way around the rows to come back around and sit by Aleeya, making everyone move down one. He sat beside her with his arm around her so proud! This made my heart melt. I loved that my parents where able to accept her as their granddaughter so quickly!
On one of the first couple days here, I remember seeing Aleeya outside on the swing trying to read her twenty minutes a day for school (it was hard to find a quite place to read since the girls had given their room to Nana and Pop Pop and were sleeping out in the office area). Then I saw Pop Pop head outside to sit down and talk with her. I knew Aleeya was trying to get her homework done, and kinda wanted to let Dad know, but I'm so glad I didn't! Dad was out there telling her about how he used to be a horseback policeman because he knew she liked horses! He was telling her a little bit about himself so she would know her Pop Pop better! It was really special!
We also one last visit from her social worker. This was a meeting I was not really wanting at this point. But it was neat that my parents got to meet her social worker, and she was kind enough to make it a really short visit! I was just really realizing how done we were with visits, how done we were with having locks on everything, how much we were wanting to stop being concerned about every little decision in case it would be against foster family rules, and how ready we were to be a normal family (or as normal as possible :) )! I felt bad that I didn't want to see this wonderful social worker, a lady I felt like had become a friend, someone I really respected, but we were finished being a foster family and were ready to move on! I was told by my social worker that this was completely natural and part of the process! There is a time you want social worker, and a time for them to stop coming to visit. It was time!
My Mom and Dad totally blessed us with some yummy meals, some special treats, and a fun visit to Angels Camp with the kids. Mom shared some special memories from some journals she had and gave each of the kids a journal to write down the special things that God does for them. It was great to go to church with them on Sunday morning, and it was fun having the girls go with us to the service. It was so sweet that when Ashley was getting cold during the service, Mom gave her jacket to her for her to wear - she looked so cute!
We had a really special memory to make together on Sunday evening. Ashley had been asking for months about getting baptized. She had accepted Jesus when she was younger, and was really ready to do this! Aleeya would listen attentively and ask questions, but didn't seem completely ready. About a week prior to their visit, Ashley mentioned it again, and I asked if she'd like to do it while Nana and Pop Pop were here! Of course! I asked Aleeya if she would want to get baptized, and she said she thought she should wait longer since she just recently got saved. I told her that the only reason we had Ashley wait a little bit was because she got saved so young and we wanted to be sure she understood it fully before she got baptized. I told her that at her age, I was sure that she understood! She said she was interested. So, I sat with the girls and read through the Scriptures that talked about baptism in the Bible. I showed them about Philip getting baptized right after he understood the Gospel, and then about Jesus being baptized in obedience to His Father. We talked some more about the meaning of it all, and Aleeya said she did want to get baptized. So, on Sunday evening, we went to a friend's pool, and in the presence of some really special friends and their Nana and Pop Pop, they were baptized by their Dad (it's pretty cool to have a Dad that's a Pastor)! It was a very special evening, and we were so glad to have family to celebrate it with! Their Daddy was so blessed, and we were thankful that all four of our kids had accepted Jesus as their Savior, been baptized, and were desiring to follow Jesus with their lives - so thankful!
Time flies quickly when family is here somehow, and before we knew it, it was time for Nana and Pop Pop to head back to Florida. We were so glad for the time they had with us, so happy that Aleeya got to meet her grandparents, and thankful for special memories made together! It had been a great week for sure and we were one week closer to finalization!
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