Benson's Sealing and Blessing

How do I describe these special events in a way that you will understand how happy they make us? One year ago, we were unsure of our future of being parents to more than one child. We decided to finish up the adoption application papers and wait to see what would happen. Little did we know that we would soon be blessed with a little bright-eyed, red haired boy. We anxiously awaited the day that we could go to the temple together. On Saturday, August 23rd, Benson was sealed to our family in the Billings, MT temple. It was a very rainy day but we had lots of family and friends travel there to see us. There was nothing better than kneeling across the alter from Jared and watching our sons be brought into the sealing room. Benson was wearing his white suit and was given to Grandma W. so she could hold him at the alter. Brig walked reverently into the room and smiled at us and sat next to Grandma H. Brother Carpenter from our ward performed the sealing. And of course I cried a lot. Benson gave me the biggest smile and loved looking up at the beautiful chandelier. Then we stood up and looked into the mirrors together.

The second verse of "I Love to see the Temple" has special meaning to us:

I love to see the temple

I'll go inside someday

I'll covenant with my Father

I'll promise to obey

for the temple is a holy place

where we are sealed together

as a child of God 

I've learned this truth

a family is forever!

Afterwards, our large group went out to eat at the Golden Corral. Here is Grandpa Ray Weishaar and Jared's Aunt Val.

I tried doing a 4 generation picture but it was nearly impossible trying to get all of them to look at the camera at once!

The following day Benson was blessed in church by Jared. Those in the circle were Grandpa H, Grandpa W, Jake, Dylan, great grandpa Heagy, Mark Schoenfeld, Nate Winward, and Chad Guymon. It was a short but sweet blessing because Benson was so squirmy and sat up and tried to escape! Benson, you have a bright future ahead of you with lots of people here to love and support you!

Gotcha Day!

Benson's adoption was finalized on August 18th! We were so excited that his day had finally arrived. G & G Weishaar came for the hearing and to sit with Brig while we talked with the judge. It was a brief and relaxed hearing that Benson slept all the way through. The Judge's secretary told us that Judge Sherlock loves adoptions and that our family was the perfect example of how beautiful adoption is. Judge Sherlock is really great with kids and asked Brig to come up and sit with him. He let Brig stamp his seal on the papers. Then we woke Benson up to take a few pictures, which unfortunately did not turn out very well but at least we have some to remember this special day. We are so grateful that he is "officially" a Weishaar!

Us with our attorney, Chad Adams.

In front of the courthouse. Brig was so done with holding still and did NOT want his picture taken.

CAUTION: 3 Year Old Ahead!

Brigham turned 3!! We can't believe how quickly he is growing up. Even though he is three, sometimes I think he thinks he's a lot older. He is excited to be three and to be "all grown up" and to start preschool with some of his friends in a couple of weeks. He wants to be a BIG doctor when he's older. He likes reading books, singing songs, helping me cook in the kitchen and doing "man stuff" with Dad. Every week we ask him what he learned about in church and he says, "Jesus again." He loves being a big brother and having someone to watch his every move.
It was a fun birthday and we celebrated for several days! We had a construction birthday party for him at home with cake and presents. The next day we went to Billings to play and get ready for Benson's sealing. We swam at an indoor water park, out to eat at Red Robin where they sang to him and brought him ice cream, and hit up Toys R Us for some balloons and prizes.

Opening up his doctor kit

Giving Daddy a check-up

Opening his bike helmet

Trying out his new wheels

A "digger" birthday cake

We sang happy birthday and then he blew out the candles about ten times :)

Benson loved the birthday party!

Brig got his haircut the next day and he hates it when the hair falls on him. So we cut a hole in a garbage sack and he did much better. Kind of a funny picture

Dylan and Mauri and the twins at the water park

This water park had an awesome playland for kids. Brig and his friend Anna went down these slides literally 200 times.

This was Benson's first time swimming in a pool and he loved it. 

Up until now he had only experienced cold lake water.

Grandma W was a big help with all of the babies

We ate out at Red Robin and they sang to Brigham and brought him ice cream. He thought the cherry was awesome!

One day I was puttin Benson down for a nap and Brig sneaked his bike inside and built a bridge with his slide. It didn't go over very well.

Two of my cuties by the pool