The Joys of our Life: Tender Mercy

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Tender Mercy

I just woke up from the most amazing dream. I dreamed that all my Dalton family had came over for a big family party. My Uncle Pete and Aunt Linda had brought my Grandma Dalton. They were wheeling her out to their car in her wheelchair. I was walking out with them. Before they loaded her in the car I bent down to give her a hug and a kiss. I said, "guess what Grandma?" She said, "what?" I said, "we get to adopt Kara!" She squeezed me so tight and squealed excitedly and said, "that's wonderful news! Our prayers have been answered!" I held her so tight and started crying. We both cried together. It was so vivid! I woke up and could still feel her hug and hear her voice. It was so real! When I awoke my pillow was soaked from tears. I'm still sobbing as I type this. I wanted to hurry and write it down so I won't forget. Through these trying past few months I have felt my Grandma close and am certain she has been doing all she can from the other side to help Kara. I feel that this dream is confirmation of that and am so grateful for this sweet tender mercy!
My Grandma passed away on October 17, 2014. The weeks prior to her death her memory began slipping more and more. About a week before she passed I was visiting with her. She had a hard time telling me who I was, who Jake was, or who the boys were. I know she knew, but wasn't able to connect it from her brain to her mouth. I started saying, "I'm Alayna, Jeff's daughter, I'm married to Jake, I have three boys, Dalton, Gunnar, and Ridge, I have a foster daughter-" Before I could finish the sentence she said, "Oh yes, Kara!" As we were visiting that last time I told her how much I love her and what a wonderful example she is to me. I knew that her time here on earth was drawing to a close and I so badly wanted to ask her to ask God and Jesus when she saw them to please help Kara. I was so worried about her! Instead I asked Grandma if she would please pray for Kara. She said she would. She always had a special place in her heart for Kara. She would always tell me about her foster sister that her parents had adopted, Geri Alford Patchett. I am so grateful for the strong faithful influence my Grandma has been and continues to be in my life. I know that death is not the end of those ties and that she is still so very near and aware of what's going on with her family and is anxiously doing all she can to help us live righteously so we can be with her once again. I know that it's not a coincidence I had this dream tonight. Today Kara's Dad officially signed away his parental rights. Her Mom had signed hers away last week. So as of today we are officially on the path to being able to adopt Kara! How fitting that my Grandma was able to celebrate this with me! I love you Grandma!

2 comments:

teralee said...: I love you Alayna and the strength and faith you have. You are an amazing example to all. I am so happy for you and your family. This little girl needs you:); February 24, 2015 at 12:26 PM
Mari said...: Alayna..
Thank you for letting me read your blog. I have been feeling very antsy about life and I don't know where we're heading. Reading your testimony has brought me such peace. Thank you.; March 1, 2015 at 3:31 PM

Daltonisms

10/24/2008
This morning we're eating breakfast and I'm telling the boys they need to eat so they're bodies will be strong and healthy. And I tell them that heavenly father created their bodies in his image. Dalton says,"how come Heavenly Father and Jesus have girl hair?" I asked him what he meant by that. He says, "In pictures they have longish hair like girls." I was stumped for a second so I said, "maybe they don't have any hair clippers." Dalton says,"well maybe they should create some!"
We were driving home from Dalton's field trip and we drove over the river. Dalton says, "I love rivers, they're so rivery!"
This afternoon Dalton was helping me put laundry away. After about the third trip of taking laundry from downstairs all the way upstairs Dalton says, "we need a conveyer belt to put the laundry on to carry it up the stairs for us!" I didn't know he knew what a conveyer belt was!
10/31/2008
Today was Halloween so we made the rounds to visit all the grandparents and great-grandparents. We were visiting my Grandma Dalton at the assisted living center in Layton. Dalton is holding her hand looking at her finger nails. He says,"your finger nails are sure long and poky. Are they for Halloween?" Poor boy isn't used to seeing pretty fingernails because his mom has never had them!
11/16/2008
We're getting ready for church this morning and Dalton is downstairs taking the cushions off the couch and building something out of them. He says, "I'm building a spaceship so I can travel to Mars to see if any life exists there!" Where in the world does he come up with this stuff?!
1/12/09
I volunteered to help with Dalton's preschool class today. The kids had brought things that start with N for their show-and-tells. Taylor had brought a new Dalmation stuffed dog. Dalton said, "dalmation has an 'n' in it, at the end dalmation." The teacher and I just looked at eachother like "holy cow!" I don't know any other preschooler who would have thought of that!

4/2009

I made baked salmon for dinner the other day and while I was preparing it Dalton came into the kitchen and said, "yay! You know I have a thing for fish!"
5/25/2009
Dalton was looking all over this morning for his mud boots so he could go play outside. (mud boots are essential when your yard is nothing but mud!) He was wining that he couldn't find them anywhere so I asked him if he had checked the garage . . . sure enough that's where they were. I said,"what would you do without your mommy?" and he said, "I would be stuck like a bug in a rug!" Where does he come up with this stuff?
7/1/09
Jake made us pancakes the other morning and he had us guess the secret ingredient and it was banannas. Dalton said, "oh, so that's how you make them disgusting!"
8/24/2009
The boys were in the tub tonight and I told them not to splash water on the wall because it's not water proof. Dalton says, "yes it is because there's green sheet rock behind it and green sheet rock is water proof!" The kid's to smart for his own good!
12/7/2009
At dinner time we always try to have everyone tell the best and worst part of their day. I asked Dalton this question after school today. He said the worst part of his day was not being able to go outside for recess because it was too cold, the best of his day was "coming home and seeing you Mom!" Oh, melt my heart!
12/14/2009
Dalton was saying his bedtime prayers tonight and he blessed Santa Claus to be blessed with safety. What a thoughtful little boy!
2/3/2010
The boys wanted to paint today. Dalton was painting an alligator and a crocodile. Dalton looks over at Gunnar's painting which was a mixture of every color of paint. Dalton says, "look mom, Gunnar's making an abstract painting!"

5/9/2010
Dalton caught Jake giving me a little peck today, he said,"why don't you give her a snooch?" I said, "what's a snootch?" He said,"you know, when people kiss for a long time and they're snootchin?" Oh, he meant smooch! I'll have to remember to ask for more "snootches!"
6/16/2010
Dalton told me today he wanted to wish me a happy belooted birthday!
8/7/2010
I was looking at Dalton and noticed how tall he's gotten lately. I said, "Dalton when did you get so tall?" He promptly answered, "while you were at girl's camp!"
8/25/2010
Today was Dalton's first day of 1st grade. He was telling Jake and I about his day. He said it was awesome! He said his favorite part was recess. Jake asked him to tell us more about class and he said, "well, it sure wasn't as fun as recess!"
Dalton was talking to me tonight before bed. He said, "school sure brings back a lot of memories. I love thinking about the past...I've sure had a great life!" Sometimes he seems wise beyond his years.
11/24/2010
I made guacamole tonight. Dalton and Gunnar were eating it and Dalton kept saying "mmm, this is sooo good! Who made this?" I told him that I did. He said, "Mom, I'll definitely have to get your recipe!"

6/30/2012

I told the boys that we needed to return our library books. The library called and left an automated message that said "please return your books so that other people may use them." Dalton said, "please return your books so that others may lose them?"

7/28/2012

Conversation between Dalton, Gunnar, and I: "Grandpa (Dallas Weston) told us that at Flaming Gorge there's 100 lb. catfish that live by the dam." Me: "I don't believe it. I think Grandpa's telling you stories." Dalton: "No, it's really true. Grandpa's an oldtimer so he knows these things. He knows these things because he's been around since before you were born."

3/18/2013

We were eating corned beef and cabbage for dinner tonight. Dalton kept saying how good it was with almost every bite. He asked for his third helping of corned beef and said, "this dinner is too good to be true!"

Gunnarisms

10/24/2008

Gunnar woke up as Jake was leaving for work this morning. Jake kissed him goodbye and was heading out the door when he heard Gunnar calling for him. Jake came back in and Gunnar said, "I wuv you daddy!" Gunnar has been asking me to stay in his room after I put him to bed. The other night I told him I could only stay for a little bit. He said, "mommy, will you stay forever!" Gunnar is very affectionate, always giving hugs and kisses. He tells me all the time, "I want my mommy to hold me, just hold me mommy!"

11/02/2008

We're sitting in sacrament today and the boy is blessing the sacrament and I hear Gunnar say, "my mommy sure is a cute mommy!" I peek over at him and see him watching me during the prayer!

11/13/2008

Sometimes I wish Gunnar didn't talk as well as he does, especially when he says things like this: We were at a dinner fundraiser for Jake's parents' ward scouts and Jake's Grandpa was holding Gunnar, he passes him to Jake's Grandma and Gunnar says just as loud and clear as can be, "Grandpa has a big booger!" He had been looking up Jake's Grandpa's nose while he was holding him and I guess that's what he saw!

11/23/2008

We were getting ready for stake conference this morning and I had my bottle of hair serum sitting on the bathroom counter. Gunnar grabbed it and said, "Look mom, hair poison!" 11/24/2008

Gunnar wanted to read me a bedtime story tonight. He picked a book, opened it, and said, "Once upon a time . . . in the name of Jesus Christ amen!"

12/24/2008

Tonight we were reading the Christmas story out of the Bible and we were talking about how Mary was riding on a donkey when Gunnar cuts in and says, "and Jesus was riding a motorcycle!" Nice little twist Gunnar added to the Christmas story don't ya think?!

1/3/2009

We were driving on 4700 and a we passed a big tractor going the opposite direction and we were talking to the boys about what a cool, big tractor it was. Gunnar says, "that's a John Deere tractor all right!"

4/2009

After Gunnar came out of his room for about the fourth time after being put to bed I said, "Gunnar, why won't you just go to sleep?!" Gunnar looked at me innocently and said, "I can'tmom because Goldie Locks is asleep in my bed!"

6/7/2009

Gunnar was in a grumpy mood at church today. During sacrament his friend Chloe (Christopher and Erin Walker's little girl) came and wanted to share a book with him. He refused to look at the book but this didn't deter Chloe she was determined to cheer him up. She said, "Gunnar do you like my dress?" Gunnar said, "no I don't like it!" she said, "it's a real nice dress." Gunnar said, "no it's not, I don't like it!" Chloe didn't seem bothered by this so she tried a new tactic. She said, "Gunnar you're cute!" Gunnar said, "no I'm not! Don't say that to me!" It was hilarious!

12/9/2009

Gunnar informed me that the more I excercise the bigger it will make my belly until it will be so big I can kick a soccer ball with my belly and that would be really cool Mom! I sure hope he's not right!

2/4/2010

Candace watched the boys tonight so Jake and I could go to the temple. Candace told Gunnar, "did you know that there's a baby in my tummy?" Gunnar said, "yep, that means it's time for Kade to grow up!"

6/16/2010

Jake's sister, Lori, watched the boys yesterday. She told me how well Gunnar ate at their house (half a hamburger, three helpings of mac n cheese, a gogurt and a bowl of cereal) we were talking on the drive home about how good of an eater Gunnar is lately. Gunnar says proudly: "ya, pretty soon I'm gonna be a FAT man!"

8/7/2010

Gunnar purposely shut his head in the door and said, "dad, a little help please!" It was hilarious!

8/26/2010

With a little bribing, Gunnar cleaned his room all by himself today while Dalton was at school. I told him how proud of him I was. He said, "you know how I cleaned it so quick? I used my super powers!"

10/24/2010

Today was the primary program at church. We'd been working with Gunnar on memorizing his part for the past few weeks. Gunnar is a pretty shy kid and gets stagefright. When they had the practice in the chapel the week before he refused to do his part, no amount of coaxing would work. We were pretty nervous when he got up to the pulpit to say his part in front of everyone. But he got up there and said his part perfectly without any help! He said, "Jesus knows I love him, because I read the scriptures." So proud of you Gunnar!

11/15/2010

I love listening to my kids play pretend. Gunnar (4) was playing with his cousin, Kade (3) today. They were playing "going away to college" Gunnar told Kade that he was going away to college and Kade needed to babysit his pet spiders (Halloween spider rings) -too cute!

3/20/2011

The other day Gunnar was watching me put on my makeup. He asked me what it was and I told him stuff girls wear to try to look pretty. He said, "boys are sure lucky!" I agreed. Then he asked, "is that what makes girls late for church?"

Today is Gunnar's 5th birthday. Since he was one, he has had quite an attachment to his "elephant blanky"- a fleece Noah's Ark baby blanket. Jake told him that now that he's five he doesn't need his elephant blanky anymore. I stashed it away in my closet earlier today. Tonight at bedtime Gunnar came looking for it and I caved and told him wear he could find it. He didn't want his dad to see so he went in our closet, found a different blanket to wrap it inside of, and came out with a big bundle. He said something about needing a different blanket to help keep him warm! I got a good chuckle over the elephant blanky disguise!

4/15/2011

We were driving home from Gunnar's school field trip at Home Depot today. Gunnar said something and I said, "how'd you know that." He said, "just a wild guess!"
7/28/2011
Dalton said, "I have a hypothesis..." Gunnar chimed in and said, "that's an idea you can test!"
8/23/2011
Jake and I were talking with the boys about going back to school. Dalton was going to get his father's blessing because he was starting second grade in the morning. Jake asked Dalton what he was most excited about second grade and what he was most nervous about. Gunnar said, "he's worried about his girly friends kissing him at school!" Which made Dalton growl at him and Jake and I had to stop him from thumping on Gunnar!
09/22/2011
The past few weeks Gunnar hasn't wanted to go to school. He's wined and cried and tried to get me to stay with him. My neighbor, Alyson, has been taking Gunnar and Kaitlynn the past few mornings. Gunnar will go without any problems as long as I'm not there. This morning I was getting ready to take Gunnar to school. I had been prepping him all morning that I was not coming in with him. I was going to drop him off by the door and he needed to walk himself to class. (Dalton had ridden his bike to school.) Gunnar said, "is that what you're wearing to drop me off?" I was wearing sweats and my glasses. Gunnar said, "I'll go by myself because it would be really embarassing for you to walk me to class like that!" I think I've found the ticket to getting him to go by himself!

12/30/2011

I had bought a set of flannel sheets last year on clearance. I got them out the other day and put the bottom sheet on Gunnar's bed and the top on Dalton's. The boys have never had flannel sheets before and they were so excited! I wish I would've videoed their reactions: Dalton kept going on and on about how nice and warm they were. Gunnar said, "whoever made these must really care about kids!"

3/27/2012

Dalton and Taylor and Kaitlyn wanted to ride bikes to school this morning. Gunnar decided that he didn't want to ride with them so I told him I would drive him. He said, "you're driving me. You're driving me crazy!" Then he laughed hysterically! He's quite the comedian!

10/28/2012

Dalton was reading the ingredients on the back of the potato chips bag. He was having a hard time pronouncing some of them. I said, "if you can't say it then you shouldn't eat it." Gunnar said, "I can say it: CHIPS!"

Ridge-isms

4/16/2010
I was trying to give Ridge his bottle this morning and he kept pushing it away. I set it down thinking he just wasn't hungry and he grabbed it and shoved it in his mouth. Apparently he just wanted to prove that he's big enough to do it all by himself!
7/22/2010
I went to pick up the boys from Joyce when I got home from being at Girl's Camp for a week. Ridge crawled over to me so fast, climbed into my arms and clung to me for about fifteen minutes. He kept pulling back, taking my face into his hands and staring at me, then he'd give me hugs and kisses. He really missed his mommy! It was the cutest thing ever! I was bawling!

8/7/2010
Ridge has become quite the comedian these days. He's constantly hitting himself in the head and saying "bonk!" Then he laughs hysterically!

He is constantly talking jibberish, I love it! It sounds like he's speaking Spanish!

8/10/2010

Ridge was playing with the calculator. He punched in a few numbers then put it to his ear and said, "hello?"

10/18/2010

We had chicken pasta pesto for dinner tonight. Ridge loved it! He kept saying "mmm, yum, yum!"

11/01/2010

I was dishing up bowls of spaghettios for Gunnar and Ridge for lunch. Gunnar said, "Ridge gets the littlest amount in his bowl cuz he's the littlest, huh mom?" Ridge bursts out, "NOOO!"
12/19/2010
Jake and I spent the last week in Mexico. Ridge has learned his first sentence while we were gone. He keeps trying to hand me things and says, "here you go!" But it's kind of jumbled into one word like "hereyougo!" So adorable!
7/28/2011
Ridge has been talking up a storm! This morning he asked me, "Daddy at work?" While he was sitting eating his breakfast he said,"Change my poo poo butt!" Oh, the words he learns by having two older brothers!

08/31/2011
I laid Ridge down tonight after a very long day. I said, "goodnight Ridge, I love you." And Ridge said, "night mom, wuv you too." Oh, melt my heart!
09/18/2011
I asked Ridge what he learned about in nursery today and he said, "Jesus wuvs me. Jesus want hold you me!" (Hold you me is what Ridge says when he wants me to pick him up and hug him.)
09/23/2011
Ridge was throwing a tantrum when I was trying to take him to bed tonight. As we walked past the wall he tried pulling a picture off of it. I was pretty frustrated and said to Jake, "this kid is out of control!" Ridge said, "No I'm not!"
10/17/2011
Ridge was watching "Dinosaur Train" while I was cleaning the kitchen after getting Dalton and Gunnar off to school. All of a sudden Ridge was crying like he'd hurt himself. I ran downstairs and he immediately stopped and had a huge grin on his face and said, "Mom, sit your bum on a couch and watch a movie with me!"
10/19/2011
There's a catchy song on the radio right now that the Young Women are always singing that goes, "baby I like it." They were singing it the other night when Ridge was in the car. Ridge immediately caught on and has been singing it ever since. Today he started singing it "baby I like you!"
10/24/11
Ridge refers to himself as "Ridgy." When he wants to do something he says "Ridgy do it." When I ask who made a mess he says "Ridgy do it."
Today he asked me, "Mommy wazzz up?"
He also said, "I'm so cute!"
11/2011

Ridge and I have a bedtime routine that goes like this: Ridge:"Milky?" (asking for a sippy of milk) Me: "no." then usually Ridge says, "water?" and I say, "yes." Well tonight he decided to change things up a bit. He says, "Milky?" I said, "no." He says, "chocolate milky?" I say, "no." He says, "juicy?" I say, "no." He says, "treat?" No. "puppy?" I say, "Puppy?" He says, "woof woof puppy?" I say, "no." He says, "water?" I say, "Yes." He cracks me up!

12/23/2011

Tonight Jake was putting Ridge to bed. He says, "Ridge can I sleep in your bed?" Ridge says, "No, Ridgy's bed is too wittle for Daddy!"
12/30/2011

Ridge was asking Jake for a drink but Jake wasn't listening. So Ridge says, "Daddy Dallas Weston! I want a drink!"

1/4/2012

Now Ridge is calling me: "Mommy Dallas Weston" when he really wants my attention:)

I think he learned this because sometimes Dalton calls Gunnar by his full name.

2/21/2012

Ridge saw the Ensign magazine open and there was a picture of Jesus in it. He said, "that Jesus? I love him! He's my best friend!"

3/27/2012

I told Ridge that Camron was coming over this morning. He said, "and Brody?" (Jessica and Brody Hall sometimes come over in the morning to do yoga) Ridge said, "I wanna have a party!"

4/17/2012

Every night Ridge tells me, "night,night, sweet dreams mom!" He's such a sweet little boy! He often tells me, "your my best buddy!"
4/20/2012

The boys got a trampoline for Easter and they have been loving it! (I have to say I am loving it just as much as they are!) Ridge loves to have me jump with him. Today he wanted me to be a horse. One of his favorite shows is Spirit. He climbed on my back and said, "it's time to break this horse!" Afterwards we came inside and I started to make lunch and he was playing with toys. He said, "mom, you're my best buddy!" I'm so grateful to get to spend these precious moments with my boys!
4/27/2012

Ridge is now our early riser. He usually wakes up as Jake is getting ready for work. He follows him around and chatters away. This morning I heard him say as Jake was putting on his socks, "those your big socks Daddy? I need my wittle socks. You going a work Daddy? NO!!! I don't want you a go!"

6/1/2012

We went to my parents cabin over memorial day. On the way home Ridge chatted non stop. He said, "when I grow up, I want to be the cat in the hat!"

6/23/2012

Last week while I was at girl's camp, the boys were having lunch with Jake's parents. Gunnar said, "my belly is sooo full I think I'm going to have a baby!" Ridge said, "Awwwkwaaard!"

6/30/2012

I got home from girl's camp Saturday and we left for Rockport with all the Weston's Monday morning. It was so fun sleeping in the tent with the boys. One night Ridge wanted to tell us a bedtime story. He said, "once upon a time, there was a gaga and 3 tutus. Then the gaga died and the 3 tutus died. The end."
7/16/2012

Dalton was teaching our Family Home Evening lesson tonight. He asks, "does anyone know what the Holy Ghost is?" Ridge says, "I do! There's ghosts and monsters and the monsters eat us! Rrrr!"

10/28/2012

Ridge was sitting eating Ramen noodles. He said, "That was delicious! You can say that again! That was delicious!"

1/12/2013

Last month the boys had their dentist appointments. The dentist asked Ridge his name. Ridge said, "I'm Ridge Weston from the Mountains!"

Ridge loves Ramen noodles. He can't say Ramen so he calls them "wrongin noodles!" Too cute!

5/8/2013

Ridge has become my early bird. Since we've moved the boys upstairs he's usually the first one to come down to Jake and I's room in the morning. Yesterday morning he came down holding a quarter and said, "look! Now I can buy a turtle!"

What!?!

On Tuesdays and Fridays Ridge goes with me to the church where I work out with a group of ladies. While we were there Ridge happened to find a realistic looking toy turtle. He said, "look! I buyed a turtle!" He was so mad at me when I wouldn't let him keep and told him it had to stay at the church.

This morning he woke up and said real sadly, "I really want a turtle!"

I asked him this morning if he was ready to go shopping with me and he said, "nah, I'm not a shopper."

4/18/14We were having dinner with Jake's grandma (Fae Weston) tonight. Ridge was telling her his favorite foods to eat: Top Ramen, pizza and popcorn. Grandma said, "oh I love Ramen. You know what's really good is when you put carrots, or peas or other vegetables in it." Ridge says, "I'm not buying it."

4/22/14

Ridge got off the preschool bus today and said that he was going to marry a little girl on the bus named Karlyn. I said I thought she was your friend Bridger's girlfriend? He said, "not anymore. She decided I was more handsomer!"

While we were eating lunch today Ridge said, "Mom, I just want to stay a little kid forever!"

10/16/14

When I was tucking Ridge in tonight he said, "Mom, I wanna marry you!" I explained to him that he can't marry me because I'm married to Daddy. He said, "ok, then I'll marry Bridger's old girlfriend, Karlin. She's a real beauty!"

2/4/2014

Ridge was working on his homework and he had to say each letter and sound. He got to the letter "e" and was starting to get fidgety and sick of doing homework. He got a little frustrated and said, "it's really hard to say the "e" sound these days!"
3/8/2015

Jake asked Ridge what he wanted to be when he grows up. He said, "I want to be a popcorn maker at the movie theater so then I can eat all the popcorn I want!"

Kara-isms

4/19/14 The boys were watching a movie and some music came on and Kara started dancing. I said, "do you like that song?" She said, "no, I don't wike it."

4/21/14

We were driving in the car and the song, "because I'm happy" came on. All the kids immediately started dancing in their seats. Kara was jamming in her car seat and Dalton asked her if she like that song and she said, "I wuv it!"

4/21/14

We were having lunch and I started singing "popcorn popping on the apricot tree" Kara put her finger to her lips and told me, "Shhh, me do it!" Then she started singing it and any time I'd try to sing with her she'd shhh me!

2/17/15

Kara got a bunch of pancake crumbs on the floor. I got out the broom and swept it all up while she watched me. When I was done Kara said, "good job Mom!"

3/9/2015
I love how excited Kara gets about the little things. She is all girl and loves to get prettied up. She loves having her hair fixed. Today I did a braid on the side and then pulled it into a side pony tail. She kept touching the braid all day. Later tonight before bed she said, "thanks so much for fixing my hair Mom! I love it!"

6/4/2015

Tonight as I was doing Kara's bedtime routine (brush teeth, singulair and flouride, prayers, story, songs, butterfly eskimo and regular kisses-has to be done in that order!) I sang her one song and then she kept naming and asking for another song. She'd say, "now princess song" and I'd sing it then "now I am a child of God...twinkle twinkle...sunshine song...etc." When she ran out of songs she said, "now funk you up song!" Meaning Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk song! She's too smart!

11/1/2015

This morning Kara climbed in bed with Jake and I for morning snuggles like she usually does. Her tummy growled and she said, "my tummy is growling-it's saying FEED ME I'M HUNGRY!" She said it in this funny little monster voice, it was adorable!