Ten Years And Counting

Feb 2010 Issue

By S. Amanda Dickson
Day 1 – We’re sitting in the Celestial room at the temple. Today we’ll be sealed for time and eternity. A worker has just come by to tell us that we are waiting on my soon-to-be father-in-law, and his mother. The worker tells us that they will arrive shortly, and my father-in-law doesn’t want us to know that it is him we are waiting on.

We smile and laugh softly. Our fingers are intertwined and I lean my head on Bryan’s shoulder.
We look around the clean, peaceful room and ponder what we’re about to do. We dream about the future and make promises to each other.

Later, we kneel across from each other and hold hands as we promise to take care of and love each other forever. We look in the mirrors and marvel at eternity.

Day 202 – We’ve just closed on a new house in a nearby subdivision. We feel excited. This is a house we could live in forever – we can raise a family here, retire here. It is an open, split level with three bedrooms and sits on a quarter acre. We plan our yard – where to plant trees, flowers and enough grass for a volleyball court.

Day 246 – We’ve realized that there is room in our home, our lives and our hearts for someone else.

Day 276 – We find out that we’re having a baby. Could it really be that easy?

Day 528 – Travis is born. Bryan is there through labor and delivery. He holds my hand, rubs my shoulders, and says encouraging things to me. Our baby arrives with brown eyes, and lots of brown hair. He is a seven-pound-three-ounce version of my husband.

Day 588 – We realize that we want our son to be close in age to a brother or sister and decide to try for another baby.

Day 1,209 – All the required paperwork is complete, and turned in to the adoption agency. We’ve realized that this is the path the God wants us to take to build our family. Holding hands (now with a couple little hands in there) we look ahead and pray. We hold each other, encourage each other. We wipe tears away. We hope.

Day 1,246 – We get the call: a one-month-old girl is waiting in Memphis, Tennessee. Flights are booked, child care is arranged and bags are packed.

Day 1,253 – We go to Tennessee, leaving Travis in the care of Grandma. We check into a hotel, freshen up and hold sweaty hands as we enter Jewish Family Services. This is where life changes. We meet our second brown-eyed baby. Natalie has lots of black curls and she doesn’t cry in our arms.

We spend a restless night in the hotel before heading home with our new daughter. A woman on the flight home is in such awe that she cries. I hold back happy tears of my own.

Day 1,442 – We’re at the altar in the temple again. This time we’re with two more – a son dressed in white from head to toe and a daughter in a beautiful gown with matching headband and socks. She watches us and seems to know what is about to happen. She seems anxious to be sealed to us. She smiles at the sealer and looks Bryan in the eyes. Once again, we join hands and smile as she is sealed to us for eternity.

Day 1,833 – It’s time for my annual check-up. The doctor smiles as she tells me that I am expecting. Shock, excitement, fear and joy all run through me.

Day 2,078 – I’ve been in labor for 18 hours when he arrives. This boy is big. Tony’s eyes are blue and he has blond hair. Travis is thrilled to have a little brother to share toys with and Natalie wants to hold him even when he is crying.

Day 2,831 – We’ve sold our house. We’ve closed my salon. Bryan has quit his job. The truck is loaded. We get in the car and start the twelve hour drive to our new home, and new life in Oregon. We hold hands as we drive and hope for a future full of goodness and success.

Day 2,892 – I’m homesick. I’ve never lived so far from home. Bryan holds my hands and tells me that I will be okay. Somehow, I believe him.

Day 3,642 – We’re celebrating our ten year anniversary. Grandma is coming soon to watch the kids while we get away. Money is tight, so with all the kids in bed we sit on the couch watching a movie. My cold feet rest next to his warm feet. Our fingers are intertwined and I know that as long as he holds my hand, we’ll make it through to eternity. We’ll make it through hard times.
We’ll make it through good times. There isn’t anyone else that I want holding my hand.
Forever.