I just have to take a moment to share with you the miracle that occurred to make this the happiest day of our lives.
A little over two years ago, I had the wonderful experience of being able to go through the temple for the first time. The next step was for us to take our family back and be sealed together for time and all eternity. I was excited to do that, but still hesitant because I couldn't bring myself to do it without our sweet Kenzi girl there with us at the altar. In order for that to happen, I would need written consent from her natural father. It didn't have to be anything legal or law binding - just a simple note that states that he gives permission for her to be sealed to us in the church.
I asked her father those two years ago, to which he said that he'd look into it. Every few months or so, I brought the subject up again and again, deciding to wait until I had permission to take our family. He always said he was still thinking about it. This happened for two years. Finally, I decided that the adversary was using this as a powerful tool against us. As long as my ex husband refused to consent, we wouldn't be a Forever Family. I realized that this had to stop. We would go ahead with the sealing. We would plan for it, we would fast, we would pray, and we would continue to have faith that everything would be alright.
The months passed, and we were drawing closer and closer to August 3rd, our third anniversary and the day we had chosen to be sealed. Things were not getting any better. I finally asked her father one more time. He said there was no way he would ever give into this. Not even if we paid for a lawyer to talk to him about how things would work. He was flatly refusing. I cried myself to sleep for nearly a week. We continued to pray. Even little Kenzi would ask in her prayers for Mark's heart to be softened so she would be allowed to be sealed to us.
Three nights before the day of our sealing, Trevor's father called us after midnight. He had composed a letter for me to give to Mark. It was written as from me, and explained the logistics of things, and how we all felt about the situation. It also gave one last plead from me, begging him to reconsider. There was a spot on the bottom for him to sign to serve as the letter of consent. My mom took the letter to him and asked him to read it and please reconsider.
The next day, we had our temple interviews with the stake president. Trev went in for his and explained the situation to him. When I went in, President Hill told me that he understood my heart ache over Kenzi, but that our going ahead with the sealing was an exercise of great faith. He told me that if we would remain faithful and prayerful, things would eventually turn out for the best. He turned to me then and said with more power than I have ever felt in my life, "I testify to you in the name of Jesus Christ, your daughter will be sealed to you and your husband. I don't know when, and I don't know how, but it will happen."
I cannot describe to you the feelings and emotions that overcame me at that moment. I left that office feeling calm and peaceful. Everything would be alright. That Sunday, we held an extended family fast that Kenzi would be able to come with us.
Monday night, the night before our sealing, I called Mark. I asked him if had had a chance to read my letter to which he said yes, he had. I asked him if would consider it one last time. He told me there was no way it would ever happen. That when she is 15 years of age, she can decide for herself if she wants to be a part of this. I told him that if that was the case, he would need to be the one to tell Kenz that she couldn't come into the temple with her family the next day. He spoke to her on the phone, and the poor little thing just burst into tears. She was so upset. He explained his side of things to her, but it did nothing to console her. It was so hard for me to sit there and watch her little heart just break in two. I was so angry at Mark for denying this simple thing. It wouldn't effect him or any of his rights in any way. I told him how angry I was and that our own cooperation with him was ending now. We've let him take Kenz whenever he's wanted her. I've been willing to let him take her two weekends in a row, made special arrangements for him to see her and his family to see her. But if he wouldn't do this one small thing for us, we
wouldn't be doing him any favors anymore. I was livid. He swore at me and hung up.
Trev just sat on the front porch holding and rocking Kenzi while she cried. It took a good 10 minutes to calm her down enough to get her inside. I gave her a bath and tried to get her to cheer up, telling her how pretty she would be and how gorgeous her dress was going to look. While I was washing her hair, Trevor came in with the phone. "It's your mom, and she needs to talk to you now." I was confused. It was after 10:30 at night, and my mom doesn't usually call that late. I answered the phone and asked what was going on.
"Dad just answered the door," she said. "It was Mark with a signed copy of your letter."
I was speechless. I didn't believe her. I had spoken to Mark a mere 15 minutes before. He had been furious. He had said no over and over for two whole years! And now here it was, 12 HOURS before our scheduled sealing with the answer we had been praying with all our hearts for. We were ecstatic!
The next day as they brought our sweet children into the beautiful sealing room, Kenzi was positively glowing! Her face was radiant, an unbreakable smile! It was a beautiful ceremony filled with many of the people we love most!
Afterward, we took lots of pictures, then headed to The Bluebird for a special luncheon. The girls sang "I love to see the Temple."
Our family is now a Forever Family. We have the sacred blessings of the temple, and we get to be together for Time and All Eternity! I have never been happier in my entire life!
