Joyful reunion — FLDS children can't get enough hugs as they join their mom

Sarah has been preparing for this day for some time.

Three weeks ago, she rented the modest Abilene home near the foster facility where her children were being housed — waiting and hoping for the day the children would come home.

She bought furniture with her first paycheck from the hospital job.

"I planted this garden because I knew the children would be coming home," she says, pointing to a tiny garden strip of tomato plants, marigolds, corn and sunflowers.

Monday morning, she signed a court-ordered affidavit identifying herself as the mother of her children, had her photograph taken with them and provided fingerprints to Texas officials. Her final task before taking the children to their new home was a quick trip to Wal-Mart to buy two car seats for the youngest.

The children's father, former Colorado City Mayor Dan Barlow, said his heart filled at the news of Monday's reunion. Barlow was ousted from the Fundamentalist LDS Church more than four years ago and told by FLDS leader Warren Jeffs to leave town — and his family — behind. He only recently saw his children when he traveled to Texas to see what he could do to help Sarah win them back.

"Sarah is a wonderful mother. I'm so pleased they are together," Barlow said, adding he misses the children and just shipped off a box of books for them to enjoy. "How thankful I am. We recognize the good Lord's hand in everything."

When Sarah first was taken from the ranch with her children, Texas officials said she was 18 or younger. Sarah wasn't allowed to have her own attorney until her age was verified through two official sources, she adds.

"Do you know how old I am?" Sarah said Monday. "I'm 37 years old tomorrow! I kind of thought, well, as much as I don't like what you are doing, that is one of the nicest compliments. I had to either laugh or cry, and so I laughed."

Danielle, who also goes by the nickname of Dani, was taken with the first group of children, and she's had a very hard time throughout the traumatizing event, her mother said.

"She just rolled up in a little ball last Friday when I went to see her," Sarah recalls, wrapping her arms around the 9-year-old. "I'm just so grateful she is home. There's no use in being angry over what has happened. It is a time to draw closer to the Lord. He's the one who has seen us through this."

Danielle puts it another way when asked what she first thought of the strangers that took her away from her home on the YFZ Ranch.