Friday, November 2, 2012

The Start of Forever

We had a great day.

The morning was early and a bit rushed; the boys a little cranky.

The court room smelled musty, but there was an awe all the same. The judge asked us a series of questions, most of which left me choked up. I held Ty, while LJ snuggled and schmoozed Ben. The judge watched them for a few minutes and was, outwardly, touched by their interaction. Our case worker gave a teary affirmation toward our adoption and the judge answered with an, equally, teary declaration that the state found it within the best interest of "the child" to remain in our family.

(Yes, LJ has bright blue striped socks. Target shorted me a black sock in my two pack and we didn't notice it until this morning. Bright blue was the darkest we had!)

The part that gets me every time is when the judge says, "It will be as if this child was born to you..."


It's not that I need the confirmation; I don't. But, the weight of those words fit the love in my heart. I love both of my sons as if they were born to me....and they weren't.

I love them because God loves them. I love them because they enrich my life in every way.

The judge gave the boys lollipops and allowed them to practice with the gavel.




We had a celebratory breakfast with our loved ones and followed it up with a family  nap! The sweetest moment of the entire day was not swearing in or standing before the judge...It came at bedtime. When I kissed LJ's head, tucked his covers tight, and told him that he would be in our family forever, there was an assurance that didn't exist before.

I love my family and what God is doing through us.



34 comments:

  1. Congratulations! I've been present for an adoption before, (I'm a birth mom) and I know how special that moment is. I'm so happy for you and your sons.

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  2. That is awesome! Congratulations on your new (official) family member. I will be looking forward to hearing about your next addition?! :-)

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  3. I thought about your family ALL day!
    LJ, I am so happy your are now have your FOREVER family little man!

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  4. Congratulations! Such a special day that I know will carry such weight in all of your hearts, but especially in LJ's. Thankful for this new beginning, new forever for him!

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  5. Congratulations! Such a beautiful family! A family that was always meant to be. How lucky and blessed you ALL are!

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  6. Congratulations to all of you!!! I am so very happy for you whole family!

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  7. Tears here. Thanks for that! ;) So incredibly happy for you!

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  8. I am so very happy for all of you but mostly for LJ that he now has the Family he deserves.

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  9. Congratulations on your sweet little son's affirmation day that tells him this is forever!

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  10. LOVE this post, I'm so happy for you all!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You have a beautifully blessed family:)

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  11. I am very happy for your family. I pray God continues to pour out his blessing on you all.

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  12. That's beautiful..congrats!! I'm so very happy for you all.

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  13. YAy cograts!!I cried happy tears for you all!!!!May God continue to bless your family!

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  14. Oh my heart! I will never, ever, ever, as long as I live forget those words. Ours were "It will be as if it always was..." So happy for your family!!

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  15. Congrats! My husband and I are anxiously "waiting" to be chosen. Reading stories like yours make the wait so much better!

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  16. Congrats! What a big day, the significants of it! Blessings to you and your family.

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  17. Congratulations!!! May God continue to watch over your beautiful family!

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  18. YAY! So happy for all of you - most of all for LJ, because I know he needed this day to believe his dream really has come true. I cried so much through our short little adoption finalization hearing. The words are so simple, yet so powerful. Congratulations to all of you!

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  19. Congrats!!! So happy for your family. Forever!!!
    Beautiful picture of the 4 of you!

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  20. Loved that we could be a part of it! Can't wait to see what else the Lord has in store for your family!

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  21. Prayed for you all, all morning. Congratulations! What a beautiful picture of God's love.

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  22. Couldn't read it without the tears flowing! What a wonderful memory for all of you! I'm sure the social worker and judge love to see success stories, no wonder every one was emotional!

    Kim M
    Waterford, MI

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  23. What handsome sons you have!

    Congratulations. What a big day this is for you. Until very recently, I worked in California as a foster care/adoption social worker, and was always happiest to meet my families at court when they finalized. Early on in my work, a judge used a line at the end of the adoption hearing that I've kind of stolen and used with just about every family I've gone to adoptions with. I'll give it to you, too :)

    "Congratulations; it's a boy."

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  24. That was such a wonderful experience. Thank you for inviting me. How happy I was to be a part of such a grand occasion.

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  25. Thank you for sharing this- rejoicing with you.

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  26. Congratulations, your LJ is such a cutie pie. I remember you saying that his foster Mom said, "you are getting a gem." I believe she is right!! I love your updates. Both of your boys are handsome, healthy and seem so happy.

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  27. i know exactly how you feel. we have 3 adopted children- the youngest is 6, it tool 4 1/2 years for the adoption to be finalized and we just this year got her new citizenship. still waiting for the certificate and her new passport- but the waiting is worth it all. kind of helps me to understand the 'new birth'- when we finally get it, that we are adopted in to HIS FAMILY and are new citizens. the old culture has no hold on us- it is as if we were born into HIS FAMILY. hallelujah! following your story with joy.

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