Adoption Day!

Friday, April 3rd, was a big day for our family. We were going to court to finalize Micayla's adoption! After doing all the agency's requirements, along with the state's requirements, we had reached our day that Micayla would officially be given as our daughter. Granted, she was our daughter from the moment we saw her in the hospital on August 31, 2008, but adoption day was the "legal" finality of making her ours. I can't really put into words what I was thinking/feeling when we appeared before the judge, but it was so wonderful to promise to love her for the rest of her life, and to promise to take care of her. I was overwhelmed at the recognition that it was so easy for us to say that we would love her for the rest of her life, knowing that my God says the same thing each and every day about adopting me as His own. Humbled as a daughter of the King, proud as a mother of a precious gift in my own daughter.


Micayla and I waiting in the courthouse rotunda for court to be called into session.


Our swearing in. We were the third family to adopt that morning in this Judge's courtroom. He moved all the other cases (divorces, etc.) to another courtroom so that this morning was totally devoted to children becoming part of their "forever families."



Listening as Hudson responds to our attorney's questions regarding loving Micayla and taking care of her for the rest of her life. I was a proud wife and mom.


Taking a picture with our attorney and the Judge after the Judge signed the adoption decree that Micayla was ours.



A good family picture after the ceremony in front of the courthouse. It was a beautiful day and I was thankful that my sister Lisa flew out to be with us. She was a great photographer for us!



A celebratory lunch!

The Judge made the ceremony so nice by relaxing the rules and allowing people to take pictures and videotape each family as they made their child "official." He also gave each child a stuffed animal to help recognize the significance of the day. I was thankful that Micayla wasn't fussy at all--considering I woke her up at 6am, there was always the chance. And everyone commented on her dress! It was gift to her from my fellow therapists in my private practice here, and it was a perfect dress for a very special day. It is also the only dry clean only dress she owns. :)

We praise God for not only the ability to celebrate "New Life" in Him during this Easter week, but also for the "new life" that we were given in Micayla.