NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY

It has been a few weeks since we finalized the adoption of the kids on November 15th, National Adoption Day. Life has been super busy since then but I wanted to look back for just a moment on that special day.

To start off the whole day was a blur. It reminded me of my wedding day when something that you have been working on for so long finally comes to pass. It was all a blur and we were emotional overcome that we were finally here on this day and that we would soon be finished. The stress of somehow losing these 2 wonderful children would soon be over! So we just allowed the staff to guide us in the right direction. Liz and I and the kids were first on the list since they were going in alphabetical order so we had to be in Dallas at 8:30 AM. We were glad to be joined by friends and family who came to support us on this special day. The judge, lawyer and staff were awesome. Everyone was helpful and supportive. All of the staff volunteered to be there that day. The judge was nice and allowed me to call my Mother and Sister so that they could listen in. Our lawyer swore us in and then asked me a lot of questions. Once he was finished he asked Liz that if he were to asked her all of the same questions would she answer the same? She said "yes" and that was it, we were done. These kids were ours forever and ever and no matter what! So much time and effort and it was finished! Afterwards we signed some paperwork and then we had our first family portrait taken. They had food and clowns making balloon animals and lots of people. We said goodbye to all of our friends and family and took the kids to Build-A-Bear and to lunch. To top if off we went home and put up our first Christmas tree together. Next year we will plan a trip to the LDS Dallas Temple to be sealed as a family forever!

Thank you for the support of friends and family on this long and emotional journey. We would not have made it without you! We are also very thankful to everyone at CPS. We have had a lot of help during this long process. And a big thank you to all of you who came to Dallas on November 15th to support us. Mom and Dad, Diane and Joe, Kathy, Amie and kids, The Garvins, The van der Upwiches, and Nancy! It means so much to us that you made such a great effort to come down and support us.