Today

Here I sit at 10:00pm on a day we've been waiting 6 months for.  Gabrielle's adoption day. 

This week has been so mentally exhausting that our whole family including Jeremy and my Mom have been in bed since 9pm.  But me?  I had to unwind my mind and just breathe by myself awake for a bit.

We have so anticipated this day, that I wondered what I'd feel like when it actually came.  Well, I feel spent... and so happy.  So, so happy.  My sweet daughter who has been in my heart for almost 2 years, and in my arms for over 6 months is oh so close to being our daughter forever on paper.  It wasn't completely finalized today like we'd hoped, the judge wanted one more thing to be done that doesn't include us.  So we just have to wait until that happens, then he'll sign off.  That was a letdown for me, I just wanted to be DONE.  So I've had a hard time feeling like we could celebrate.   Things are still as they've always been, she's our sweet, beautiful daughter that we adore.  Nothing any judge could say could change that.  And the adoption is completely done, except for this one formality. 

I'm so happy that we are done with everything we need to do, and will be so thrilled on the day in the very near future when it's finally, totally, nothing else - DONE.  I'll keep you posted, it'll be a couple months though. 

We so appreciate your prayers, things that happened this week were nothing short of a miracle.  It was so obviously God's hand. 

The hearing was so short, it didn't last but 10 minutes.  I expected at least 30 minutes!  Gabi was so adorable, but had only slept 15 minutes all day by the time we arrived, when by that point she would have already slept at least 3 hrs. in naps.  So I was prepared for a tired meltdown, but we gave her a bottle right as we started, and she was happy as a clam smiling at our friends and family behind us.  We weren't allowed to have photos taken during the hearing, but my sis-in law Heather was able to snap a bunch after.  Can't wait to see them!  I was fine all day, didn't feel like I was going to cry or become emotional other than being EXTREMELY happy... but the judge surprised us and our attorney with a flukey thing that he wanted done before he'd sign off.  And that was at the very start, and that was heavy on my heart.  So when our attorney started our questioning, which were super simple questions like, "How long have you lived in this state?" I began to get emotional as he looked me in the eye and said, "Do you feel it is in the best interest of this child to be adopted?"  I wanted to jump up and scream, "YES!"  But instead the tears came, and I almost couldn't speak, but amazingly, I was able to compose myself quickly and move on. 

Adoption is intense.

Intense.

Did I mention it's intense?  This adoption we're dealing with real people who have had real loss.  It's hard and so, so worth it.  Our daughter is worth us doing court hearings for her for the rest of her life.  She just is.  But we're so thankful that was it.  We don't have to do it again! 

Goodnight friends, I'm signing off.  Pictures will be coming soon. 


The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy! 

Psalm 126:3