Farm Around the Corner: Adoption of Cassia and Edison

July 8, 2014

Our lawyer asked us some basic questions, verifying that we have lived here for at least six months, checking our names, and making sure we knew we were asking to adopt two kids. The lawyer for the children (who none of us ever met in 26 months of this case) asked us about meeting their educational needs and also asked us WHY we feel it is in the best needs of the children to be adopted by us. Jon got choked up when it was his turn to answer, which, of course, made my cry. It is so hard to put into (a few) words WHY the children you adore with your whole being should be your children. They sun rises and sets. These are our children. It is just so. It may not have always been so, but after loving them for two years and fearing that we would lose them for one year, they are our babies. I could write a book on the relationships they each have with each of us and why they should be our children forever. I have no idea what I said when it was my turn to answer, but I do declare that I could write a book on it and not say all I could say.

My little man is getting so big! His smiles are the best!

This is the moment I am hugging Cassia and letting her know that it is over. She is ours forever. She has no idea what that means because it never occurred to her that she wasn't our daughter. It means the world to me, though, and I love this picture because I love this moment.

The judge gave each child a teddy bear. This is the same judge who made legal Zade's adoption a year ago. She was not the main judge on either case, but she stepped in on adoption day when the other judges' schedules changed. I do not know her, but she has some ties to our church. When she walked into the room for Zade's adoption, she commented that our whole church was there when she saw much of Jon's staff in attendance. This time, too, she was surprised at the number of people who joined us. Her ties to our church also let out our secret. Oops. We didn't have actual permission to baptize the kids two days before their adoption. We wanted to do it while family was in town so they could attend. We would never baptize foster children earlier in their cases, but we felt safe doing it two days before finalization. From the bench, the judge said that she heard about the beautiful baptisms. None of the social workers has said anything to us, yet, but I won't be surprised if we are reminded not to do that in the future. I guess they can't care too much if the judge thought it was great.