Asa's Adoption Story!

Story first or pictures first?  Hmmm.  Since I changed the title of this post to "Story," you might suspect that I decided to tell the story first.

A week before the finalization date we got the mu-u-uch waited for news that the last slip of paper we needed in order to finalize Asa's adoption had arrived, at last.  We originally thought we would be adopting him last March, then April, then June, then late August, and then we kind of gave up for a while.  We had our lawyer look into the hold up a couple weeks ago, and he called the court and then delivered a letter to the court.  Within a few days, we were all set to get our big date.  Our lawyer is the best!

Our family case worker mentioned that National Adoption Day was only a week away and suggested that I ask our lawyer to see if he could get us squeezed into that event.  National Adoption Day was November 21st, also Asa's 2nd birthday, so it really, really seemed like it was the right day for us.

We have been doing this fostering and adopting for a while and have adopted five other children from foster care here, so I just happened to also have the email address for the adoption specialist in town, Asa's lawyer, and Asa's case worker.  I sent ALL of them emails asking if there was any way we could work together to make his adoption happen on the 21st for his birthday.  The caseworker visited the next day and let us know that she was ready and wouldn't hold it up, so it all depended on how busy the main adoption specialist was and if she could do the subsidy paperwork in time.  We know Ms. Pitcher well by now, and I was confident that she would do it for us if there was any possible way.

She called us on Friday afternoon, November 13, and let us know that we were set to adopt on the 21st!  Asa's adoption day and birthday would be on the same day, National Adoption Day.  For our last adoption, the timing was perfect.  This was our first time to participate in this event, and I am so glad that we were part of it.  I didn't realize until that day how much so many people must have had to scramble to add us to the event.  There is a slide show, several nice gifts, press releases, and a lot to coordinate.  It was so nice of them all to work extra hard to make room for us!  20 kids were adopted that day.

The morning of the adoption came before we knew it.  We were informed at the lawyer visit on the 20th that we were slated to be the final adoption of the day.  I was prepared with activities and even Kindles loaded with new shows to keep my crew quiet for the morning while we waited for everyone else's turn.  We got there early, had our family picture taken, signed a variety of paperwork, ate cookies, greeted friends and family and lawyers and caseworkers, pulled out sticker sheets for the kids, and prepared to wait it out.

There was a great slideshow playing with pictures of the kids being adopted and quotes from the families.  Ours was up there with the rest.  There is a huge tree mural on the 11th floor of the courthouse, so they had us fill out a hand print to go on the tree to commemorate the day.  They gave us a beautiful book and picture frame to hold our first new family picture.  There were opening words thanking everyone for their generosity and telling us about the kids still waiting for homes.  We were then told the adoptions would begin in the courtroom and that our name would be called when it was our turn.

Asa's lawyer said we could go back to the other side of the floor to continue with our stickers and that he would come get us when our name was called.  I was about to tell my kids what to expect.  "When I say "Let's go, it's our turn!" you drop everything immediately so we can get into the courtroom."  Yes.  That's how I was going to prepare my kids.

I didn't have time to say a word!

We were FIRST!

We frantically tried to gather everyone and get back to the other side of the 11th floor.  They kept calling our name, but they couldn't see us striving to get to them from behind the entire crowd (most of us are pretty short!).  I made Asa drop his new birthday bus and ambulance before we went into the courtroom.  He didn't forgive me for the entire adoption proceedings.  Note to Saralyn:  let your future Johnsons bring their toys in with them!

We finally made our way into the courtroom, still very much surprised at being first.  As I said before, Asa was mad about his toys the whole time.  He didn't want anything to do with being in that room, with me, or with Jon.  He wanted down and to go find his trucks.  We had a friend taking pictures, but I'm not too hopeful that we will find a single nice one.

It all seemed more casual this time.  The judge recognized us immediately.  She has presided over all but Soren and Tobias's adoptions and has connections with people from our church.  Asa's lawyer didn't have any questions--previously we have been asked why it was in the child's best interest, how we planned to educate them, and even Brishen was questioned at Zade's adoption.  Our lawyer questioned Asa's caseworker a little to get on the record that Asa was legally available for adoption.  He asked me how long Asa has been with us.  I said, "23 months," and he laughed and said, "not that you're counting."  That made me wish I had said "23 months and 2 days," which was more accurate.  I WAS counting, trust me, and he knows me well!

He then asked when Asa's birthday was, and the crowded courtroom oohed and ahhhed when I said that today was his birthday.  The judge said all the necessary words about changing his legal name and that everything was in order and that she granted his adoption.

I cry typing those words.  That moment in time when an adoption is granted is BIG.  It changes everything.  It means everything.  Every single stress in the case, every single fear and hardship and annoyance for the previous 23 months and 2 days of not being his legal mom was gone in a second.  Just.  Like.  That.

Then they brought out a giant wrapped toy for him.  Giant!  They gave him a gift card, too.  Then our turn was over, and the next family was ready to feel the same joy.  It all happened so fast that I never once thought to take pictures with the judge or with caseworkers or anyone else.  We were in and out, picked up our sticker sheets and left.

5 years of wanting to adopt, 4 full years to the week of being foster parents, was over in a second, with no time to process or grasp the magnitude of it all.  My entire world has been wrapped up in foster parenting for so, so long, and it ended the moment the judge made Asa legally ours.

For the first time in four years, every single child in my home and family is legally a part of my family.  There is one, and only one last name in this house:  We are all Happily Forever Moores!