ADOPTION!!! 12-12-12

I know that it has been a couple of days since we finalized our adoption, but I have just been so busy with all of the paperwork and getting names changed with doctors/dentists and the school.

So we would like to introduce to you....

Raven, Nadia and Carson

 



Nadia, Carson, Raven and of course Joe and I

Front to back:

Raven, Nadia, Carson, Me, Joe

 

I just love Nadia's face in this picture

 

This is one of my favorite pictures

 

 

This is our story:

 

Back in April we got a phone call from our RFC (caseworker) asking if we would be willing to take in a Sibling group of 3. We of course said yes. The next question was if we could be ready the next morning...again we said yes!

 

When you do foster care, it is in the hopes that they kids will be reunited with the biological family, but in our case, it just wasn't possible. Not that their parents are bad people because they are not, they just made some bad choices in life. In fact the biological mom and I have a pretty good relationship. We have great respect and love for her that most people are not able to create with their kids birth moms. Not that we haven't had our ups and downs in our relationship, because there have been, but for the most part, she respects us and we respect her. When it came down to things, she could have fought and appealed the decision of terminating her rights, but she chose to let her kids move on and not drag them through the turmoil that could have been. We have gained so much more respect for her because of that decision. I have no doubt that she loves these kids with her whole heart and I am sure this decision had to be the hardest decision she will ever have to make.

 

We have had the kids in our home for about 8 months at this point and have grown so completely in love with them. I never thought we would get to the point of being able to adopt them, but here we are.

 

Raven is our oldest. She is 7 and a delight to have in our home. She is loving, caring, friendly and most of the time a pretty happy kid. She is a great student in school as well.

 

Nadia is currently 5, but will be 6 in a few days. She as well is a delight to have as part of our family. She is funny, sassy (which I love), and loves school.

 

Carson is 4 and all boy. He is a big daddy's boy. He is a big tease and loves anything to do with Lightning McQueen. He as well loves school.

 





 

On 12/12/12 we were able to finally seal the deal and call the kids ours and they could call us theirs. They now are able to finally start to feel like they are stable and not going to be taken from another home and family.

 

In court our attorney asks us each (Joe and I) questions like:

 

*You understand that this is forever right?

*You understand that you are financially responsible for these kids right?

*Are you more than 10 years older than the child/ren?

And my emotional breaking question:

*How do you feel about these kids?

 

Lets be honest, Joe was able to spit the words out and if I remember right, his response was this:

 

"I love these kids very much. They have brought joy into our lives and home. They are amazing."

 

And if I was to be honest, I broke down and was not really able to say anything for a few minutes, but when I was able to speak, I said:

 

"These kids have brought so much joy and love not just into our lives, but our families lives. We cannot imagine life without them and I love them so much. I love that they love to do things as a family and be together." If my emotions didn't say it all, I am not sure much else could have.

 

So that is our story!

 

I am going to ask that if you chose to comment on this post, I would ask that you be respectful of everyones feelings. If I find disrespectful comments, they will be removed immediately.