And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23).

In today’s mail, I received a lovely surprise – our daughter’s amended birth certificate! After opening the envelope and seeing the contents, I called my daughter in the room to see it as well. We were both so excited to see my name as her mommy and my husband’s name as her father. She just kept hugging me and kept pointing to the names... more

It's been exactly one year (right around this time of day (except a different time zone!)) since we met the children who are now ours!

Last May 22nd, I posted Road Trip: Day Two – Meeting the Kids. It's been an amazing year full of pinnacles and valleys unimaginable at the time I wrote that last year! But, here we are a year later, fully bonded, attached, and settled into a routine.

My children love each other with amazing depth for children who have only formally known... more

Six months ago today – right around right now, in fact! – we were sitting in a courtroom five states away, joy barely contained! As we sat in chambers with the judge who signed our interlocutory decree of adoption, she talked to us about the enormity of the undertaking we were seeking her to grant.

After talking to us, and to the children, she signed the interlocutory decree. An interlocutory decree is:

A decree of adoption granted by the Court,... more

At roughly 9:45 CDT this morning, a judge signed the adoption decree, officially making what was a family of three a family of five! On hand, in addition to those necessary for the matter to be heard, were my mother’s sister and brother, and their spouses.

Afterward, we celebrated with our attorney, social worker and the kids’ foster mother. We went straight from that celebration to another given in our honor by the Christian adoption agency that handled the adoption. Though the spellings are a little wonky, I had to share this picture... more

As I have often stated, Satan is really getting a run for his money! He’s trying to do every little thing he can to disrupt this adoption and claim a victory. So, tonight, after a wonderful, wonderful day filled with family that have traveled to be here with us for our adoption proceedings tomorrow morning, we came home to a thunderstorm!

My daughter had a full-blown meltdown. Just everything you have heard about in children who rage – the oppositional behavior, throwing things, whining, insistent, disrespectful (of property and people), and saying all the “button-pushing phrases.” I heard what a... more

As discussed previously, the church family here had “doin’s” for us after services yesterday. Most of the congregations stayed, and I cannot count the number of people who came up to us to say how much they will truly miss the children. It was heartwarming to know how much love they have been lavished with these past two years!

During services yesterday, before the “doin’s,” my soon-to-be youngest son turned to my oldest son and said, “You’re my best friend” and it melted my heart!

After services and the potluck, we went to the kids’ former home to pick up the last of their things. ... more

Our children’s foster parents asked that they have Saturday (our arrival day) as a day of private family celebration time with the kids. Thus, after landing, when our social worker called, I knew something big was up.

The kids’ foster parents run two of the biggest businesses in this small Southern town of about 2,500 – a flower shop and a funeral home. They were called upon to do a large funeral, so the family had their celebration on Friday,... more

My last blog chronicled our tasks in preparation to leave.

Though our flights were uneventful, the time spent at one very large and very famous airport, was not. Maybe not everyone is crazy like me and travels in the middle of the night, however, they were woefully understaffed, and there was no clear signage. So everyone went around asking everyone else, “Is this the line for…?” “Is this where I…?” “Where is…?”

Thankfully, because I had checked in online and printed our boarding passes, we were able to speed right through, once people began getting clearer directions as to... more

If you know anything about me by now, you know I am fond of Adoption Stories on the Discovery Health Channel. If you aren’t familiar with the formula, each episode of the show follows a couple on their adoption journey. One of my favorite parts is when they show the family getting ready to go and pick up the kids – and, guess what? Tonight, that’s me!

Our good friend and brother is reprising... more

Today is the last Love Thursday I will have with only one child. As I reflect on this time with my heretofore only son, I have wonderful memories of my time with him.

After what was pretty much a textbook pregnancy, I had assurances from my OB that I’d have an uncomplicated delivery. Wrong! On the day my son was born, I took an afternoon nap, after walking most of the day with my mom. When I woke up, I realized I hadn’t felt any movement for a couple of hours. Since I’d just had a non-stress test, I replicated what I did and drank some soda to see if he would move. Nothing. I called a nurse friend of mine. She said it could just be the baby in the birth canal, which doesn’t have a... more