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, which becomes a final decree after a period of time specified by the Court [1]

Well, today marks the end of that “period of time specified,” and a final order of adoption will be automatically issued us today!

We’ve started the day with a round of presents, specially decorated breakfast items, and plans for a special dinner to celebrate!

This past six months has been an incredible period of intense growth and adjustment for all five of us. We’ve had to deal with rages, tantrums, therapy, sleepless nights (for all!), fears, and anxiety. We’ve had to experiment with many different strategies for homeschooling, discipline, bedtime routines, and so many other things. Our newest children have had to adjust to a new home, new state, new people, new congregation, and many other new experiences. Their big brother has had to go from being an only child to having two brand new siblings overnight, both of whom were not babies and had their own ideas and opinions about things! Hubby and I as parents had to navigate crowd control and ways to deal with differing little personalities. But, the end result is the dawning of this day, the day that secures the finality of our adoption, and we feel all the blessed for what we’ve endured.

If you remember my very first blog here at AdoptionBlogs, I shared with you a verse that brought me comfort during those awful months of waiting:

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12; NASB).

Today, that desire has been fulfilled, and I can truly say, it is a “tree of life!”

[1]

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