More Pics from the sealing

Finaly...Forever

This week we went to the Salt Lake Temple and had Boo sealed to us. This means we have hit the final end purpose with the adoption, to add to our eternal family.
It was a great day surrounded by family and friends. Boo was so cute. She spent most the time wanting to sit up and see who all were in the room.
I am so lucky to have a perfect wife and daughter. My other kids love and adore Boo as their little sister and I could not be happier.
This Sunday we will bless her at Church. More family and friends will be there as well as our wonderful birth mother and her step mom.
Adoption bless every life it touches

Finalization

Last week we went to court and it all became legal. Boo is ours...just as if she was born to us.

It was quick, our lawyer called our case worker from the agency to the stand (oh yeah we were all sworn in). She discussed our home visits and the agency thoughts on us. He then questioned me on name age, occupation and if I was financly, moraly and phyiscial able to care for Boo. Then he asked the same of Natalie.

Boo spoke up and tired talking, the judge looked up and just smiled. He then had us introduce the family that came. He ask if everyone was in favor of this action. Then he said "I have reviewed this case and signed it. Boo is now yours, just as if she had been naturaly born to you"

We then had the judge come down and took pictures with him. He turned to me and said that he had 3 adopted children himself.

I belive trhat the only time judges get their pictures taken with those that appear before them is adoptions.

What a great day!!!

6 months and FSA

Wow 6 months already! We have finalization just around the corner. It is unreal to think how fast the time has gone by. Yet, when I think about it, we can’t remember or imagine our life without Boo in it.
This past week end Natalie and I were part of the National Adoption Conference for Families Supporting Adoption. We are on the National board as well as the chair couple for two of the local chapters.
FSA is basically the volunteer arm of LDS Family Services adoption program. We work hard to promote adoption as a positive thing and give support to those working on their miracle to happen and friendship to those that have adoption as part of their lives.
Besides helping direct people and filling in where needed Natalie and I were asked to teach a class on the new itsaboutlove.org (adoption website) that is coming out as well as talk about other adoption websites. We seem to have become the experts on the whole inter thing over the past 3 years.

The best part of FSA is the friends we have. Adoption is a very positive word in our home and family and Boo will have the chance as she grows to have many friends who’s families are just like hers, created through the miracle of adoption.

Blogs a new part of openness

We have a open relationship with our Birth family. Each Sunday night Nat writes an email to our wonderful Birth Mom, she includes about 10-20 pictures taken during the week.(Thank goodness for digital) I also write a short email to her as well as to our birth mothers Dad and step mom and her mom and step dad. I include 4-6 pictures (from the ones Nat sends).
Most couples cut back the writing at 3 months etc we are still doing weekly. We do not mind since it gives us a record of what went on that week in Maggie's life.
We have also given them our blog address so they can look at both our blogs and those of family and friends. It is a great way to help them know what is going on without marking extra effort.

Wow 5 Months!

Well, it has been awhile since I wrote. Maggie is now 5 months old! She has grown a lot and gets cuter every day.
We have stayed in contact with the birth family. We send weekly emails and pictures. We even met them once.
Today we have our final supervisory visit with our case worker. Next thing will be the court date and finalization then on to the Temple to be sealed as a family.
The past 5 months have been better than we could ever expected or dreamed of.
It is hard to remember what our life was like before Maggie came into our lives.
Natalie is a full time mother and it really seems to suit her. She is happier than I have ever seen her.
We still stay active in Families Supporting Adoption. It is refreshing to socialize with those that have adopted as well as those still working on their miracle.
Adoption is a miracle and has truly changed our lives. A day does not go by without me thinking of how blessed we are to have Maggie and for her special birth mother and family.

Month 3

This past month was filled with shots at the doctor’s visit, lots of arm and leg movement, getting the paperwork to the Lawyer to petition the court, lots of pictures and a chance to visit with our wonderful birth mother and her family. We had met her dad and step mom at placement but she had a brother getting married and the extended family was in town and we got to meet them. It was a very special night.
It is hard to remember not having Maggie in our life. We have always had a image and idea in the back of our minds about what our baby would look like and act like. Maggie fits that image perfectly. In the coming months we have the finalization and then the sealing and the blessing to look forward too.
Life is just great!!!