What a weekend it was! Our family seems to lump important happy events around Easter. I think this is fitting considering the newness, hope, joy, and undeserved grace Easter represents. Why do I get to be so happy, so blessed?! Only by the grace of God!

Three years ago on Easter we announced our intentions to adopt. Two years ago I heard a special promise and our daughter came into existence. Last year was Squeak’s first Easter and first big family gathering. This year, the day after Easter, we got to celebrate the end of the paper work, legal fees, and phone calls. The end of the adoption process. We got to go to court and have the judge tell us what we’ve known since the day our daughter was placed into our arms by her birth mother. She is our daughter.

I absolutely love how this little girl’s life has seemed to revolve around this awesome day! As Christ sets the ultimate example of adoption by giving His life to pay for our sins, our daughter’s birth family placed her life in our hands sacrificing their own desires in order to give her the best life possible. We wholeheartedly, from the very beginning, have accepted our daughter into our lives and hearts and nothing can separate her from our love, just as we can not be separated from His love.

We love because He first loved us.  

Off to court for Squeaks’ adoption finalization!

The actual court process was super quick. When we arrived at the courthouse, we had to wait in the hall with other families waiting to finalize. Ours was by far the largest group. When they called our name we all excitedly filed into the courtroom, where the judge invited us up front with our lawyer, and our families into the jury box. We were sworn in, and the judge informed our cheering section that now was the time to grill us as we were under oath. Haha, judge humor! Then we were asked a series of super easy questions. “Do you promise to love her?” YES! “Is there any reason this adoption shouldn’t be finalized?” NO! And with the reading of Squeaks full LEGAL name we applauded, hugged, cried, and took lots of pictures.

The celebration continued with lunch at B.J.’s, where they gave us free appetizers when they found out what we were celebrating. We had a lovely time eating, talking, and sitting in wonder of the awesome little human being God has blessed our family with.

We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people to celebrate with. Squeaks is incredibly loved!