National Adoption Month

Owen's adoption day

November is National Adoption Month, so I'm looking back at some photos that remind me of the special way our family came together.

This photo is from the day we finalized Owen's adoption. In the legal process of adoption, responsibility for the baby shifts three times. When the baby is born, his birthmom is responsible for him. Sam and Owen lived with us during that time but their birthmoms had all the parental authority under the law.

Then - about 6 weeks later in each of our adoptions - birthparents terminate parental rights and the adoption agency is responsible for the baby. That went on for about 6 months and we had visits from our social worker and had to turn in paperwork about doctor visits and the baby's progress.

Finally, after all that supervision, we got to go to court and finalize the adoption. That means we get a birth certificate identifying us as our kids' parents and they take our last name and we are Mom and Dad. GOOD STUFF.

Judge Deets finalized each of our adoptions. I've never been in a courtroom except for adoption proceedings but people tell me there's not usually lots of fun stuff going on there. Finalizing an adoption is fun. Everybody in the room is happy. By the time we were there with Owen, Judge Deets recognized us.

In November I sometimes send Judge Deets a note with a photograph of our boys and thank him for helping us become a family. Last year he wrote me back. I loved that. Adoption has opened up so many unexpected relationships and blessings in our lives. Who knew infertility would lead to all this? Thanks, God.