Looking back

On Monday we go to court to finalize our adoption. It is such a simple proceeding but one that makes Ezra officially and legally ours forever. We can't wait. Looking forward to Monday has caused me to reflect on an April day 3 years ago when we finalized our adoption with Bella. Since Bella was born in Utah, we went back there to finalize her adoption. We spent the night at Tim and Shalynn's house and we woke up early the next morning to go to court. Shalynn, Elizabeth, Jess, and Michael all came, too. I remember how happy Bella was. She was so smiley and giggly all morning. And the judge was really great. He said so many wonderful things about birthparents who choose adoption for their children and about families who adopt. He said that he loves when he sees adoptions on his docket because unlike all of the other court proceedings he hears, adoptions are happy occasions. He really made it special by allowing us to take pictures and taking his robe off and wrapping it around Bella. I remember becoming emotional and crying when the judge asked me to testify as to why I wanted to adopt her. I don't even know if I made sense as I cried through a response saying something about how much I loved her and how blessed I was to be her mom. It was an awesome and memorable morning for our family and I can't wait to finalize Ezra's adoption on Monday.