We've been official for a week yet every time I try to write about our day, I come up blank.
It could not have been a better day. The kids were excited and helped set up for our party. Really helped, not just "helped". We went out to a lovely lunch with our friend who flew in for the occasion. Family came rolling in. Then we got alllllll dressed up and drove to the courthouse. Speed was insistent on a tie and "fancy" shoes. The girls and I were in dresses. They had no real understanding of what was about to happen, but they knew it was a special day.
I have been to a few adoptions of friends' kiddos. They have all been lovely and ours was equally as lovely. What struck me in our hearing was the village sitting behind me. It was such a big village, in fact, that there was standing room only and the people with cameras/FaceTiming phones were permitted to be up close to the judge's bench.
About fifty people welcomed these kids into a permanent family. Fifty people.
The kids appear to understand that they are here for good, that I am their mom, that they are Russells. What I wish they understood more is that they are forever part of an amazing community--family, church friends, old caseworkers, old coworkers, playmates, their legal team--that has embraced them as Russells as well.
After the ceremony we came home for our cupcakes and lollipops. The girls posed for an excellent picture displaying their blue lollipop tongues. We continued celebrating the next day with a party at some friends' house. We are still eating cupcakes and lollipops a week later.
The kids were given blankets with their names, new middle names and adoption date embroidered on them. Every night since September 26th, we've had to lay the blankets out smoothly and read the names.
I am grateful, so grateful, for phone calls I received on May 9, 2013 to take the kids, and on August 22, 2013 to take them back the next day. I am grateful for the people who fought for them to be safe and stay together. I am mostly grateful for these three:
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