Adoption Finalization

A year ago on Saturday, December 5, 2009 - we made the decision that it was time to start looking into adoption. That following Tuesday, December 8, 2009 - we contacted LDS Family Services and started getting all the paperwork to fill out to adopt. On Thursday, December 10, 2009 (A year ago TODAY!) we posted our first blog on here telling everyone our plans. And now, on Friday, December 10, 2010 - we went to court and officially adopted our sweet little baby girl. Isn't it amazing what a year can bring? We have felt overwhelmingly blessed throughout this process - everything has happened so quickly (in the time frame of a typical adoption), and we truly felt from the beginning that everything would work out - and it has! It is such a relief knowing that the legal part is all finished and Lilly is officially ours. Last night we were wondering how it would feel to finally know that it was done. If anything were to have happened to us prior to the adoption being finalized, than Lilly would have gone back to the agency and neither or us would really have an option to finish the adoption - so it's just a relief to have this step done. We only have one last thing to do. In our religion, we feel that families can be together forever and throughout the eternities - next week all of our family and friends will come here for a ceremony to do that. Again, we are so thankful for everyone that has given us their support. We are grateful for every single one of you.

Waiting outside the courtroom.

Sitting in the courtroom while the judge talks about how

wonderful adoption is, "because we made the conscious decision to

have children." And that it's the best time to be a judge,

because everyone is usually always happy.

The judge gave Lilly a cute little Teddy Bear.

Judge Carol Runge, Hannah, Lilly, Brandon

& Our Attorney (my awesome brother) Christopher Childers

It's done!!!