It's Forever!!!! :) Yipee!!!!

Today, we had our Adoption Finalization Hearing that made Allisynn officially (it already felt official and real to us) but legally ours! Forever! :) (We know that she is a precious gift from the Lord- only for us to take care of here and now- and we are thankful that He's trusting in US to care for her!) Hip-Hip- Hooray!!!! :) It is forever and for real! :) No more home visits, no more waiting, no more paperwork.... just lots of loving, playing and growing and teaching! All the fun stuff!!! :)

It was great to be able to spend the day with family- celebrating. It was awesome to have them all there with us.

Our hearing wasn't until 1:30. We spent the morning getting ready for a party afterwards. We headed north for the hearing- in three vehicles. It was a family affair! :) When we got there, we parked in the parking deck and walked across the catwalk over pass to the other side of the street. Then we walked out and around to the entrance of the court house. Of course we had to go through security and make our way to the Judges' Court room. We were one of four couples finalizing our adoption today. It was a very relaxed hearing. When all four couples were present, they began. First we were called up to the Magistrate's bench. She talked to us and to Allie. She asked us if we consented to adopting Allisynn. Of course we do! :) No doubt about it! :) She had our attorney confer and give her recommendations to finalize. Then, she went over all of our information for the new birth certificate. We then took a family picture. The other families did the same thing. Then she called us to the bench again. This time, we got to put the seal on her final decree. It was neat because we went behind the bench and she gave us the paper- put it under the seal press, and daddy put his hand on the handle, then I did, then Allisynn put hers on top.... pretty cute!!! :) (She thought it was a toy!) We pushed it down and sealed the paper! :) More pictures followed. It was pretty neat!

The room was small- but big enough for our purposes. Our siblings and their spouses (and soon to be) were sitting in the jury box. :) It was very informal. They came up with us a couple times and took pictures. The other times, when we were in front of the magistrates bench, our parents were able to get close and take pictures/videos. At one point, when we were all up for a big fam picture, the magistrate said, something about seeing another camera in grammie's hand. She had her give it over and she took pictures for us. She kept saying it was our day and we could celebrate and take pictures however we wanted. They didn't rush us at all. She said that this is the only happy event that takes place in the courthouse.

After the hearing, we all headed back to our house for a little party. I made BBQ Ham sandwiches, Bean dip, and a dessert. We also had chips and carrots and dip. We enjoyed a little visiting and celebrating! It is so awesome to be surrounded by family during special times like this! Thanks everyone for sharing the day with us! :) We felt loved! :)

In a lot of ways, it is surreal to think that it is all final and that she is officially ours! In many other ways, it is very natural and normal and just a formality. It is also a relief that it is all officially done. We knew there was no way that it wasn't going to go through- we were confident at this point.... the only time we worried about that was when we were in the hospital with Allie in the very, very beginning.

The Lord has blessed us with an amazing little girl. She melts our hearts- and is such a cutie! (what parent doesn't think that their child is the cutest thing ever!) We are so blessed to be her mommy and daddy! We are so blessed to have the family support that we do- and to be able to share this day with them. We give all the credit and praise to our Heavenly Father. We know that all the waiting and questions and hardship that we went through during the five and a half years of infertility were worth the wait when we met Allisynn. His plan is beautiful. How can we do anything but TRUST Him?!

For our family and friends who follow this and have been praying for us- we thank you! Your prayers all along have been felt. Please keep praying that we will raise Allie to be the little girl- and eventually the woman that God wants her to be.

Enjoy the pictures! There are a lot of them! :)

The courthouse

The little Diva of the day!

The Court Room

Inside the Court Room

Scary! :) They let them sit in the Jury seats!

:) Aunts and Uncles! :)

Standing before the Magistrate

Reading the Adoption Decree! :)

Our Family and the Magistrate

Time to Celebrate! :)