Pictures!

My wonderful friend Jan took pictures today of the adoption festivities. Here're a few highlights!

The limo at our apartment this morning. Boy did we create a stir for the neighbors! The limo is done in a racing theme complete with model racing cars in display boxes on the bar, 4 TV screens, sattelite radio - it was deluxe!


AJ was sooo pleased and excited to be riding in a limo. She's talked about wanting a limo ride for the two years I've had her. I've always told her to wait for Sr. Prom or her wedding. Isn't God good to organize this for her/us!!

My parents, AJ and I before the adoption. The mother/daughter twin look was at AJ's request.


Grandma and Grandpa show their love and emotion as the adoption proceeds.


AJ and I and our wonderful Judge.

Friends and family after the adoption.

Friends at IHOP for breakfast. The fabulous lady sitting next to me was AJ's social worker for most of AJ's sojourn in foster care. Love her!


We show off our new Bible with our matching names imprinted!


AJ and Grandma show off their family connection rings.

It's Official!

It's done! I have officially adopted AJ!

This has been such a whirlwind morning and such an exhausting week. I haven't been this nervous and discombobulated since my wedding 17 years ago!

So much adrenaline and emotion today... It's only 11am here and I'm ready to call it a day!

A local limo company donated a ride to the foster-adopt parent group and I won the drawing at the last meeting! So I was able to surprise AJ this morning with a limo ride to the courthouse! And then we piled a bunch more people in the limo to go to IHOP for breakfast. The limo brought them all back and then brought AJ and I home. How cool is that!

The adoption itself was very emotional. We must have had 15 people there this morning supporting us and sharing in our joy. Our judge has presided over AJ's case since the beginning and she was very emotional. She did a wonderful little ceremony and told AJ she could be anything she wanted to be. I did my swearing of oaths (love, provide, care for... all the rights and responsibilities as a birth parent) and everyone cried. Even the baliff was wiping away little tears!

Lots of pictures afterward and then to IHOP for breakfast. Grandma gave AJ matching rings so she would always know love ties the family together. A friend gave us both new Bibles with our names imprinted on them which I just loved! A family picture frame, a teddy bear and so much friendship and joy!

I haven't planned the rest of the day because I figured we would want to just hang a bit after the excitement of the morning. So I think we'll chill and then maybe go to the movies.