Adoption Date, STAT!

So when Jennifer (our adoption attorney) called the day after we got the TPR order entered to discuss options for scheduling adoption day, we shifted rather easily into feeling like it wasn't necessary to wait out the 30 day appeal window after all before adopting.  Jennifer was down with just doing the thing now and Josh didn't bat an eye at it either, so that's what we all agreed to.  Adopt Lasa sooner rather than later!  Sooner, as in this week - Friday, July 6th, 8:00 am!  😳  Here I had surrendered the hope that we could get the adoption done in time for her third birthday and indeed the time ran out that would have been needed to fit the 30 days in.  I let it go and then, just like that, the Lord gave it right back to us!  We are so pumped to get this done finally.  

Of course, this meant I had to make some quick decisions I thought I would have more time to plan details for ... like cutie pie shirt for court for Lasa, what special pics I wanna make sure we get, who to get to take the pics, who (if anyone) we would invite to join us there, whether to shout the rushed fun news or wait and go about this quietly?  In short, I went with quieter and less.  We are excited to have John and Carol in town for court still and my sister and her family will be coming up too if they can make it after their travels this week already.  Those two family units are just right for me!  I am touched by the friends that wanted to be there, but so happy to really be able to focus on the proceedings and drink in this checkered flag milestone without having a ton of people I would feel like I needed to receive/focus on instead.  I contacted a local custom shirt maker this weekend and she was super fast getting back to me and had the shirt ready to go today.  And I have asked a friend to come take pics of court and that will be so nice to not feel like I need to be behind a camera, but can just be there in this moment that we have been anticipating so long.  

This morning, Josh and I went to the attorney's office to sign and get stuff notarized for the adoption filing and then we hustled on down to Nashville to the hospital where Lasa was born to finally get copies of all the medical records they have for her from her birth.  All that's left to get before her name changes is a copy of the long form birth certificate from the Office of Vital Statistics.  SO MANY feelings came surging as Josh and I pulled into the parking garage at Nashville General Hospital.  I was surprised by how queasy my stomach got being there again.  We brought her home from that hospital, met Angelique for the first time, brought her back more than once for her to attend the connected rehab experience at Elam with Angelique, and then of course unexpectedly returned to pick her up in the middle of the night not long after.  Just wow. It was good to go back, to remember, and to flippin' walk out and know we won't ever have to come here again.  Goodbye to all that!

Thank you, Lord, for providing for your Lasagirl and for letting us be a part of that providence.  We love this adventure that life with her has become.  Thank you, Lord, for getting us to this adoption date finally!  Thank you, Lord, for going before us when we (hopefully) begin a new chapter in our relationship with Angelique. We discussed today waiting out the appeal window this month and then reaching out to her again in August to see where she's at and if she'd like to meet up again.  Stay tuned!  

But first - a super sweet date at our local courthouse this Friday.  Can't wait!!!