Adoption Day!

Kristen's adoption was May 29th at 9:30.  This was when she legally, and forever became Kristen Rene' Thomas.  We have prayed for this day for a long time, and it was so sweet the way the Lord answered our prayers.

The judge began by asking us if we understood the committment we were making, and we had to answer a few other "legal" questions.  Then, she talked to us about how this was simply a piece of paper that we were being given, but a real family is made through the love and bonds we share together. She said she was thrilled to legalize this adoption.  It was such a sweet moment for our family.

I wanted to share some of the wording in our adoption ruling.  One paragraph says,

"The child, from and after the date of the filing of the Petition, shall be deemed the child of the Petitioners, and shall be considered for the purposes of inheritance and succession and for all other legal considerations, the natural, legitimate child and heir at law of the Petitioners, the same as if born of their body, with all of the obligations, rights, and privileges of a natural child and heir...."

Whoa.  What a beautiful statement.  "...the same as if born of their body..."  We truly want Kristen to understand that there is no difference between her and any biological children that we have.  She is just as much our child as any other children who may come along.