A Special Day

Today, we had a special day. It was the court date for our Missouri Recognition of Foreign Adoption hearing. We had a hard time explaining what this was all about to Cupcake. Heck, I'll have a hard time explaining it to you.

"Now your adoption is a little more official"? ....naaa, it's already official.

"Now the State of Missouri says it's official"? ....naaa, what's the state of Missouri?

"Now your name will be spelled right on all your important papers"? ....naaa (more on this one later...)

"Now you get a Missouri issued birth certificate and we never, ever have to ask the Guatemalan government for another thing"? ....naaa, what's a birth certificate?

How about...

"We promised the judge that we love you forever and we promise to take care of you forever. And the judge said 'YES!' to that."



Poor Cupcake woke up stressed. We've been talking about the court date for a week now. We've been trying to explain that it's another official promise. But something deep in her gut made her fear this day. It was not a pretty picture trying to get all four kids out of the house this morning. We had to leave home by 8:30. Thankfully, the big kids got up and got ready with little prompting. (The getting-up part is the hard part for them. :-))

But Cupcake...oh my...3 hairstyles, 2 dresses, 2 tantrums, no earrings, no breakfast.

We arrive at the courthouse in plenty of time. Cupcake rode with Grandma and Grandpa. She's a pretty happy camper at this point. We meet our lawyer, finish signing papers, proofread everything, go over the routine, and wait...




And wait...

And wait some more...

Fianlly, we get called in. Cupcake walks in the chambers and immediately puts her head on the table, looking absolutely dejected. All of a sudden, it hits me. She's been in a courtroom before - That day when she was 3, almost 4 years old. That day was, in some ways, a great day for her. That day, she was officially set free to be adopted. But that day, she heard grown-ups talking about her and her birthmother. They made decisions that she had no control over. That day, she heard words like "abandoned", "rejected", "unwilling to care for her", "no family", and "orphan".

I reached over and told her once again that we were promising to keep her forever. She perked right up and became her usual spunky self.

The hearing went quickly and smooothly.

This day, she heard that she is our daughter forever. This day, she heard that she is loved. This day, she heard that she will be cared for. This day, she heard that she has a family. This day, she heard that she has an inheritance. This day, she heard everyone clap and give congratulations all around.

Then the judge gave her a lollipop and let us take a picture.



It doesn't get any better than that. :-)

Blessings to you,
Mamita