Finally...

Outside of the Justice Center
We are done!

Answering the tough questions.

About to go in to the courtroom.

Today was the day that we finished the final step in Boo's adoption. Even though she was fully adopted in China, and a full US citizen, our county required us to re-adopt Boo. This meant more paper work, more fees, and more fingerprints. After all the paper chasing and three years and six months from the time we started this whole process, we are done! It was a very emotional day. We took my parents with us, as well as Gem and LM. It was incredible sitting in the courtroom with about ten other families anxiously awaiting the adoption of their children. For them it was the first time that they could be called a family in the legal sense. We went fourth, and the judge, smiling throughout asked the same questions of everyone. After each family was done those waiting broke out in a spontaneous applause. I was in tears as family after family took this last step. There were children from Africa, China and the US. There were babies and even a six year old. It was beautiful to see so much love in one room. I was moved again as the judge finally announced Boo's legal English name and presented her to our family. It was wonderful having my family there with us. What a blessing this process has been (I don't know that I would have said that yesterday!) finally completing our family. Thank you to everyone who has supported us along this very long journey.