just think of all the details God had to put in place before the beginning of time to make these pictures possible!! HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!!!!
Monday, May 30, 2011
the end of a long process
the end.
josiah's adoption was finalized on april 27, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
its crazy to think that just a few years ago, ben and i went to an adoption introduction seminar at bethany christian services, walked out, and said to each other, "there is no way we can do this." BUT GOD DID IT. HE ALONE gave us the desire, strength, perseverance, and ability to bring josiah into our family. forever.
ben's parents were able to come with in the court room for the finalization, and our pastor and his family joined us shortly afterwards! we have truly been blessed with a wonderful support group and it was a joy to share the day with some of our favorite people.
we were the only ones in the courtroom. we've never been in a courthouse before let alone a courtroom so we really didn't know what to expect. after a lot of formalities and the official signing of the last stack of papers (WOOHOO!), the judge said, "there are two things i want to tell you. number one, you have a beautiful family. number two, our day just goes downhill from here on." adoption is a joy in more ways than one!
in some ways, having a judge look over our papers (a very LARGE stack of papers) and declare josiah to "officially" be a cain was anti-climatic. we already felt like he was a part of family - the Lord has graciously given us a relatively drama-free adoption with few fears of josiah being "taken back," etc. (PRAISE THE LORD!!). the glory of it all actually hit me when we got back home and i ripped the foster parent forms off the fridge. i shredded those babies and started tearing up as i forcefully threw them in the trash. i guess i didn't realize how staring at those foster papers everyday made me feel like josiah really wasn't "ours" just yet. that trash can slam dunk felt good. really good.
i called this post "the end of a long process" which is a little deceiving. because as any parent will tell you, raising a child is a process that's never done. its just nice that know josiah has OUR name and is a legally a part of our family. forever.
thank you for praying and supporting us through this process!!! we don't feel like our family is full just yet. at this point, we feel the inklings to start another adoption.....but we're eagerly awaiting God's perfect timing before we jump in. don't worry. we'll keep you posted.
ALL PRAISE TO THE GLORY OF HIS NAME!!!!
PRAISE TO THE LORD THE ALMIGHTY, THE KING OF CREATION!!
josiah's adoption was finalized on april 27, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
its crazy to think that just a few years ago, ben and i went to an adoption introduction seminar at bethany christian services, walked out, and said to each other, "there is no way we can do this." BUT GOD DID IT. HE ALONE gave us the desire, strength, perseverance, and ability to bring josiah into our family. forever.
ben's parents were able to come with in the court room for the finalization, and our pastor and his family joined us shortly afterwards! we have truly been blessed with a wonderful support group and it was a joy to share the day with some of our favorite people.
we were the only ones in the courtroom. we've never been in a courthouse before let alone a courtroom so we really didn't know what to expect. after a lot of formalities and the official signing of the last stack of papers (WOOHOO!), the judge said, "there are two things i want to tell you. number one, you have a beautiful family. number two, our day just goes downhill from here on." adoption is a joy in more ways than one!
in some ways, having a judge look over our papers (a very LARGE stack of papers) and declare josiah to "officially" be a cain was anti-climatic. we already felt like he was a part of family - the Lord has graciously given us a relatively drama-free adoption with few fears of josiah being "taken back," etc. (PRAISE THE LORD!!). the glory of it all actually hit me when we got back home and i ripped the foster parent forms off the fridge. i shredded those babies and started tearing up as i forcefully threw them in the trash. i guess i didn't realize how staring at those foster papers everyday made me feel like josiah really wasn't "ours" just yet. that trash can slam dunk felt good. really good.
i called this post "the end of a long process" which is a little deceiving. because as any parent will tell you, raising a child is a process that's never done. its just nice that know josiah has OUR name and is a legally a part of our family. forever.
thank you for praying and supporting us through this process!!! we don't feel like our family is full just yet. at this point, we feel the inklings to start another adoption.....but we're eagerly awaiting God's perfect timing before we jump in. don't worry. we'll keep you posted.
ALL PRAISE TO THE GLORY OF HIS NAME!!!!
PRAISE TO THE LORD THE ALMIGHTY, THE KING OF CREATION!!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
of all the babies God could have sent...
ben and i were looking through old pictures and marveling at how chose josiah, of all the babies in the whole world (!!!), to be a part of our family. so precious to see how similar and unique our boys look...God intended for them to be brothers!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
*update*
*details from josiah's birth*
i realize that i never wrote about the details of josiah's birth! here's the "short" version. =)
ben and i were able to drive to san jose on september 15 and be at the hospital at 4:00AM with briana. she began her induction about 6:00AM and progressed rather slowly until about 4:00PM when things moved very quickly. although briana had originally wanted only her mom in the room with her for the actual delivery, she changed her mind and allowed me (ashley) to be with her during josiah's delivery! she even asked if i wanted to cut the umbilical cord! it was a glorious, beautiful, and highly emotional day!!!! josiah was healthy and happy...it was truly a party atmosphere in the delivery room with tons of briana's family and friends stopping by within minutes of josiah's birth! when it was time to fill out birth certificate information, briana filled out the name we had chosen: josiah nathanael. what a joy!
briana and her mom stayed with josiah during the two nights at the hospital. she was so kind and welcoming to ben and i...she allowed ben and i to be with her in the hospital essentially all day! the hospital staff was also very understanding of our adoption situation and accommodated us as best they could.
when briana was discharged from the hospital, she signed josiah in to our care as foster parents. she allowed us to dress him in a home-coming outfit we had brought and held him while ben wheeled her outside in a wheelchair. we had a few pictures taken together before we left.
i realize that i never wrote about the details of josiah's birth! here's the "short" version. =)
ben and i were able to drive to san jose on september 15 and be at the hospital at 4:00AM with briana. she began her induction about 6:00AM and progressed rather slowly until about 4:00PM when things moved very quickly. although briana had originally wanted only her mom in the room with her for the actual delivery, she changed her mind and allowed me (ashley) to be with her during josiah's delivery! she even asked if i wanted to cut the umbilical cord! it was a glorious, beautiful, and highly emotional day!!!! josiah was healthy and happy...it was truly a party atmosphere in the delivery room with tons of briana's family and friends stopping by within minutes of josiah's birth! when it was time to fill out birth certificate information, briana filled out the name we had chosen: josiah nathanael. what a joy!
briana and her mom stayed with josiah during the two nights at the hospital. she was so kind and welcoming to ben and i...she allowed ben and i to be with her in the hospital essentially all day! the hospital staff was also very understanding of our adoption situation and accommodated us as best they could.
when briana was discharged from the hospital, she signed josiah in to our care as foster parents. she allowed us to dress him in a home-coming outfit we had brought and held him while ben wheeled her outside in a wheelchair. we had a few pictures taken together before we left.
briana placed josiah in his carseat, ben buckled him in, we hugged and prayed, and drove home. W.O.W.
i cannot even begin to describe how amazing a gift briana has given us. our time with her in the hospital was so important and has set the foundation for our relationship and friendship with her!
*legal steps*
about a week after her discharge from the hospital, briana signed relinquishments and terminated her parental rights to josiah. we were waiting for josiah's birthfather to do the same. unfortunately, he has not been eager to cooperate. eventually, a lawyer's service was able to serve him with relinquishment papers. he has not signed them so our social worked filed papers with court to have his rights terminated by a judge as he has not been active in the pregnancy or birth. we expect to hear from the court sometime this week or next as to the official termination of the birthfather's rights.
once this has happened, josiah will be officially "available for adoption." then we can submit our paperwork to formally adopt josiah and, Lord-willing, will finalize the adoption at the placerville court sometime in march!!
*about josiah*
you cannot even believe how smiley this kid is. HA! he is a joyful and easy-going little guy...as long as there is a bottle within a 3-foot radius. he loves his food and his adorably chubby thighs prove it. he's rolling from back to front to back, chattering like a maniac, and determined to run so he can catch up with his big brother. we are so very thankful for the sweetness he adds to our family!
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