finalization!

The day is finally here. Our "adoption process" is over.

Its crazy to think back on all that we've been through in the past two and a half years while we were bringing Haneul home. Our family experienced significant life changes while "in process". There was joy, happiness, new memories, and new opportunities. But there was also immense pain, anxiety, exhaustion in waiting, and frustration. Through it all our saving grace was we could hear God's voice clearly. Looking back on it now, I can see His plan for our life unfolding perfectly.

As is said often in parenting, the days are long, but the years are short.

While seeing family in Korea we stopped at an adoption office and I gazed into the rows of little babies longing to be held.  I remember begging to start the adoption process soon after Beniah was born, but waited patiently until Dave felt the timing was right. From the homestudy to fingerprints to biometrics appointments, I waded through the paperwork that seemed to never end! Once we got her first set of pictures I memorized every detail of her face and felt a love grow inside of me I never had imagined. Beniah asked time and again when his sister was coming home and it broke my heart to tell him that I didn't know. I longed for our travel call for over a year, but knowing I had to wait on the Lord's timing kept me from going crazy.

Those days were definitely long, but she has been home for almost a full year it has flown by! After our trip to the lake this summer I think we've accomplished all our "firsts" with Haneul. Here's to building many more memories in the years to come!

We were blessed to have friends show up to witness the court hearing. Since it was held on Monday morning the timing did not allow for many people to come. We know you were with us in spirit!

Looking through Haneul's photo books

While waiting our turn Beniah created this masterpiece

Haneul looking through her photobooks. She pointed out her foster family and all of us.

We shared our finalization day with a couple that attended the U of A with us. How fun to see them and share in their celebration!

The courtroom

The hearing was simple-it went over the facts of our names, her name change, and that Haneul would from this day forward seen in the same light as our natural born child. It was to the point, but still brought nearly everyone in the room to tears to hear!

Our social worker attesting to ability to raise Haneul.

During the hearing our social worker asked Beniah if he'd like to tell the Judge anything. We had talked about "going to court" at dinner the night before and tried to explain in 4 year old terms what that meant. Beniah was prepared with a statement and told the Judge, "I want Haneul to be in my family forever and ever." He smiled and responded, "Thank you, I will definitely take that into consideration."

Our judge was fantastic and truly excited!

U of A IV Alum

 We followed the hearing with a lunch celebration and our cousins stopped by for some fun!