Finally final

Almost an entire year after bringing him home, Benjamin’s adoption is FINALLY FINAL. Woo hoo!

I had turned in all of the paperwork way back when he had been home for six months (our state makes you wait six months to finalize) but our lawyer drug his feet and drug his feet on it forever…

We went to court this morning, and making the day extra special was that my best friend and her family were finalizing their adoption this morning too…of the little boy that was one of Ben’s best friends in Ethiopia. So we were all in court together like one big happy family. Their family went first and then we switched places we were up… it all went quickly and easily.

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We’ve been through it enough times now (for five other kids!) so the judge, lawyer, etc. all know us. The lawyer started with, “So, Mrs. H, you have added to your family,” and I said, “Imagine that!”

It was a little difficult to explain why we were going to court to Ben…he has already been here for almost a year, his adoption was “final” in Ethiopia and he certainly has been a full member of the family! It was basically a technicality so we can get his US birth certificate, Social Security Number, etc. But we told him it made the paperwork “all done” (almost) and that now he was officially a citizen of the United States of America, which he thought was pretty cool (us too!).

He definitely was excited and knew that it was a special morning. He sat on Josh’s lap during the court proceedings and as I was looking at him I was struck by how dang cute he is and what an awesome kid he is. Our family has been so blessed by him and I am still amazed at what an easy transition he has had into our home, family and life.

And, just to add a little bit of “Ryan” to this post… as I was walking Ry, Des, Shane and Ben into their school and signing them in at the main office, Shane told their principal that we had been at court this morning. And Ryan added, “Yup, my poor old Dad is going to jail.” Luckily, the principal knows our family well, and I quickly explained why we were REALLY at court.

We will be doing it all again in just a few months for Belane!

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