Two years ago today Madilyn became a legal member of our family. After seven months of being our daughter in our hearts and minds on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:36 am she became a legal Lloyd.
Unless you have been through the adoption process you can not know how it feels to hear the judge say, “You are now the legal parents of this child.” These word bring such relief and remove all doubt and fear from your mind about the future of your life with your child. When you give birth to a child there is usually no question to if you will be their legal parents if that is what you desire. There is no declaration pronouncing you “legal parents” you just are. In the case of adoption it is a long and stressful process. The months between placement and finalization are filled with what ifs, worry, and concern that something will go wrong and you will loose the child that you have come to love.
People often ask me if I will always celebrate this date and I say, “yes.” The adoption finalization is just as important as Madilyn’s birthday for many reasons. Today is the anniversary of the day that we became a family that can live without fear of loosing our little girl to another family. Today is the anniversary of the day that we vowed to love her, care for her, and treat her as a natural born child for the rest of our lives. Today is the anniversary of the day that we became a forever family.
Happy adoption day! Maddie is getting so big, and so beautiful! What a happy day to celebrate!
Kimberly Nunn commented on your link.
Kimberly wrote: “It is hard to believe it has been that long. The time sure has flown by. It does not even seem like that long ago when you called all excited and told me they were on the way to the hotel with her.”