Signing Day

Today is the day that we finally get to sign adoption papers for Michelle and Anna.  The only problem is we don't exactly know what this means!  We know that this is the beginning of the adoption process through DFCS and that it is the big day we have been waiting for since the girls moved into our home.  I think that it means DFCS (Division of Family and Child Services) is through with the girls and we are now in charge and we are free to pursue the legal adoption where we go before a judge and the girls get new birth certificates.  Whatever it means, we are really excited and I'm sure we will find out everything we need to know once we get there.

It's amazing to think that just a little over a year ago we were so discouraged and about to give up on adopting through DFCS completely.  Then we got a call saying that another county wanted to interview us for two little girls, a 2 year old and a 5 month old.  As soon as we saw their pictures Tripp knew they were our little girls, but I was still floored when they called to tell us we were chosen to be the adoptive parents!  We had a few months of driving back and forth for visitations and we thought that would never end.  November 21, 2009 Michelle (2) and Anna (8 mos) moved into our home.  It hasn't been easy to go from just Tripp and Christy for 7 years to Tripp and Christy with two small children to raise!  We have had to step right into being disciplinarians (and we are not allowed to spank), caregivers and putting 2 little someones before ourselves.  But, God has given us lots of grace and we have been so blessed by these little girls.  Now, 9 months later, we are just hours away from the 2nd-to-the-last big step in this whole adoption process.  I can hardly wait for the next step when our girls will finally legally be Michelle Catherine and Anna Christine Freeman!