The End . . .

We are four weeks away from the end of the official adoption process. Derek and I will stand in front of a judge on Friday, March 15, 2013 and swear that we will always care for and love Kearsta to the best of our ability. After a two minute conversation with the judge Kearsta's last name will officially be changed to Grady. From her birth up until our finalization day her last name has legally been her birth moms.

Finalization day has been an event for many other families that have adopted before us. We have attended the court proceedings and parties for other families that we have met through our journey to today. Our event is going to be extremely special though. Not only will we be doing our finalization on March 15th, but so will three other families. Two of the other families we consider our besties.

Our three families have spent many hours sharing the ups and downs of adoption, marriage, parenting, friendships and so much more for the last year. We all met when we were in the waiting process and our friendships have grown as we were matched, brought home our babies and muddled through parenthood! Honestly, I do not know where I would be if I would not have had them to get me through the difficult times of the process and to celebrate the joyous times of the process. I know that Derek and I are honored that Neaven and Annabelle's parents want to delay their finalization to share the day with Kearsta's parents!

We know that our girls will always have an adopted friend to share their struggles with just as their parents will always have parents of adopted children to share their struggles with. We are so excited to share in this day with all of them! And to answer Neaven's dad's question when they told us they had been matched, yes Chris, we will have our daughter's birthdays together even though they were born a month apart rather than on the same day!

Annabelle (born 08/10), Neaven (born 08/05) and Kearsta (born 09/06)