One year ago today was one of the most memorable days of my life. Our precious Austin went from being a foster child, who was in adoptive placement, to having all of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of any child born into the family of Daniel and Laura Kreitler... His name he was born with was changed to one that we chose and we would no longer have to worry that he could be taken from us. From that day forever on he is absolutely, totally ours! What a wonderful feeling!!!
We had gotten the call in September of 2009 that we had been chosen as Austin's family. Then we had to wait three weeks until we could be licensed as foster parents before we could visit him. That was a LONG three weeks - knowing you had a child who was living and breathing and not being able to even see him. Then we visited him an hour away every night for almost three more weeks - even bringing him home for overnight visits and then having to take him back to his foster home, not an easy task, I assure you!! Then on November 6, he came to live with us still as a foster child. His mom hadn't lost her parental rights yet, so there was a small chance he could be taken from us. Thankfully, on January 5, her rights were taken, and then we got adoptive placement which was a lot safer. We were put in contact with a wonderful lawyer who got us a court date - March 31, 2010...
That day was an interesting day all around. We had to go about an hour and a half away to the court house in the county where Austin was born. I thought that since it was court, we should all be dressed up. So I put my dressiest dress on, Daniel put a suit on, and we even took dressy clothes to change Austin in to. We had a couple friends go with us. We got to the court house and had to go through security at which point we got in trouble for parking in the wrong spot - as if we knew since we had never been there :). We finally got all of us in, changed Austin in a gross little bathroom, and got to the court room actually on time. We met our lawyer, and two of Austin's social workers. We had been told that the judges really enjoyed adoptions so we were excited to experience it.
What an experience it was... Our judge was just busy and didn't really care why we were there. So exactly 3 minutes and 13 seconds after we walked in - even after my bumbling with a speech I didn't know I had to give, and Daniel's need for the judge to repeat questions because he had been entertaining Austin - we were officially an adoptive family!!!
What joy comes when that birth certificate is given to you with your child's new name and you listed as his parents. We could not have been more blessed with a child. God had this child picked out for us from the time that Austin was in the womb. This is not a child of MY womb, but he most certainly is the child of my heart.
Many people wonder if you can love a child you haven't given birth to - my answer? A resounding YES! This child is my child, he will always be my child. It doesn't matter who he was born to, where he was born, if I was at his birth, or the color of his skin. Austin in MY child! And he always will be - his is now our forever family!
Today is a celebration of Austin! I am so thankful for him! I am so thankful God chose him for me. I won't ever take for granted my child. It has been a long road. People sometimes tell me it went quickly for an adoption. My answer to that? It depends on where you are in that process... sometimes it felt like an absolute eternity. But were those long days and sleepless nights worth it? Absolutely!
I love you Austin! I couldn't love you more even if I had carried you and birthed you myself. Know forever, that your mommy loves you! Today is a celebration of you! We are off to the park and to play all day and have dinner later! I hope you remember these days with joy because that is how we always look on you - with utmost, indescribable joy!!!
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