Exciting Transitions

The next few weeks will be a whirlwind of exciting transitions: 

On March 10^th, we will go to court to finalize Vera’s adoption.  This is the last step in the adoption process, and as of that date, Vera will officially, legally, forever be ours.  Of course, this happened in our hearts as soon as we found out about her, but it will be wonderful to make it official.  Now we will be able to apply for her birth certificate and social security number, update our wills, create a savings account for her, etc.  We will also no longer need to notify our social worker when we take Vera out of state, nor will we need to have special forms filled out and sent in each time we go to the pediatrician.  Yay! 

The day after finalization, we will go to settlement to close on a new house.  We are thrilled to be moving from our condo into a “real” house that will grow with our family for years to come.  (PS:  Anyone want to rent out our condo?)  The timing on this move is pretty amazing.  Due to adoption regulations, we couldn’t move until Vera’s adoption was finalized in court.  We began looking for a house in the fall, but were worried about the timing.  What if we found something but couldn’t move in for a few months?  Would we be able to afford paying for the new house in addition to our condo until the adoption was finalized?  In January, we found the new house and took a step of faith and set the settlement date for March 11^th.  A week later, we heard from our lawyer that the court date for Vera’s adoption finalization had been scheduled – for the day before settlement on the new house.  God’s timing sure is perfect!

On March 17^th, Vera will turn one!  Unbelievable.  Watching her transform from a baby into a toddler has been the sweetest, hardest, most fascinating experience of our lives.  God definitely knew what he was doing when he set us on the path to adoption.  He has stretched us and grown us and blessed in ways we never could have anticipated.  To Him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.