Becoming A Family Chapter 11

Haven't read the first ten chapters of our story? You can find them here. (They're pretty short.)

So, we would wait two months for the next court date. We had plenty to keep us busy. Learning how to feed, bathe, console, teach, and understand two little girls was more than a full time job. In addition, Matt and I were trying to understand ourselves and each other in our new roles as parents. It was a challenge we accepted gladly, but also a job that required us to give every little bit of ourselves.

The next court date arrived. Again we were hopeful, but nervous. The issue from the previous court date remained unresolved. We hoped the judge would grant us the guardianship, but it was possible he might decide to reschedule the court date again.

By God's grace, the judge was willing to accept our attorney's testimony in place of a particular document. We were overjoyed when the judge appointed us as the legal guardians to these sweet twin girls. We were already living like a family, loving each other as a family, and it was reassuring to have the court system recognize us as a family.

Legal guardianship can be reversed, or it can continue until the child turns eighteen. We were given the right to make decisions regarding the girls' medical needs and education. We were allowed to take the girls on trips-even out of the state. But there was still a possibility that the situation could change, and they would no longer be with us.

Legally, we would need to be their guardians for at least a year, maybe two, before we could begin the process of adoption. While this felt like such a long time to wait, we were so grateful to be able to be with girls every day, to tuck them into bed at night and to scramble their eggs and make their toast every morning. God had made us a family, had provided for every detail along the way, was giving us the strength and wisdom to be parents. We could trust Him as we waited and hoped for adoption.