We almost missed the court summons...

...no joke.


It was a perfect day.  My family was here.  Abigail decided to take a LONG nap in the morning for the first time EVER, which was great since our summons was in the middle of her afternoon nap!  We had champagne on ice and her Godparents had flowers delivered!  Aren't they gorgeous!!!  After lunch, Grandma got some Abigail time to herself and my brother, his girlfriend and I went exploring.  We got back with plenty of time to freshen up and head out the door.  


Except that I left the actual summons on the kitchen table. 


No problem!  We knew where it was and drove past that court house all the time!  We got FRONT row parking upon arrival, and our friends pulled up at the same time!  We were almost half an hour early, so stood out front chatting and making introductions before we mosied on over to the front door.


Which was locked.  


No problem... must be a side door.  I called our social worker to see, but there was no answer.  A bit panicked, I texted her.  No answer.  I called the office.  No answer.  J thought the building across the street might be part of the court house, so my brother ran over.  Nope.  And the clock was ticking. 


What could we do?  Out of desperation, I called my neighbor who, God bless her, didn't ask any questions, but followed my panicked pleas.  "We're having an emergency.  Can you see if our back door is unlocked?"  IT WAS.  She found the paper on the table and read us the address.  All the guys immediately pulled out their phones and were typing away.  (OK, J.  I'll admit it now- your iPh.one is worth it!!!)  It was a few blocks further and we'd already walked a couple of blocks, so we high-tailed it over, but my brother ran back to get the car.  He picked up J, A and me and dropped us off at the real court house, then turned back to get the others.


But that wasn't the right one either.  


In tears, we turned back AGAIN to the building they pointed us to- another two blocks away.  We rushed through security and up to the correct floor, bursting through the elevator in a panic.  


We had made it.  


A minute later, my Mom and our friends joined us- as we'd told them which building was the correct one!  My brother and his girlfriend were parking, but the rest of us hurried into the judges chambers. 


We'd made it.

We all got settled, and the attorney turned to me first.  "State your name for the judge."


"Lauren M...M...M.... M______"  Oh geez.  I don't even know my name?


"Tell the Judge when you were married."  


"June 6.  I MEAN TENTH!  June 10, 2006!"  Oh...this is going well.  


"Is it your desire to adopt Abigail?"


Here come the tears!  "With (sniff, sniff) all my heart. (sniff, sniff)"


And the rest is history!  We are DONE.  AN OFFICIAL family that NO ONE can change!!!

Thank you, Judge!!!

She held our her arms to the Judge and went right to him! 

Our incredible social worker!

He was SO happy!

Grammie and Abigail!

   

Kisses!

Sweet friends and a BFF!

My angel!