Adoption update (again) and odds and ends

Thanks for the encouragement and prayers yesterday for our adoption finalization. Some of you have asked me why we need to go to Fort Lauderdale. Basically, after you are given "legal guardianship" of a child, the "powers that be" do not immediately send you on your way. We have had to have visits with a social worker and do some other paperwork to clearly indicate that we are indeed fit parents. Our lawyer has done the majority of this work.

The "final hearing" around three months of age is sort of a big deal. The judge encourages family to come. Everyone gets dressed up and lots of pictures are taken. It is at this hearing that Isaac "officially" becomes a Kit. forever. We are really excited about this day. In talking to Joan, Bri's final hearing 18 years ago was equally as exciting. I know Joan captured all the events of that day and still has the dress Bri wore to the hearing.

Part of the work includes a visit our lawyer was supposed to have earlier this week with the judge. It was the second-to-last-step, and it was cancelled because of the storm. So now the second-to-last-step will occur next Thursday meaning the judge could delay the final step. We have temporarily made the choice to take the trip to Fort Lauderdale either way. John will at least have through Monday off which would give us four days in Fort Lauderdale. If our court hearing does not take place during the following week, John can either stay and take vacation or head back to base. He's going to have to talk to the "powers that be" in his department to determine what needs to be done. I, however, will stay for another few weeks. JB starts nights when he gets back and I have planned to spend that time with my family since neither of us enjoy this rotation.

If we don't hold our final hearing that week, it will instead be sometime in October. This means another trip to Fort Lauderdale. We aren't sure how we will manage this right now -- both financially and with JB's schedule and with time (we are taking a trip west during this month) but we are sure it will all work out.

I really am not stressed about the adoption "issues." I know eventually it will all work out. It would just be great to get it done sooner rather than later. Your continued prayers on our behalf would be much appreciated.

In other ends, last night, the wifia pulled off a surprise 30th birthday party for Jodi. What a fantastic evening. Sarah converted her back porch to a beautiful outdoor paradise, and Jodi, thinking she was babysitting Kucher, who is Sarah's next door neighbor Jamie's dog, came in unsuspecting. We had a great time. What's even more amazing is that all the wifia members had husbands who were able to stay home and babysit so we were all kidless for the evening. Joia made a great dessert which you can read about on her blog and also took tons of pictures which you can also view on her blog.

If there is one member of our group who deserved this party, it's Jodi. Jodi is everyone's "girlfriend." She is the type of friend who is game for anything -- bathing suit shopping, a day at the beach, dog or baby sitting, a night out at the last minute -- whatever. I am so glad Sarah thought of this and went to the trouble of making it a surprise. It was fantastic!