On the 12th, we passed six months of having Riley in our home.

It gets better every single day. He has a new laugh that he is showing us. I wonder if this is his true laugh and we are just now hearing it.

Nate has become this amazing caretaker. He invites Riley to go outside and play. He is usually the first one that rushes to his side if Riley falls down.

Julia wakes him up each morning, just so that she can have some snuggles.

After our last meeting with our adoption specialist, we transitioned to me giving him his bath and putting him to bed 100% of the time. Was I thrilled about this at first? No. Selfishly, I felt like that was my “break” time. Brian always did bedtime and bath so that I could relax a little. Am I glad we did this? Absolutely! I have seen a huge improvement in how he and I relate to one another. Those bedtime snuggles make all the difference.

More that that, I am thankful that I am being refined by this process. I have been put here, in this family, to be a helpmate to Brian and a serve my children with humility and grace. I choose this. I choose this beautiful family. This is just another reminder that I have a long way to go. It’s a good thing that He doesn’t give up on us.

Philippians 1:3- 6 –  3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

So, where are we in the paperwork process?

Well, we are still processing. A few extra steps were needed for our case, so it is taking a few more months. We have custody and guardianship. We are just waiting on the official adoption court date, which should be set after two more sets of paperwork are completed.

Yes, we thought it would be all wrapped up by now. Yes, I’m just ready for it to be all done.

No, I don’t think anything could cause it to come undone at this point, but I would love your prayers for the process to be complete.

Love you all! Thank you for your prayers in this process!

Kate