Have you ever experienced a moment when it felt like a huge weight was lifted off your shoulders and you could breathe again?
That’s how it felt for me our Adoption Day.
Our son came into our home on February 9, 2018. We received full custody a little over a year after on February 13, 2019. But we had to wait 30 days to finalize. About two weeks before finalization, we found out the actual date would be March 22. It felt like the days dragged on! Traveling from Florida to Tennessee felt like 20 hours instead of 7! Finally the morning of the 22nd came, and we woke up ready to go. I remember walking up to the court house thinking, It’s here! I tried to soak up every detail!
It was such a beautiful day; the sun was shining so bright with barely a cloud in the sky. The anticipation was very similar to how I felt on my wedding day waiting to marry Joel. As Samuel played up and down the hallway and then sat in anticipation waiting for the judge, I just kept praising God for all He did to bring us to this day.
If you have never had a adoption finalization or been to one, they usually have several families all in the same room and you take turns. We were first. As we stood in front of the judge, we were sworn in. Samuel even decided to lay his hand on the Bible with us; it was precious! We answered several questions about who we were, etc. I was holding myself together, Joel was flustered a little when they asked us for our wedding date, but we weren’t expecting that question, so we all laughed a little.
New Name
Then, we got to the part where we had to state his birth name and then the name we had given him. I choked when I gave his name, Samuel David Rylan Warner, and couldn’t hold back the tears. The tears of joy and relief as this huge, long waited answer to prayer was in the very process of being answered.
You see, we specifically chose his name because of our story and his story. We chose when we first knew about him, before he was even born. We wept over it when his birth mom changed her mind; and we rejoiced with it as God have him back to us – Samuel David Rylan Warner. Samuel – “gift of God”
I don’t remember exactly what the judge said, but I remember hearing, “I agree and will sign the papers stating you have adopted Samuel.”
In less than 5 minutes, he was ours! We had Samuel in our home for over a year, but he had our hearts even before that moment. We had full custody for over a month, but in that moment it felt like the first day all over again! A weight was lifted, tears began to fall, and a huge smile was planted permanently on our faces. Finally, 17 years of prayer were answered.
I Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him
Carrie and Joel live in Pensacola, FL. They are great friends of mine. We’ve known each other for over a decade and I have had the privilege to work in two different ministries together. I have leaned so much on these two during our adoption process and am so happy to see God bring their family together the way He has.
