permanent custody...

was granted today. the kids now belong 100% to the state. they are legally free for adoption. can you believe it? two days after we met them.

getting permanent custody is perhaps the biggest hurdle we have had to jump. the judge could have decided to give their parents more time to try to regain custody, but he didn't. he knew they needed and very much deserved to have a family who could care for them the right way.
the parents still have the chance to appeal, but they likely won't. and if they did, the judge likely wouldn't reverse his decision.

things are going to move quickly from here on out. we'll visit the kids again this saturday and then add weekday visits too. they'll have a couple of weekend overnight visits and then move in. it still seems pretty unbelievable.

we put the pictures we took on saturday on a dvd with music. i watched it a few times today and i cried every time. i asked josh if there would be a day when i wouldn't cry. i hope there isn't. i hope every time i watch the images of the first time we met them, that i am still moved to tears.

things are also starting to come together in terms of what we'll need to bring them home. people are offering cribs, high chairs, playpens, booster seats, etc. we found a minivan we like that will hopefully become ours sometime this week.

i am still in awe of God's goodness in all of this. His hand can be seen and felt so clearly.

i am excited to share with you all that takes place over the next few weeks. i have a feeling it's going to go so fast. from two of us to five of us, plus one dog. i can't think of a more perfect way to build our family.