Finally, The Finalization Hearing

Dear Gabriella,

Shortly after you were born, we went to see a judge about finalizing the adoption.  At that time, he said that we should be able to finalize on November 19, 2010.  We were thrilled that we could have it all finished in just a few months!  Usually, it takes about six months for all of the paperwork to go through. 

We were later informed that we would not be able to finalize in November, but they thought everything would be finished by March or April of 2011.  Once again, there were delays, so they said we could probably finalize in June.  When it was pushed back again to August, I wasn't holding my breath.  I decided we would just wait and see if it would all come together in August.  Sure enough, the finalization hearing was delayed until . . . well, they would call us and let us know.  When they called us and scheduled the finalization hearing for Monday, October 3rd, 2011, I admit that I was skeptical.  I thought, "Could this be true?  Are we actually going to have Ella bound to us legally and lawfully?"  The idea of it was so exciting!

On that beautiful Monday morning at 9:00 am, we all arrived at the Yuma County Juvenile Courthouse for your hearing.  Your Grammy was still in town for Charlie's birth, so she got to come with us to the hearing too.

(left to right) our attorney Bill Kerekes and his assistant Dee Smith
They were both very friendly and kind throughout the whole process.

Judge Katheryn Stocking-Tate

Your dad got to take the stand and answer all of our attorney's questions.  Then I took the stand and said that I agreed with everything he said.  When the judge stated that you would hereafter be known by the name of Gabriella Rachelle Griffiths, and you should be treated in all respect as the child of Brandon Keith Griffiths and Shelley Elizabeth Griffiths, I started to cry tears of joy.  Your Grammy was crying too, and we were all overcome with happiness.  You were finally a Griffiths!

Afterward, we all had a celebratory breakfast at Denny's.  I ordered you an applejuice because you LOVE juice, but I rarely give it to you.  It's not that I don't want you to have it, it's that you love it so much that you gulp it all down quickly, and then you don't have room for any food.  I figured it was your big day too, so I let you gulp down the applejuice.  You drank it so fast that your lips started to turn blue and your whole body shook because it made you so cold, but you didn't care.  You still clutched that juice and would not let it go until you were finished with it.

This picture says it all!

When we got home, Grammy took our family picture right outside of our house.  It took many tries, but we finally got one where we were all looking at the camera with our eyes open.

Your dad was so happy that he was twirling you around the house, and you loved having all of his attention.

It was such a happy day that even little Charlie was smiling!

Throughout the day, your dad kept saying, "No man can take you from us now."  It was such a sigh of relief to have all of the legal parts of the adoption over with.  Ella, I am so happy to be your mom.  It is such a tremendous blessing to have you and your sweet spirit with me every day.  As soon as people meet you, they immediately fall in love with you because you are so full of love and joy.  I am honored that Heavenly Father, Rachelle, and the law allowed me to be your mom.

Love always,

Your legal and lawful mom