JEAN AND DAVID ADOPT EDWARD AND KATIE

Well, we were back to adoption court again to adopt not only Edward, but Katie.  Katie's great-grandparents encouraged the court for us to adopt her now rather than wait a full year.  All Katie's great-grandfather asked was that he and his wife be allowed to visit her.  The court was going to make certain times when they could come, but David and I stopped them.  We asked that they call first and if we are home, they can come and visit Katie.  We don't need any certain time.  She is their great-granddaughter and they have a right to come and visit her when they can.  Although we are now legally her parents, they are still her family.  So that settled that.  The judge was surprised that we would feel that they could have the freedom to come and visit her, but he approved that.

Edward and Michael were thrilled they were now legal brothers.  They hugged each other.  As Edward is black and Michael is white, they say they are "coffee and cream" brothers.  Michael kept asking David and I, if they were really brothers in the State of New York and we kept saying yes.  I guess they felt better when the judge said yes.

Susan was jumping up and down when we told her that Katie was really her sister now.  She hugged Katie so hard, we had to break them up as we thought Susan was going to knock the breath out of Katie.  Then they hugged again.  I don't think Katie really knew what it ment.  David, I and her Great-grandparents tried to explain, but I am not sure she fully understands it.  Her great-grandparents wanted pictures of all of us.  It is again our ways not to have our picture taken.  They really wanted that picture.  Bishop Joseph was there and stated as the children had not been baptized, they could, in this case, have their picture taken.  So we adults had our backs turned and the children stood facing the camera when the picture was taken.  The judge stood along with us in the picture - he faced the camera.  Bishop Joseph told the great-grandparents that he would allow this because of Katie and their wanting it. He kindly explained that this would be the last picture.  Bishop Joseph asked for a second copy that could be put in with the pictures that we have of Katie's parents.  Of course, Bishop Joseph saw that Katie's great-grandparents were in the picture, too.

After we left the court house, we went where Katie likes to go for lunch, Mac Donald's.  We all ate our lunch there.  For dinner that evening, we had Edward's favorite dinner: pork ribs, greens, salt potatoes, and pineapple up side down cake topped with whip cream.  At dinner we had Bishop Joseph, Martha, and family, along with Katie's great-grandparents.  David also made, for Edward  and Katie a plaque on the wall with a medal copy of the adoption papers and what looks like our signatures underneath.  He made them so the children know they are our family, not only because the state says so.

During our prayers, that evening, we thanked the Lord for uniting us all in one as a family. The State papers are nice, but knowing that we are also a family in the eyes of Christ is most important.  Lord knew just who were the perfect young folks to cross our door and become our family. Both Michael and Edward told what they felt when they first came into our home.  Neither of them thought, that some day they would be a member of our family.

Edward wanted to go see his Grandmother's grave the next day, so we rented a driver and all went to Rochester to see where she is laid to rest.  We then went to where Katie's parents were laid to rest,  but I don't think she really understood.

After that we went to the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences so we could have a tour and explore it.  When we left there, we had lunch at a restaurant.  After lunch, we went to take a tour of the George Eastman House, the man who founded Eastman Kodak Company.  As the little children were getting tired, we headed home picking up dinner at KFC on the way.

The next day, Michael, Edward and Susan were back in school.  Katie was home with me, learning her house duties and chores.  We are very happy now to be a family of seven.  Susan still thinks we should get another girl to even up the family.

Be With God,
Jean

NEXT MONDAY, ELMER ANSWERS YOUR DWARF QUESTIONS.