Today was a wonderful day. We were invited to go to Columbus to be present at the adoption hearing that would make Ellie ours for good. But, to Tony and I, Ellie was our grandchild well before the gavel sounded. The judge, who was wonderful, went through the proper proceedings, he read all of the appropriate material and let the court appointed attorney do her questioning. He let all of the "parties of interest" give their testimony and then, after some laughing and pre-celebration, pronounced with the banging of his gavel that Ellie was Elizabeth Purdum, our grandchild. Except, from the moment she was born, Ellie was ours. Ellie was a Purdum, through and through. She has two brothers that love her unconditionally and two parents who do the same. She has aunts and uncles and grandparents who would literally fight anyone who said she is not part of our family. Ellie has always been part of our family. And so today, the court system said she is too. And maybe we needed that...maybe for tax purposes or other legal things. But, from the heart, Ellie has always been ours. We didn't need a gavel to tell us that.
Once again, Miss Elizabeth Rae Purdum, welcome to your family. The people who will love you all the days of your life.
"But, from the heart, Ellie has always been ours. We didn't need a gavel to tell us that"
ReplyDeleteso true!