We finalized Norah's adoption last week! June 27th, we went to court. ALL our family came for the big day, and it was incredibly special. Zach could not be there for the court because he had to work, so he skyped in on Sara's phone. We had 20 people with us! I was unsure of what to expect, and I knew it would be a casual formality, but it was really powerful! The judge had us stand and oath to tell the truth, and then had the lawyer ask us if we understand that this means that Norah Hom Blackwell will be her legal name, if we would treat her like she was born to us, and if we understand that Holt International and courts would be out of our life now! YES!! Then she asked me if I was ready to be her forever mama. I choked up and said yes, of course! The lawyer said that it was the largest representation of family she's ever seen in an adoption case, and that she could tell Norah has a loving family. She was even getting emotional about it! What a story of the Goodness of God. We have felt His love and presence so strongly in Norah's story.
So we decided on the name Norah "Hom" because we wanted to keep so part of her Thai name. Gluay Hom means banana, and we were not going to keep that, and Watsana means "luck, and good fortune from past deeds", nope. Not going to keep that either. "Hom", however by itself means fragrant. So her name means "fragrant sunlight, honor, compassion"
Commissioner Merrigan Approves Norah's Adoption!
ALL our family has come to support and celebrate Norah's finalization!
After court, we all headed to the Great Wolf Lodge to swim and have FUN! Norah is like a fish this summer. She has followed the boy's lead of fearlesness in the pool. We have been preparing for Norah's finalization party for a month now, and all she cares about is that it can be a swimming party. She continues to amaze me at how capable she is at learning new things. We had been preparing our yard and house for the next day, because we were hosting a big party for her! So onto the party...
