Wednesday, February 23, 2011

We "Got Em'"

Today was a HUGE day in the Cassady household! We got the boys up and gave them their "gotcha day" presents, which were Bibles with their new names engraved on them, and then we got ready and off we went to the courthouse for our hearing.

When we got there we had to wait about 30 minutes, but in the process got to see how much love our boys are going to have the rest of their lives! The judge was definitely shocked when so many people showed up for our hearing! Nana, Gramps, Grandmother, Papa, my Aunt Margie, Aunt Allie, Uncle Daniel, Aunt Stephanie, Maggie, (Uncle Marty is away on business or we know he would have been there) Aunt Staffanne, Uncle Kyle, Uncle Drew, Alicia (who should be called Aunt),(Aunt Catherine was definitely with us in spirit!) Amy, the first lady I talked to about the boys in August, Erin, the boys previous therapist, Michaelle, another state worker who has won our hearts, and Misty, who has been with the boys since Brandon was just a few months old! She said I was adopting her kids today and I am so thankful for her and all of the staff we have worked with and for what they have been able to do for our boys! Our lawyer and the boys lawyer were there too and we appreciate how much they did for us in getting the court date set so soon after papers were filed!!

I promised myself I would not cry because this was just making it legal, my boys have been "my boys" since the day we met them. Well, I broke the promise I made to myself! The judge asked what the boys names were going to be now and I couldn't say them loudly because I was crying! It was something about saying Cody Daniel Cassady and Brandon Thomas Cassady aloud in front of a judge and all of these wonderful people that made me realize how much God has blessed our home. Mom was hugging me bye today and said "I love you Emily, do you know how much?" and for the first time ever I said "I am beginning to mom." I never knew how much you could love a child. One of the best parts of today was when our lawyer said "you understand you are taking responsibility for these children as if you had given birth to them" and my heart was just happy because I couldn't love them anymore than if I had given birth to them.

Here are a few snapshots of the day. So many friends and family took pictures so I am sure I will have more to add on here and to my scrapbook! (Which I guess I need to work on!)




My precious friends at school made our family this precious cake. Thanks Neesa, Katie, and Mechelle!!!





Here are all of us crowded around the judge! The pic is far away so we could all get in it!




Here are the 4 of us with the judge. He gave the boys stuffed animals for today! How precious!?!?!




Here is the back of the UK shirt Nana, Gramps, Aunt Allie, and Uncle Daniel got for the boys.




Here's Brandon's shirt.




Mom and Dad bought me this necklace with the word Forever Family 2-23-11 on the back... check out the front on the next pic




It has two boys on the front, I love it! Mom and Dad also bought Adam a new pocket knife with today's date engraved on it.

We also received a gift certificate to Carter Lumber from Marty and Stephanie for our future tree house! I am excited the boys are going to get one, only hurt that Adam has said it is FOR BOYS ONLY! :) I am hoping they'll make an exception for mommy's!

I am feeling so blessed today and am so thankful for the prayers of my friends, which I believe is the only reason we are where we are today, through the power of prayer!

Happy Gotcha Day Cody and Brandon!!!!

13 comments:

  1. Love the shirts...too cute! So glad I was able to be there today. Love you ALL!

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  2. *sniff sniff*...I have to meet and hug the boys...oh wait...I need to meet you all too don't I?....Kyle and Staffanne, Carol Ann and Shaun will vouch for me....So happy for you, God is so Good....

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  4. Crying my eyes out-tears of joy! : )

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  5. I noticed your necklace tonight. Love it. So happy for your family. Cody and Brandon Cassady are two lucky little boys.

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  6. Your post has me in tears. So thankful God answered your and Adam's prayer. Through your journey, even though I know the power of prayer, I have gained "hope" and MORE "faith" that HE will answer more prayers. Congrats on your Forever Family.

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  7. Oh my word...before I could even type this message, I had to bow down and give our God praise for his perfect work. I feel through each word of your journey, each prayer that I know so many of us have prayed, that we have each drawn closer to a prayer answering God. To say I am thankful for you all having such a blessed day is a complete understatement. I love that you and Adam gave each of the boys a Bible...what a hope they have for the future, for salvation, given they have a Christian home and so many Christian people who love them so! Love you and your Forever Family:)

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  8. That is so wonderful. I can't imagine the struggles you've went through, but being a mommy is the greatest thing ever. Giving them the bibles was such a wonderful example. These two boys are really lucky!

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  9. Tears...Sigh...Tears. Oh, Tears of JOY!!! Yesterday was "Amazing!!!!" And, I am so glad that I got to be there and witness all the LOVE. Even after leaving the court room yesterday, I thought many times throughout the day about just how GREAT the God we are serving is and how he works things out for us. I truly believe that if we put him first that he will give us the desires of our heart, and you and Adam have been a perfect examples of this. Your "faith" and continued "love" for God even in your weakest times has truly been an inspiration to me. Words could never tell you how much we LOVE you guys! Every time I would look at your mom, I couldn't help but tear up at the joy that I knew she had in her heart....I am expecting and praying for more!!!! I Love being an aunt to those little guys!!!

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  10. I am a friend of Catherine's and she sent me an email about this today. She'd told me about it before and I just wanted to congratulate you on a beautiful family and wish you all the best God has to offer. You have an amazing family and are truly blessed and stories like these make my day. Thank you for reminding me of how much good there is in the world. You are all so lucky to have each other.

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  11. Emily -

    I am SO happy and thankful that God answered your prayers. This post made my heart smile and brought tears to my eyes and goosebumps to my arms. Congratulations.

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  12. Congrats! I am so excited for you all!!!!! God is good!

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  13. Emily, I am just getting to read this and it makes my heart leap for joy and break down and cry at the same time. I am so happy for your family and for so many answered prayers. What a wonderful day for you and your FAMILY as well as all the people whose lives you have touched with your story. God is so good!

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