Twice Adopted

The Week of February 20, 2013 will forever live in our memories. On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, Tabitha's adoption was finalized. It was a great day to make legal the bonds that had already been made. After shopping for the perfect outfit along with pedicures and manicures, our crew made it the George Edgecomb Courthouse in Tampa at 11:00 am on Wednesday morning. Mom, Dad, Gigi, Papouli, Mammaw, Auntie K, Maddox, and Jojo joined T in Judge Essrig's court room. The finalization was quick but so sweet. As the lawyer asked us the questions of why we wanted to adopt T, Mal choked up with tears and could only shake her head in affirmation. T eagerly affirmed that she wanted to be adopted. Once the judge declared us legally her parents and our child. T jumped from the chair to cheer in joy. It was so simple, but forever changing our lives. The bailiff and judge were even in tears. It was so evident that Tabitha was eager to be a part of our forever family.

We had lunch at the Red Elephant Cafe with the family and headed back to our normal life as it had been for the past three months. On Thursday evening, Mallory was studying with Tabitha her weekly Bible lesson with her for Friday's Bible test. T looks right at Mal and says "I've decided something... I'm ready ask Jesus into my heart. When can I take care of that?" Kev and Mal sat at the table with T and talked about the decision to trust Christ. She knew it all. She basically told us how to be saved. :) She bowed her head at the kitchen table and asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. She immediately called almost every family member along with her Jojo and youth leader to tell them about her decision. When one of the many people on the phone asked if she felt any different, she replied " I just feel happier." :)

What a wonderful, blessed picture of God's love for us. He rescued, redeemed, and restored Tabitha physically, emotionally, and spiritually. She was twice adopted this week. The safety of her physical new family gave her the strength to take the step of faith to join her TRULY FOREVER FAMILY of eternity.

It's amazing to us how God perfectly ordered the steps of our lives. We had just studied the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in church. She knew exactly that after she got saved that she wanted to tell others and get baptized. She wanted to do it immediately, so this Sunday evening, Kevin was able to baptize her to show the world a picture of God's cleansing of her heart. With the wonders of modern technology, her Auntie K and Uncle Mitch were able to watch in real time through Face Time. The entire Facebook world saw through video just a few minutes later.

She's come home this week with stories of how she has shared with her friends about salvation and God's love. Our little soul winner already! Rescued, Redeemed, Restored....

God's love is so miraculous. Only God could have planned such a perfect family and events.

Saturday night, we had a "Gotcha" Party at Buca di Beppo's with 25 friends and family. Her Grammie painted a portrait of her that she was able to open at the party along with a ring from her family with her new name. A perfect night to celebrate her two times adopted. :)

Ephesians 1:4-7
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.