Auspicious Happenings

Yesterday was an incredibly happy day for our family as our 6 month old adopted granddaughter officially became a member.

We left early for the hearing, which was good since we had no idea where we were going in the city, but we found the place (it's kind of hard to miss!). Got through security and up to the third floor. The other set of grandparents were already there, along with the parents and big brother (at 4, he's still rather proud of that title). While we waited, other friends and relatives trickled in until we had twenty people waiting. And waiting.... they were running behind, a common occurrence I'm told.

Finally it was our turn to file into the room. Mom, Dad and big brother sat in front of the railing with the lawyer while the rest of us filled the benches in the back. Our eldest son is "Dad" and he was called to the stand first. Answered the questions (stumbled over his age which made us all giggle), then sat down. Next, d-i-l went up, answered her questions. And we thought it was done until the judge called up the big brother. Uh oh. You never know what a 4-year-old is going to say. Gulp.

They asked him if he promised to tell the truth and he said yes. Then the judge asked him if he helped change diapers. Ew - no. Mommy and Daddy do that.
Does your daddy change diapers?
Yes and mommy too.
Do you help them?
Well yes.
Do you like your baby sister?
Yes.
Do you have anything else you want to say? (gulp)
I help them a lot!

And so on. There was much chuckling in the gallery and a collective sigh of relief that he didn't say anything "odd".

Afterwards, the judge went over all the legalities and the baby was declared officially a member of the family - to great cheers. Then the judge came down from behind his bench and gave big brother a high five and allowed us all to take pictures of the scene. It was so cool!

When we finished, we all went to a nearby restaurant and had an incredibly good luncheon - including the baby who had her first taste of a bit of ice cream (though she preferred her bottle).

All-in-all, a wonderful day as this little angel is now really ours.

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Teasers: You’ve been given a key that opens one of three chests. Inside one chest is a million dollars, tax free. A second one holds a powerful poison that will kill you instantly. The third is empty. How do you choose which to open? (Thank you Frank Stockton - author of "The Lady or the Tiger", 1882)

Thought for the day: "Novelists do not write as birds sing, by the push of nature. It is part of the job that there should be much routine and some daily stuff on the level of carpentry." - William Golding