The Announcement and a prayer request

 First of course there has to be an allotted wait time session....right?  So if you are a good reader you will read the whole post before scrolling down to find the answer......don't be tempted.......  ;)

 What is this you ask?  Great question.  I had no idea things like this even existed until a week ago :). 
This is what our family calls- "a standing machine". 

What does it do?  Another equally great question.  This is to help Michael "practice" standing.  Because of his cerebral palsy he has to wear the boots (afo's) to help make his tone better.  You see his brain is constantly telling his muscles to flex outward so his toe points.  Sometimes he tremors in his legs.  It isn't all the time and it has gotten a lot better with therapy and his boots. 

So because our miracle man is doing so stinking good- as in he is pulling himself up already on couches and chairs, and he has the ability already.  They want to help him really work on getting those leg muscles strengthened.  This machine helps him stand up on his own.  It is "easy" because it has padded straps to help keep him in position.  Then the frame makes it comfortable and not too much work on his legs. 

This also allows for his weight to be in his heels.  Very important because you have to have that practice in order to walk!  I just love writing that!!!  

We have already noticed a difference!  He is usually in it for 20-30 minutes twice a day:).  So who cares what the technical term is?  I am just thrilled that our little man is doing well and he is not worried about being in it at all.  He just plays with the one million toys his siblings bring him :)

 HA!  Yes - more vacation pictures....he he he.....

 This is a place called Arch Rock!  It was a crazy looking crevice in the rock from a distance, but when you got there - these stairs were there. 

 So we walked up the stairs and to the top! 

 Hung out for a few minutes and waited for others to pass.

 Aww........a girl needs her daddy!!

 Then what goes up, must come back down.  So here we go!

 Then there is the all important snack time before we hike back to our car!

 My cute babes!  (**NO I did not let my baby drink Mt. Dew!  That was my empty)

 Beautiful!!!

 Look- Joshua doing the stacking rocks game daddy taught the kids :)  I love that my kids are creative!

 Sisters!!!!

 Love this little man's giggle face!!!!! 

 So then after our hike we went to the state line area to picnic, but there were no tables.

 So we improvised!

 It was a gorgeous day.

 Michael says- just give me the baba baby!

 This would be why they are called the Smoky Mountains ;)

 A game of tag ensued after the picnic.......come to think of it a game of tag is pretty much ongoing in our family every day or our life.  For real! 

 So here is the state line photo!

 Jason and I in a photo- together!  WAHOOO!!!!!  Do you realize how rare that is? 

He he he....for those of you who have had to come up with a profile for your family to do an adoption.....and realized like we did that we didn't have very many pictures at all of us together.  You get it!  And you are now laughing.

 Love the mountains!

 Hello up there! 

 Michael and I hung out down below enjoying the scenery- he started giggling......awwww......he is just so cute!

 In case you didn't know- I LOVE THIS MAN!!!  He amazes me!  And well......just wanted to share!

And behold....it is true....if there is a puddle anywhere.....kids will find it!

OK so you are now asking- what is the Big Announcement?  ***If you were a good blog reader you read the whole post and are waiting to find the answer.......

If you are a "bad" blog reader you totally skipped the one million pictures and scrolled to the bottom.....

SO HERE IT IS!  WE JUST GOT OUR COURT DATE TO FINALIZE MICHAEL'S ADOPTION!!!!!

DECEMBER 11TH, 2012 WE WILL OFFICIALLY HAVE 9 CHILDREN!!!!!

WE WILL BE MICHAEL JASON WRIGHT'S FOREVER FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!  

WAHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is sooo HUGE!!!  Michael has obviously already become a part of our family.  BUT THAT DAY - when the judge asks you why you want to become their parent?  Do you understand what you are doing taking in this child?  Do you want to be their forever parents?  I mean- let's face it.  ALL children are blessings, but most people don't get to go to court and say it out loud- YES I WANT TO LOVE THEM FOREVER!!!! 

To me as an adoptive parent there are a few moments that you never forget: 
1)  The day you are told about your soon to be child!
2)  The moment you first meet your child!
3)  The moment you are in court- declare forever that this child is yours (well the Lord's, but in your care) and you get that magic piece of paper that declares they are yours.
4)  Then you get that birth certificate that says you are the parents!  As in a birth certificate with YOUR NAMES ON IT! 

These moments are SERIOUSLY AMAZING!!!!!!!!  IF you have never adopted....let me tell you- it is like the first time you found out about Jesus.  Then you actually meet Jesus.  You then read more about Jesus in Scriptures.  Then you get baptized!  You tell others about HIM.  And you realize your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life!  THAT IS HOW IT FEELS!!!

*****Now I have a HUGE favor to ask please.  PLEASE PRAY!!!  It really has nothing to do with the court finalization.  BUT it has to do with Michael's first healing family.  You see we adopted Michael through as disruption....to find out his story- go here.  I LOVE HIS FIRST HEALING FAMILY!  This has obviously been a very very very very hard year for them.  They are healing, but it is a slow process and a difficult one. 

It hit me like a ton of bricks after I got over stomping my feet that it would still be a few months away......that December 12th will be the one year anniversary of his first adoptive father's death.  I cried.  I mourned.  I did not want to even tell his first healing family because I did not want to hurt them anymore (I did tell them already). 

SO PLEASE PRAY WITH ME!!!!  Please know that they love Michael so very much, and they loved their dad and husband- and this year has well- been horrible.  I want to surround them in prayers! THANK YOU!