Thursday, May 29, 2008

A Long Time Coming

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Jafta Jordan Howerton!
Tuesday we all drove up to LA Children's Court and waited 2 hours in the waiting room until they called The Howertons. Mark, Kristen, Jafta and India sat in the middle of the room with family on both sides and friends in the back. Mark and Kristen had to swear that they were going to love Jafta and keep him as their son forever. It was such an emotional day. Tears started flowing down my face when I heard Kristen and Mark fight back tears as they spelled their names.

At the end the Judge pounced his new name for the first time:Jafta Jordan Howerton! Praise God. He is officially a Howerton!
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Jafta, India, Tanner and all of the children who came got to take a teddy bear home with them. We all went outside to take pictures and it was so cute watching the kids and how excited they were for Jafta.
We all got to go to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. Kristen made cupcakes and it was a wonderful party day for Jafta.
The next day at school I was explaining to my class why they had a sub the day before. They have met Jafta and seen pictures of him. I explained that he was adopted and it was a very fun day that I didn't want to miss. My class was excited for me, but you could tell that they really didn't get it. They have known him as my nephew all year, so what really changed? It made me think, that is how Jafta must see it. This has always been my family! The good news is that nobody can ever change that!

5 comments:

Emily said...

How exciting! It looks like it has been a long journey, but well worth it. He is a very LOVED little boy!

Kristi said...

I'm having a yard sale right now, and i'm totally crying reading this. But seriously...How exciting. All those answered prayers! Yeah Jafta! Yeah Howertons! Yeah God!!!!!

Kristen Howerton said...

I was so glad to have you there today, sitting at the table with us. What an awesome day!

Jafta's take on the whole thing is alot like your students! He is like, I'm already adopted!

johnsonandjohnson said...

Oh, that made my eyes tear up....what a great day! I remember praying for them in our Seapointe small group!

Brazenlilly said...

I was crying too, because that is SO WONDERFUL! I can't imagine the stress of thinking they could lose their little boy, so I can also only imagine the joy of knowing he is theirs forever! Praise the Lord and bless their little family.