"Ehl-fint"

Dawson is slowly starting to learn his adoption story (which you can read yourself via the adoption tags on the other posts). Well, I shouldn't exaggerate, but he does like to listen to "Ehl-fint" music (the Seussical soundtrack on the ipod) and pulls both of the Horton Hears a Who ornaments off the tree- which is actually quite annoying. It shouldn't be too long before we're reading him that book, as we did the night he was born.

Here are some pictures of him decorating the tree, putting up the Horton ornament, kissing the Santa ornament and eating an ornament made of crayons.

Full Circle

I wrote an adoption story on my blog, you can read it here. That is, if you want to cry a few tears of joy...

The Joys of being a Pastor's Kid

How many times will I talk about Dawson during my Sunday morning messages? Well, I'm not exactly sure. I can promise however, that his name will come up fairly often.

Today I was wrapping up the sermon series "The Gospel Accoring to Dr. Seuss" (inspired by Dawson) and used "Horton Hatches the Egg" to help illustrate Paul's teaching on adoption into God's family from Ephesians 1. It was a powerful story. You can read or listen to it here.

We also had some people who were a big part of Dawson's story there to hear the message as well.

A visit from Miss Brianna

Dawson's birth mom, Brianna came over last night for her monthly visit with Dawson. It was a good visit, though Dawson was fussy most of the time and Brianna got some quality time with Dawson. Brianna was able to feed Dawson a bottle and some solid food, read him a book, see him in the outfit she bought him and rock him to sleep.

We'd made a commitment for Brianna to visit once a month for Dawson's first 6 months. Those 6 months are now up and Brianna is moving to Minneapolis. It was a rather sad evening, though Brianna seeing how healthy and happy Dawson is was heartening.

We Love You Dawson

Check out this post - link.

Lifecare

Two weeks ago, we spoke at a benefit dinner for the crisis pregnancy center through which we adopted Dawson, Lifecare. It was a very emotionally intense night but one we'll always remember. To see some pictures and read about it, go to my other blog.

Our Journey

On my personal blog, I told our whole roller-coaster ride of becoming parents. Since that journey lead to what this blog is about, I thought I'd catch people up. Here are some links to those stories.

Being diagnosed with infertility

Losing the first boy we were going to adopt

Announcing our decision to adopt Dawson

Dawson's arrival

Dawson's birth mom

There are more adoption posts on my blog as well. You can see the entire list here.

Daddy's Preaching

A couple weeks ago, I was preaching this message on sex and ended the message by sharing how God uses what we believe to be our biggest mistakes and turns them into something beautiful. For months, Dawson's birth mom believed God was punishing her until she came to see the joy that Dawson was about to bring into our lives. She then came to realize the blessing that Dawson is to the world. While sharing all of this with the congregation, Dawson had a big smile on his face.

A couple weeks later, I preached a funeral. Erin was holding Dawson in the back and I heard him squeeking, which warmed my heart. Erin said when I started speaking, Dawson heard my voice and started squeeking. Not a bad feeling...

Irrevocable

There's a lot that goes into an adoption, including a lot of legal work. The day after his birth, Dawson's birth mom signed over her parenting rights to Erin and me. That court-ordered decree lasts for a bit over 30 days, before another hearing in which the adoption is made final and irreversible.

So yesterday, I sat on a witness stand for the first time in my life. Questions like "are you ready, willing and able to fulfill the duties of parenthood?" Yes.
"Do you realize that from now on, this child is your responsibility?" Yes.
"Do you realize that if he were to become sick or handicapped in some way, he's still your responsiblity." Yes.
And "What is your address" and some other basic questions.

After Erin testified, the judge read the final decree. Here's the last part of that decree.

The Court further finds that the said minor child is in the physical custody of the petintioners, and that all investigations, reports and all other things necessary and proper to be done for the legal adoption of said child, and all requirements relative thereto, have been fully complied with.
The Court further finds that the Petioners are persons of good moral character adn reputable standing in the community, and are possessed of suficient means and ability to maintain and educate said child properly, that said child is suitable for adoption, and that it is for the best interest of said child, that said petition be granted and that the child be adopted by Petioners as their own, and that the Petioners herein are entitled to a final decree of this Court for the adoption of said child and that the neame of the child should be changed to Dawson Patrick Miller and that said petition for adoption should be granted.
IT IS THEREFORE BY THE COURT ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the consensts to the adoption by the Petioners be and the same are herby approved.
IT IS FURTHER BY THE COURT ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the petition of Donald Levi Miller and Erin Kathleen Miller, husband and wife, for the adoption of Baby Gordon, a minor male child, as their own child, be and the same is herby granted, and that the name of said minor child be changed to Dawson Patrick Miller.

I had to fight back tears as I heard that decree read.

Donnie