TPR

For anyone who has walked down the road of adoption, you know that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you hear the acronym TPR.  Termination of Parental Rights is the last hurdle to cross to become a family.  In our state, once birth parents sign TPR papers, it is an irrevocable decision.  That is not true in every state.  In many states, birth parents have many weeks or months to change their mind and choose to parent the child.  Most adoptions have only the birth mother signing the TPR papers.  This leaves a window open for the birth father to file a petition with the court to contest the adoption.  If that happens, the adoption is void and the child is placed with the birth father.

When we adopted Kaylee, her birth mother and birth father were involved in the process.  Both of her parents signed the TPR papers when she was 48 hours old.  We left the hospital knowing she was ours and there was nothing or no one who could change it.  Even though we had to wait four months to go to court for everything to be official, we knew we were a family of three.

The process has been different this time.  Isaac's birth father was not a part of his adoption plan.  This time the phrase TPR held that gut wrenching feeling for us.  We were confidant his birth father would not contest the adoption.... but there is always that fear.  I am happy to say the time frame has passed and the paternal termination of parental rights has taken place according to our state law!  We have crossed that hurdle and can happily say we are a family of four!  :)

We have received our court date.  On March 8th, Isaac will completely, officially and forever be our son!!!  We are so blessed.  I continue to be amazed by the sweet children the Lord has placed into my care.  I pray I can be the parent these children need me to be.  I also pray they may grow up knowing how much they are loved, not only by us, but our extended family, their birth families, our church family, and their Father in Heaven.