Yesterday in foster care. Today, adopted. No difference at all and yet everything is different. This describes adoption day to a tee.
Judge - “It is further ordered that the child should be released from the legal and physical custody of Los Angeles County Social Services and that the case is terminated by the court. And now this fifteenth day of August 2022, Chanel **** will be promoted by the adoption petition and the requirements of the adoption acts. It is therefore ordered into creed that Chanel Faith Lane shall hereafter be the adopted child of Patrick Lane and Jennifer Lane and shall henceforth be regarded and treated as their natural child and have all the lawful rights as his/her own child, including the rights of support, protection, and inheritance…”
…adoption day. I watched the chains of foster care fall as the judge proclaimed these words in the court room and we heard our last name attached to her. Cheers and sobs overcame our friends and family. It has taken 2.5 years to get to this redemptive moment. While on this journey, I’ve learned that redemption cannot exist without brokenness and adoption is both things. It’s ashes and it’s beauty. It's hard to describe the magnitude of this day and yet how, in many ways, nothing has changed because I have always been her mama and have always loved her as deeply as I could love anyone. Our other daughter said to me, “I’m so happy we get to adopt Chanel and she will be my sister forever…I’m also sad her tummy mom won’t be there.” Nothing like someone who understands the beauty and brokenness of adoption-first hand-to articulate so clearly what we were feeling.
But this day and this sweet moment of redemption and beauty - this I will never forget! A child who was once legally without a family or supports is now part of our forever family that God created in His redemption story. This moment will forever stay with me as the day I officially became my precious daughter’s mama and it was officially declared that forever and ever, we belong to each other.
No measure of time with you Chanel will be long enough, but let’s start with forever. So, here’s to forever and ever, my sweet daughter.
Footnote: The numbers of the foster care system are staggering, but they always begin with ONE. One individual or family saying yes to one child. One person taking one step to make a difference. Every person’s one thing might be different, but we can all do something.
To learn more about our story, check out Wine with Wendy, Episode 3: https://youtu.be/-Tc6ILSkKmA
To become a Foster/Adopt parent, click on the link: APPLY NOW
Penny Lane Centers is privileged to have been chosen by Cassie and Jessica to join them on their adoption journey. Their goal was to become approved in order to grow their family via adoption. In the time they have been with us, they have opened their hearts to a set of two year old twin girls. Prior to accepting the girls, we had several conversations about the high level of care the twins would require due to not only having a history or high medical needs but having delays in their speech abilities and physical capacities. When we discussed the twins case, we knew mother had a severe mental health history. The girls did not have consistent services and had undoubtedly experienced trauma. They weren’t biased towards age, needs, race, ethnicity – nothing of the sort. They simply want to help children and stated that they knew what it was like to have a special needs child, and they knew they could handle it. In the time they have had the children, they have stood fiercely by their side. Not just by advocating for the services they need to thrive, but by participating in those services, teaming with DCFS, providers, and our agency and loving them like their own. The Crump family knows what it takes to help children feel safe, loved, and cared for. We see it in the girls smiles, joy for life, and attachment and it would not be so without Jessica and Cassie.
Check out some of their family pictures below.
