Hope, Faith, Joy, Family: August 2013

What a lovely day we had a couple of weeks ago... Payton was baptized at Cape Cod Covenant Church by Pastor Tom Nelson on August 4.

Our families and friends gathered and celebrated the gift that God has given us and we were able to remember our baptisms as we celebrated Payton's. I am not going to write much about the service but let the photos do the talking (since a picture is worth a thousand words!) but I will share this little story as I hope to always remember it.

We were up in front of the church and Pastor Tom was talking and sharing all about baptism, and the love of God, and the grace that is offered and so forth and maybe was talking for about 5 minutes and as soon as he was done without missing a beat little Miss Payton goes "wow!" The whole church heard it and laughed because it was perfect timing!

We had a wonderful day! After church we had invited our families and friends to have a party to celebrate Payton's baptism and adoption. It was a relaxing afternoon with those we love! Thank you to all who came!

Thank you also to my mom: she cooked soooo much food and made all the homemade lasagnas for the party! Thank you also to Martha Brigham for making Payton's beautiful baptism dress out of my wedding dress and my mother's wedding dress! It is a treasured piece forever!!!

Enjoy the pictures!

Getting Payton dressed!

All dressed and all smiles!

Payton loves to look at pictures, on a camera or printed!

Todd being funny wearing Payton's hat.

Exploring the world!

Helping us sing

My brother came from Florida and read during the Baptism

He did an awesome job!

We were so glad to have him there and have him be a part of the special service!

Kyle (Todd's brother and Godfather), Pastor Tom, Payton, Myself and Todd

Uncle Kyle is the perfect Godfather for Payton

Pastor Tom always walks up and down the aisle with the babies he baptizes and introduces them to the church. "See what love the father has for us."

Special moments shared

Payton's biological family came to the service as well. It is nice to have them love her and be apart of events like this.

Payton's Auntie Carlyn walking her around before the party!

The Peter's clan!

In the garden at church

I love this kid so much!!!

I love our family!!!!

The Rennells Family

The extended Rennells Family

The Peters Family

The Peters and Bassett Family

The highly talented Martha Brigham: THANK YOU!

Payton enjoying her Adoption Day

Wow! It has been a well since I have posted but we have been so busy with events and family and friends visiting that there seems to be little time for much never mind for blogging!

Excited to be officially: Todd, Meredith and Payton Peters

But I wanted to share with you about Payton's Adoption Day! If you were not there I will do my best to explain so you know what it was like! To start the feelings that day, nervous- of course, excited- behind words, peacefully- we knew God had blessed us, and joyful- this was the day we had longed for!

We got up in the morning and all got dressed and ready to head to court, once we were in the cars I realized I had not idea where my wallet/license was which I didn't know if I would need that or not so I went searching for it and sure enough it was in Payton's diaper bag!

Off we went to the Barnstable District Probate Court. We got there and had to go through security and I wanted to bring my camera up but the guards had to check with the judge first because normally cameras are not allowed but of course the judge said yes because it was such a happy experience.

Waiting for the judge and court to start!

We all gathered outside the courtroom, welcoming friends and family and Payton's birth family and our social worker. When it was our time, all of us went into the court room. It was an unexplainable happy and overwhelming moment to see all our supporters/family/friends there! People had traveled to be there and taken time off from work and from their busy lives to see Payton become official Payton Karyn Peters and it meant the world to us! We can't thank everyone enough for being there!!!

Talking with the birth family!

Payton, Todd, myself and my dad sat at one table and the Birth Family sat at the other table. The judge walked in and we all rose and everyone was able to sit but Todd, Payton and I had to go meet the judge. He was super friendly and personal. He made me introduce everyone in the court room and how we knew them, it was a bit overwhelming for some people I could go on all day talking about, as I looked into the room and saw all the love for us as a family I was overwhelmed and just had to keep introducing people. Then my dad spoke a little about us, and then our social worker, and Payton's birth grandmother- that was rough but so sweet! Then the judge said that Todd and I had to speak. We were surprised, we knew nothing about this and were not prepared, but we spoke from the heart and when I started to get emotional- I just stopped. The judge then invited up our friends boy's to make the adoption official, to use the "hammer" as they called it after we signed the official paper work and the judge read the paper work. Calvin was too shy to do it but not Michael so we signed, the judge read, and Michael made it official but slamming the gavel.

With the Judge after our adoption!

Dad talking about us to the judge!

Payton sharing with the room her thoughts!

Making it official!

Michael with the man with the batman cape and hammer as he likes to say!

Payton was so good through all of it. Payton LOVES to be the center of attention. She loves to make people laugh and she now claps and smiles at people. She knows what is going on and so the whole time we were up in front she was hamming it up! It was cute!

Our adoption day was a day that I will never forget! Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes; a day of pure love. Love of Payton to be offered as a gift to us from a family that knew what was best for this amazing girl. A day of love where 36 years before my parents had been married (it was their anniversary day!) and now to get to have a daughter added to my family! A day of love surrounded by such dear family and friends! A day to celebrate the goodness of God's love for us as His adopted children!

Thank you all for your prayers and love and support! We are so blessed!