First stop was the Amish Country!

We have returned from our wonderful five week RV trip with my parents and WE LOVED IT! It was an adventure for sure and so many stories but I would do it again in a heartbeat! Payton is an amazing baby and would just play with her toys, listen to her CDs, read books or yell at the dogs whenever she was awake and we were traveling longs days. We had some awesome stops and I wanted to blog about a few of the stories (they will come in stages!), sorry I don't have pictures for all the stories... maybe with some of the stories you will be glad we had no pictures.

Payton in the car playing with bracelets as we drive around!

 Luke, one of the dogs, saying hi to Payton through the back window

Payton looking at daddy to see when we are getting out of the car!

We did our family tradition and went to Pennsylvania and did all the tourist things like Kitchen Kettle, Kings Furniture, Hershey's Chocolate World, Lapp Valley Farm, Good n Plenty (Payton loved the mashed potatoes) and all the joys/farms of the Amish Country. I have ALWAYS loved being there and the relaxing time together as a family. This time was super special because it was Payton's first trip to my favorite place! Payton loved the farms and animals and now loves to tell us that cows "MOOOO!" It is awesome to see and hear her learning and growing! We also got to visit with lots of friends, my friends from college-Fawn and her beautiful girl- Afton and Mary and her parents!! We also got to go to an auction and see our friends Josh and Annemarie. Overall PA was one of my favorite stops from the five week vacation, which if you know me at all should not be surprised!

 Enjoying a meal at Good n Plenty! 

 Kitchen Kettle as a Family of 3!!!!

 Payton loves ice cream and Lapp Valley Farm has some of the BEST ice cream ever... we have a smart kid!

 We loved our time as a family!!

 Meme and Payton checking out the cows!

 Enjoying her first taste of chocolate at Hershey's Chocolate World!

 Mary Miller, a great college friend, and Payton spending some good times together!

Potatoes are soooo good at Good n Plenty!

Payton's Baptism

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 Family

The Peters and Bassett Family

The highly talented Martha Brigham: THANK YOU!

Payton's Adoption Day!

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!

Auntie Karen and Uncle Mike with us at our adoption

Our friends after the adoption

The Rennells Family after the adoption

Todd's Family after the adoption

The Family!

At risk... no more!

When we signed all our paperwork in January to have Payton placed in our house the words...

"AT RISK" stood out like a sore thumb. At risk that we may be attached and someone could come forward and change the whole situation. At risk that the life that seems so close to becoming reality is a risk because nothing is set in stone! AT RISK!

If you know me at all I am not the risk taker! I like order, I like to plan, I don't like roller coaster or things that make life feel crazy! At risk is not my style! I would go on the same vacation, do the same thing every day, watch the same movies over and over again, listen to the same CD or song for hours, and eat almost the same foods all the time and be 100% happy! I am not a risk taker!

To take risk is not something my brain is geared to do but I know that we sometimes have to take a risk to see the rewards. We sometimes have to take a leap of faith that God will hold our hands as we try something new. I had to sign the documents saying I understand the risk when all I wanted to do was scream that I was never giving back this little girl who had already stolen my heart and my dreams!

Well Wednesday is that day! Wednesday is the day that the risk is gone! That God will smile with Todd, Payton, our families and I and say, "this leap of faith was the gift of a child."

I am not sure what the court will feel like but I know this, I will take a deeper breath when Todd and I walk into our house and know that forever more Payton is ours on Wednesday! It is indescribable feeling to have such a real love for a person that was meant to be our daughter!

The famous saying, Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone, 

But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart - but in it

is soooo true! I love Payton with all my possible love! I love being her mom! I love teaching her new things and watching her explore this wonderful life we have been given. I love the hugs and kisses! I love the way we are a family with her here and I can't fully understand how we are so blessed to have the perfect daughter for our family except that God knew!

God knew that we needed Payton just like she needed us! God knew that we needed to trust and obey Him and the gift would be a beautiful life! God knew not to have another child be placed with us but saved our house and our hearts for OUR daughter, PAYTON! We give thanks to God for His amazing gift and for all the ways He provided for us!

Thank you to all of you who have prayed for us! Thank you to all of you who have given financially to help us with our adoption! Thank you to all of you who have loved on us and encouraged us! We will always remember you and give thanks for you!

I will post again soon about the court date, the feelings and PICTURES! :)

Belong...

This week has had some exciting events and news in it and I thought I would share through a blog.  Blogging is tough with a nine month old who can crawl and loves computers but I am up early and she is down for an early nap so here is a blog for all of you!

What family means to me!

My family and now Todd's family too is the best thing to me. I love family! I love the quirks that each family unit has, I love the jokes, the care, the love and I love having great families!

Todd and I are both blessed with not only amazing immediate family but extended family too! Some of Todd's cousins and second cousins live close enough that we get to go to birthday parties and Christmas' together and I love being a part of the joy that comes from the big group gatherings. It is always great to catch up and chat and see the kids grow and play! They are secure in who they are because they belong somewhere, they belong in the family!

My family is a little more spread out. My niece being in Montana and my youngest cousins being in New Jersey but the bond is still there. The joy (and noise) when we get together is so deep. We all know that no matter the distance, we are one facebook message, phone call, or text away from the ones who care the most for us!

Adoption can be tough for some as they lack that feeling of belonging. Todd and I knew we wanted to adopt a baby so that the connection could be made early and so Payton would know where she belonged... IN OUR FAMILY!

This week we got the news that our court date has been set, July 24! It seems so crazy that legally this adoption will be coming to an end and that we will have the rest of our lives to love, care and belong together! God has blessed us with so much care and support along the way. I think about the feelings, frustrations, joys and I know that God has been with us every step of the way!

July 24 will be a special day for us as our families will gather to celebrate Payton Karyn entering our family forever! God has blessed us again as this is my parents wedding anniversary, really how does that happen that all the days in the year and we get a court date that will be my parents 37th wedding anniversary, oh right God  cares about the big and little things! I could not be more excited for our court date and I am thankful that it will always a special day in our family!

We had decided a while back that we were going to baptize Payton after our final adoption and my best friends mother had offered to make the outfit for us. She is going to use some of the fabric from my wedding dress and my mom's wedding dress! It is such a beautiful symbol of family and I am blown away at how blessed I feel! We are so blessed with amazing friends who are like our second family! Where would we be without our families and friends? Really!!!

We talked to our pastor about some dates and we wanted to make sure to get Payton baptized during one of the church service as the church has been such an amazing support and shown such an outpouring of love to us and to Payton! So on August 4 at 9:30 am at Cape Cod Covenant Church Payton will be baptized and we would love for you to join us that Sunday if you are in the area! 

As I think about all that adoption could be I know that God has blessed us as we continue to learn what this adoption will be like. We have an open adoption which means we have regular meetings with the biological family and this weekend we went to the Children's Museum on the Cape and then out to lunch with them. It is another wonderful blessing to have Payton's biological family want to have a loving respectful relationship with her. They are kind people who did what was best for Payton but still totally love her and we are blessed to have a relationship with them. They plan at being at both the court date and baptism and I am grateful for that because when Payton is old enough to understand love she will have no doubt that not only does Todd's family and my family love her but she came from love! 

Where does Payton belong? She belongs with us in our families and in God's family FOREVER!

July will be upon us and we will...

April is almost over and we had no problems getting through the month with no surprising news and we are so thankful! Thank you for your prayers and love for us as we waited for April 15 to pass. 

What is next? We expect to hear from our adoption agency soon that they are applying for a date in July to go to Boston Courts to finalize our adoption. To legally make Jaylen become Payton... to legally make Payton our daughter... to legally become one family... but honestly

We are all those things already! Payton knows her name, she will respond to it, she loves to be called Payton and she fits her name perfectly! I think of the Bible verse in John 10 that talks about the Good shepherd knowing His sheep by name and I know that God knew that Payton would be Payton and must rejoice when she responds with a smile to her name!

Payton is our daughter. As odd as it may sound she looks like us! Strangers who don't know we are adopting always say how much she looks like us. But it is more than that, there is a connection between Payton, Todd and myself that is so deep and so real. I have heard people say that they would die for their kids and I can say without a doubt that I would do ANYTHING  for Payton. She is my daughter! The adoption quote, "Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone, But still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, You didn't grow under my heart - but in it." Is 100% truth for us! She has grown a spot in my heart that no one else can ever touch. Payton is my baby and I love her more than I will ever be able to express!

No matter what date it is or what we are waiting for in the next step to our adoption, we are a family. I can't imagine waiting until July to think we are a family. We do everything as a family now because we are a family. The three of us have our family routine down, we know what works for us and what doesn't work for us. We know how to care for each other and how to have fun together. Some of my favorite moments are the little ones when we are sitting in the bed together and Payton is just talking to us (baby jabber) and we make her laugh by tickling her or kissing her or we sing her favorite songs with her toys. I love those moments as a family. There is pure joy in the small moments as a family!

The date in July will mean the world to us because legally our society will know what we already know... that God has brought us a miracle and we can celebrate who God is and what He has done for our family!!!

The day is quickly approaching!

Tonight we were sitting around talking and Payton was playing in her exersaucer (she loves that toy) and I looked at her and she started talking and I said "where is dada?" and she just repeated the sound, dada dada dada. It is no surprise that at the time of waiting for one unknown father that Payton would have such a love for her daddy that she would said Dada. Of course Todd went over picked her up gave her a huge kiss and she just smiled ear to ear. (We fully understand that she is just repeating a sound but man what a sound!!!)

We knew that when we had Payton placed with us that it was an at risk adoption placement because we don't know who the biological father is but we had to legal have the opportunity for the biological father to
come forward. We placed a legal ad in the newspaper and the court posted all the information and the day is quickly approaching when the father no longer can come forward... April 15 to be exact.

We continue to put our trust not in the adoption system or people but in God and because of that we have fully loved our daughter because God has brought her to us. We will continue to pray for the next 5 days for a smooth uneventful passing of April 15.

Our agency has been getting together our case to present to the local court so that we will no longer be "foster parents" but FINALLY "preadoptive parents!" It may not sound like a big deal but it is HUGE and we are so ready for the calendar to be April 16.

We ask that you continue to pray for us during this upcoming week, the excitement and anticipation is high and we know that this is just one HUGE step leading to our final adoption in July! Thank you for all your love, support and mostly prayers!!