They're ALL Officially Saunders - Forever

Sunday morning about 6:00am we left our home in Phoenix to head to court to complete Isaiah, Jubilee, Elizabeth, Elijah and even {Yippee Jesus!} Ruby's adoption journey.  

Our dear friend, Kathi, from Chinese Children had worked tirelessly, not only to get our kids home, but to get us into court as soon as possible to complete all 5 kids!  

We took Ruby to see her neurosurgeon this past week to make sure she could make the journey.  He gave us his blessing as long as we stayed near major medical health facilities.

We headed to Albuquerque {where there is a pediatric neurosurgeon}...only trouble was that our van broke down on I-40 in Arizona.  We ended up limping to Albuquerque where we turned our van into the car dealership to be repaired and then rented a van to take to Denver. 

With the driving complications, what should have been a 12.5 hour journey to Denver turned into 18 hours one way.  The kids were great and we opted to all have an attitude of thankfulness.  We actually had lots of fun!

We had the blessed privilege of staying with some of our dearest friends ever - JD and Irma.  They had served well in our church in Durango {and had relocated this past summer to Denver}.  JD and Irma had been beside us each step of the way after we lost our home to the fire.  They are just such tender-hearted compassionate God-honoring people - and all our kids {grown and little} love them to pieces!   We hated to leave them to head back to Phoenix, but have talked them into a visit when the snow in Denver gets tiring {so they should be here about every month - haha}.  

In fact, JD and Irma are the ones who came to have dinner with the kids and I on the anniversary of the fire this past year {since Dw was in Africa with Emma and Graham and team that day}.  They prayed with me and I had that major break through regarding fear that day.  Remember that? We are so thankful for their friendship!

Meet Kathi {in the middle}: the sweetest and most passionate adoption facilitator we've ever known.  An adoptive mom herself - this woman rocks the world!  We love you Kathi and are so thankful for your constant care and petitioning to get all our kids home!   Kathi loved meeting our miracle Ruby Grace.  And that's Judy - another woman who loves the orphan and works hard to place kids in homes.

Judge Sylvester enjoyed our kids and showed them all the behind the scenes stuff - his office, the jail cells for offenders waiting for court, etc.  He was such a nice man and we are so thankful for his part in making us a forever family - officially!

It was also wonderful for Irma and JD to meet 

our newest treasure, Ruby.

JD would love that I'm posting this picture of him - haha.  

Don't tell him, okay?

They loved Ruby.

 Ruby and Daddy crashing after that 18 hour drive to Denver.  Good thing Daddy rested, because we had snow and freezing fog and ice on the way home and again it took us just about 18 hours to get home.   

And remember, just last week-end Dw packed the house and moved everything to Phoenix, with some help from our big kids and a few friends in Durango.   

The hardest working man I've ever met. 

I love you Whitey. 

 Graham played Max's little drum set - 

 the same kind of set Graham began with when he was 3!

Max {aka Batman}

somehow I didn't manage to get a picture of their daughter:

Isabella - I was so bummed.

 Every one is officially a Saunders and 

every one of our family is now a United States citizen.

So thankful.

So very, very thankful

to our Miracle-working, 

Mountain-moving,

 Awe-inspiring, 

Gasp-giving God.  

He is always faithful.

...and yes, it feels so good to be home,

let the Christmas celebrations begin!