Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will...
Ephesians 1:5
Over the course of two years (2003-2005), the Lord was pleased to place seven more children in our family for adoption. Four of them had been officially adopted November 12, 2003 in Russia. We chose to re-adopt them in the USA so they would have American birth certificates. By the time we received the court date in 2005, our three Filipino children had also arrived home. They had to wait a mandatory six-month period before it would be their turn to be adopted in 2006.
And just like their sisters before them, we had a court adoption and a Covenant Ceremony.
However, due to our church's schedule, they had to be done in reverse order.
Friends began to arrive at our church on that bright Sunday evening, June 12, 2005.
The grandparents had already come from Virginia days before.
I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west...bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name for I have created him for my glory.
Isaiah 43:5-7
As 6 o'clock approached,
everyone entered the sanctuary to get settled for the Covenant Ceremony to begin.
Pastor David Keithley officiated.
Some of our children, who were now older, took a more active role in the ceremony.
Melinda played the prelude...
Garrison prayed the opening prayer...
Joshua read the scripture, Ephesians 1:3-14...
Dad welcomed everyone as he presented
the video of a brief overview of our trip to Russia.
Pastor David Keithley lead us in our vows;
the same vows used five years ago with our girls (see We Promise and Covenant....)
only the names had been changed and the rest of the children's names added.
Once the vows are taken, the whole family came together.
Pastor Keithley then prayed to commit our family to the keeping of the Lord.
To commemorate the vows, all four children received cross necklaces.
(Adrianna had received her gold heart locket necklace
and the boys their dog-tags their first night with us in Russia.)
Pastor Keithley officially recognized the Russian Orthodox Church's Baptism
of William, Peter, Zachary, and Adrianna.
Dad prayed his 'Prayer of Commitment' of our family
and invited everyone to the reception in the church's foyer.
In one year it would be their turn...
Peter Sergei Sanford-11, Adrianna Ludmila Sanford and Zachary Ivan Sanford- 10
and William Alexander Sanford- 13
The next day came quickly....
We waited in the lobby of the McLean County Law and Justice Center
for our lawyer to arrive. Then we headed up to the courtroom.
Adrianna, Zachary, Peter, and William sit patiently
waiting for the Judge to enter the room.
Family and friends join us for the wonderful event.
The other 10 children sit behind us in the courtroom.
The court proceeding move quickly. Once all was done,
the Judge allows us to take some pictures with him.
The whole family...2005
FAST FORWARD.....to Sunday, May 21, 2006.
The long awaited adoption of our three Filipino children had arrived. They were to finally and fully be ours which included us giving them new names.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2:3
At 1 o'clock everyone was seated in the sanctuary.
And as was done just one year before...
Pastor David Keithley officiated.
And the older children were once again involved in the ceremony.
Melinda played the prelude...
Garrison lead us all in prayer...
William read the scripture, Ephesians 1:3-14...
Dad welcomed everyone and introduce the brief video of our trip to the Philippines.
As he did one year ago, Pastor David Keithley lead us in our vows;
the same vows used six years ago with our girls (see We Promise and Covenant....)
only the names had been changed and the rest of the children's names added.
Pastor Keithley prayed to commit our family to the keeping of the Lord.
(Joshua joined us' by phone' as he was in training at Kessler Air Force Base.)
Then we all joined together as a family.
Pastor Keithley officially recognizes Derick and Nathan's baptisms by the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines and Elaina's covenant baptism by this church, Christ Church, PCA.
Like their siblings before them, to commemorate the vows,
all three children received cross necklaces.
(Elaina had received her gold heart locket necklace and the boys their dog-tags
their first night under our guardianship in the Philippines.)
Dad prayed to once again commit this family to the Lord.
The Sanford Family!
A dessert reception followed...
Cake...
...and punch!
Derick Jonathan Sanford, 12 years old.
Nathan Jay-R Sanford, 10 years old.
Elaina Maggie Sanford, 8 years old.
Our very happy children!
The familiar scenes begin...
at the McLean County Law and Justice Center.
Our lawyer for the third time...Thomas Wilson, Esq.
In the courtroom, with both sets of grandparents, an uncle and aunt....
...and all the siblings (minus Joshua).
Nathan got upset because of one of his siblings.
Daddy fixed the situation with a big hug.
Waiting for the Judge...
...and then it was done.
The Sanford family...2006!
And soon, very soon.....we will be doing this again!
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it...
Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man: so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.
Psalm 127:1,3-5a
