Day 1: The doorbell rang and when I opened it, there you were, a beautiful three-year-old little princess who was barely 34 inches tall. You had a small white stuffed animal kitty tucked underneath your left arm, a thumb stuck tight in your mouth, and on top of your head was a pigtail that looked like a palm tree. Your smile warmed my heart as I said hello and showed you the room you would be sleeping in for the next 30 days. Little did anyone know that the 30 days would turn into 90 days and 90 days would soon turn into 180 days and 180 days would somehow turn into 1,273.
So much has happened between day 1 and day 1,273. So many fun memories that include three birthday parties, two vacations, and your first day of school,. I will never forget the time your toes first touched the beach and the waves nearly knocked you down. Or how your eyes lit up at your 4th birthday party when you realized all the presents were just for you.
But as you know and I know, during the 1,273 days there have also been a lot of tears, uncertainties and heartache.
There have been court hearings. Counseling sessions. And more court hearings. Nights when I would tuck you into bed and you would look up at me with your innocent big brown eyes and ask with a shaky voice if you could stay with us forever. It broke my heart to not be able to confidently give you the secure answer you needed. Or deserved.
I also remember the time you came home from Kindergarten and quizzed me as to why your last name was different…and when it could be the same. I stuttered and stared as I stumbled over my words. I didn't know how to answer you, because honestly, I didn't know when or if it would ever be. Nothing was in my control and everything seemed out of control.
But sweet baby girl, the question you have been asking, the one in which you want to know if you can live with us forever, has finally been answered. And the last name you have been begging to write at the top of your school papers can now be written. Yes, you can live with us forever. And yes, you can now tell the world your last name is Kearns.
As of July 7th, 2017, day 1,274, we are officially "Kearns—Party of 3".
I want to note that while this calls for a celebration, it's also a difficult and bittersweet time for me and my husband. Because truth be told, we can't help but think about all the heartache and loss and pain this little girl, as well as her family, went through in order to have this day written on our calendar. It didn't come without a price. A price I wish no child, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or sibling would ever have to pay.
Yessss!!!!! OMG! I am so happy for you! For HER! For your FAMILY!!! Tears are streaming down my face! I can't imagine how hard the whole process must have been for all of you, especially the uncertainty. But today it is real! The new chapter can begin together!
OMG! I cannot express how happy I am to read this.
So glad for you and for your little one! I know the price is high but it'll seem smaller with all the wonderful experience and all the love she'll have with you in the coming years and decades. Enjoy this special moment. Lots of love!!
I am just so happy every time I think about this. What a wonderful new chapter of life!!
Congratulations!! What a special day, and a perfect little family! So happy for you!!
Such amazing news!!! I can't imagine the jumble of emotions that came with the joy but I am so happy that the three of you are able to share a lifetime together!!!
It sounds so similar. 🙂 too bad you can only click on like once. Congratulations!
hehe! Thank you so much!!
Oh my goodness!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS! ❤ the moment I saw the pictures of her beautiful face I knew you'd adopted her! She is one lucky girl to have such wonderful parents like you!
Soo happy for you !!!!
Holy crap I'm so happy for you all! I've read your blog for a long time but never commented but I just had to say how happy I am for you and her and the rest of your family. As soon as I saw her face I knew it was going to be wonderful news! Praise God!
Wow! Absolutely beautiful story and I'm shedding a few tears in joy for all of you. May blessings always find your sweet family.
Congratulations! What a beautiful family!!
I am crying reading this post. I am so so so happy for you! Having gone through this process, it hits close to home and I love reading about the happy endings. I still remember our happy day like it was yesterday. Just over years ago. Congratulations mama!!
Tears! I've been wondering about her! She's absolutely adorable and looks so happy!
Reading this left me breathless and with eyes full of tears. So happy for the three of you! So much heartache in the past, but now she gets to find healing with you. Congrats!!!
I have tears for you and your sweet family. I am beyond happy for you and your sweet girl. What a blessing all around. I can't imagine the struggles to get here but she is blessed infinitely to have you. Congrats!!!!!!
i am so glad for you.
Still so incredibly happy for you!!! I know I read about this already on Facebook, but this post made me cry. I know there's a bittersweet undertone to it all, but I'm so excited for you all!!
This post makes my heart so full. I am so happy for you and your family. Congratulations!
Rejoicing with you today as you hold your sweet girl in your arms and call her yours! Even though you officially became her mom today, I believe you have been her mama since the first day God placed her in your care. I truly believe this is only the beginning of the blessings you will be receiving for your steadfast trust in our God! Your story is an inspiration to me and fills me with hope to keep pressing on through my journey of infertility. You're a blessing!
Deurking to express how overjoyed I am for you! What a beautiful family!
Oh, congratulations!!! ❤❤❤❤❤ What a sweet girl and wonderful family. Such a hard journey, but love can overcome all things.
Ok I am crying right now…I am so happy to read that she is with you forever 🙂 She has the best mom and dad for the rest of her life. Congratulations!!!
The BEST thing I've heard all day! The first part of your post I was sad, thinking that for sure this would be a bad-news ending. Then, like in a Hallmark movie, I got to the good news paragraph and felt a chill and wave of emotion. SO THRILLED FOR YOU GUYS!! God is good!
I am so happy you finally got to adopt your precious little girl and I'm so happy to now be able to see pictures. Happy gotcha day.
God is great. His ways are past finding out. I am so happy that you have allowed God's will, inspite of unpleasant circumstances, to prevail in your life. He will sustain you and your family for that great family reunion in Heaven one of these days. Be blessed.
Congratulations! My heart is full for you. Those gorgeous pictures capture moments you will never forget. So happy for you!!!
Thank you so much sugars!!!
Awe! Thanks for sticking around! Its been a loooon 1,273 but we are excited to be moving forward. She loves telling people her new last name!
I've been reading your journey for some months now. And I have followed you and believed that you all deserved to be a family together. You are right there it no price, but you stepped up and loved her like you own, and to me that is amazing. I want nothing more then to foster, but we are not financially ready, and we still have some hurdles to jump over. But you gave me faith. Thank you for sharing.
Yay! I'm so happy for you! I need to catch up on the rest of your fostering blogs since I just started a few days ago. Please keep posting blogs about fostering and your new chapter in life all together. I love reading your posts and how inspiring they are. You guys look great together. Your daughter is so adorable. God is truly good.


This is why baseball games are played on a field and not on paper. The Miami Marlins delivered a hefty punch to the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night in Miami, walloping on the visitors in a 10-3 win.
Zach Eflin pitched poorly for the Phillies, surrendering three homers and six runs over four innings of work. The start was a bit of a let down considering how solid he was over his first two to start the season.
Starting pitching has been a problem for the Phils to open the season. Combined, starters are carrying a 5.04 ERA into Sunday.
The Phillies offense sputtered too, collecting just one hit over the first six innings.
"We have to do better," Kapler said.
The two clubs conclude their three-game set on Sunday afternoon as Vince Velasquez opposes Jose Urena.


CALGARY, Nov. 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Making sure your kids are doing their homework, eating their vegetables and not hanging out with the wrong crowd - being a parent can be a stressful job. According to new research from TD Insurance, parents in Alberta worry most about how their kids are doing in school (73%) followed by their financial security (72%), and health (71%).
"As a dad, I know that worrying comes with the territory. You're constantly thinking about how you can protect your kids and make sure that they're living the best lives possible," says Dave Minor, Vice President, TD Insurance. "One way to help minimize the 'what if' and ensure your children will be financially protected if the unexpected happens, is by making sure you have enough life insurance."
Nine-in-10 Alberta parents agree that knowing they have the right amount of life insurance would give them peace of mind that their children would be financially secure in the event that something happened to them or their partner. In fact, Canadian parents who understand what protection their life insurance offers are less likely to be quite worried or extremely worried about their children's financial security in comparison to those who don't understand their coverage (34% versus 42%).
TD Insurance found 94% of Alberta parents surveyed have life insurance. However more than half (59%) don't think their policy will leave enough money to financially support their children up until their 18th birthday.
"New shoes, hockey equipment, braces and class trips - raising a child to the age of 18 costs close to a quarter-million dollarsi," says Minor. "No parent wants to think about the worst-case scenario, but it's important to think about what it will take to maintain your family's lifestyle."
Your current debts: By purchasing enough life insurance to cover your mortgage and other personal debts, you can ensure your important assets, like your home, are retained by your family.
Final expenses and taxes: Consider funeral expenses plus any tax you may owe following your death, such as capital gains tax or inheritance tax. Your insurance should cover these expenses without having to sell any important assets like your home.
Child care and education costs: A four-year post-secondary degree away from home can cost up to $84,000ii, so it's important you consider this cost. If you have young children and are the stay-at-home spouse in your relationship, you'll have to consider additional childcare expenses, too.
Ongoing income for your family: Determine how much you wish to provide for your family in your absence to help them maintain their current lifestyle. Even smaller costs, such as sports activities can really add up.
For parents in Alberta who do not own life insurance, 38% hadn't thought about it yet, 25% don't think it's necessary and another 13% say it's because they can't afford it.
"Life insurance doesn't have to cost a fortune. One of the advantages of purchasing life insurance early in life is that it is more affordable since premiums are based on life expectancy, which naturally decreases over time," says Minor. "For example, a healthy (non-smoker) 35 year-old female could typically obtain term life coverage worth $100,000 for as little as $11 per month.iii"
Visit the new online tool from TD Insurance to help you understand how much coverage you need, the different types of life insurance available to you and estimate your costs at: http://www.tdlifeguide.ca.
TD Insurance commissioned Environics Research Group (www.environics.ca) to conduct an online custom survey of 1,018 Canadian parents with children of any age living at home, including 133 respondents in Alberta. Responses were collected from October 4 to October 11, 2012.