BRADENTON, Fla. ā In West Bradenton, dozens of colorful balloons lined the Wilson familyās home.
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āThe theme is āOhanaā from 'Lilo and Stitch', thatās Reneyās favorite movie,ā says father Jameson Wilson.
In the movie, they quote āOhana means family, family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.ā
And the Wilson family is making sure of that.
āIām adopted, woohoo!ā says Reney Wilson, 3, who has been waiting for her adoption to be finalized her entire life.
āWe got here when she was just seven weeks old,ā says mother Lynndsey Wilson. āIt has been a very long journey, but I am so glad we are here.ā
In 2018, they adopted 16-year-old Alexie, and wasted no time getting her biological sister, Reney soon after.
āWe do life together, we love each other, and are always there for each other,ā says Jameson.
With COVID-19, what would have been a celebration of finalized paperwork in the county courtroom, turned into a drive-thru jubilee Saturday afternoon.
More than 50 cars filled with family, school friends and teachers lined up in the street.
Slowly driving by, honking their horns, they tossed beads, gifts, and kisses out of the window.
āThis is so exciting,ā says Lynndsey.
Dozens of Manatee County deputies, Fire Rescue and Bradenton police also came by to show some love.
"This is definitely overwhelming ā¦ I was not expecting that at all,ā says Lynndsey.
Family, canāt be chosen. most of the time.
But for Alexi and Reney, destiny, gave them the best āOhana,ā they could have ever asked for.
āIt was a rough process but, Iām so happy,ā says daughter Alexi Aimable Wilson.