Court Today

We arrived to the courthouse an hour early, which for us was more waiting just a new venue for waiting. The head doctors of both orphanages and the social workers assigned to each orphanage were in attendance along with the prosecutor for the region of Samara. Court began by the judge arriving and immediately reading the case. Black family adoption petition was the main idea, she read a lot of stuff and the translation we received was Black Family Petition for Adoption proceedings.
The judge was a woman and except for Greg everyone in the courtroom was a woman. The judge began to read our dossier aloud for all to hear. Thankfully she did not read it all or we would still be sitting there. She read highlights from it about our house, medicals, our parents, employment, salaries, and about Tucker. Then she read a lot about Olivia Ann Polina and John Mark Baytimir. She read about each child's family background or lack thereof. Once the judge completed the readings she and the prosecutor asked me several questions. The questions were related to things such as 1. Will you treat adoptive children the same as biological child? 2. Will you take time off from work when children get home? 3. Are you financially prepared to care for children with disabilities? 4. How will your marriage hold up under the stress of a larger family? 5. If the children needs require, will you quit work? 6. Who will help you with the children if you need help, other than Greg?
After my questioning it was Greg's turn to answer the questions form both Judge and Prosecutor. They asked him: 1. How have you prepared for the education of the children? 2. Will your salary be sufficient to support the family if Rayla needs to quit work? 3. What is your plan for spending time with the children? 4. Who will care for the children if you and Rayla can not for any reason do so?
Once these questions were answered the Judge asked the doctors and social workers to speak about the children. Both doctors gave their reports, all medical information included things we had been told on the first visit. Both social workers explained how they had searched for family of each child. Olivia Ann's biological mother, grandmother and uncle had all terminated rights and the letters stating so were in the court proceedings. John Mark's family could not be located after much search according to the social worker. The social workers went on to explain how Russian families had been contacted to adopt both children. No one wanted John Mark because he does not appear Russian and no one wanted Olivia Ann because of her disability related to her right hand and right leg. The discussion of these facts were hard to listen to without crying. Bottom line is no Russians found either child suitable for adoption. I can't wait for everyone to meet both children and then you will all wonder like Greg and I wonder how they could not want to adopt these precious gifts from God.
Both the doctors and social workers recommended the adoption. They all agreed it would be best for the children to be adopted by us.
After the doctors and social workers finished, the judge asked if we heard anything new about the children or if we had any questions. We did not have any questions and none of the information was new to us so she stood up and left the room. We were a little nervous about that action but Svetlana said not to worry, she would be back with a favorable verdict. Fifteen minutes went by and she returned and stated that she agreed with the recommendation of the prosecutor and the doctors and the social workers that it was in the best interest of the children to be adopted by us. Then she said she wished us luck, happiness and a healthy larger family. She finally smiled and it was over.
The children are now officially our children and their names are officially changed. I wish I was an eloquent writer like some of you reading this blog so I could adequately express our emotions about the finalization of the process today. It was all I could do not to immediately begin weeping. Olivia Ann and John Mark were chosen by God to be ours all the way from Russia. The gravity of that is so much to comprehend and explain. Know that we are so excited to say the least and so thankful to God for blessing us with these children. We are also so grateful to each one of you who have been there with us throughout the aches and pains, ups and downs, excitement and tears of the adoption process. It is not over yet, so keep praying but we are so very close, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.
Svetlana hugged us and it was over. The whole court hearing took about an hour and half. It seemed almost too good to be true. That was it, in 10 days the paperwork will be signed and then Svetlana will do some paper work and we will return to Russia on the 7th of October. Leaving Montgomery the 6th. We will be home with our precious children very late October 14th. We will post more about the travel arrangements for the 3rd and thankfully final trip later.
Thank you so much for all your prayers. You have helped us survive the process to this point and we appreciate each one of you more than you realize.