We went to the same building that our first court hearing was in a few weeks ago. Again it was a conference room with three "judges." They might really be judges - I have no idea. They were all women again, but three different ones than whom we sat in front of last time. They (really only the middle judge) asked us what we had been doing during our time in Latvia, how the girls were behaving, if there were any health issues, and stuff like that. They asked their primary social worker from their orphanage if he thought it was in the best interest of the girls to be adopted into our family. He said it absolutely was, and mentioned that the girls were completely different when they returned to Latvia from the month they spent with us in the winter. He said they came back much more confident and happier, and that when they were finally told that we were coming to get them, the girls never had any doubts about going with us or considering us their parents. It was so good to hear! You just know that God does something in everyone's hearts to have that happen!
We were then asked to leave the courtroom while the judges discussed what they had heard. When we came back in they said that, yes, they found that it was in the best interests of the girls to be adopted by our family! Yeah! Then we had to get to the part about extending the care and supervision time and letting them come home with us.
You see, most countries you adopt from you don't get to take the kids home until the adoption is finalized. So, normally we would be taking the girls back to the orphanage, going home, completing more paperwork, and then returning for the girls. I can't even imagine taking them back to the orphanage at this point... it would set so many things back that we have been working on! But, thankfully since Latvia already has this hosting program in place, we are able to "host" them until the adoption is finalized! Thank you, God!
Okay, back to court... they asked us more questions about what we have in place for the girls at home, why we want to continue this from home, and so on... We explained that our two boys are in the United States, as is our home and our jobs. They also asked if we had sufficient health care for the girls in the States. They seemed satisfied with our answers and - making the decision in the courtroom (so we didn't have to step outside again) - said that, yes, we were granted permission to take the girls to the United States and finish the adoption from there! Yeah!!!!! Such a relief to have all that out of the way! In a few months when Jon has to travel back here, he will have to take part in one more court hearing.
Tomorrow we have a meeting with the U.S. embassy. This meeting actually is the one that is making me the most nervous. If our income comes up (which I am sure it will), I just hope that there won't be any problems. I can't imagine that God would lead us this far only to have it all fall apart now. We have been granted our approval for the I-800A, which is from our government saying we are allowed to bring three orphans into the country. Our income had to be approved at that point as well... I guess I just have a general distrust of our government, that the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. So, please pray for this meeting tomorrow afternoon - pray for peace inside of me, and continue to pray for the girls!
We will pull out the suitcases tomorrow and start packing up... Three more sleeps and we will be headed home!
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| Waiting in anticipation for the judges' verdict! |
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