Crazy Day turns into CRAZY WEEK!!!

Ok as promised, I'll explain the "Montana Russa" or "Roller Coaster" that we were on on Monday October 25. We got up on Monday thinking that we were going to go to court to be awarded foster care custody. Our plans changed when we got a call aroun 9:40 that the court appearance had been cancelled and that they'd have to reschedule. I called my friend and fellow missionary, Jenn Rubin, to let her know that we would not be dropping Hannah off at her home for her to watch her while we went. Doug went and got into jeans and a tee shirt to do some much needed yard work and I started laundry while I talked to Jenn. Then Doug's cell phone rang. I got off the phone with Jenn only to hear the adoption agency's lawyer tell me that the appearance was back on, only with a different judge. I immediately called Jenn back to tell her we'd still be dropping Hannah off and Doug ran to change back into his suit.

Due to this loss of time with plans changing we were REALLY stretching to get to the courthouse on time. SOOOO we RAN about 2 blocks before I couldn't breathe and we had to "just walk REALLY FAST." (Exertion Asthma and Santiago's famous SMOG will do that to you!! - YUCK!!!) Anyway we got there in time and then waited, and waited, and waited, all the while making kind of uncomfortable small talk with the lawyer.

FINALLY when they called our name, only the lawyer was invited into the "courtroom." She was in there for over 10 minutes and when she came out we learned that we would NOT be awarded Foster Care Custody that day. We could tell our lawyer was discouraged and honestly we were too, but we also realized that this has gone EXTREMELY FAST and so we knew a few more days didn't change our desire to adopt the girls or the rest of the circumstances. However, we did wonder about whether we could take the girls home that day. We waited to see the written order from this judge. You see Judge A had given us the priviledges of meeting the girls, taking them out on walks or away from the orphanage for the day, and even to bring them home permanently. Then we suppose on Monday Judge A would have given us Foster Care Custody. But Judge B wanted more paperwork. So we waited for Judge B's "verdict" and wondered if she would revolk Judge A's ruling from the previous Friday giving us temporary custody.

Walking back to the metro we hardly talked. We got on the metro and were pretty discouraged wondering and having to wait to hear if we could or could not go and get the girls. Then we got a phone call from the director of the adoption agency. She wanted us to come in to talk to her. We explained that we had to go get the car, get something to eat, and then we could go talk to her, before we went to get Caleb from school. I also had to get permission to leave Hannah with Jenn for quite a bit longer, so that we could go to this improptu meeting. (On a side note, I have to say that our ABWE family truly is our family away from family!!)

We grabbed some groceries and McD's before heading back out to the adoption agency. When we got there, the director and our social worker explained that this in the new norm that they are going to have to work with. Judge B wants to know why we are the best parents for these girls. This used to only be done with international adoptions, but now they are beginning to require it with "national" adoptions too. We qualify as "nationals" because we will have our permanent residency in order to complete the final adoptions.

They also explained that Judge B DID NOT revolk Judge A's ruling from Friday and we could still go get the girls! By this time it was 2:45. After the 11:00 appearance, we had planned to be able to go home, clean up the house a bit, and relax. Then we'd get Caleb at 3:15 and then head over to get the girls. I had also learned that Eliana had a doctors appointment at 9:00am the on Tuesday morning. We had SO MANY EMOTIONS that day and were exhausted, that even thinking about getting 4 kids and us out of the house by 8:00 am, was too much. So with the director, Denissa we decided to get the girls on Tuesday after Eli's doctor visit.

We left the office, relaxed, excited for Tuesday to come and planning to keep Caleb out of school so that he could go with us to get the girls. When we got to Caleb's school and our mission's school, Caleb came running up to me with a HUGE grin asking, "Did the judge say, "yes?" When I told him no and that we were going to wait to get the girls the next day, his face fell. After explaining everything to him, he understood and really did want to miss school so that he could be there to get the girls. 2 minutes later, Doug came running up to me telling me that Denissa had called the orphanage to tell them of the change and that the girls were all ready for us with their bags packed. We had to go then and there and get them.

We grabbed Caleb and ran to get Hannah. We drove as fast as we could legally and got our girls. I was quite the day of roller coaster emotions, but it is SOOOO good to know that God is in control the roller coaster. He is the steady hand that guides the "ride" and we are only on the "ride" to give glory and honor to HIM!!

Tuesday, we got up EARLY and we did it!! We actually managed to get all 6 of us out the door and to where we all needed to be, actually we were a little bit early. God is good!! The girls are amazing. We are SO EXCITED TO HAVE THEM HOME!!!

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are all a blur to me. Oh wait, Thursday I took them to our pediatrician and they were given a clean bill of health!! Saturday, (today) we headed to a wedding of some good friends of ours. It was a wonderful day in the country, and it was SOOO nice to get out of the city and bare witness of God's blessing to our family as we adopt these precious little ones!!

So what does the future hold. November 18th we head back to family court with just about the whole team from the adoption agency backing us up, to explain why we are the best family for the girls. Then LORD willing, we'll be granted Foster Care Custody. Then once we have our permanent custody in hand we petition the court for a final adoption hearing. This will probably take place sometime in January.

Prayer Requests

1. Esther seems to have trouble with gas during the night. I've purchased antigas drops and we'll see how that works.
2. For us to continue to get to know them as little people.
3. For sleep and strength.
4. That we'd continue to be a testimony for the LORD in this WHOLE process. Already we've had no less than 7 people tell us that we must have a direct connection to heaven. Our social worker even told the orphanage director that if she needed prayer to contact us and we'd pray for her, since had that connection. I simply replied with, well you can have that connection too!! We pray that we plant, water, and possibly harvest seed during this process. We already have encouragement from a receptionist and custodial worker there at the agency, who are both believers.