J woke me up at 7:30 am this morning (Court was scheduled for 10 am). I start to drag myself out of bed when our "Ukraine" phone rings. It was our facilitator and she would be at our apartment in 5 minutes. My first response was, "Ugh, I'm not even out of my pajamas yet." But then my thought immediately goes to "WOW!!! She is HERE, THANK YOU JESUS!" She drags herself into our apartment. I make her a cup of coffee and then she tells me about her long night. Driving in the snow and on the icy roads. But by the grace of God almighty, she made it. We all got dressed in our court clothes and ate a quick bite for breakfast and headed off to court. The director of the orphanage was bringing E and meeting us there.
We arrive and are the first ones there. We wait for everyone else to arrive, including E. The prosecutor arrives, 2 jurors, the head of the local SDA, and then finally, E and the director arrive. She looks too cute in her new sweater. More and more hugs!!!!!
We are called into the judges chambers, E waits in the hallway. The hearing begins. It is very formal and intimidating, especially since we do not understand the language. Our facilitator translates but it is difficult to listen to both the judge and the facilitator. We are asked a series of questions by both the judge and the prosecutor. Finally they bring E in. The judge addresses her directly. We hear a lot of "Da" (yes) and "Khorosho" (good/ok). Then as the questions continue she is quiet, we see her put her head in her hand and start to cry. We are so lost because we can't speak the language. The director takes her out to help her regain her composure. J and I are so torn because we want to be the one in the hallway consoling our daughter, but we have to stay in there and continue on with the hearing.
After a few minutes, E comes back in and a chair is brought in for her. She sits right next to Papa, nestled into his arm-pit, as if trying to hide herself in him. The hearing later concludes with positive recommendations from the prosecutor, director and head of SDA. We are told to wait in the hallway. After about 20 minutes, we are called back in to hear the judge read the entry declaring us the parents of E!!! We were so happy. However, E's mood was still rather down. We spent the rest of the afternoon running errands and doing paperwork for the adoption.
I got to spend a lot of time with E today. She ended up being back to her jovial self. She even got a chance to Skype with F. Our facilitator let E know that J would be leaving soon. She was not happy but she knows she will soon be in America and that makes her happy.
To be 14 years old and know that you are leaving everything that you have EVER known to go be part of a family, to people you have only know a few weeks, who don't speak your language, to go to a country where you don't speak the language, trusting when they tell you that it is for a "better life." I can not even imagine what E is feeling and thinking.....but at the end of the day.....I KNOW she loves us......and for her, that's enough!!!
We now have to wait 10 days to pick-up our court decree. (There is a 10 day appeal period where the judges decision "could" be appealed). After that decree is in my hand, I will post pictures of our sweet bundle of "Joy." Like any pregnancy, the labor has been the hardest thing I have EVER done!!!! But when the moment she officially became my daughter.....the pain was a distant memory. Like any pregnancy, when you look into your daughter's face for the first time.....she is worth every. single. pain!!!!!
AMEN!
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