Success in Court

It went well, Everyone in court treated us very well. We were suppose to go in at 4:30p.m. but there was an adoption in front of ours, the people came out crying at 4:40. I thought the worst. We went in and by 5:10 we had Yana. Of course we have the 10 day appeal and the rest of the stuff to go through, court is over. The good news is that we don't have to wait for the whole holiday season to be over, the public buildings are opening on January 2nd for business and Christmas is January 7th. Poor Victor, our facilitator and blessing. I am sorry he has to make that long trip again. Yana was quite, I think the reality is setting in. The language barrier is affecting her the most. She loved having Victor back. She will be disappointed that he has again left for the holidays. Tommorow, December 22nd is Yana's birthday. If you would like to send her an e-card use my address and I will bring her to the internet cafe to see them. We are having a party for her on Saturday at the orphanage. She has asked us if she could have 4 of her friends come to our room after. Maybe we will do a spa day together. One of the 4 friends does not include Marina. Back to the court time, I was impressed on how happy everyone was. The judge shock our hand and seemed very pleased. The inspectors both gave me a hug, and the representative of the orphanage smiled (the first time since that I have seen).
By 5:30 we were in the car and the phone rings. It is Yulia, congratulating us and then we dive right into Marina. Please-----let Yana have the stage tonight! Something is going on at the SDA office. There was a bit of a shake up finally. Marina's paperwork is moving. Everyone is fully aware of Marina's full name. We go out to dinner, after we take Yana back and we get a late call from Yuri. Congratulations....then right into Marina. It is very obvious that something is happening.

Friday morning, Victor is going to help us go see the inspectors at Priovorsky, Marina's birthplace. We have been advised not to go. Romas the driver is ready to leave at 9:00 a.m. Off we go. We are expecting the worse. They tell us go away, they won't talk with us, they lie, the have no compassion. You get the picture. Once again everyone is saying "the law says".
We get to Priovorsky, it is old, and dirty. The federal building is small, the rooms are like closets. We wait and wait. Victor goes up, he doesn't come down. Rick and I pray and claim that the people will help us out and praise God for the heart He has given us for Marina. Victor comes down. We go up to the office with Victor. The halls are so narrow that 2 people can't pass each other. I just know that the door is going to open and some old military type person is going to snap at us. I am nervous. We are invited in...there are two young, very sweet, compassionate women waiting to speak with us. Another man is in the room. All of them are listening eagerly and willing to help us. (We both had to slap our faces a couple of times are we dreaming, are we in the Ukraine, are we hear discussing Marina?) What joy, people who care. She got out Marina's file, talked to us and listened to our plea. She got on the phone and gave us all the answers we needed.....even that the SDA has the ability to waive the one year waiting period. She was willing to do anything she could to have this happen. The three of the people spoke openly without referring to the law. They agreed with us that Marina has been shorted by the system and it should be made right. They even offered assistance in anyway they could.
Even Victor was numb with shock, he never expected that. We left there with hope. Marina has to be registered by January 13th at the very latest! She said everyone is aware of Marina's case from the SDA down. Praise God, the noise is helping, people are finally listening. Don't stop praying for a miracle. We want to bring Marina home. All of this is zapping my energy. That is good. I will never believe this was from my strength that this happened today. I am feeling so week.

We are on our way out the door tonight to see our girls. I think we are going out for dinner and then we will pick up a few things for Yana's birthday.

If anyone wants a homeless puppy they are everywhere out here. I don't think anyone will care if you take them away, they are free, and there is no laws that say you have to wait a year.
Blessings to all,
Fran