Parents for the Second Time

Victor did it! He got us to court on June 5th, what a whirlwind this has been, especially for Victor. The judge agreed to give us this day so that we would not have to wait until June 12 which would mean Rick and Yana would miss their flight. Victor wasn't a 100% sure when he left on Saturday of the previous week that the SDA would give their signature of approval this quick. On Wednesday, he still didn't have it but they called Victor Wednesday evening saying they would have it on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. That would give Victor enough time to go home and get his bags and get to the train station before the train left. Thursday, Victor waits and waits and waits. Last minute he gets our papers, no time to return home. He gets on the train and heads to Berdyansk. We have to be at the courthouse by 10:30 a.m. Victor calls close to 8:30 a.m. and says he is in Tokmoc, an hour and a half away. He still needs to make copies of everything before court. He walks into the courthouse at 10:25 a.m. and 2 pages of the SDA papers are missing. They will fax them right down.

There is real peace in all this as we wait to see if this is really going to happen. Grandpa, Koyla, Yana, Rick and I have been waiting together since 8:15 a.m. Grandpa is doing good. He really enjoys our company. We presented him with his first cell phone. The kids spend most of the morning teaching him how to use it. Then we get word that everything is ready and just Rick and I enter the court. We are in there for an hour and 20 minutes. The judge is very thorough, she asked lots of questions from both of us. She called Koyla in and he stood face to face with her. At that point, she was so gentle and sweet to Koyla. The little guy had determination, he wants to be in our family. The judge leaves to make her decision and the family comes in. It takes a while and Grandpa has to go to get back to Tokmac for a doctor's appointment. When the judge comes back and announces that Koyla is our son the room turns festive. Papa, Mama, Yana and Koyla with others that are involved with the process. We are family!!!!

We have our 10 day waiting period, then the final steps. Victor is predicting that Koyla and I will be going home on the 25th of June, a one month process, unbelievable. We will live at the apartment we are in for 1 more week, then Koyla and I will move to an apartment at the church.
This happens when Rick and Yana leave.

Thank you God for your grace and mercy on this adoption. Your hand is all over it.
Mama (with 2 children)