Her nurse is here and soon we're going to get her up for a shower, get her dressed and go outside, I know she will like that! So thankful that we can do that today!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George, Rep from the Town, Rep from the orphanage
She was my age, and had had such a different life...
We passed court!
Our sweet George!
near our apartment
Yvonne at the Internet cafe...spent many hours there!
We had court for 2 and 1/2 hours, we were in the judge's chambers, quite warm and small. There was us, the judge, our facilitator, the rep from the orphanage, the rep from the town, the "state attorney's office, and two ladies they just brought in for jury duty...Everything was official and serious.... Lots of questions...but it wasn't mean spirited at all.
At the very end, after the judge had declared Victoria to become Sarah Joy Clanton and Irina to become Selah Johannah Clanton then she spoke directly to us...
She asked us to promise her we'd always give the girls a real family and that we would take care of them for the rest of their lives...we promised with tears in our eyes. It was very special to us, she understood that the girls, even then, would need life long care.
Jon & I both have held onto that promise we made....it seemed very out of the ordinary for her to speak personally like that to us. Since all this has happened, it's taken on a new importance to us. Obviously the judge did not know what was ahead for us, but that promise, was a VOW we made. There were frighting days when I just did not know how things would work out to even bring Selah home and how we could do it, BUT I held onto that promise I made.
I think our society takes vows and promised too easily for granted in this day and age. I'm thankful that our judge was very serious about the adoption, that she realized the life long commitment we were making and that she did not take it lightly. It was a solemn but happy time.
Then once court was over, the crazy paperchase began.....we were all over town going to notaries and doing all kinds of things... After court there is a 10 business day wait to take custody of your child. That gives any family member time to object. We were not worried as neither of our children had ever had a visitor but we still had to wait it out. Our facilitator was going back to Kiev for the wait. he asked if we minded being there alone and we really didn't. NO ONE spoke English but we are pretty flexible and figured we could handle it. It was an Adventure:)
We didn't even get to see the girls that day, funny, the court makes you the parents, but you can't see them because you are running around getting all kinds of paperwork done! We did request to be able to see them on the weekends and holidays (as there were several holidays upcoming) and the director graciously allowed it. We really think that made a huge difference in our bonding experience with them and helped us all so much.
What a surreal day for us:) But a wonderful day....I just have a hazy memory of all the places we went and the things we did, I was so happy to have passed court. It was great to go and do everything that was necessary to be able to start the last part of the process to bring them home.
We are so grateful to our facilator George who did an amazing job with everythng. Things went so smooth, we didn't have one glitch, it was beyond amazing espicially after some of the stories I've heard from other families who worked with other people. He was so fun and kind hearted.
-----------------------------------------
So since I've started writing my blog, I've had many interuptions, LOL the story of my life, had to give Selah and Sarah baths, get everyone changed, fed... now Selah is in her much loved wheelchair outside with the nurse. She is just so content. It is a pleaseure to see her like this.
PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYING FOR SELAH.
So glad Selah is home and doing better!
ReplyDeleteThis may sound silly....but when DH and I were in college, he came down with mono and then Bell's Palsy, it was very obvious, one side of his face drooped, he had to tape his eye shut at night, eating and drinking led to "dribbles". It's not a severe condition (at least the way we feel about it) but he does have a relapse every 7-10 yrs or so.
I just remember the first time I saw him with it, I was meeting him like I did every day for lunch and I thought in my head "I will love him and take care of him no matter what!" I had just turned 21, we weren't engaged yet but had known for years we were getting married (I had a promise ring).
So yes I understand the importance of vows--even if that "blip" wasn't that serious. But it was the first "serious" thing that had happened in our relationship. The irony now is I'm the one disabled and he takes care of me.
I had friends who couldn't have children, but he was so afraid to adopt because what if the child wasn't perfect? I told them life doesn't give you promises and perfect....and years later we had our son who has health issues but is the happiest kid ever (I have a feeling he is so like your Shad!) I don't want him to have these health problems but I love him exactly how he is!
Again I know it's no comparison to the challenges some of your kids face, but if you don't vow to care for your kids, who will?
Lots of hugs and love to you all xoxo