A day of refection....today my adoption was finalized! The court decree went into effect, making it so that no one can appeal the judge's decision made on November 24th. Don’t get me wrong, lots of single mothers adopt from Russia, but not since the single mother from the United States, who was a teacher, returned her adopted son to Russia on the plane ALONE. You see,...just a few weeks ago, I found myself presenting my case, as a single parent...a teacher...wanting to bring home my daughter...
The court room was nothing like the court rooms here in the US. First off, the court room in St. P*te was tiny. Really, it was not even the size of my classroom and office put together. There are two long benches at the back, with the judge sitting up front. There was a table in the middle where the social worker and orphanage director sat with their backs to me. The prosecutor sits to the left, facing me, never showing any emotion.
We got started right away. In the courtroom was me, the translator (the translator was not E, but someone who only translates for court), lil 'V’s orphanage social worker, the "director" from the orphanage, the prosecutor, and the court note-taking lady (I'm sure there is a more professional name for her).
Here's the run-down:
• Judge enters, all stand, then we all are seated
• My case is announced. All persons present sign a privacy notice.
• I say my name, address and birth date for the court (wahoo, I can't mess that one up)
• I give my speech! Not memorized, read aloud, three pages, stopping every sentence or so for translation. Meanwhile, the judge glances up at me, but spends her time looking through my file. I see her looking intently at the pictures of my home and my time with lil' V. She places a sticky note on the picture containing a cross in it....ughhhhhh, I can hear the religion drilling before it even begins!! Lord help me!!!!
• The judge begins to ask me questions and I answer. She stays on the issue of my age and singleness for quite some time Then she progresses in the religious questioning. I'm not feeling so good about about the way things are going...
• Next, the Orphanage "Director" spoke. She stunned me with her speech. She told the judge that she felt I would be the best thing for lil' V and completely supports the adoption. My mouth dropped to the floor! :) This is what I needed to hear after the drilling from the judge, full of concerns. She then gave lil' V’s "detailed" history and medical information.
• Then, the Social Worker from orphanage spoke. She gave lil V’s history and then said, “Here, in Russia, she has no future.” She said it twice. I had to fight back the tears. She then talked about my visits with lil' V and stated that she too supported the adoption. :) Praise the Lord...that's two people on my side!
• Finally, the Prosecutor gave a speech and concluded by stating that given the fact that lil' V has had no visitor's or families in RU show interest in adopting her, that she too, felt that this would be the best opportunity for lil' V.
• The judge left the courtroom to "deliberate". She was barely gone for 60 seconds before she came back in, and read her decision. Then, court was over. In that moment, lil' V became my daughter, on paper, as she had been my daughter in my heart for many months!!!!
I thanked everyone (well, lipped it, as I could not speak) and nearly ran outta the court room, where I was met by E and Cindy. A round of hugs were given, before Cindy entered the court room and I quickly called my mom and began texting friends back in the state. You gotta love technology!!! :)
So...after nine months and three weeks, there is no longer a fear of someone trying to take my daughter, lil' V, away from me! Now,...if only Saturday can hurry up and get here so Aunt Stephie and I can board a plane and begin the journey of bringing her HOME!!!
The court room was nothing like the court rooms here in the US. First off, the court room in St. P*te was tiny. Really, it was not even the size of my classroom and office put together. There are two long benches at the back, with the judge sitting up front. There was a table in the middle where the social worker and orphanage director sat with their backs to me. The prosecutor sits to the left, facing me, never showing any emotion.
We got started right away. In the courtroom was me, the translator (the translator was not E, but someone who only translates for court), lil 'V’s orphanage social worker, the "director" from the orphanage, the prosecutor, and the court note-taking lady (I'm sure there is a more professional name for her).
Here's the run-down:
• Judge enters, all stand, then we all are seated
• My case is announced. All persons present sign a privacy notice.
• I say my name, address and birth date for the court (wahoo, I can't mess that one up)
• I give my speech! Not memorized, read aloud, three pages, stopping every sentence or so for translation. Meanwhile, the judge glances up at me, but spends her time looking through my file. I see her looking intently at the pictures of my home and my time with lil' V. She places a sticky note on the picture containing a cross in it....ughhhhhh, I can hear the religion drilling before it even begins!! Lord help me!!!!
• The judge begins to ask me questions and I answer. She stays on the issue of my age and singleness for quite some time Then she progresses in the religious questioning. I'm not feeling so good about about the way things are going...
• Next, the Orphanage "Director" spoke. She stunned me with her speech. She told the judge that she felt I would be the best thing for lil' V and completely supports the adoption. My mouth dropped to the floor! :) This is what I needed to hear after the drilling from the judge, full of concerns. She then gave lil' V’s "detailed" history and medical information.
• Then, the Social Worker from orphanage spoke. She gave lil V’s history and then said, “Here, in Russia, she has no future.” She said it twice. I had to fight back the tears. She then talked about my visits with lil' V and stated that she too supported the adoption. :) Praise the Lord...that's two people on my side!
• Finally, the Prosecutor gave a speech and concluded by stating that given the fact that lil' V has had no visitor's or families in RU show interest in adopting her, that she too, felt that this would be the best opportunity for lil' V.
• The judge left the courtroom to "deliberate". She was barely gone for 60 seconds before she came back in, and read her decision. Then, court was over. In that moment, lil' V became my daughter, on paper, as she had been my daughter in my heart for many months!!!!
I thanked everyone (well, lipped it, as I could not speak) and nearly ran outta the court room, where I was met by E and Cindy. A round of hugs were given, before Cindy entered the court room and I quickly called my mom and began texting friends back in the state. You gotta love technology!!! :)
So...after nine months and three weeks, there is no longer a fear of someone trying to take my daughter, lil' V, away from me! Now,...if only Saturday can hurry up and get here so Aunt Stephie and I can board a plane and begin the journey of bringing her HOME!!!
