Halftime

The mid-point of a game. A break in the action, so to speak.

This has been a game of successes in often trying situations and establishes a new starting point for a young person’s future; and it is for keeps.

Thursday, December 18th… A quick breakfast then get into our “Sunday best.” Slavik will be picking us up around 10:00 for our 10:30 hearing(s). It just stopped raining, so no worries there (no umbrella – another one of those “things we have learned”). It’s off to the races again. It still blows the mind how a city of around 2 million people can successfully fit four lanes of traffic on to a three lane road and NOT cause accidents. That would NEVER happen in the States.

Alyona is waiting for us outside the courthouse. In through the front door and the metal detector. It beeps. Alyona says something to the guards and they don’t move or say any more. She appears to be pretty well trusted in the courthouse.

More stairs… Just what bad knees really need!

We go down a narrow hallway with several doors on each side. Small benches line one side of the hallway and the hallway is busy, busy, busy. Alyona gives us about a 2 minute briefing on what will be happening in the courtroom, a couple of canned answers regarding religion and protocol of our rights (Do you understand? “Yes” Any objections? “No”) then the ever helpful advise: “Don’t be nervous.”

The courtroom appears to be fairly small, maybe 15’ x 20’, but all the furniture and 12 people makes it feel just a bit tighter.

The judge is speaking rather quickly and is not stopping to allow Alyona to keep up, but she is getting the meat of the readings to us. He thumbs through the application paperwork, and I hear “Dobra, dobra” (good, good) several times. Everything appears to be in order, or at least I hope it is. We are asked why we are petitioning the court. We ask the court to allow us to adopt Vera Dengub. The Judge asks few more questions about ourselves, and why we wish to adopt; we are keeping our answers short and to the point. The prosecutor has a couple questions for us regarding Vera’s education and where she will be going to school and what would her future hold for college, etc. She appears to be satisfied with our answers. Round 1 is complete. Everyone out of the room.

Five minutes later, Round 2 begins. The same rights are read to us again. More question and answers regarding why we wish to adopt a child of an advanced age. We explain that we have older children and she is a perfect fit with our family. More questions about our income, her education, if we would be surprised of her health condition (we understand her to be in good health), religion and what she has expressed for a future (she would like to work with children as a teacher or daycare provider). No questions, but agreement that the adoption “is in the best interest of the child” statements from the prosecutor, the administration and the trade school. Round 2 ends. Everyone out.

Another five minutes. Everyone back in… The judge begins by reading the rights and processes of the court again. We all understand and do not object. He continues to speak rather quickly through his ruling. I recall previous adoptive families mention a statement “and no one else wants them”… This seems a bit harsh, but then it is a harsh lifestyle and environment where they live.

Our translation was “…no one has come forward to answer for this child”. Much more subdued and a bit more accurate.

Well, here we are…

He continues to read the ruling of the court

“…it is in the best interest of this child to approve the application…”

Our Christmas Miracle!

In 10 days, the decree will be issued and she will officially be our daughter in Ukraine. Only then, can we continue the process to get her visa to enter the U.S. Unfortunately, we run into the holiday season in both Ukraine and the U.S. and there will not be much anyone can do until probably mid January.

This is our halftime... We are faced with the dilemma of sitting idle for nearly a month, or returning to home to tend to our daughter and our respective jobs until the government agencies re-open for business... The painful decision is to return home. We had a long discussion with Vera and she understands the need for us to return home. We love her, do not want to leave her behind, and we will be back for her.

What to do with Vera? Vera had a couple things to do on Thursday evening and went to visit with her sister Lena. Friday, Vera came to spend the night with us, and we had some things to say to her that required the help of Michelle. We continued our long talk with her, explaining that she is now a part of our family and she can come to us for anything. We also told her not to forget those she leaves behind, and we will not let that happen. Michelle has also let Vera know that she is available to provide some guidance while we are gone. We also have Skype to stay in contact with her while we return to the States for a little while.

This holiday season has richly blessed us with a new daughter and new friends in the Swinneys and Nasekos. We also felt it best to celebrate with Vera, Michelle, and our new friends, so we headed over to Pechescago (Martha and Sheila said it sounds like “Precious Cargo). Good food, good people, and good conversation always make for a good evening.