Court Date

July 6th

What a wonderful day this is turning out to be!

• This morning, Jason was cleared by the doctor to return to work after breaking his back.
• He is going to be able to go on a mission trip to the Lakota Indian Tribe in South Dakota.
• We received word about our court date and it's in 18 days!!!!!!!!

I've been starting to get antsy about our court date, and Jason and my Daddy keep reminding me - it's all in God's timing! I am just SO excited!

Here's a little about what's going to be happening in the next 18 days (AMAZING!):

1. A government group by the name of MOWA is going to review our adoption paperwork and will hopefully write a letter recommending us as adoptive parents.
2. Our agency is going to work diligently to make sure that all the paperwork on their end is complete and that Baby "A"'s family shows-up at Court to testify.
3. If the family shows-up and all the paperwork is in order, then the Judge will decide whether or not to approve the adoption. Basically, the Judge wants to make sure that the birth family is not against the adoption.
4. If the judge decides Baby "A" as ready for adoption, then he or she approves our case and we start shouting with joy and the tears start falling (who am I kidding - they've been falling for almost 3 years. By the way, I started on our video introducing Baby "A" to you yesterday - I prayed the entire time pics were downloading!)
5. You get to see pics of our precious baby and her full name will be revealed!
6. We will travel 2-4 weeks later.

Now, for reality, 40% of families are not successful the first court date. Personally, I prefer to think of it as 60% are successful but that's not how our agency phrases the stats. Oftentimes, the reason a family has to experience a 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th court date is that the Judge is not satisfied that the police reports are in order or maybe the family members didn't show-up (this will be HUGE in our case, so please pray that the family members will show-up and testify without any trouble in locating or transporting them), etc. I ask you to begin petitioning God now that our court date will go very smoothly and that we will pass without any trouble!

We are also wanting to set-up a meeting with Baby "A"'s birth family, so please also be praying about this. Please pray that if this is in God's will that He will orchestrate it and will prepare all of our hearts for this emotional meeting. I want so much to be able to look into the face of the most unselfish woman on earth - the birth mother of my precious baby! I've prayed for her and the birth father and extended family for over 3 years and in my heart, I have such love and respect for them for without them I would not be staring at the picture of this beautiful little miracle!