Another Step Closer to Completing Our Family!

Today at 4:30 PM (well, really 4:40) was our court date. Last night at dinner, Viktor told us what to expect from the proceedings. Attending the hearing (besides us) would be the orphanage/school lawyer (whom we had yet to meet), the Children's Inspector, the judge, the secretary, and a jury. A jury??? Really??? He said there would just be 2 or 3 people as part of the jury. Huh! Interesting! He also said that anytime the judge asked a question, we were to stand before answering in English and Viktor would say the reply in Russian. What made us laugh is that he stated if we didn't answer quite right, he'd say it right in Russian-- the judge would never know! :-) He thought that since it would be the end of the day, the appointment would go quickly.

We weren't sure where the courthouse was, and in fact, thought it would be one of the grand, stately buildings we've already seen. Nope! It was a small building connected to other small buildings, right next to a neighborhood of houses! You'd never know from the street it was a courthouse. The security guard wrote our names down in his registry, and then we waited about 15-20 minutes. We were ushered in a small room (smaller than my classroom!) that had very old, thick, dark wooden furniture. There were 3 rows of pews with a very narrow aisle, and the pews were right up to the walls on either side. About one step from the front pew was a wooden stand in the center of the room, up on a small platform (maybe just a half step higher than the floor). I assume it is for the lawyers or the defendant, but we didn't use it. In front of the stand were two wooden tables facing each other, and then there was the big bench behind which the judge would be seated. His chair and those on either side of him were something out of like King Arthur's time! Very imposing, very cool! Viktor pointed out that the old USSR logos had been removed at the top of each chair, but you could still see where the wood stain was different. To the left of the room, near the judge's bench was a prisoner holding cell!! Viktor tried to pull an April Fool's joke by saying that's where we were to sit!!!

Speaking of April Fool's, today had a lot of symbolism for us. First of all, eight years ago today, Tim and I went out to lunch for the first time. We went with another friend, so it wasn't really a date, but we decided that's when we would start counting our time together. How fitting that we are really starting our family together today!!! The other neat thing is what Tim wore for the hearing. As some of you know, we got married at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. My dad walked me down the aisle wearing grey dress pants, a white dress shirt, a navy blazer, and a navy blue/red striped tie. Well, to honor Vanya's middle name of Thomas (my dad's first name), Tim wore a replica of my dad's outfit today! He even had on the exact same tie-- it was something we wanted to keep after my dad died last summer.

About 4:45 PM, we were told to rise as the judge came in. I will explain a lot more later, (Viktor just came back in and is waiting for us to take Vanya back to school) but the judge gave a prelimary approval for the adoption to go through!!! We have the 10 day waiting period, so as long as no one comes forward to appeal it, we will be official so very soon!!! How cool is that???? I promise I will provide more details when we get home. Thank you for your prayers!!! God has been SO good to us!!