Friday, October 5--Yari's Adoption Moves Forward!

Yari's TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) Hearing...

Well, we got there 30 minutes early and it was torture to sit and wait and watch as folks came off the elevator. Turns out Michelle, aka birthmom, never showed!!! Her attorney showed and said he attempted to contact her with 3 letters and 20 phone calls since the end of July. The judge allowed him to withdraw as her counsel. He packed up and left the court room!

The County had a good representation of witnesses. There was a lady that helped Michelle when she was pregnant, the visitiation supervisor and the intake worker at placement. During the hearing the attorney (whom I'm told is a shark) looked at me and said "Mrs. Erb, are you willing to testify?" He then had me state my correct name and spell it! The supervisor for Children and Youth said (tongue in cheek) she worked till 6:30 pm the day before, solidifying this case, and all she got to say was, "Mrs. Epp, it's Mrs. Epp!!!" :)

...The County's attorney then asked questions about Yari's welfare, relationship with sibs, and what she calls us.

Then Yari's guardian ad litum walked in. The judge asked if he supports the motion to terminate the birth parents' rights, and he siad he "wholeheartedly" does. He noted that he met us and Yari and that she's bonded well to us. The judge then repeated the word "bonded" (we heard this term was KEY if Michelle appeals) with raised eyebrows. He then asked me if we were willing to adopt her and I said, "ABSOLUTELY!!!"

That was pretty much it! Judge then signed the termination. Michelle has 30 days to appeal. However, any appeal will only consist of today's hearing and there's no testimony, just a re-read of what happened today! Best case scenerio: 4-6 mos to finalize adoption!

As we left the courtroom the Judge gave us a thumbs up and said we'll see you soon!

It's now legal for us to call Yari, Abigail and we're getting her hair cut tomorrow!!!

Justice Gets a New Home

On August 9, Justice went to his new home. In the six weeks he was with us, Katie was able to work with the agency to define J's needs and identify a suitable family for him. We thank God on Justices' behalf, that we found a family that meets his needs very well, and is very interested in being an adoption resource for him should he become adoptable. While we had hoped to be this resource, we had to come to grips that we were not the right family for J given our current stage of life (two one-year olds and their needs). This new family is familiar with J's needs, and have already adopted two other boys from similar agencies. We continue to be available to this family for respite care for J should he need it, and as a sitting resource. Thanks to all of you for stading with us in prayer and moral support through this transitional time.

Wedding Bells and Shot Gun Shells

The day after receiving Justice in to our home we packed everyone up and headed to the hills of Kentucky for Chris' cousin's wedding. David has been practicing medicine for a year now, and married Kristen, a nurse. Chris' Uncle Dennis and Aunt Shirley are the reason he got involved in missions some 22 years ago. They were missionaries in Zaire (now the Congo), Africa. Seeing them again was as refreshing as a good Kentucky rain!

Lydia injured her foot at brunch on Saturday, giving cousin David his first diagnosis as a married man: just a bruise--she would be fine. When asked if she would like some juice or something, Lydia very matter-of-factly informed the young physician, "It's my foot that hurts not my stomach." Ha! We all got a good laugh out of that one!

To package it all up, plenty of trying moments with the younger kids in public spaces, were gracisously wrapped in breathtaking views, good Kentucky food and blue grass music and, most of all, chances to get caught up with wonderful people. I guess that's life!

On our trip home we stopped by a drive-through safari in Virginia. We fed zebras in the "wild", and daddy got close up encounters with a 14 point bull elk (scratched his chin), and a bison who proceded to practically lay it's head in his lap! We were also (relativley) excited to actually see our first ever red-headed woodpecker up close and personal. (How do they keep him in the reserve?)

And Justice for All

As of last Wednesday, we now have four children in the home. Justice is 3 1/2 years old. His birthday is January 2, so now we have three January bdays (Yari's is the 11th and Chris' is 20th). Justice is very outgoing with a sweet disposition. And he has a killer smile! He's only been with us for a week now, but seems to be fitting in with our family quite well, and vise versa.

The name Justice is very curious to us. Ever since Annie was sent back to her very poor conditions over a year ago, we have been praying for her out of Luke 18:8 where Jesus says that the FAther will grant justice for those who cry out to Him for it. We have been inspired to to pray for justice for Annie and Rachel (a 12 year old girl whom we befriended while living in the mobile home park in Kansas), that God would grant them justice, theat He would protect them and surround them, be their high tower and rock--be the Father they don't have, and watch over them with a jealous protection.

Clearly, the situations that have touched us through our foster care and adoption courses have opened our eyes to a broader definition of justice. So, we are just a bit interested in what God is up to with the addition of Justice to our family.