Court Date

Court Date

The cobblestone streets were wet, the sky was gray and a cold wind blew the autumn leaves down the street. Somehow it was still a beautiful day and all I could see was the true majesty around me. For me, this was the day I’ve waited for since my precious daughter walked down an airport terminal in Seattle on that day I had to say goodbye. Today I would see an Orphan Court panel grant us our care and supervision rights which will lead to the ultimate adoption. Today, Nata be in my arms forever.

Sheri woke us up at the crack of 9:30 in the morning. I could have slept for another 30 or 40 .... days. Somehow, Sheri already had run a couple of miles and still got back before we awoke... how in the heck does she do that?

Today, is our official court date with the Orphan’s Court. Today we will get

Care and Supervision rights for Nata. I am so lucky that today I get to wear my favorite suit and hard uncomfortable shoes. I cannot wait! Shoot, do not forget I also get to wear one of the choking devices, I think they call it a tie. I hope these girls know just how much I love them, I mean come on, I'm wearing a suit for them. That's got to be worth something !!

So today is finally here! What we all have been waiting for this day and not just us, but Nata as well. From this point on and one day past forever, it will be the four of us. Sanija will get the sister she always wanted and Nata will get the sister she always wanted. Sheri and I will get the two girls we've dreamed of. In just a year, plus a few days our lives have changed in a way that I cannot even yet comprehend. 

We just received a call from Ilze and she will be here to pick me up in 10 minutes. Sheri and Sanija went down to ... guess where? Yep, it get breakfast. If they do not return I will run off with Ilze to pick up Nata. Gotta go!

After returning from meeting the foster mother and picking up Nata we had a couple of hours to spend together before the court hearing. Nata needed some new shoes so we ran off to the mall to pick some appropriate sparkling shoes and of course a new pair of boots. So when does a 9 year old need two pairs of shoes for a 45 minute court hearing. I don’t know, ask Sheri! As a refresher, Sheri brought 17 pairs of shoes for a 14 day cruise!

My girls, including Sheri, looked great as we entered the court proceeding. Ilze could barely speak (she’s not feeling well and did not have much of a voice) and brought in an interpreter to translate for us. The courts only asked Sheri and I to enter. I was a bit bummed as I wish Sanija could have been standing side by side with us.  There were three ladies plus the court reporter and our team there to discuss care and supervison of Nata. The questions they asked were much “lighter” than the questions asked of us for Sanija.  After 10 minutes they asked us to leave and brought in Nata to speak with the cpanel. They could not have asked much as she was back out in less than 3 minutes. Once again, they ask Sheri and I to come and read the decision.

For care and supervision we were granted custody. Yeah……

To celebrate the four of us went to the top of the Radisson Blu with one of the best views of Riga and the girls feasted on ice cream sundays.  After dinner we returned home so that the girls could write down their adventures for the day in their travel journals.

By 9pm they were off……by 9:30 they were off t……by 9:45 they went off…..by 10:00 they were off to bed……by 10:15 pm we got them to actually lay down.

Doesn’t help much when Mommy and Daddy wrestle (Tickle bug) with the girls….could have been our fault….not really sure but either way today was an exception.

I haven’t had time to measure the scope of what happened today. In mean, like WOW! The family is complete. Little moments like watching my family walk down the street together or holding hands or asking for a table for 4. That last one, was kinda special for me. I’m sure over the next day or two it will really sink in. Right now I just need to take a deep breath, inhale-exhale and try to relax. My complete family is together, two of them are in bed and a wife…doing her wife things. I’m happy!

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