It's Official
Hayden is officially our son!! At 11:00 am Karaganda time the Judge made the adoption decree official. We really are a family.
I was a little nervous going to court, but Gina had nerves of steel. They told us court was at 10:00, but there were at least two other families before us, so we didn’t make it in to see the judge until around 10:50. We were shown into a small courtroom and ushered into the front row. The prosecutor sat at a little table to the right of the judge. The court reporter/administrator was to the left.
The judge started the proceedings by reading our request to adopt Hayden. Then the prosecutor started asking us the basic questions: Why do you want to adopt another child? How much do you make? What are your occupations? How will you care for the child?
Then our facilitator, Tamara, gave a speech explaining the reasoning behind our adoption. The Judge then turned to us and asked, “Do you have anything to add”. To which I said, “no”. Then they asked Gina, “Do you have anything to add.” To which she replied “No” and then said “Thank You”. So our translator asked us again if we had anything to say; so we both looked at each other and said again “no” and sat down. Lena leans over and says “you were supposed to give your speech about why you want to adopt Hayden” Well, no one filled us in on that one! Besides, they pretty much heard all our reasons for adopting Hayden. So…there was an acquired silence.
The judge then left the court room for about two minutes. Came marching back in, read her decision in our favor…and the decree was official!!!!
Yesterday we worked on preparing a statement about our request to the court to allow our 15 day waiting period to be waived or shortened. We even translated it our selves via the internet. Got to the court this morning to be told by Tamara, that she “would not deny our right to make the request” but it would not be granted. She went on to say that we could not ask the Administrative Judge who would be hearing our adoption case, because that Judge would not have the authority to waive it. We needed to speak with the Chairman, and after our court hearing she would take us to met with him.
After celebrating our good news with the other 2 Americans along with us, we headed upstairs to the top/3rd floor. Walked into a large office area, with a stern looking man seated behind a long desk. He had his TV on in the corner, muted it but did not turn it off. Tamara led the way and “briefed” him first. We sat at the conference table, which jutted out from his desk.
Bob pulled out our statement and began to read from it. He never even got to the third sentence when the Judge cut us off and in Russian began speaking to Tamara. Basically we were told, with respect, that he understood our circumstances, but would not waive the time, he does not have the authority to waive it. It has been issued by Presidential Decree, and then the story/translation goes that he began to scold Tamara for bringing us in to see him. After all of this she then took her turn in scolding us down in the lobby, we made amends with her. But the proof of that will be in our getting our docs on time and in order. So we shall see.
We left with mixed emotions. We were blessed with a wonderful new addition to our family, yet concerned on how we are going to get him to see his paternal grandfather. My brother, sister, and mother really worked hard to get a letter from my Father’s doctor to show to the judge. So we have no choice – we’re moving on to Plan B.
I was a little nervous going to court, but Gina had nerves of steel. They told us court was at 10:00, but there were at least two other families before us, so we didn’t make it in to see the judge until around 10:50. We were shown into a small courtroom and ushered into the front row. The prosecutor sat at a little table to the right of the judge. The court reporter/administrator was to the left.
The judge started the proceedings by reading our request to adopt Hayden. Then the prosecutor started asking us the basic questions: Why do you want to adopt another child? How much do you make? What are your occupations? How will you care for the child?
Then our facilitator, Tamara, gave a speech explaining the reasoning behind our adoption. The Judge then turned to us and asked, “Do you have anything to add”. To which I said, “no”. Then they asked Gina, “Do you have anything to add.” To which she replied “No” and then said “Thank You”. So our translator asked us again if we had anything to say; so we both looked at each other and said again “no” and sat down. Lena leans over and says “you were supposed to give your speech about why you want to adopt Hayden” Well, no one filled us in on that one! Besides, they pretty much heard all our reasons for adopting Hayden. So…there was an acquired silence.
The judge then left the court room for about two minutes. Came marching back in, read her decision in our favor…and the decree was official!!!!
Yesterday we worked on preparing a statement about our request to the court to allow our 15 day waiting period to be waived or shortened. We even translated it our selves via the internet. Got to the court this morning to be told by Tamara, that she “would not deny our right to make the request” but it would not be granted. She went on to say that we could not ask the Administrative Judge who would be hearing our adoption case, because that Judge would not have the authority to waive it. We needed to speak with the Chairman, and after our court hearing she would take us to met with him.
After celebrating our good news with the other 2 Americans along with us, we headed upstairs to the top/3rd floor. Walked into a large office area, with a stern looking man seated behind a long desk. He had his TV on in the corner, muted it but did not turn it off. Tamara led the way and “briefed” him first. We sat at the conference table, which jutted out from his desk.
Bob pulled out our statement and began to read from it. He never even got to the third sentence when the Judge cut us off and in Russian began speaking to Tamara. Basically we were told, with respect, that he understood our circumstances, but would not waive the time, he does not have the authority to waive it. It has been issued by Presidential Decree, and then the story/translation goes that he began to scold Tamara for bringing us in to see him. After all of this she then took her turn in scolding us down in the lobby, we made amends with her. But the proof of that will be in our getting our docs on time and in order. So we shall see.
We left with mixed emotions. We were blessed with a wonderful new addition to our family, yet concerned on how we are going to get him to see his paternal grandfather. My brother, sister, and mother really worked hard to get a letter from my Father’s doctor to show to the judge. So we have no choice – we’re moving on to Plan B.
posted by bob and gina | 9:58 AM
2 Comments:
Blessings on you all on being official in the eyes of the law! You have been a family in your hearts for several weeks but this makes it even more sweet. I have been on pins and needles all morning hoping there might have been some grace and goodness in the Kazhak system regarding this situation, but apparently not! Keep us posted and let me know if I can be helpful in any way!
Love, Acsa
Thank God and bless you all! You are officially a family. Little Hayden is the newest Morrison!
I know that you both took great personal risk to ask for that which is not even to be requested. Thank heavens that it did not reflect badly on the adoption of Hayden and I hope and will continue to pray for expedient paper flow through the rest of the process.
Bob and Gina you are so brave and level headed when you seem to be at the vortex of the circle of life. We are looking forward to seeing Bob soon and hope to see the whole family soon there after.
Love from all of us!
Judy
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