We passed Court!

We had to wait over an hour and a half past the stated time to begin the hearing...the judge was very fast and no-nonsense...she asked why we wanted to adopt (Paul told her the 30 second version of what should have been a 20 minute conversation!), she asked if we had enough money to raise 9 children (we affirmed yes), she asked if our six at home were biological or adopted (I said bio, that got me a few raised eyebrows), then she asked if we get a check from the US government for each child we have (emphatic NO!)....

We were so proud of our 11 year old...the judge asked her to stand up and give her name and age and asked if she wanted to be adopted by us and she said YES and then the judge asked if anyone pressured or coerced her to consent to the adoption and she looked at little taken aback and emphatically said NO!

Then the judge read Every. Single. Document. into the record. Then she asked the State Prosecutor if she had any concerns and she said no. Then asked all the workers (7!) present from both orphanages if they objected and they all said no 

So we were then declared parents of all three!

Victoria Catherine, age 11 (momma, papa, Vika selfie taken on court bench!)

Leo Maximus (age 3) and Yana Faustina (18 months) - my almost 9 yo at home did the creative editing on this pic -- and I could not agree more!

I am a Momma of 10.... Because Henry counts :-)

In fact, the reason these three previous children who are siblings (but had never even met before we came) have the love of a family and a future is directly attributable to our little Saint in heaven!

Paul is heading back to our children at home right now and I hope to bring our "third batch" (HT to Luke!) to the US in mid-December! 

I am in a place that one year ago would have been unthinkable....

But as a wise woman said below...

Thinking is overrated...loving is what endures.

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