Petition to Adopt Approved

On Wednesday, February 22, at aproximately 1PM Ukrainian Time, Randy, Alex and I along with Dima our translator/in-region facilitator, Dina the Internot Social Worker and an Odessa City official were all usured into a court room in Odessa, Ukraine for the adoption hearing regarding our petition to adopt Alex. Our judge was a young man who looked to be in his 30's. He had a strong bearing and a forceful energy. Sitting behind the desk in the front of the room, his back was straight with an unblinking gaze. This was not a man to trifle with.

He began the proceedings and as he spoke, our translator simultaneously whispered in English. He asked questions of us regarding our names, address, reason for being in his courtroom and then asked for one of us to address him with our petition. I stood up and spoke, telling him the length of our marriage, what our home was like, our desire to have a child and our love for Alex. Randy then stood and stated that he supported all that I said. Dina, the Social Worker from the Internot stated that she was in support of our petition as did the city official.

The judge then requested Alex stand and then he asked Alex if he understood the proceedings and did he choose to be adopted by us. Alex spoke shyly but clearly, answering in the affirmative. The judge then spoke directly to Alex to let him know that being adopted and moving to America would require mush effort on Alex's part but would provide much benefit. He also spoke to Alex of the need for Alex to exemplify the spirit and intellect of all Ukrainian's and that he was to make his countrymen proud by excelling in his new life. All of us in the courtroom felt the emotion of this judge and I felt tears come to my eyes and also saw that Alex and Randy were similarly affected. In short order, the proceedings were concluded with the judge stating that the court decree would be issued in 10 days, at which time we would officially be parents.

Walking out of the courtroom Alex was beaming. His smile lit up my heart and the warmth of his hand in my hand reinforced my desire to protect and provide for this young boy that Randy and I had just received approval in order to call him our son.

We also received the happy news that the Internot Director had approved our request for Alex to live with us during the 10 day wait. His happiness was evident as we told him we would not have to take him back to the Internot each evening.

After court, we settled in to our apartment, unpacking the suitcase we had brought for Alex and giving him his belongings. We shopped at the market, ate eggs for dinner, watched, practiced writing Alex Rennolds Smith and watched a movie while spending our first evening together as a family.

Thursday we learned of a glitch in the paperwork process. We proceeded to make inquiries today and we are hopeful that it will be easily resolved without requiring us to stay longer than the 10 day wait. We will know more early next week.

We plan on a relaxing weekend. We spent this afternoon with our friend Larisa Papay touring Odessa with a stop at a beautiful church at a monastary on the Black Sea. Tomorrow we will attend the Philharmonic with our friend Dima Papay.

We miss our home, our family and our friends. However, at this point the remaining time is too lengthy to think of home. We are keeping our attention focused in the here and now, knowing that this is an experience we must savor. While there is much that is difficult and uncomfortable, there are also many interesting sites to see and enjoyable experiences to have. We also feel it is exceedingly important that we see Ukraine through the eyes of those who live here so we might better know where and how Alex spent his formative early years.

We have been receiving your emails and well wishes and we appreciate them! Much love to our friends and family, Cynthia