Day 9 ~ January 21, 2002
It's official. At approximately 3:00 p.m. on January 21, 2002, Julia Therese joined our family. The Judge was a lot stricter than I expected and we sweated out a few points during the hearing. The social worker assigned on Julia's behalf was given a reprimand during Court for not being thorough and the Judge never cracked a smile. Finally after 45 minutes she rendered her decision...granting our petition to adopt Julia. We had to wait for about an hour while the decision was written and then we made the almost 2 hour drive out to pick her up. In true fashion a freak blizzard popped up out of no where and made the driving hazardous. Our driver never seemed to notice which may have made the snow appear worse! I don't think he went below 55 mph the whole ride. He laughed when Anthony, I and the translator just about kissed the ground on arrival. When we got to the orphanage no one had left word that we were coming and it was touch and go there for a minute as to whether or not they were going to let us take her--or so they thought...we were not leaving without her. We changed her into her new pretty in pink going to the big city outfit (Moscow) and away we went. Luckily, the snow stopped and the roads were clear on the way back to the hotel. The youngest Miss Julia slept the whole way. She awoke in the hotel lobby with a BIG smile...I guess she approves of our hotel selection!
I write this in the dark as Julia sleeps, getting ready for her new life! Oh she told me in the car that she can't wait to get home...
Love and Kisses, Alice, Anthony & Julia
It's so hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that six years have passed. The time is moving much too quickly. These have been the best six years of my life. Thank you Julia for picking us as your forever family. You have given us more joy than I ever thought possible. We love you Julia. I am ever grateful for the miracle of YOU. I am still so in love... Happy Gotcha Day! Love, Mommy, Daddy, Christopher, and Barney XXOO
4 comments:
Cried my way through that slideshow. I remember holding Julia when she came home and now to see her as a beautiful 6 year old girl - just blows me away. I don't know where the time is going. I do know it's going to fast - I want to keep them small - I remember that halloween parade so well - good memories my friend :)
I'm so glad you stumbled across my blog. It's always good to make new Russian Adoptive Mommy friends! My hasn't the process changed since we adopted our girls! My Daria is 7 now (11 months when she came home). The time flies so fast, I wish I had a slow motion button to press!
Thanks for commenting on my blog! :) I have just started a new job and I'm very busy but I would like to read your blog and catch up on your story about your russian beauties. I glanced at the photo slide show and your little girl is a sweetheart and so cute! My road to adoption is taking a little longer than expected to get started but sometimes God's plan is larger than our own. Keep in touch- can't wait to read your blog!
MandyJo
I finally got a chance to read your blog and your children are absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for commenting on my blog so that I was able to find yours! What a wonderful blessing your children are to you and you to them! Keep in touch I'm hoping that I will be able to adopt soon, I just keep trying to see when the time will be right for me! Thanks for your encouragement. Keep posting! I love to hear stories of other families who've made it though adoption!
MandyJo
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