Going to court

I began the process to adopt a sibling for Luke in March of 2008. As I sat in the federal court waiting room some 3.5 years later, I couldn’t help but think of all that had happened to get to this point. It was surreal. I won’t go into details here, but anyone who knows this unpredictable process understands that there is more paperwork than you could ever imagine and so, so much waiting. It sets you on an emotional roller coaster – a process not for the faint of heart. There I was, minutes away from officially becoming a parent to a child that I had only known, yet began to love, through photos. Risky? Yes. So many what ifs. But you can’t go there. When you enter the world of international adoption, you know this. You are prepared for this. It is “written between the lines” in every page you read and every document you sign.

A young lovely lady (the federal court judge overlooking all adoptions) welcomes us into her chambers, along with two other Canadian families, from the same agency, also adopting. She quickly yet carefully studies each of us and begins her daily questions: Have you been prepared for this process? Do you know other families who have adopted? Will you keep this child’s culture alive? Do you have any other children? (she throws a sweet smile across the room to Luke) And then, the big one…….Are you aware that adoptions in Ethiopia are final and cannot be reversed for any reason? We answer yes to all of the questions. She then utters the words I was waiting to hear (because I read a lot of adoption blogs), “These children are yours”……We all look at each other - we want to celebrate, laugh, cry, but we all know the rules. We talked about it in the waiting room. We rehearsed our response. It was SO hard not to weep right there and then, but we all smiled, said thank you and exited quickly. Another group was waiting.