WE HAVE A DATE!

Yesterday was an eventful day! First we visited Sasha at the orphanage, where she wrote out her official letter asking the judge to allow her to become our daughter. In the picture at left, the orphanage counselor looks on as Sasha writes. Jeanine and our translator, Olga, are in the foreground. It was an emotional experience in a number of ways... I was in tears. When the translator explained to Sasha what would happen over the next few days, she laughed with delight, pounded her fists on her knees, and said in Ukranian, "I feel like you have just told me to go pack my bags" (as if she has any to pack!)!

Sasha's letter was delivered along with other documents to the regional judge, the social services department, and the local prosecuting attorney (who is assigned to represent the "best interests" of the orhpans). The process took all day.

Finally, late in the afternoon, the judge agreed to grant us our day in court: Monday, December 21, at 2:30 pm. We have requested that he approve the adoption and then waive the "mandatory" 10-day waiting period, which would allow us to bring Sasha home perhaps as soon as December 30! Evidently this is virtually unheard of in this region, but it never hurts to ask! If he allows us to adopt her, but denies the waiver, then we may return to California until mid-January when we can resume the process and complete the adoption.

Obviously, these decisions influence what we will be doing for Christmas, too.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. We continue to be in good health and are thankful for what the Lord is doing!