Oh, Happy Day!!!

Our new addition,

Alexander Phillip Counts

Mother and I got up at 7:00am, so I could shower and be ready on time. Richard had a harder time getting himself together this morning. He said that he kept going over in head what he would say to the Judge at our court hearing today. Well we (Richard, Ira and Aimee) are all ready to leave about 20 minutes after 9:00am and head down to our faithful taxi driver. Our appointment is at 10:00am. The Judge’s court room is very close and in fact we could have walked but Ira had to drop us off and then go and pick up the Lawyer and Inspector. The court building looks like many of these other buildings. It is not new and probably was built in the 1950’s, at least it appears that way. I would have never guessed that this was a court house if I wasn’t shown. It has not been renovated in a long time. The foyer is small and there are security guards there but they are not asking us to have our bags put through a scanner like back home. There are over 7 floors to this building and one small elevator. The elevator will only hold so much weight. There were a group of ladies in front of us waiting to getting on the elevator but when it was their turn a couple of them had to get off because there was too much weight. When finally got on the elevator which did not ride smoothly. I felt a couple of times that it would get stuck or drop us. We get off the elevator to a long narrow hall, filled with lots people waiting to see some official person. There is a long bench down the narrow hall. I wonder where we are going to stand or sit but Ira takes us past the first group of people to where there is a door in front of the bench. There is room for Richard and I to sit and wait till she gets back with the Lawyer and Inspector. By the time she returns it is about 10:00 but the Inspector has not arrived. The Inspector is a very busy woman, she has a whole jurisdiction to service, so she is running late, but we are very grateful to have our court hearing today. The Inspector arrives about a quarter past 10 and goes into the Judge’s chamber. Then just a few minutes later they ask us to come in. It is a big relief that we do not have to go into a court room and we can just be in the Judge’s chamber. (A side note Ira has also asked the Judge, which she agreed that Alexander did not have to come to court. The Director of the Board School statement would be sufficient. The Director had brought Alexander into his office along with his teaches and caregivers and had asked Alexander several questions to make sure that he wanted to be adopted.) The Judge ask us a few questions like, do we want to adopt Alexander, did the visitation with Alexander go well, who we are, what do we do for a living, have we been informed of the child’s health, do we have a house and how many rooms. Then the Judge started reading the documents pertaining to Alexander and that his name would be changed to Alexander Phillip Counts. The prosecution said they did not have any questions and agreed for the adoption. There is complete agreement and we are pronounced parents to Alexander. I start to cry, the Inspector and Ira hug us and we head out to the hall way. It has been such a long time to get to this moment, that the joy and relief have over whelmed me. This meeting took all of 20 minutes. Yea!!! We walk down the 6 flight of stairs to our faithful taxi driver and head over to the boarding school for Ira to draw up more documents to get the new passport and birth certificate started. This takes about an hour and Richard and I wait in the taxi. Ira is concerned about the new rules the SDA is requesting now and wants the doctor at the hospital to make another report. So off we go to the hospital, and in a small town it is not very far. We are very fortunate that Alexander was born here in Kherson and not in another town. If that been the case we would have to travel there and the process would take longer because of the travel for us and Ira. Ira and the lawyer go into the hospital, Richard and I wait in the taxi. They were gone about 30 minutes, then we need to find a office supply store. They do not have yellow pages here, so we are on a hunt for the office store. The first two attempts are not successful, then taxi driver gets on the phone to ask a friend, and wala he finds it. Ira and I go into buy copy paper for the school, to replace what she has used. Ira has to go back to see the Inspector and well as couple things, so the taxi driver drops Richard and I off to the apartment. We are happy, excited and relieved that this process is winding down. Richard is now headed back to Kiev on the overnight train and well stay a couple of nights there. He will need to go the US Embassy on Tuesday and he flies out on Thursday. We need your prayers that our process for Alexander’s passport, birth certificate and tax i.d. number will be done speedily, so we come home before December 31st. Maybe by Christmas. I know that the previous post said that we might be leaving on the 18th but that is not the case. We have to wait until the 10 days are up to get the new passport, birth certificate and tax i.d. number. This could take up to a week. We are hoping that this is done as quickly as possible. Especailly before the New Year when Ukraine starts their holiday celebration and close their offices for a week. Of course we would like to be home by Christmas but we will have to see. So now we three are here to wait out the 10 days and will visit Alexander everyday. May the Lord give us patience over these next few days and bless all of you.