"THE" Case...plus Pics

"Yes, your honor." Was it really one year ago today when we were uttering these words...over and over to Judge S???? We had only dreamt of our court date and then bit our nails just prepping for it as if she really would say "Well, you may make good parents, and thank you for coming 1/2 way across the world...but no." Things like that don't happen...or do they?

So many friends, co-workers, relatives, and casual aquaintances who know we have adopted from Russia have asked us about the Torey Hansen case and what we think. I've been silent on this issue not because I don't have an opinion, and a very strong one at that, but only because I have been completely swamped with life to actually think straight enough before putting words into print.

Any "mother" who puts a 7-year old child onto a plane alone with no regard for his safety by hiring an unknown "driver" via the internet to pick him up at Moscow airport and return him to the Ministry of Education (overseer of adoptions) is negligent. The potential danger she put this child in should be a crime she should be held liable for. I'm sure she has "her" side of what happened ~ but even if this child, who she had adopted from Russia only 7 months earlier, was emotionally or psychologically challenged and was putting her family in danger, she should have gotten help HERE in the USA.

Going through the Russian adoption process is not for the faint of heart and all of you out there who have been through it or are going through it will agree with me. We had to either attend courses or complete them online for parenting an internationally adopted child, dealing with attachment and attachment disorders, etc. There are so many resources for help ~ especially the agency who we all pay a ton of money to to facilitate the process and paperwork! What was she thinking? Oh, that's it ~~~ she wasn't thinking.

I am in contact with families who are waiting for a court date. The rumor that adoptions have been put on hold is just that ~ a rumor. Things are moving along but this case has certainly been a blow to the Russian Adoption program. I pray nightly for families awaiting a referral and for those who are in that agonizing waiting period for a court date staring daily at pictures of their children wondering when will they be bringing them home.

Today, on the one year anniversary of our court date, a delegation of US and Russian "peeps" are supposed to be meeting to discuss the future of international adoption. Hopefully soon there will be a resolution or treaty agreed upon so Russian children can continue to find love in the arms of parents from the USA.

On that note, here's some "never before seen" pics of a little girl who entertained us daily last year leading up to our court date on April 29, 2009.

Kristina keeping a watchful eye on Papa while eating Animal Crackers.

Our very first time venturing outside of the Orphanage building together, April 19, 2009!

Kristina loved the see-saw...and still does!

Grammy's favorite picture, taken April 25, 2009.

JD got the greatest belly laughs from Kristina in the laundry basket.

Last picture of the 3 of us before becoming a family of 3 at court the next day. Photo taken April 28, 2009.