IT'S HAPPENING

This time last year we were just getting our homestudy done. I was in and out of doctors and physical therapy to decide if I needed shoulder surgery or not. Micaiah had just turned 1. We were expecting to get our license early March, but not get any calls for a few weeks to months after. Little did we know.

Today was mediation day. Biomom, who is incarcerated currently, had a bench warrant to show up to the mediation and was kept in a separate room. We were not able to meet her. I barely caught a glimpse of the back of her head and her prison uniform as she was marched past at the very end. Let me back up a bit though.. because the whole thing amazes me. God's kindness and favor was so rich today it was nearly humorous.

About a week and a half ago we were scheduled for mediation.. everyone kept saying "I don't really know why we are doing it, her termination is a foregone conclusion by all parties.". I wasn't sure what to expect because no one really talked about the nitty gritty assuming I've done all this before I guess. We were ALL very ill with the flu and poor lil guy was like a zombie with his double eye/ear infection and bronchiolitis. I did NOT want to have to leave him to infect a babysitter.. but they didn't want me to bring him either. I prayed HARD the meeting would be rescheduled. And it did. Biomom was not able to get to the mediation in time from prison across state so they rescheduled for today. (THANK YOU JESUS). We all got better. We are all healthy as horse today. Even Lil Guy.. which is rare.

All week people kept checking in and calling to see if we were coming to the mediation. Still no one gave me a real picture of what this was going to be like or why we were doing it. Finally our blessed CASA supervisor spent an hour on the phone helping me work through details to have a better idea what to expect. I was so grateful. She gave me exact instructions on entering the building, where to park, where to wait, who would be there, what would happen, a general idea on how long it would take and if it would make sense to bring new baby or not. He's nursing and not taking bottles well so would I be able to bring him, check on him if I leave him in the hall with a sitter etc.  Finally thanks to awesome friends, Shannon watched all 4 boys with the help of one of my friends 10 year old daughters. Poor Abe still threw a fit or two.. but I figured out later the cause was NOT Shannon or my absence but the need to fill a diaper.. or rather overflow it. Anyway.. moving on.. Thank you babysitters. THANKS JESUS for giving me such an awesome support network.

Also.. Praise God Justin could come. He was able to come straight from work and be there for the mediation. Which was a blessing to my heart to have them see us both there as a team advocating for Lil Guy.

I made it to the specific parking lot -->Building-->Floor-->Hall--> Waiting area and found Lil Guy's caseworker. As I sat there I overheard all the lawyers yuckin it up over their cases like noone was within hearing distance.. "Which kid you got? He the newborn on drugs or the toddler with a broken arm?" and various other impersonal comments. Sad. Luckily we liked our Ad Litem (Lil Guy's lawyer). Not Luckily.. Praise God for that too. She was sweet and good at her job I heard. Biomom's attorney was a nice guy but kind of whacky. I think he was a hippy disguised as a lawyer. He had a tie with frogs on it and a beat up burlap messenger bag for his briefcase. Pretty sloppy.. but a nice guy all around. It seemed like a pretty relaxed group of lawyers to begin with. I guess you'd need a sense of humor working in family law.

We were all escorted back to the "jury room". Biomom was held in a room next door. We never saw her except in passing as I mentioned. I never saw her face.

We were all seated and it was a very awkward silence pretty much the majority of the time.. We waited a bit.
 The mediator came in about 15 minutes late.. got the run down from CPS lawyer, Biomom's lawyer, Lil Guy's lawyer and the CASA. They asked us if we planned to adopt. Yes of course. He left and talked to biomom. We waited a bit.

Came back.. she had requested a way to contact us. I provided the letter with hard copy pictures and an email address she can connect with us at. She also requested a goodbye visit. We were willing to do that if possible so they had to sit and talk about how to make that happen.. Since she's technically incarcerated the visit would have to follow any rules dictated by the Sheriff's Office and the court. They'd have to ask the judge.. Sheriff's Office Deputy may say no. So we waited a bit.

Judge decided if he ordered it.. Sheriff's office had to figure it out. So the goodbye visit will happen Friday for 30 minutes during the final court hearing.

They typed up the final paperwork, and brought it to biomom.. We waited.

They came back.... Mom signed the relinquishment. We will see you Friday for the visit but you are not required for the final hearing. Unknown Father's rights will be terminated then as well. You will be free to adopt him 90 days after Friday's hearing.

We left about an hour after it started. All the parties were amazed at how fast, easy, clean the mediation was. We weren't surprised. God has given us favor through every turn in this case. Not that those with complicated cases don't have favor but we are AMAZED at his kindness to us with Lil Guy. There has been little to no drama. Peaceful hearts, very few complications, no extensions or appeals or what have you. Lil Guy will be freed for adoption BEFORE his first birthday and hopefully adopted by 15 months. I am just in AWE of God's graciousness to us.

Just know.. that if you are considering fostering.. or adopting through foster care.. WE ARE NOT A TYPICAL EXAMPLE!!! I feel like we cheated or something. I feel silly talking to other foster parents who've dealt with SO MUCH MORE than we have. Lil Guy may have more issues down the line, and plenty to work through... but I'll always be able to look back and see God's hand working at every turn to ensure his place as a HERBE!!

Pray for our final hearing on Friday.. Pray for Biomom's sweet heart as she loses her parental rights.. Pray we can adopt Lil Guy on day 91... Pray for a peaceful goodbye visit for biomom and lil guy.. Pray we can maintain a good relationship with her to the extent it is beneficial to Lil Guy.