We took the older kids out of school for the hearing, and my parents, Randy's mom and Cherie, Bill and Katelyn attended the big event as well. Randy, Mira and I sat in front of microphones facing the judge, and the "spectators" sat behind us. Eventually, Mirabelle became more interested in visiting her smiling extended family at the back of the courtroom than in trying to push her fingers and other items into Randy's mouth (an activity that had occupied her for more than five minutes), and toddled away from the table where we were sitting. Judge Judy didn't exactly need to ask Mira questions, anyway.
The hearing went smoothly, of course, and afterward we went to celebrate at the memorable Mickey's.
Mickey's
A year ago, we were still waiting for a referral - rather crabbily by September, I might add. It goes without saying that so much has happened since then, including meeting Mira in her native Ethiopia and bringing her home to our family. Although we obviously expected to be home with our darling daughter by September 2009, sometimes it still amazes us that she's actually here.
We know how fortunate we've been. When you embark on the international adoption journey through CHSFS, they want your eyes to be wide open. We completed mandatory homework about attachment problems, read about the effects malnutrition and institutional care can have on a baby, discussed post-adoption depression, and attended classes on trans-racial parenting. At times all the "what-ifs" were pretty scary! We look at Mirabelle now, fitting right in to our clan, healthy and sunny, embraced by our extended family, and count our blessings.
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