Celebrating the Court Decree allowing Irina Labanova to be adopted and her name changed to Erin Taylor Bruce!

We were successful in receiving the documents from Kiev by (bus) early this morning and at 12:30 we picked up Elana, the orphanage lawyer and Erin to take them to court.
Erin sat on mama’s lap and we held hands during the court hearing. It was a less formal environment then American courts but Victor said that just depends on the city. The judge was an older woman and smiled at us before she entered the room. The guardianship city representative and the lawyer for the orphanage were the only people who spoke other than the young prosecutor who only briefly gave her agreement to the adoption. We were questioned individually by the judge about ourselves and asked whom do you want to adopt? Are you materially able to care for her-send her to school etc? Mama was asked if she wanted to add anything and she just stated that they loved her very much and would promise to keep her connected to her Ukrainian roots.
Afterwards Erin was asked to stand and explain how she felt. She told them about staying with us in the US and how she already had a good relationship with her new brother and sisters. She said,” they have already done more for me than my own family has ever done”.

After hearing from all the interested parties the judge asked us to step out of her office and in about 10 minutes we were asked to return for the rendering of her decision. We all stood as she read through the formalities and when we finally heard her agreement after a lot of legal wording, we all heard the decision with great emotion. Now we start the 10 day wait (appeal period).

After court we took Erin to get her passport photo made and then we went to do our petition for a new passport with the notary. (We have been very happy with the notary we have used as she is very friendly and seems to be genuinely happy for us. She is also convenient to the hotel.) This was done in preparation for Victors return from his trip home today until the 6th so that we will be prepared for our trips to the oblast on the 6-7th to finalize the birth certificate and the passport. Our last step in the process before heading back to Kiev for the medical exam and exit visa.

HINT of the day: Don’t send out your laundry with the hotel here. A bag of clothes cost us $64. Victor found a laundry a couple of blocks from here where you only have to pay 5grh a kilo. Our laundry was gone for 3 days and came back damp and Kathie and Dave’s were ready at the laundry the next day having been dried in a dryer.

Thank you for all your continue prayer support. We can actually feel God’s presence with us as we have taken these almost unbelievable steps in the process of adoption. We are so grateful for all that have been in this with us both in prayer and in helping us with our children at home. You have only to look at the smile on Erin’s face to know God already has great plans for the newest member of our family.