Thursday, March 19, 2009
The termination trial is at an end and we've got a ruling.
After nearly 2 days of grueling trial and listening to testimony presented by witnesses, evidence entered into court, and closing arguments, the judge told us we were all excused yesterday afternoon at 4:30 PM.
No verdict or ruling was given. We were simply told we could leave.
The state attorney explained to me outside of the courtroom that the judge had up to 60 days to rule on the case and that he'd send his ruling in minute entries to the lawyers and they would disseminate that information to the involved parties. The CPS worker said she'd call us when she heard.
I left the courthouse more fearful of the outcome than I had been before the contested termination trial began! The lawyer defending Boo's mom did a GREAT job of arguing her side and the state attorney also did a WONDERFUL job of arguing on behalf of Boo having permanency with us. It was a complicated case. I walked out of court truly not knowing which way the judge would rule. My heart was heavy and I felt sick to my stomach. I feared we'd be left hanging, worrying, for the next 2 months!
Last night I felt so discouraged and couldn't sleep a wink. I slept in the guest bed in Boo's room because it comforted me to hear her breathing as she slept.
Not expecting to hear back for several weeks, imagine my surprise when my cell phone rang at 2:33 PM today while I was at work and it was the CPS worker. She was calling to tell me that the judge had ruled for severance of parental rights!!! He ruled in less than 24 hours!! I couldn't believe what I was hearing! It was so unexpected! I thanked her for sharing the news and called Oronzo and we both choked up as we absorbed the news together.
Not long after the CPS worker called me, I got a call from Boo's lawyer. She called to make sure I had heard the news and we ended up spending 45 minutes talking about several things pertaining to Boo and her long-standing case. That's the longest I've ever talked to her since the day Boo was transferred into our home!
What happens next? We wait to see if Boo's mom will appeal (we strongly suspect she will and, oddly enough, I'm actually okay with that) within 30 days and, if so, then we wait another 6-15 months to see if the higher courts overturns this severance ruling. We've been told that it's very rare for that to happen, but we have to prepare ourselves for the reality that it could happen.
In the meantime, we get to proceed with the adoption process, right up to the finalization. That will have to wait until after the appeal ruling.
13 months and 4 days we've waited for this ruling, praying with all of our might, enlisting the aid of our family and friends in prayer, worrying that we'd loose this precious little girl that we've grown to love so dearly. 20 1/2 months of her 25 months of life, Boo has been in the system as a foster child, without permanency, without a family to truly call her own.
If we get past the appeal, all of that will change. We will adopt her in due time and she will LEGALLY become the daughter she already is in our hearts and she will spend the rest of her life as an well-loved part of our immediate and extended family.
Thank, thank you all for your support. I can't tell you how much it means to me! Please, keep those prayers coming. It's not over yet.
I'll keep you posted on the appeals and adoption processes.
No verdict or ruling was given. We were simply told we could leave.
The state attorney explained to me outside of the courtroom that the judge had up to 60 days to rule on the case and that he'd send his ruling in minute entries to the lawyers and they would disseminate that information to the involved parties. The CPS worker said she'd call us when she heard.
I left the courthouse more fearful of the outcome than I had been before the contested termination trial began! The lawyer defending Boo's mom did a GREAT job of arguing her side and the state attorney also did a WONDERFUL job of arguing on behalf of Boo having permanency with us. It was a complicated case. I walked out of court truly not knowing which way the judge would rule. My heart was heavy and I felt sick to my stomach. I feared we'd be left hanging, worrying, for the next 2 months!
Last night I felt so discouraged and couldn't sleep a wink. I slept in the guest bed in Boo's room because it comforted me to hear her breathing as she slept.
Not expecting to hear back for several weeks, imagine my surprise when my cell phone rang at 2:33 PM today while I was at work and it was the CPS worker. She was calling to tell me that the judge had ruled for severance of parental rights!!! He ruled in less than 24 hours!! I couldn't believe what I was hearing! It was so unexpected! I thanked her for sharing the news and called Oronzo and we both choked up as we absorbed the news together.
Not long after the CPS worker called me, I got a call from Boo's lawyer. She called to make sure I had heard the news and we ended up spending 45 minutes talking about several things pertaining to Boo and her long-standing case. That's the longest I've ever talked to her since the day Boo was transferred into our home!
What happens next? We wait to see if Boo's mom will appeal (we strongly suspect she will and, oddly enough, I'm actually okay with that) within 30 days and, if so, then we wait another 6-15 months to see if the higher courts overturns this severance ruling. We've been told that it's very rare for that to happen, but we have to prepare ourselves for the reality that it could happen.
In the meantime, we get to proceed with the adoption process, right up to the finalization. That will have to wait until after the appeal ruling.
13 months and 4 days we've waited for this ruling, praying with all of our might, enlisting the aid of our family and friends in prayer, worrying that we'd loose this precious little girl that we've grown to love so dearly. 20 1/2 months of her 25 months of life, Boo has been in the system as a foster child, without permanency, without a family to truly call her own.
If we get past the appeal, all of that will change. We will adopt her in due time and she will LEGALLY become the daughter she already is in our hearts and she will spend the rest of her life as an well-loved part of our immediate and extended family.
Thank, thank you all for your support. I can't tell you how much it means to me! Please, keep those prayers coming. It's not over yet.
I'll keep you posted on the appeals and adoption processes.
Labels: Boo, expanding our family, faith, family, foster children, foster-to-adopt, fostering, leap of faith
33 Comments:
That is FANTASTIC news! I am SO delighted for you!
Congrats on your good news!! I will continue to pray that all goes well with the adoption process and the appeal.
I'm so happy for you, and even more happy for Boo!!
I am so excited and happy for you! You brought tears to my eyes. You all will be in my prayers.
I'm so happy for all of you!! Celebrate today!!!
Praise God! He is amazing, isn't He?? I'm so happy for you, and a little teary and choked up, too. =) To go through this whole process (and it's still going) for so long takes a lot of strength, faith, love and dedication which you definitely have. I'm so thankful to know that one more child is safe and loved!! I'll keep praying!
God has heard our cries! Our family is very excited for each of you, and you will continue to be in our prayers!
Congratulations on your good news. I can only imagine how difficult this must have been to go through.
This is such wonderful news-- I'm so relieved! Hooray!
That is wonderful news! I will continue to pray for you all. Boo needs a permant family.
Been following your blog for several weeks now...and trying to catch up on your old posts as well.
Love your stories, and many congrats to you. I'll keep you in my prayers.
I am jumping for joy at this exciting news. We will certainly continue to keep you all in our prayers.
So happy for Boo. It will be important for her to know that she was very wanted by her first family, yet I'm hoping that Boo's mom's heart heard how Boo is thriving in your home (Boo's home).
This is good news!! Crossing fingers that all will be smooth for the adoption process!
Allie
wow a serious AMEN Provers 3:5-6
and a much deserved glass of bubbly
blessings
gp in mt
HOOOOOORAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations! That is wonderful news!
I am so, so, so VERY happy for you! Rejoicing in the goodness of our God, the goodness of the judges heart who made the best ruling for Boo. He gave her a family.
Hugs galore to you all and the prayers keep coming! xo
That is wonderful news for all of you, especially Boo.
Tears of happiness,
Kiy
This is a great step forward for Boo! I'm so happy for everyone in your family - my eyes got really misty reading this I'm that happy!!
oh, yay!!! I'm so glad/relieved!
That's such great news! I've been thinking of you, which is a little odd for me since I don't actually know you outside of blogland, but I've been praying things would go your way. I hope the appeal process is over with quickly! :)
Congratualtions!~ I am so happy that the results were what they are. Boo is a very lucky little girl to have you in her life. I hope her mother accepts the wisdom of the decision and puts her child's needs ahead of her own...
What a smart judge! I hope all is well over the next little while and one day soon little Boo will be "offically" what she already is, your daughter.
Praise God for today's news!
I'll continue praying for your family...
SO AWESOME!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you all! :)
Happy news indeed. Hoping for the best for your family!
Such fantastic news!!! We will continue praying that all goes well and quickly :) Love to you!!
Congratulations...I have been checking back often to see how things were going....I'm a long time lurker.
Sincerely
LeAnna
Adoptive mom of 1
Congratulations!
That is great news! I'm so glad.
I have tears in my eyes and goose bumps on my body. WOW, what awesome news, I am so happy for you guys, I don't know you, but wow, I am just thrilled. You deserve this a lot and i am in awe of the heart you have to taje this darling little girl into your life knowing she may not stay forever.
I hope she is there forever because she will be truely blessed. Congratulations on getting to the next faze in the process. You deserve it.
I can't believe how far behind on blogging I am!! I'm happy to hear you received some good news on this ruling and that it looks like Boo will get some stability in her life...I can't imagine what the birth mom is going through and I'm sure she's going to appeal, so I know it's not over yet. Continued prayers for Boo!
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