The Rest of the Story

We were so excited to get to share RJ’s picture the the great news about court with you on Friday!  All the comments and excitement from the friends and family in his life encourages us so much for the love that you will give him when he gets home.

I figured I’d give you a little more info now that I have a little more time.  In India the judges give verbal orders and then written orders are done.  We had been confused as to whether or not the judge had given his verbal orders at the final hearing two weeks ago or not.  His wording was very vague and we could not get a straight answer out of anyone so we waited.  Now what we received on Friday were his official verbals orders.  The actually words from the attorney were “it’s been sent to typing” which means it’s been dictated and now needs to be typed up.  This may seem like an easy task and should be after all this “thinking” he’s been doing on our case but this process usually takes 1-2 weeks as it depends on the load the clerical staff has and also on the approval of our attorney of the typed up terms.  This will not just be a court order like our adoption papers with Laila.  There are several things included for post-placement requirements and fees and things like that.  So, if there are things the attorney would need to have revised that would then need to be looked at again by the judge and approved this could get interesting with this judge’s track record of pushing everything off.  We’ll pray it moves quickly but need to be prepared.

Next, once we have the official signed, approved written orders, then the orphanage can apply for his passport.  We were informed on Friday that the procedures for this have recently changed in Pune and the timeline went from the passports taking 2 weeks to now taking 2 months :(  This was a HUGE disappointment.  Usually within one month of the written orders you could be there to bring your child home.  They did say hopefully somehow we could be pleasantly surprised and it wouldn’t take that long but we should prepare that it will.

So, we wait.  I have peace.  I was really upset about the passport procedure changing when I first found out but it’s one more thing completely out of my control and worry or anger arent going to make it better.  Also, I’d totally rather be prepared for two months and be pleasantly surprised than how this whole court thing has gone  Every time I really truly thought they’d have court and then find out everyone pretty much knew they wouldn’t.  I like to be in the loop and prepare for the worst but hope for the best.  Now that I know, I can handle that it may take 2 months.  That unsuspected (by me because no one told me) 2wks to 2mo change in the timeline for a court date just about did me in!

There is something about knowing that Ranjit is now our son and no one is going to take him away that makes me so much more at ease.  It has also erased that last veil of doubt that everything would fall apart and we wouldn’t get him.  He is ours.  The judge approved it.  No one is going to take our precious boy away.  This is no longer a game of “if” but a game of “when.”  While I know that this is still going to be hard and I want him home so bad, I know that he is my son now and that gives me peace.  I also know that my prayer has been to meet him by the end of this year and if nothing else, I trust God to get us there by Dec 31.

So, here’s our new prayer request list:

1.  Praise God!  2.  Fast efficient typing of the adoption orders.  3.  No revisions or quick ones if needed.  4.  Old passport timing in a new process (2wks vs. 2mo).  5.  Preparation for all of us to start our new lives together.

THANKS!

Here’s another picture of our cutie :)  This one is from last December and is the one we have in frames in our house.  I plan to make a picture post sometime soon and show you several of the pictures we have of him.  We even have some from his earlier days in the orphanage :)

Sidenote:  Tomorrow is October and I can’t decide what to fast from!!  Any suggestions?