We arrived yesterday, we leave tomorrow. Today we spent 6 hours in the car, two hours at court.
I've given you the verdict, but I will share more of the story.
Our attorney picked up Irena and me at about 11:30 this morning and we made the journey to Jēkabpils, where we would participate in the regional court hearing to finalize her adoption in the Latvian courts.
Of course we had just enough time to stop at a quaint cafe and bakery we visited back in October that lies at the half way point. Amazing latte and quick lunch.
We arrive in Jēkabpils just about 10 minutes before the hearing.
Our attorney spent much of our 2+ hour drive briefing me and Irena on what the hearing would be like and how best to respond to the judge and prosecuting attorney, who would be representing the state of Latvia.
When the judge enters the room you stand up.
When the just addresses you, you stand up.
You do not answer with just yes or no, but you follow up with a few complete sentences supporting your answer.
Everything is in Latvian, so I have a translator that is whispering everything in my ear.
They could ask about anything ...
sibling rivalry?
why do you want to adopt?
how important is your religion to you?
what opportunities are you providing for Irena?
Expect anything.
It was more intense than I was expecting.
The prosecutor had me sweating when she staring asking about church, does Irena have choices, does she keep in touch with her friends, can she choose her own friends, does she get to go out and do what she wants, does she have access to computer, can she use it whenever she wants...
With each question I was nervous about the direction she would head if my answer did not satisfy her? What was the 'right' answer?
The hearing would seek to accomplish three things: approve the adoption of Irena into our family, approve the change of her birth certificate to list Jon's and my name as her parents, and to add her new middle name HOPE, and new last name, Bechtle.
I'm happy to say that all were approved.
Some highlights were hearing from both the orphan court judge (from Irena's home region, whom we met with three times during our October visit) and Irena's orphanage director. What she added to my statement was to emphasis her observation of Irena's relationship with Jon. How Irena had never had a father or male in her life and how attached she already seemed to Jon and how loving Jon was towards her. Her director went on to explain how he had observed Irena's character to have changed after her initial hosting in American and how even today he felt he was interacting with a different girl, a happy girl, who when her first met her in 2010 was so depressed and hopeless and now alive with the hope of her future life as a daughter and sister and no longer an orphan.
The list of things to be grateful for seems endless in the moment.
Here are three photos.
Region Court with Latvian Flag
Door to Courtroom
Our attorney on the right, prosecuting attorney on the left, my translator in the front row.
