Another step in the right directon

I have to start this post by saying that this past week has been incredibly hard in terms of dealing with the adoption. I came very near the point of saying, "Screw it! I can't handle this and we just need to walk away because I care too much and I'm tired of hurting!" But, I could not shake the ever present reminder that this is NOT about ME, it's about these beautiful baby girls who desperately need a permanent home. Our system is so broken and it's devastating that so many little ones are stuck in it!

Ok, so down to the news: yesterday, the judge in their case finalized the "permanent non-reunification" of M and A with their biological mother. She has exhausted her appeals and it is done. There are a few more steps for her in terms of terminating her rights to any future children she may bear (like the one she is pregnant with now) but she will never again have custody of M and A.  The grandmother was also formally reprimanded for having the bio mom with her and another convicted felon at their last visit and had to sign an agreement that she would not do it again. The girls then had to go spend four hours with her this afternoon and guess what? They came home talking about their "auntie". The same one from last week who is a felon. Their foster mom is pretty sure that she sealed her fate by doing that. She's also fairly certain that the social worker will take the girls' word for it as they have been very accurate about other things they have said.

All of this is great news in terms of our bringing them "home", but if there is one thing I've learned during my short time dealing with the system is that you just never know. It could still be weeks or months before everything is finalized, especially since their social worker is going on maternity leave this week! But, we are continuing to pray and remain optimistic that, in the end, they will end up right where the Lord intends for them to be.  Obviously, we hope that's here!!! Keep praying for us!