Courtroom Update

Have you ever read a good book only to be disappointed with the ending?

We have had today's date in the back of our minds for 3 months and honestly I'm not sure what we were expecting to have it be like.  However, after juggling carpooling duty, after school kid-watching, childcare for the other 2 and Brads out of work beeline downtown to the courthouse we waited for an hour for the trial to begin.  After all parties had come into the courtroom there was some tearful solemness happening at the desk where Little Lady's mom, dad and their respective lawyers were seated.  The judge made a comment about a "difficult but loving" decision and then asked any in the room who were not family members to leave.

I have since learned that the parents have formally, voluntarily given up their parental rights of Little Lady.

And I have just witnessed Christmas.

God willingly sending his son to be raised by imperfect people in a fallen and broken world.  The joy Joseph and Mary undoubtedly experienced by having this one child in their home came at the great cost of his Dad giving his up.

I am struck as I write this.
Joseph and Mary were foster parents!
Oh the similarities are striking:
The "inconvenience" of God's ask.
The lifelong effects for them as a couple as  they raised this one.
Having to explain to him who his "real" Dad was.
They even had parent visitation times!

This view God is sharing with me just confirms once again how he understands us.  He not only gets what it's like to work with foster families, he was the Dad who signed off his rights and he understands what Little Lady will go through in her life too.  A mix of emotions.

Joyful.
Heartbroken.
Encouraged.
Saddened.
Hopeful.
at Peace.

So what's next?
Little Lady will be placed in an adoptive placement (which will be our home) until all interested persons who want to adopt her have completed paperwork (within a court ordered time frame).  Then all those persons will be reviewed and approved or not.
So we wait.
Again.

I have a sign hanging in her room that best describes this journey:

and so onward we go.  One day at a time.
Thanks for your prayers. I pray that you will experience Christmas afresh this week as well.