Our rescheduled trial date happened Thursday morning. It didn't go as we hoped.
The paternity test results came back for Brown Eyed Baby Girl, but not yet for the older sister. At least we know the testing was done, and is just caught up in the processing and filing at the DA's office. However, the judge decided to reschedule again after those results are officially back to the court. We're hoping the new trial is sometime in August.
Of course, any delay is an annoyance, but it rankles because of our current family situation. Some of you may not know that the Man of the House took a job out of state, back in my hometown. He had to begin being "on the clock" starting July 1st. We can't officially move the girls out of state until the adoption is official. Of course, we're not willing to just forget about them and leave them behind with a new foster family until this is finished, one way or another. However, this means that my husband and our two kids are currently in the new place, living with my parents until I (and hopefully the other two girls) can move up and get a place of our own. It has been very hard being separated, and lots of crying has happened from all involved parties! We keep telling ourselves that this is a blip of time in our life story compared to providing the girls a forever home, so we're keeping our chins up.
Hopefully, once we get the trial done, and assuming adoption is the next step, that will be done in 40-90 days. Prayers for Thanksgiving or Christmas TOGETHER in our new home, please!
BUT, since nothing can be uncomplicated, the grandmother of the dad who was proven to be baby's biological father is now pursuing custody of both girls. The judge ordered a home study to begin assessing the potential of the home as a new placement for the girls. Of course, this adds more anxiety AGAIN at what is supposed to be the very end of the case. The other family members whose names were brought forward last time were all eliminated as potential placements for one reason or another. So, this should be the LAST person to come forward and seek custody.
Two surprises happened, however. Biological mom actually signed relinquishment papers to end her parental rights this week. Sometimes this happens of its own accord, as a relinquishment looks better on a record than a termination of parental rights. Now, she didn't have anything in there asking US to keep custody of the girls and move towards adoption; I feel that she is still hoping for a family member to appear who will adopt the girls and keep them in her vicinity.
Also, the grandmother who is now wanting the girls asked to meet me at court. It may be that she is being pressured by the legal team representing her son to ask for the girls, and may be willing to rethink that. Even though her son's lawyer was pushing forward her desire for custody, she told the girls' caseworker on the side that, if she could see the girls one more time, and meet me, and feel comfortable that they are in a good home and taken care of, she will drop her custody suit. We have a Chik-Fil-A meeting set up for next Thursday for her to spend an hour with the girls and talk to me, with the caseworker supervising.
So, two things could happen - a) she could bow out of the homestudy, in which case we are the only placement and will move towards adoption as soon as the trial is done and the three parents' rights are officially terminated (which is not a question of happening at this point - we're just waiting on paternity testing to determine options for the girls' permanent placements). OR b) she will decide to keep pursuing custody and this will drag out further past the trial.
Because we have had the girls for almost a year, we have the option at that point to retain our own lawyer if this continues, and have representation to counter her desire for custody. We are being given a couple of names to look into. The caseworker said to wait on that though, until we know what this grandmother is going to decide.
SO... that's what is happening in out lives! Thank you for the encouragement, prayers, and happy thoughts. God is good, all the time!
"A single thread in a tapestry, though its color brightly shines, can never see its purpose in the pattern of the grand design... Look at your life through heaven's eyes." - Prince of Egypt
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