So, last week we got the letter I had been waiting for, dropped through our door!
We had news from the court that we could go before the judge, in the next step of our adoption journey.
So to summarise for anyone who missed the Ugandan part of our journey. I went to Uganda with all intentions of adopting Lutaaya there. Unfortunately, the judge, had other plans and I was encouraged to take legal guardianship instead. In this way, I could leave the country legally with Lutaaya, and apply for adoption in the UK. We then found out that we needed to be in the UK 6 months before we could apply for adoption here.
So here we are! Court date allocated.
But.....
due to inter-country adoptions being so few and far between here, the judge has called me not for a final hearing, but for a directorate hearing.
I'm not an expert in the law here but this seems to mean that it gives the judge opportunity to speak to me and my social worker. Check everything is above board, and then make a decision as to what we do next.
He could ask for further information or another hearing. He could indicate in this hearing that we can go for the final hearing where Lutaaya will be invited to the ceremony and everything will be signed and sealed!
This is the outcome we need!
It would be wonderful to finally have the official paperwork stating that Lutaaya is adopted legally in the UK and to move on in our lives, rather than have court dates, paperwork and general adoption process stuff hanging over us!
Please pray with us that the judge will show mercy and compassion in his decision. Please pray that the whole process will come to an end soon and that we can celebrate the end of the legalities. Please pray that our final hearing will be as soon as possible so that we can then apply for Lutaaya to become a UK citizen. Lutaaya doesn't have to attend court this time so she'll be happy in school as per usual. Please pray that she copes in the coming days. All this talk of court, judges and decisions is a lot for a little ten year old girl to deal with.
Our court date is Monday. We will be in court at 10am (GMT).
Thank you in advance for your prayers x
