I'm sorting through a lot of emotions this week, so forgive me if I'm absent from filling you all in on the goings on around here.
Today is Monday. On Wednesday and Thursday, we will be in court as we fight for permanent custody and adoption of our son, Mac.
The short story, if you don't know, is that we brought Mac home in Dec 2008 as an adoptive placement through foster care. He was 10 months old. He had been in care for 3 months at that point after the DSS powers that be determined that nobody in his biological family was capable of caring for him.
Three months later in March 2009 I got the most devastating call of my life. Elderly relatives were suing the state for custody. We were advised to get an attorney. We, in turn, counter sued.
That's the very, very short story. Marshall doesn't like me putting everything out there for the world to see, so I'll leave it at that. If you know us, you know more.
For sixteen months we've waited for our day in court for a judge to determine where Mac should be. We have several things going for us - time, age, bonding, completing the process, a large network of loved ones, etc. The only thing they have going for them is blood, and while blood may be thicker than water - love is so much thicker than blood.
So if you read this, please pray for our family this week. Two days of court will certainly take its toll on everyone. Pray for traveling mercies, pray for Marshall & me to have the right words. Pray for our witnesses to also have the right words. Pray for the judge to do what is best for Mac. And pray that the best thing for him is granting his adoption into our family.
It's an emotional week. I will attempt to update, but if I don't - forgive me. Thank you!
Sharing The Message That Life Is Hard, Motherhood Is Harder, and That Jesus Loves Us All Anyway.
1 comment:
Although I've already talked to Allison several times today be it text, in person, or phone call... I sincerely appreciate this! You don't know how much your words mean to me, especially when work is as chaotic as it is right now. There are days when I think to myself... How much worse is this going to get? How many more will be pilled onto my case load? How many more budget cuts will I have to work through? How much more can I take before all the madness stops? But things like this totally make my job worth while. It reminds me why I do what I do everyday, and of God's purpose in my life. This will definitely be my pick-me up when work starts to get to me the most.
For those of you who read this blog...It is such a joy to work with this family, and work for Mac. I will never forget getting his case on my desk and being told to "move it quickly... like yesterday!" I threw myself into this case for weeks traveling an hour each way to work his case so that I could place him with his forever family. He is my little buddy and I love him dearly as I love my own two little girls. And there are times I definitely feel like his bodyguard, all 118 pounds of me, for the record ;)
Allison never ceases to chock me full of sweet treats and goodies when I come to visit... all the more reason to stop by! Nevertheless, this family amazes me in how well they parent Mac and Sarah Bradley. They do so with lots of love, patience, and explanations, rather than just telling them "no". I have learned so much in just watching them grow as a family. Moreover, they have endured a lot of unknowns with Mac... be it medical concerns and this custody battle. It has been a roller coaster of emotions for me, so I can't even begin to fathom what it has been like for them, but they have remained patient, hopeful, and steadfast through it all.
...For the blogging family... Thank you for bringing Mac into your home with open arms and hearts. You are such wonderful people and it is such a blessing to work with you. And I too have wondered what will I do with myself on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month, and every other day? No matter where I end up working one of these days... I will always remember you guys, and I will surely keep in contact with you once everything is all said and done. I love you all <3
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