Monday, November 16, 2020

We started the day by again visiting Nicole, then returned to the courthouse to meet with the judge, who was now joined by two "assessors." We were there for 45 minutes, and about half that time was waiting for the judge and assessors to evaluate our adoption petition. They returned to the courtroom and gave us the good news we’d been waiting so long to hear, that our request to adopt Nicole was approved!  We learned a 30-day waiting period will now occur before the adoption is finalized, and after that we will be able to take Nicole from the orphanage, and obtain a Ukrainian passport and U.S. visa, before flying back home.

We are looking forward to this time passing quickly, and we will make arrangements so the paperwork can be processed as quickly as possible in mid-December. It is our hope to bring her home to Baltimore before the new year begins, but we will certainly celebrate the occasion whenever it occurs.