Let me Introduce you to...............

HANNAH RAISA MCNAB
Born 4-8-2006
Adopted 1-19-2010





Other than me being very nervous the whole way through, the day went perfectly.
It started before court even when my coordinator told me that my hair style looked beautiful and she really liked it--maybe she was just trying to make me feel better but it worked.
We got to court at 10:15 for my 11:00 appt so we had to wait--then the couple that had the appt before me took a very long time so we had to wait some more--didn't get called in until 12:00.
In court the judge asked me many questions about myself, my finances, my home, my family, my plans for parenting this girl, and my interactions with her during our visits. I answered all her questions and it went well. Then the prosecuter got to ask me questions and that went well also.
The judge then asked the head of the orphanage to speak and she spoke very well of me and my visits with Raisa--she could tell that I was a nice person and had good feelings towards the girl and she said that even though we couldn't speak the same language we seemed to understand each other--she said she didn't know how but it was obvious that we understood and cared for each other. She said that Raisa had made a good connection with me and that while I was gone, she would keep asking when her Mama was coming and that she asked Santa to bring me back sooner--I could have cried.
The social worker from Russia also had to speak and tell about her observations of our visits and she gave glowing reports of me also. She also reported that all my paperwork was done perfectly! (I have to do some bragging)
The judge asked all of us to step out while she deliberated--we were barely out of the room for a minute when she called us back in and said that I was now the girl's mother and her name would be changed to Hannah Raisa McNab and I would be listed as the mother on her new birth certificate. It was all I could do not to faint.
The she dismissed us and I walked out and had to sit down in the first chair I could find--I couldn't hardly talk to anyone but they started hugging me and I started crying--it is just so hard to describe the emotion of it all but I don't think I have ever felt happier or more relieved.
The coordinator then went on to tell me that I responded very nicely in court and the proceedings went very quickly because I had very good answers for everything the judge asked. She also said that the judge was very impressed with my demeaner and my feelings and that it was very easy for her to know that I would be a good mother to Hannah. (more bragging).
The Director of the orphanage invited me to come back and adopt a brother for Hannah--if only I could afford it.
When we walked back out through the lobby I must have been smiling like a canary because people that I didn't even know started saying congratulations to me and one woman came up and hugged me--I had never seen her before but I hugged back anyway.
It was just so surreal. I was still walking on clouds when we got back to the hotel and had to talk to some one so I found the couple I knew and we celebrated together--they were the couple that went before me in court and they were granted their son today.--it was a happy day all around.

We went to a restaurant called Bangkok and I had chicken with orange sauce served with rice and then lime cheesecake for dessert--we all agreed that it was the best atmosphere and food we have had the whole time in Russia--maybe it was our state of mind but it was great.

Now it is 10 days before I can have Hannah with me. I get to visit 5 times during those 10 days so it is about every other day. The other couple is going to be here that whole time also so I have some one to hang out with.

Oh--just an update on the weather.--the weather button on the right is not accurate (I don't know why but it was no where near 32 degrees today--maybe they forgot the minus sign) It was -24 actual temp today and very very windy with blowing snow--but even that seemed beautiful today.


Isn't she lovely??