The Girls – An Epic Adoption Story
The Girls
[singlepic id=69 w=320 h=240 float=center]I never really remember having a preference.
I mean when I was asked what I wanted I may have said boy, but that’s what the guy is supposed to say, right?
But I really didn’t care.
Once Shelbi Lynn Smith entered the world, with two fingers in her mouth at all times, I really didn’t care. She took my breath away, and in so many ways melted my heart even during the colicy days when she never seemed to be comfortable unless asleep.
I was totally content with being the father of girls, and as Baili Rose and Mallori Shamblin joined her I became even more convinced that being the father of girls was a pretty good gig.
Until I had the dream…
February 9th Update – An Epic Adoption Story
Sorry for leaving everyone hanging over the last couple of days. After my website going down I had to rebuild much of it from scratch and it took a lot out of me. Now, I have some catching up to do.
I think the easiest thing to hit some highlights, and then follow up with some specifics in the following days.
Sunday Tim, Moses, Lucas, and I, via boda boda (aka motorcycle), went to Calvary Chapel Kampala for worship. It’s a mixed congregation of internationals, Ugandans, and ex-patriots. It was a packed house. All of the music was familiar and in English, and the pastor announced his resignation. No joke. He’s been here for nine years, has risen up several elders and pastors, and the church is in a period of rapid growth and the dude is leaving it in the hands of the guy who came and helped him start the church. We ran into the replacement at lunch on Monday at Good Africa. We had a great conversation.
Sunday night we and the Thompsons went out for pizza with another couple adopting from Austin, Texas; a lady adopting from Kansas, another Ugandan couple, and our friend Lawrence. We then piled into two vehicles , ran out of gas, and then walked to the International Hotel to watch some local dancers and to see the Chelsea and Liverpool match.
Monday was our “Gotcha Day,” the day we became the guardians of three more children. At first our judge asked where the mothers were, and there was an awkward silence. After Agnes, our lawyers assistant, explained how far away the family lived the judge explained that from now on when he presents a ruling the mothers are to be present in case they have a change of heart. Needless to say it was a little tense, but the judge was willing to give his ruling and we first became the guardians of Alex Wandera and Fiona Mirembe followed with the uneventful ruling on Phiona Mukimba, respectively known as Lucas, Lilli, and Kamri. After we left the judge’s chambers we celebrated with hugs all around. This was the moment we had been pursuing for 3 ½ years. We celebrated with lunch at Good Africa, similar to a Panera, and then went to finish medical testing at IOM. More on that later…
February 6th Second Update – An Epic Adoption Story
Saturday was our first down day without a single appointment. We played with the children outside, just hung out and read, played cards, and got online to fix the blog. The kids like watching movies on a portable DVD player that was here already. We thought we’d use our computer for movies, but they push every button so, unsupervised movie watching is not an option. They like to watch parts that they like over and over again and seldom watch a movie from beginning to end. Miss Pattie Cake is a preschool movie, kind of like Barnie, and the kids love singing along and may even break out in dance. When Daddy dances it is funny. Tim and I will make an evening trip to the grocery store at the end of our road to get beverages,
Our lawyer is well spoken and understands our English fairly well. I believe he spent time in America, so that helps. His desk has stacks of files on it, and his assistants have small desks in two other offices that attach to his. It was obvious that the first time that our judge looked at the cases was the day of court. There was no homework done prior to our day in court. He took handwritten notes that his assistant will transcribe. I guess the investigation and homework part is done between court and the ruling. Both he and the lawyer referenced the Ugandan Child Act and the judge addressed our lawyer for a moment as a member of parliament asking why there isn’t more direction for government and judges in regards to guardianship. I think our judge is going to be an advocate for reform, which could mean an easier road ahead for future adoptions.
We will not make the five hour trip to Busia until we have several days between appointments. If things move rapidly next week we might get lucky and get an interview with the Embassy by Friday. If we don’t, then we may leave soon after getting our ruling for Busia. We will check with the Embassy on Monday, after our hearing, to see about that possibility.
It is my hope to visit several villages and preach, maybe even go to Mbale and preach there, and to Tororo to see a friend who has been in prison for a year for a crime he did not commit, nor has he been tried. Let’s just say that even as broken as our justice system can be it is beyond compare, and I imagine a Ugandan prison to be as different.