Court

Dear Grace Yeabsira

May 3, 2012 was a big deal in the Bowen house because if we were really lucky by the end of the day you would be a Bowen too! 

Court has been a morning event but the day we got there the judges switched and the new judge wanted to have court in afternoon.  Sounds good until court day and then you have to wait until two to go to court.  Upside we got to see your beautiful face in the morning have quick lunch and then Eshetu drove us to the court house and our lawyer Tafese met us at the door.  We rode up in a dark elevator and walked down the hall to a room the size of a small classroom full of people.  It was a true melting pot families from all over the world hoping to pass court, birth families being so brave to give testimony.  It is a tense room with Silence signs everywhere.

Everyone who has a court date of May 3rd arrived at 2pm and then waits their turn to be called.  The clerk would open the door  say one word in Amharic and a lawyer would jump up talk to the judge and then call in the family.  Some would walk out smiling some did not.  A little after two hours our orphanage was called and our lawyer walked in.  He then motioned us in.  We handed our passport to the clerk and were seated.  

The judge is young, beautiful and very smart.  She started asking us questions.  

Do you have other children?

Have you met Yeabsira?

Have you been trained in international adoption?

Do you know other adoptive families?

Do you see them often?

Do you plan to teach her about Ethiopia?

Do you understand and have resources if she has questions about why she was adopted?

Do you understand this will be final and there is no way to reverse it?

 On the edge of our seats we said yes in unison!

Then the best words I have ever heard  -- It is done she is yours!!

That was it GRACE YEABSIRA you official became

YEABSIRA DANIEL BOWEN

We were ecstatic!  It was 4:15 we had until five to see you! Eshetu picked us up and asked what the program was:  We said go see the newest BOWEN.  

He made the trip in ten minutes and we got to spend a half hour with you!!  

Great Great Great day!!

Love you so much your

Mommy and Daddy