Here is your third December sprinkle of encouragement! This is my third email home from Sacramento dated 6/3/2018. At this point, Luke was technically considered an “adoptive placement” with our family, however not our son. In other words, he was living with us under our care and as our son in our hearts, but his adoption could not yet be finalized legally in a court of law. Actually that process would end up taking another LONG fourteen months! Everything in California felt like it was happening at lightening speed when I originally typed these words. I’m so glad I wrote everything down.
my third email home (6/3/2018)
Whew! The past 36 hours have been crazy. Good but crazy. Here are the highlights…
luke leaves the hospital
Luke was discharged from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. Considering his physical condition when he was born, it is quite remarkable. Your prayers for Luke’s health were no doubt a huge part of his speedy progress!
nadine signs the paperwork
Nadine signed the relinquishment paperwork Saturday afternoon as well. That means that she has signed over her parental rights to us. In the State of California, she had three options related to revoking her relinquishment or “changing her mind”.
- Place a 7-day hold on the paperwork.
- Place a 30-day hold on the paperwork.
- Waive option #1 and #2 and declare immediate effect.
Nadine chose option #3 to waive her revocation options and declare immediate effect. That means that the paperwork goes to the State of California Monday morning to be “stamped”.
the social workers start ICPC
Those signed papers also mean that our social workers in both states can start the process (called ICPC) to get Luke clearance to leave California. ICPC stands for Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Essentially, ICPC allows for the legal transport of a child from one state to another in a foster or adoption placement. ICPC should take about a week or so depending on any red tape. I will be happy to have Luke on Ohio soil, be reunited with my family and sleep in my own bed (even for just a few hours at a time).
the facilitator plans lunch
Our adoption facilitator said that Nadine was very positive at the relinquishment signing about us and about Luke’s future. She wants to stay in touch with us throughout Luke’s life with updates and photos (we want that as well). Nadine also wants me, Luke and our facilitator to meet her for lunch before I leave with Luke to return home. I think fish tacos are being discussed. Nadine does love this little boy.
allan returns home
Allan left to fly home to Ohio earlier today (Sunday). He has to get back to work, take back control of our house and prepare some things for a newborn’s arrival. Hannah and Colin have been holding down the fort with the supervision of my parents. It’s time for their dad to come back so our older two can just be teenagers again.
not yet “ours”
Several of you have asked if Luke is now officially “ours”. The short answer is “not yet”. Living with our family is officially considered an adoptive placement at this point, and Luke is not yet our son. We cannot legally finalize his adoption by California law for at least six months. It ended up being fourteen actually. Several more things have to happen between now and then, including the lawyer working with Luke’s birth father.
I am going to let God and our legal team here in Sacramento worry about that process. If I think too hard about it, I will let fear creep into my heart and it has no place there. The phrase I am told to keep in mind is “cautiously optimistic”. Any of this can still change on a dime. Truth be told, I don’t care if the paperwork refers to Luke as our adoptive placement and not yet our son. I’ve already fallen head over heels for this little boy. I think I passed “cautiously optimistic” several days ago. Prayer support for Nadine’s well being and a smooth legal process would be greatly appreciated!
one hour at a time
I will send another update in a day or so. I’m adjusting to being here in the hotel with Luke by myself. He’s a good little sidekick!
I am taking all of this one hour at a time, and just focusing on the next immediate step. Right now Luke is sleeping in the stroller while I do laundry. I had forgotten how much laundry one teeny person can generate!
Thank you for all of your love and support. We are able to move forward because we know we have our army at home covering this in prayer. Luke is peaceful tonight and so am I!
Love, Melissa
Our fourth sprinkle of encouragement will be delivered to you fresh from the oven on 12/16/2019. We are especially excited to share this one! Do you believe that God sends us personal messages? We certainly do after everything we have experienced. Stay tuned next week for “the sparrow and the surfer dude“.
Image by braetschit from Pixabay.
