June 16th Long Awaited Court
Well today was the day. I've had babysitters lined up for days. David took the day off, and we've been trading phone calls with the lawyers and social workers in preparation for our testimonies and written statements. Our babysitters came just on time and David and I set off for the court house. This was the first time we've left the house with no children, in 6 weeks! David stopped at a gas station on the way to top off the gas and tempt me with something to snack on while I was separated waiting to testify.
David kept saying he's not nervous, but we nearly drove away without the gas he had just paid for. ;-) When we arrived our home supervisor was just walking in.
We went through the metal detectors and headed to the elevator. Upstairs the occupational therapist was going over her testimony with the county attorney. We walked the other direction away from the bio grandma and her boyfriend. We sat and talked with the physical therapist and our home supervisor. After a little while the GAL came out of court, "The grandma has agreed to go with an *offer of proof. That means two things, #1. You won't have to testify. #2. You can all come in to the court room." The GAL also added that we might want to come in anyway in case something comes up and we need to hire a lawyer. We let everyone go in and get settled then we quietly walked into court and sat in the back. The judge looked up and said, "I see a few new faces in the audience..." "Yes ma'am they are the foster parents." Answered the GAL. "And everyone is ok with them being in here?" Everyone said yes, except the grandma. Now, they did an offer of proof which means it is an open court!!!! Anyone is slowed to listen quietly! However since the grandma was representing herself the judge made a judgment call and asked us to leave. The therapists looked up shocked when we came right back out, when we explained they said, "We were supoened, we'll go in." They came right back out too! We sat there for two hours, the therapists held a little impromptu conference, (having us all in one place is unusual.)
Our view of court.
After what felt like an eternity the grandma emerged, boyfriend in tow. She huffed at us, but didn't speak. Next came the GAL and social workers, grim faced and puffy eyed. I said, "Oh no you don't, don't come out here and cry at me!" They explained that the grandma's testimony was very moving and highly emotional, (those were their words!) Also that the judge wanted some time to deliberate. She was going on vacation so we won't have any answers until the end of the month. I cried on the way home, texted the info to people who were praying for us and David drove. He tried to be encouraging, telling med to trust God for the outcome, and I do, I do trust Him, I just will be committing a lot of time to prayer for the judge.
* Offer of proof: The lawyers, social workers and defendants agree to put everything on the table. No testimony, just a synopsis of what each witness would testify to. With no cross examination or questioning.
David kept saying he's not nervous, but we nearly drove away without the gas he had just paid for. ;-) When we arrived our home supervisor was just walking in.
We went through the metal detectors and headed to the elevator. Upstairs the occupational therapist was going over her testimony with the county attorney. We walked the other direction away from the bio grandma and her boyfriend. We sat and talked with the physical therapist and our home supervisor. After a little while the GAL came out of court, "The grandma has agreed to go with an *offer of proof. That means two things, #1. You won't have to testify. #2. You can all come in to the court room." The GAL also added that we might want to come in anyway in case something comes up and we need to hire a lawyer. We let everyone go in and get settled then we quietly walked into court and sat in the back. The judge looked up and said, "I see a few new faces in the audience..." "Yes ma'am they are the foster parents." Answered the GAL. "And everyone is ok with them being in here?" Everyone said yes, except the grandma. Now, they did an offer of proof which means it is an open court!!!! Anyone is slowed to listen quietly! However since the grandma was representing herself the judge made a judgment call and asked us to leave. The therapists looked up shocked when we came right back out, when we explained they said, "We were supoened, we'll go in." They came right back out too! We sat there for two hours, the therapists held a little impromptu conference, (having us all in one place is unusual.)
Our view of court.
After what felt like an eternity the grandma emerged, boyfriend in tow. She huffed at us, but didn't speak. Next came the GAL and social workers, grim faced and puffy eyed. I said, "Oh no you don't, don't come out here and cry at me!" They explained that the grandma's testimony was very moving and highly emotional, (those were their words!) Also that the judge wanted some time to deliberate. She was going on vacation so we won't have any answers until the end of the month. I cried on the way home, texted the info to people who were praying for us and David drove. He tried to be encouraging, telling med to trust God for the outcome, and I do, I do trust Him, I just will be committing a lot of time to prayer for the judge.
* Offer of proof: The lawyers, social workers and defendants agree to put everything on the table. No testimony, just a synopsis of what each witness would testify to. With no cross examination or questioning.
Been keeping you in my prayers. The statement below about little Isaiah was amazing. I am so glad that you and David have hearts that are so willing to take in "the least of these" as Jesus describes the downcast and abandoned. And as Jesus says, "when you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me".
ReplyDeleteMuch love to you and your sweet family Danielle,
Pam