Answered Prayer...SENTENCIA!!!

That's right...God heard our prayers...and SENTENCIA came our way today!!! It's been whirlwind of a day. I was in the middle of getting my haircut at the hotel when Isabel called. She was very calm at first, sharing that she talked to our attorney this morning...the attorney had already spoken with the judge, and the judge told her that courts were closed...as you can see below (if you understand Spanish) that indeed Court 6 is closed the whole month of February...

...and the judge said NO. Isabel pushed harder...the attorney tried one more time with the judge, and the judge then agreed to meet her at the courts this morning. We still needed the Defender's signature (which they are allowed 5 business days)...but, the judge then convinced the Defender to sign off our case...I cried so hard when I hung up the phone. Caroline was right with me...I told her "Mami es muy feliz para usted es mi hija siempre!" She understood exactly what I meant (even though it was all "spanglished" up in emotion), and we hugged for a very long time...but, then she freaked out when she saw me getting ready to leave because she thought I was leaving to go to the United States without her...no kids allowed to come to the signing...thankfully Valeria was right there explaining everything to her...Caroline is still taking it all in! (please pray for her...I was gone a long time today and have to leave first thing tomorrow...her emotions are all over the place right now)!

At 1:oo pm, Johnny, Carmen, and myself headed downtown to court 6...after 4 hours of correcting errors on our final decree (like John's name, Caroline's birthdate, the girl's birth last name, my maiden name...) You know, we were actually in a good court, I discovered it was our attorney who dropped the ball on us! What she did in one day, Isabel and Carmen had been trying to get her to do 2 weeks ago. But, I signed, and that is what matters!!!

So, it's official!! Caroline Nicole and Marta Tatiana are offically Vander Maas'...we made it through the first step of many to come home!! Tomorrow morning first thing, Carmen and I are off to the Notary where the girls were relinquished. Please pray the documents we need turn in 1 day (usually takes 2)...if it does we have a good chance to come home by Saturday...if not, I'm quite sure I will be here until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week...regardless...it's a happy day! And once we get through all the paperwork hurdles (notary, passports, US embassy Doctor, Us Embassy, Visas)...we will be coming home!!! Prayer warriors...you're awesome!!! God heard...and ANSWERED!