A day to remember...

It was an interesting start to such an important day. If we believed in signs we might have crawled back into bed. First the shower broke, you can't appear in court for a momentous occasion without bathing right? So we improvised, and made it work. Amy gets to wear actual girl clothes today, a skirt, heals etc. Being used to clodding around in snowboots, she almost takes a fall heading down to the lobby by getting her heal caught in the hem of her coat. Saved by her husband, the MAN. We arrived at court at ten, waited for the prosecutor and started the hearing at 10:15. Robert has to do the majority of the speaking, he is the MAN of the family and therefore the leader. That being said, the Judge, Prosecutor, Representative from the Ministry of Education and the Director of the Orphanage were all women. It was to be a simple process, speech, support of speech, a few questions, confering, and then the decision from the Judge. However, after the speech and support, we were grilled by the Judge, the Prosecutor, and the Representative from the Ministry of Education. Then there was some document confusion, things that were signed by a previous Governor didn't match the dates signed by the current Governor. We didn't even know they had Governors. A half hour hearing turned into an hour and a half. Murphy's Law all over the place. But that's ok -- We prevailed.
The petition to grant the adoption of Maksim Rhysov was granted and his name is now legally and forever RYAN BANAN MURPHY. HE'S OURS!!!!!!! !!!
Nothing could change this from being the best day of our lives. Not even having to push our driver's car out into the street because it wouldn't start. Not even mid-way in our 1 hour commute back to Kokshetau when said car refused to move any further. Not even when the tempature is -21* c and you are standing outside a brokendown car. Not even. We made it back without further incident and we are heading out to celebrate with two other couples whose adoptions were granted today.
Many thanks for the words of comfort, support and prayers that came our way through this whole journey.
Paka, paka, from Dad and Mom.