They are ours!!!

Court started with the judge being very upset that we were late. Our translator got off on the wrong bus stop and put us all behind. The judge almost canceled our court. Our attorney who is amazing smoothed it over. This is Oxana our attorney.



When we started they asked us a million questions. The judge was convinced that I was too young to have the girls. I tried to explain that in Utah I am too old and that everyone there has kids who are my age. It was crazy! It made me feel a little bit better about myself. At home I have always felt like an old maid. Now I am too young to have kids. Wow, what a change. They kept asking why I wanted these girls? It is hard for them to understand why someone from America would travel all this way to get these kids. They even asked us if we get money back home for doing it. They told us most people want money not children and they couldn't understand our motives.

I tried to explain but didn't know how to express through a translator, that ever since I was a little girl I have dreamed of being a mother and that there is nothing in the whole world I want more. I didn't know how to explain the feeling that these are my little girls, I just know it. How logical is that after all?

They asked me if I was afraid Jeff would leave me and go back to his first wife since we haven't been married that long. The judge also asked me, "Amy are you sure he loves you." I turned to Jeff and we both laughed, the judge said, "never mind I can see for myself that he does, that is very good."

She kept trying to figure out how I was going to handle these two girls since I was so young. I kept wondering what her reaction would be to all the mom's in Utah with their 4, 5 and 6 plus kids. Amy G. I'm afraid she would think you were nuts. You have 5 under 8. She would definitely want to make sure Kevin loves you.

In the Ukraine they pay people to have kids and most people only have one or two so you can see why they don't understand us paying to get two that aren't ours.

The girls were awesome. I was so proud of them. They had to testify and answer all sorts of questions. They were sitting in front of us and they kept looking back and smiling. Sara turned around multiple times and tried to hold my hand. The assitant judge was in tears just watching them. Sara has been with a family in Italy for the last two summers and they asked her which was better Italy or Utah. My sweet little Sara said,"wherever mama and papa are."

They asked the girls if they wanted to be adopted by us and they both said they did. When they were asked why, they both said some variation of why they loved us and wanted to have a mama and a papa, (Sara's words) and Lena said she wanted to have a family. It was so sweet.

We waited outside while the judge made her decision and they called us back in. She said she still thought I was too young, but she read her conclusion.

Jeff Rast and Amy Rast will be Helen Marie Rast and Sara Victoria Rast's new mama and papa. I couldn't hold back the tears. I wasn't the only one, I noticed a few of the other ladies in the court were having the same problem. The judge told the girls today was their new birthday, the day they got a papa and mama. What a happy ending to a stressful day. Despite my youthful age (ha ha! ) she couldn't deny the obvious love we have for each other and our clear desire to be together.

They are officially our girls. I am a mother! Yeah! Wahoo! I'm so happy! I never imagined it would come like this, but I wouldn't have it any other way. They are mine!!!! Jeff told me, "I did you good, we haven't even been married a year and I got you two kids." He sure did do me good.


Jeff is so cute with the girls and they love him. We will all be sad to see him leave this weekend.