Court yesterday

Here is the short version:

Court was changed from 9am to 10am and I found this out when I arrived. The court room had been double booked so we were moved to a little meeting room. That was odd and unexpected.

The judge calls each parent into the room one at a time along with anyone related to the case. Including the judge, attorneys, parents, CPS workers, and the parents there were about 10 people in this little meeting room. The judge then told us to go around the room tell our name and how we were related to the case.

So there you go, so much for the parents not knowing who I was....

This lasted maybe to minutes. CPS was given temporary custody of all four boys. The parents were told what services they must begin to work. The parents had already told the county attorney ahead of time that the boys have a great aunt (the father's aunt) who was willing to let the boys come live with her.

The judge ordered a home study through ICPC (aunt lives very close by but right across the state line) and ordered the parents to begin drug counseling immediately and that none of the other services would help until they got their current and past drug abuse under control.

So, we will wait and see if the great aunt passes the home study or not. The dad stated in court that the aunt visits their home 2 - 3 times a week. This aunt had to be aware of the conditions these children are living in and I am just wondering if she lives in the same type of conditions herself.

The social worker told me she really doubts the aunt will pass the home study but of course she cannot be sure about this. I just worry that this would give the parents so much access to the children that they would not really make any changes. And the boys would be in similar conditions.

All I can do is pray that I am able to give to the boys what I can while they are with us and accept that they may not be here long or they may be here for a while. Either way, the boys are welcome here for as long as they need a home and when the time comes for them to go God will bring the next children that we are to help.....