TPR Trial Date

Yesterday's preliminary hearing saw Angelique in attendance in order to be assigned a court-appointed attorney and also saw a trial date assigned and set for Monday, August 21.  Again, Angelique brought up all the "papers" she has showing all the things she has completed.  This confuses me to no end and I half don't believe anything she says, but will be quite interested to see what the papers are and how, if anything, they have anything to do with TPR.  So now we wait.

First, I was amazed at how far out we have to wait for a silly court date after all this time already!  Then, peace rushed in and I thought of all the possibilities that make this a good time frame.

• Good because it gives us time to try to talk to Angelique again about reasons we think she should consider working with us on this point.  
• Good because it gives her time to talk to her attorney and maybe she will speak reason to her.  If either of these options is effective, she can just give her consent now and save the hassle of trial altogether.  
• Good because it gives us til after Lasa's 2nd birthday, which I just have to believe works in our favor - that she will have been with us a full 2 years by then!  Josh says it matters not in this case, but I choose to hope still.  Ha! 
• Good because it gives me time to get stabilized emotionally and really be obedient in my heart to trust this outcome and its timing allllll to the Lord and not take it back from Him with any more carrying on.  It has been a rough last month for me in that regard.  So time to fix that counts for good!  
• And also, honestly, good because it allows a long chunk of time for Angelique to walk the line and not get in trouble again between now and then.  And time for her to prove it (or not) if she wants to LEGITIMATELY be involved with Lasa. Whether she is in touch the next 5 mos or not will not play into the trial proceedings because this filing will only consider the four months leading up to her incarceration last November.  But I feel like all of it being documented bit by bit gets us closer to the end of this chapter - if not now, then later, but still closer regardless.

Here is how we will be praying over the next five months:

1. Praying for favor with Angelique in that her eyes will be opened to how this benefits Lasa.  
2. Praying for favor with the judge in August, whom we are told is very conservative and rarely grants TPR for abandonment alone.
3. Praying for steadiness of heart and peace as we leave this outcome in God's very able and trustworthy hands.
4. Praying for justice to win out in this case. Praying some Psalms kinda prayers!
5. Praying for God to do whatever he requires/desires to be given glory in this situation.  I understand that can come from either outcome!