Court update

What a day! How can I explain the relief I feel? I'm still processing all the emotions. But, I woke up this morning feeling happy and so relieved. I have a future. A happy future. I guess I had to literally go through hell and back to truly appreciate what I do have...
I've tried to write about what all happened yesterday. It just keep getting garbled since the emotions are so fresh. My mom wrote the following in an email update to some dearly loved friends and family. I'll share it here, since it's better than I can write.

Hi everyone,

I just thought that I would give you all an update on Amanda's divorce:

We spent the entire day today in mediation, and then court, and then a little more mediation and another court hearing. Everything in the divorce has been decided, Amanda's lawyer will draw up the paper work, submit it to Jason's lawyer (he committed under oath today that he agreed with everything) send it back to the court for the judge to sign, and then have it registered. In a perfect world, it could take under two weeks! That would be a huge blessing, but even if it takes a lot longer relief is on the way for Amanda. We were sooooo relieved by the end of the day!

The court has scheduled 3 days in January to decide all of Cecelia's stuff. We were advised today by a couple of different people that even if Jason is convicted, the chance of him being able to start seeing her again was very probable. The Division of Child and Family Services advised us that with a therapists approval, the visits could possibly start before the hearings start. We hope that the timing of everything will prevent that from happening, but they just wanted us to know that it could be a possibility. They said that it is better that way since if the court awards in Jason's favor, then he could possibly see Cecelia right away. We pray that this does not happen, but I think they just wanted to prepare us for anything that could happen.

Jason didn't look very good today. We all though that he looked as if he had aged a lot. Maybe the consequences of his actions have caught up with him??? I don't know. He kept saying that he just didn't have any money and that he was going to be filing bankruptcy. He has two very wealthy parents that have bailed him out a lot. Amanda didn't get awarded any where near the amount that would have helped pay the debts that Jason left her with, but I think that she is just feeling grateful that one part of this nightmare will be over. We keep reminding her that she has everything that is important, Cecelia, and that the rest just doesn't matter.

It has been a really rough week for Cecelia. I think she must just sense when something is about to happen. As much as we have tried to act normal, I know that she has felt the tension and anxiety this week. Thanks to those who have loved her through her hard week, Aunt Janae and Aunt Randee. We hope that things will return to a little more normalcy around here.

Well, that was a lot for you to read. I guess that maybe I just needed to journal a bit. Amanda and I had a good cry after court today and we will think about January in January. For now, she (and all of us) have something to look forward to! Please keep remembering them in your prayers!

lots of love to you all,

Sandy