A Run Down Building and A Whole Lot of Vomit

Monday, July 7 

This morning we were at the courthouse in Matatiele for our 9 O’clock appointment.  The Magistrate(judge) was on leave the week before and was making the drive from Durban(4 hours) this morning to come into work.  When we arrived he obviously was not there yet.  It gave us a chance to really observe the building.  This building was very unassuming, though large, dumpy almost and fairly unkept.  It also appeared that we were the only ones there this early on a Monday morning. 

Shortly after 9 the Magistrate showed up.   Arend  Treurnicht which translates to eagle-don’t be sad Gene and Corry say.  He seemed a little flustered but quickly led his to his office.  It was a large room with a couple chairs, files, desk and computer.  There was a very large crack running from the ceiling all the way to the floor and glass panes were missing from the window which was making the room even colder on this already cool morning. 

Robyn, our representative,  explained everything that needed signing for him(she even drafted all the documents herself as she said sometimes in small towns the printers aren’t working or they don't have the proper forms).  He spent a little time looking over the documents to be sure all was in order but in the end he simply asked if we were sure about this adoption.  We, of course, said yes.  We signed where needed, he stamped were needed and we were out of his office in 30 minutes. 

The longest part of the appointment was when he had to find the official adoption number.  It turns out that we are the first, and possibly the only, adoption from Matatiele this year.  Very sad.

The magistrate gave and old “Heep, Heep, Hoo-ra” on our way out the door. (Gene said it is the Dutch soccer cheer) 

Just like that-we are officially Z's parents! 

We then got into the van and began to make the 4 hour drive home.  Z was not excited about getting into the car seat in the first place but after a bit of driving her stomach decided it wasn’t a huge fan either.   We were planning a stop about an hour into the drive and it was good we did as by the time we did arrive at a store she had emptied the complete contents of her stomach.  Thankfully, I had seen the grey pallor start upon her face and was prepared for what followed though when that much comes out not all of it hits the bowl.   Her outfit needed changing and the seat needed a wipe down but otherwise it could have been a whole lot worse.

The rest of the ride was fairly uneventful, kids slept, view was gorgeous as we took a different highway back.  Goats, cows, unbelievable valleys and mountains, orange groves and so much more made the drive seem worth the while. 

This was the "hill" behind the church we attended. Can you read what is written?

Hills, hills and valleys

When we were almost back in Durban the kids woke up and the vomiting began again.  Z had managed to eat a couple crackers and they apparently didn’t sit well either so up they came.  She managed to stand all this with only a little whimper, what a trooper.  Needless to say the car seat will probably not be her favourite place for a while!