Relief

I received some great news yesterday. The mother that I was going to testify against in the TPR trial next week signed a consent form and voluntarily terminated her rights to her children. I cannot express how relieved I was to hear this. I have been dreading the trial ever since I received the case (almost 4 years ago.) It is a very difficult case and it was going to be a nasty trial.
Unfortunately, they are still having a TPR trial next week and I still have to testify. There is one father who has just come out of the woodwork (after his son has been in foster care for 6 years!) He is claiming that he didn't know his son was in foster care... even though he went to the first court hearing, was assigned an attorney, received a court order and had a visit with his son that was supervised by a Children's Division case manager. This "father" wants his son to come and live with him... in another state.... away from the 2 biological sisters that the boy has lived with his entire life. This "father" didn't show up at the first TPR trial... which is why it was rescheduled for next Tuesday... (my anniversary.)
Needless to say, I am very annoyed with this man right now. And with the law and court system. I don't think that he should have any right to ask for his son back after he abandoned him for 6 years.
Oh well. Maybe he'll have a change of heart and consent too.