Only One Mommy

 Matthew tells us about Jesus in Matthew 9: 26-29 that “When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him ‘Yes Lord’.  Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘It shall be done to you according to your faith’” 

Dear Friends,                                                                                       June 22, 2007 

Many of you have asked me for an update, especially since you read about the latest ruling from Vermont, which came out nationally in the media on Tuesday June 19, 2007.  A lot has happened since my last update. I will try to go in chronological order.  

First, however, I want to thank every one for your prayers, thoughts, and encouragement.   Please know that God is still in control and He will answer our prayers in His time and in our best interest.  I still believe that God has His hand in my legal case.  It is obvious to me that God had His hand in the latest ruling. Isabella remains in my full legal and physical care (custody) despite what Janet asked for – transfer of full legal and physical custody to her.  Praise God! 

Despite this fact, I feel that God is still using my legal case to show us what our nation is becoming when we deviate from God’s plan and purpose for our lives.  Yes, victory was won by God for Isabella in that she remains in my care.  However, victory is not complete until Virginia rules in favor of our pro-family laws which clearly state that civil unions, gay marriages or any contractual agreement arising from a relationship that purports same-sex unions are not acceptable OR ENFORCEABLE in the state of Virginia.  We must not deviate from what God has in mind for my legal case.  

Why am I saying this?  Because I have received much feedback from people who know me either personally or professionally and the consensus is that my legal case is over.  It is not over.  Virginia must be held accountable for overruling Judge Prosser’s legally sound decision in 2004, stating that Virginia and not Vermont has jurisdiction and that Virginia does not recognize civil unions.  Therefore, Janet’s requests to enforce the Vermont ruling in our state is void.  Unfortunately, the Virginia Appellate court overruled Judge Prosser’s decision and I am forced to give Janet visitation rights or as Vermont calls them “parenting time.”   If I don’t follow the Vermont court order I may lose custody of Isabella  as well as incur other sanctions because Virginia is not standing by her laws and protecting us as Virginia citizens.  

The following is an outline of the events in the last three weeks.  Please keep in mind that tomorrow I will post experts from the legal filings that Janet filed against me in the Vermont court on my blog onlyonemommy.com.   I will also post experts from the Judge’s final ruling on my blog.   The following is the outline

1.  In May 2007, Janet files a contempt (sanctions request)  charge against me stating that I agreed to a Mother’s day visit between her and Isabella.  I did not.  A week later, she files an amended version of her first filing and stated I agreed to this visit in private with her during the first scheduled visitation.  Again, I did not agree to any visit.  She asked for sanctions against me including travel expenses for the missed visit.  We replied with a personal affidavit from two people including myself “swearing” that I never agreed to a visit between Janet and Isabella during or on Mother’s day weekend.   Emails and other documentation were included in our affidavits, which clearly proved beyond any doubt that I never agreed to a visit. 

       2.   On May 26, 2007, Janet and Isabella had another visit.  I, including a third party, was present.  We both hung back though and allowed Janet to interact with Isabella.  Isabella started having social and emotional problems after this visit.   Immediately after the visit Isabella told me tidbits of the conversations and actions that went on between Janet and her and was very distressed as to why Janet treated her in the manner she was treated.  We filed an affidavit along with one other person to Judge Cohen in Vermont detailing the visit and certain events that took place.  The Judge so far has ignored our affidavit (and apparently will continue to do so since he has since ruled his final ruling).   Isabella is very distressed. 

     3.   On June 5, 2007, Janet filed a “Request for Evidentiary Hearing on Sanctions” asking Judge Cohen in Vermont to sanction me for information that I posted on my blog, onlyonemommy.com.   She submitted two documents. The first document being a three page document quoting and misquoting pieces of information from prayer letters and postings that were found on my blog.  The second document was her “Request to admit and Interrogatory” where she asked me to admit or deny 28 facts within the next 30 days.  This document was filed to encourage Judge Cohen to rule for a transfer of custody of Isabella from me to Janet.       Both documents falsely accused me of not being able to foster a positive relationship with Janet because of my religious beliefs.  She wishes to sanction me for some of my  following beliefs:                               

            a) “God gave Isabella to me by forming her in my              womb”           

b) “God’s order is that marriage means a union between one

 man and one woman, a child can not have two mothers, Ms.

Jenkins is not Isabella’s parent, and Ms. Miller is commanded  to follow God’s plan”  

c) “If Ms. Jenkins is granted custody of Isabella, no Christian  will be safe to raise his/her child as they see fit” 

          d) ”God has a plan and purpose for Isabella’s life”      

 4.    On June 11, 2007, Janet submitted to the Vermont court a “Reply to Second Notice Concerning Visitation.”  This is a 5 page document where again she takes experts from my blog and claims that I will deny any court order from Judge Cohen and that a transfer of custody is the only way for Judge Cohen to rule.  In this document Janet tries to discredit my and the other person’s affidavit regarding the May 26, 2007, visit between her and Isabella.  She ends her document with the following:    

         “Ms. Miller is determined to stymie Isabella’s relationship with   Ms. Jenkins regardless of what this Honorable Court says. As she wrote on her blog last month: A sin is a sin. Jesus tells many people to ‘sin not’ or ‘to go and sin no more’…Jesus goes on to say in I Timothy 1:9-10 the following: ‘realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers, and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching” … From this passage you can also surmise who is a sinner”.     

This expert from my blog was taken from the post “Hate the sin, love the sinner”.  I praised God that they ended a court filing with God’s word!    

     5.   On June 15, 2007, we replied via a court filing to their interrogatories and other documents.  Praise God that we were able to answer each question Biblically and with even more accuracy than what I had written in my blog.  God is gracious in giving us opportunities to witness.  However, unbeknownst to us the Judge in Vermont had already made his final ruling- not taking into consideration any of our replies or affidavits.   Again though, I praise God because our reply, which is full of God’s word, is a court document for all to read. Perhaps someone will be saved through this ordeal. 

   6.  On June 16, 2007, I learned of Judge Cohen’s final ruling.    For word count sake of this prayer letter, I will post Judge Cohen’s final ruling on my blog.   I will post the final ruling just regarding the visitation schedule by Saturday June 23, 2007.  In open admission, I have had an emotional week and ask for your continued prayers.  

Please also pray for the following:

1.    Isabella must visit Janet unsupervised with me not being present on June 30, 2007 from 9:00a.m. until 5:00p.m.   Isabella is very upset and fearful about this visit.   She has asked me to be there and does not understand why I am not able to be present.  Please pray for her safety, her comfort and for her to experience peace during that visit.  Never in her life has she just been dropped off with someone she does not know or where she has specifically requested that I be with her.  This is the first of many visits that are to occur according to the Vermont ruling.  Overnight visits are to begin in July- with two consecutive overnights per visit!    

2.    Guidance for me on how to prepare her for this visit.   She is so upset that  she has to visit Janet that she cries, screams and runs from me every time we talk about the visit.   Praise God I found a therapist who is knowledgeable with what Isabella is going through emotionally. This person is also knowledgeable with issues that arise from Janet’s visits, which may likely create additional stress in Isabella’s life.    

3.   Wisdom for all attorneys involved in my case.      

4.    For the Virginia Supreme Court to rule in my favor.  My case has yet to be ruled on by the Virginia Supreme Court.  Please pray for the judges that they will stand by Virginia State Law.     

5.  For the U.S. Supreme Court to see the importance of my legal case and to take it when the time is right.  To take it and to rule in our favor- for state law to stand.  Isabella was born in Virginia under VA laws and is domiciled in Virginia and needs to be protected by VA law.     

6.   For God to answer Isabella’s prayers so she may continue to see, feel and  know God is with her.    

Again, thank you for your prayers.  I continue to Praise our God for He is in control.    “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1    

Joyfully Serving Christ,  

Lisa

Hebrews 4:13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do”