Welcome to the family, Anna!!!!

It's official...

We have been fully approved to become "mom" and "dad" to our precious Anna, thanks to the favorable decision of the adoption committee connected with the Czech Ministry of Social Affairs!

We're trembling with joy and nerves and so excited to see our baby girl again after two and a half weeks of not being allowed to visit (while we waited for the decision). We've missed her terribly, but wanted to heed the wisdom of the Ministry officials that we should keep a little space until everything was decided for sure. In the meantime, we've been praying steadily and hoping, hoping, hoping for God's favor with the committee. Praise God, they agreed with us that joining our family is in her best interest!

So, what happens next?

Because my visa/residency permit is still not ready (Matt got his back in late June, but mine is still within the expected time range), we can't bring her home yet. But we are now allowed to spend as much time with her at the orphanage as we want until the visa comes, at which point, she is ours completely. :-) We don't have enough time to visit today before her bedtime, but we will rush over tomorrow right after our teaching is completed.

It may take a little time for Anna to warm up to us again since we haven't seen her in a while, but we are ready to patiently recapture her trust and love. It's an awesome and sombering responsibility, but we can't wait to begin our journey together as a family!

Thank you SO MUCH for all your prayers!!!!!