Let the shopping begin

We spent about an hour in the courtroom this morning. Everything went just as we were told to expect. The only question that they asked that we hadn't prepared for was "if the girl is allergic to pets, what will you do?" I answered seek medical treatment, and let the dog live outside. Leigh coudn't believe that I didn't just say, "we will get rid of the darn cats." After a lenghty 3-5 minute deliberation, the Judge came back in and affirmed our petition to adopt Anna Beth. She was not able to wave the 10 days before the ruling would be final, but at least we know we can come get her next month, and that she will be ours.

We have a few more hours here in Arkhangelsk before we head to Moscow for the night. We have an early start for home with stops in Amsterdam and Atlanta. If all goes right, we will be home a little after 9 Sat night. Thanks for continuing to remember us in prayer, and we look forward to seeing many of you for Christmas. We won't have Anna Beth home for this Christmas, but we will have many of those to come. Looks like we should be home in time for Mardi Gras though, so I guess that isn't all bad.

Well, I guess to address the title. I have been a little concerned about all of the shopping that had been going on around our family. Seems all of these little things kept appearing. I had requested that we not get too much ahead of ourselves until Anna Beth was really ours. Well, she is pretty much ours now, so I have lost my argument and the furniture and other stuff can start coming home too.

Again thanks for all of the prayers as we have made this quick but stressful trip to take care of this very important step. We should find out next week when we can return for Anna Beth, so we will keep you posted. This year more than any, I have a new appreciation for what God did for us at Christmas. If you haven't met the Son that was Gods gift to you, I encourage you to seek Him out. It will change your life. Who knows, following Him may even lead you to a land far away to meet another of His kids that He wants you to raise. Merry Christmas