New Pictures of Anna!!!

Well, our new friends from Kentucky went to pick up their daughter last week and they sent us some new pictures of Anna! Their daughter, Katelyn, is the busy baby in yellow in the videos from last month. We almost didn't recognize Anna, she is looking really good. (except for her fingernails! I'll be bringing my new bumble bee clippers!)



Here she is:

And a view from the side:

Please pray with us that we could get our RA this week. Then there would be a chance we could travel near the end of May. Love you, baby! Can't wait to hold you!

Here are the thoughts that Grandma Shirley Elaine shared with us at Anna's shower in Austin. I'm so glad we decided on Anna, it is such a rich name.

CHARACTERISTICS of ANNA the PROPHETESS
Luke 2:36-38

1. Fought the Odds – widowed and from a minor tribe and yet she was a
woman who became privileged and was special.
2. Made Something of the Situation - she didn’t let her circumstances
dictate her life but rose above it.
3. She Left the Past Behind – especially asking God to do this for Anna
Elaine and that she will never know a day that she wasn’t loved and
nurtured.
4. Persevered – even though well along in years she continued to serve God.
5. Devoted and Dedicated – never left the temple and served God day and
night. Her walk with God was rich and deep.
6. Evangelist – spoke about God to everyone.
7. Fled to God when Widowed – used her circumstances as an instrument to
deepen her walk with God and her service to Him.

These are character qualities that I am praying for our Anna Elaine. From, Grandma


Anna, we are praying we can come get you soon!

What are we waiting for?

I am going to try to explain why we are still waiting for Anna. We got our pre-approval (PA) from China on Feb 13, 2 months ago today. We were told that the next step, the official approval from China called the Referral Acceptance (RA) would take from 2-6 months from the pre-approval. So, now is the earliest we could even be optimistic about hearing anything. Our papers weren't in China yet when we received the PA so it might be towards the longer end of the window. We are praying it won't be long but we don't know. Keep praying, for the papers to go through smoothly and quickly and pray for us to wait patiently, leaning on the Lord for support.

Austin Shower- A Belated Report

So this is a really late report on the wonderful shower that my 2 sisters-in-law and mother-in-law hosted the last weekend of March. Receiving the video of Anna distracted my bloggin efforts for a while. Plus with Chris back in town now I have a bit more energy to work with.

It was so great to have friends a family at the shower all united by their support of us and our adoption. Shirley shared some thoughts about Anna in the Bible and what she hopes and prays Anna will learn from her Biblical namesake. We spent some precious time praying together (I abstained or else I would have melted into a puddle of tears). Jana lightened the mood a little but enough about that.

I loved all the girly frilly outfits! And a swimsuit with matching coverup! Boys would never go for that.

Jenny took some pictures since my (and my mother's and my sister's) cameras were all on the other side of the planet.

Here are some pictures.






Here's some of the loot. Fun stuff!

Below are the Sneller daughters-in-law and mothers, and Jana and Shirley- the original Snellers.




Thanks so much for a wonderful showering of blessings, prayers, and cute bloomers!! I can't wait to use this fun stuff.