WE'RE HOME!

Sorry, that we kept everyone in suspense with the last few days in not knowing the outcome of the US Embassy! We did e-mail that Natasha's visa came through but didn't get a chance to get it up on the blog.
We've made it back safely and are home at last! We arrived in Omaha at 2:20pm yesterday afternoon to family and friends. It was SUCH a blessing to be back home and in the arms of so many loved ones. Natasha felt right at home and tried to give as many hugs and kisses as she could to her brothers as they would allow her to give. Miranda and Natasha have hit it of wonderfully too, as well. Natasha also got right back in the loop with her friends Lena and Alla and had a great talk with them while we were there. We were so thankful to Lena for helping introduce everyone to Natasha. I was trying to explain Will to Natasha(how do you explain Will? ; ) ) but Natasha just shook her head and said, "Yeah, church." and understood who he was and what he did because Lena had covered all the bases for Natasha. What a blessing she was for doing that for us. We had SO much to share with everyone and were late in getting our luggage. We wondered where it was when we finally made it down to the baggage claim. It was set off to the side because we were so late in coming to get it.
Babushka(Grandma) and Dadrushka(Grandpa) then took us to "IHOPer" as Tahner calls it and we enjoyed a nice dinner together. Natasha liked the pancakes and eggs she ordered and ate almost the whole thing.
We came home and were wonderfully surprised by ALL the home improvements we had done to the house while we were out. I said they could of done a TV show on it! We are still finding wonderful "surprises" here and there and hearing about all the extraordinary blessings (Eric T.!) that people have done for us while we have been gone. We are SO humbled by everything and by all you have done for us with well wishes, prayers and help that you have given to us and our family while we have been gone. We are SO blessed to know and have each and everyone of you in our lives. We can never thank you enough for all that you have done for us.
Natasha says we have a big home and loves everything. And to those who know the size of our house we are glad she thinks it's big! ; )
We are sorry we didn't get a chance to blog yesterday but had such a full day we were wiped out in the end. I will be able to post photos later but in the meantime you can look on the Van Putten's blog to see pics from the airport(I'll leave their addy at the end).
Natasha had a wonderful sleep last night and looked well rested in the morning. Papa however, will need time to adjust as he woke up at 2AM. I thought he was eager to get back to work when I heard him leave later on but he had just went to get some yogurt and juice from the store.
We did go and see where Papa worked and were SO warmly greeted by all our friends. What a wonderful welcome home that was. Natasha will come to know each and everyone one of the many many friends and family that we have and all the prayers that have been given for us. We know she will come to love each and everyone of you as we do.
Thanks again for EVERYTHING and we especially are grateful to God for ALL He has done for us in keeping our family safe and getting us through this wonderful, tremendous journey of adoption. We have been SO blessed and are especially blessed by our new daughter Natasha.
Thank you Jesus SO much for our precious gift.


http://vanputtenfamily.blog-city.com
(under Natasha's Homecoming)