T -15 and counting...

Charlie's counting, I'm counting, and Lena's counting!  I received a text from her yesterday (she's been texting us in English over the last couple weeks, very fun!), she said, "Leave in 16 days and you come in Ukraine." 
I believe we all have a serious case of ants in our pants!

As we continue to wait let me share what we think is some pretty fun stuff...

Not too long ago we found out Lena has a middle name, actually our understanding is that all Ukrainian children have middle names, it's just that sometimes when the children come to America they are given an American name.  At times the child's first name is also changed to a American form of their Ukrainian name, the purpose is to make it easier on the child as well as those who will be trying to pronounce it.  The middle name given to the girls is their fathers first name, with a ivna added to it.   Lena's fathers name was Mykolay, pronounced Mick-o-lie.  So Lena's middle name is Mykolayivna, very pretty don't ya think, we do.  Translated to American it would be Nicholas.  Well December 22nd is St. Mikolaya Day in Ukraine (not be to be confused with Christmas Day, which is celebrated January 7th), and we are told by Lena that on that day children receive a gift from St. Mikolaya, and children that share the name Mykolay/Mikolaya receive an extra gift... when we heard that, Charlie wanted to know if he could declare a Charlie Day, Lena and I are thinking not. :]  But it did get us thinking about Lena's name.  We don't think it will be difficult to convince her to keep some form of Mykolay, maybe Nicola, or Nicole, or even Mikolai, if it means an additional gift, because we really really like it.  We plan on discussing it with Lena while we are there, as her birth certificate will be changed prior to leaving Ukraine.
Lena also shared that the American version of her first name is Helen.  Now Helen is a beautiful name, Charlie has a sister named Helen (although like the name Judy, it's an old name, people shouldn't do that to their kids these days), but Charlie and I both are very fond of the name Lena.  We received a call last week from a very nice couple out East, they left a message that they had spoken to Helen, and Helen encouraged them to call us, to be in touch.  They explained that they used Helen's phone number to reach the young girl they hosted this past summer and are hoping to adopt.  Helen???? Really??? Helen???  Charlie and I got a good laugh with that one!  Still makes us chuckle, actually we better be careful because we've been calling her Helen in jest since that day, really don't want it to stick, danger is that nicknames do tend to stick (get it Kyle :]) in this family, it's a Sanner family tradition.  That's it, I'm putting a end to it now! 

By now some of you might be asking how Lena has a phone.  It surprised us a bit, and we're still not completely sure, there are some things that still get lost in translation.  We do know that there are no cell providers in Ukraine, you pre purchase minutes.  We did discover that Lena has/does help many kids connect with their host families, as well as those working to adopt.  We’ve learned Lena is quite the organizer, and have a feeling that someday she’ll be an incredible advocate for adoption.  In September when her phone broke, Charlie and I replaced it for her, as we wanted to continue not only to be in touch, but we’re also very proud of our girl and the good she is doing.

So besides all that, we continue to prepare and pack, keeping Matthew 6:25-34 in mind.  God keeps me laughing, as I believe He has given me this specific verse, for this specific time, for this specific reason.  Understanding the deeper meaning, yet being able to apply it to the challenge of “packing light” (instructions from our facilitator and agency) for a month or more trip to Ukraine in the winter.  Also let me clarify that this issue has also been all mine, I’ve had to convince Charlie that one shirt and one pair of pants isn’t gonna cut it.  P.U.!  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you should eat (have a great number of food allergies which has been on my mind as well) or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”  INDEED IT IS!!  Thank you God for your sense of humor and your perfect instruction… so one way or another we will be packing light, but not quite as light as Charlie would like.

One more thing, because we live where we do, I’m on a slow boat when it comes to the most current music playing on the radio, absolutely no radio reception here at home, which does disturb me on some level because music is a must for my well being, anyway, my BBF Lori asked me this morning if I’d heard “Lead Me” by Sanctus Real.  Nope, I had not, but I did get on-line shortly after our conversation and took a listen, GREAT!  As Charlie and I prepare to bring this beautiful young girl into our family, and as I think about our children and grandchildren that we love sooo much, I pray that we would “lead them” as He leads us…  take a listen, I added it to our blog playlist. 

We invite you to count down with us, T -15!!!!

Also, please add our friends the Marti's who are now in Ukraine, and the Newsome's who will be leaving tomorrow to your prayer list as they work to bring their children home.  Thx!