Ramblings...Just Twenty days!!
We keep imagining what Andrey, Vlad and Tonya might be feeling coming to the USA. Tonya and Vlad have met us and has met our family. They have called our parents Grandma and Grandpa. Surprisingly my mother actually likes the name (spelled phonetically) BAA BUUSH KA. My mom has already bought the kids Christmas outfits and has their welcome gift ready. My mother-in-law has graciously agreed to help watch the kids when they are here and we are at work. My Aunts have some of the items that are required to send back to Russia for each child. I love my family. Randall and I are so excited that we have been dreaming about the kids. AND I finally get to meet Andrey. He is oldest child in the picture located to the right. His expression and his eyes in this photo took my breath away two years ago. This is the first picture we saw of our host children. This picture combined with my new found friend Michelle Vernon singing Avalons' "Orphan of God" touched us deeply. Today two years later, I have a calendar at work counting down the days. Some of my co-workers have been great offering clothing and other items for the kids. The caring spirit at Delta Airlines is amazing. I bet Vlad and Tonya cannot wait to play "Zombie" (their version of hide and seek with flashlights). I wonder if Andrey is nervous. I wonder if the kids have learned any more English. We have been practicing our Russian.
We are not sure where God is leading us in this journey, but the walk is fun trying to use charades to communicate with our host children. It is amazing to witness what God has done in their lives that I have seen first hand this summer. I am excited to see where we will go and what we will see during the season of celebrating the birth of our Savior. I want to share with them what an AWESOME God he his and how much he loves them. I pray that these children have a safe and fun Christmas visit.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
