Yesterday we spent a fun day with our soon-to-be-daughter. She lives nearly two hours away, so Ken took a half day off work so we could spend most of the afternoon together.
We picked her up at noon, and when we arrived, Anne ran to the door to give Kathryn a big squeeze. We met her foster mom and a couple of the girls that live there. Praise God for people like her foster parents, who currently have six teenage foster daughters. Anne has been there almost two years now. Although the foster mom knows that saying goodbye is a part of this, and she's done it before, she's sad to see Anne go. Please pray for peace for her, too.
We had lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant, and conversation was fun and comfortable. After lunch, we headed to a beautiful park with a fabulous playground and huge trees that made some lovely shade. One of the ladies from Anne's church was there, enjoying her lunch break at a picnic table, so Anne introduced us. When we walked up, the lady said to Anne, "So this is your new family?" She seem genuinely pleased to meet us, and told us that everyone at church was happy for Anne, but would greatly miss her.
We picked her up at noon, and when we arrived, Anne ran to the door to give Kathryn a big squeeze. We met her foster mom and a couple of the girls that live there. Praise God for people like her foster parents, who currently have six teenage foster daughters. Anne has been there almost two years now. Although the foster mom knows that saying goodbye is a part of this, and she's done it before, she's sad to see Anne go. Please pray for peace for her, too.
We had lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant, and conversation was fun and comfortable. After lunch, we headed to a beautiful park with a fabulous playground and huge trees that made some lovely shade. One of the ladies from Anne's church was there, enjoying her lunch break at a picnic table, so Anne introduced us. When we walked up, the lady said to Anne, "So this is your new family?" She seem genuinely pleased to meet us, and told us that everyone at church was happy for Anne, but would greatly miss her.
(Notice the creatively not-showing-her-face photo? I'll be using quite a few of those!)We played on the playground, and when we had all melted thoroughly (it was 90+ degrees yesterday!) and were in need of some air conditioning, we stopped by Anne's caseworker's office to meet his supervisors. They answered a few questions for us, and promised to get an "official" answer for a few things from the director as soon as possible. Being able to enroll her in the accredited hybrid homeschool program at our church is looking very promising. But another challenge is where Anne will stay while we are in Africa, because her current foster home is too far from school, and whoever she stays with must be an approved foster-respite family. We had hoped she could stay with one of our friends, but I don't think there is any way they can complete all the required classes and such before then. Please be in prayer about that, too.
Her caseworker told us that our meeting last Thursday far exceeded his greatest expectations, and that he had never seen Anne so comfortable with anyone she just met. He said he could tell that Ken and I really liked being married to each other, and that was so huge in making something like this work. (We do like being married to each other!)
Before taking her back to her foster home, we went out for ice cream and talked even more. We met her foster dad and all the girls when we arrived back at their house, and Anne introduced us to the pet pot-bellied pig (named Delilah!) who got too big for the house and has to live in the backyard now. If I ever hear the phrase "fat as a pig" again, I will picture Delilah. I'm so glad we got to see Anne's current home, and meet everyone there (including Delilah!), because they have been such a big part of her life for the past couple of years.
Many hugs later, we headed back home. This Saturday morning we will pick her up and (despite the drive) bring her here so she can see our home. Not sure what we'll do, but we'll have to take her back that evening. She'll spend the following weekend with us, from Saturday morning 'til Sunday night. We don't have specifics planned beyond that yet, but it still looks like she'll be moving in next month! She's very excited, but will be facing so many changes. Prayers are much appreciated.
Her caseworker told us that our meeting last Thursday far exceeded his greatest expectations, and that he had never seen Anne so comfortable with anyone she just met. He said he could tell that Ken and I really liked being married to each other, and that was so huge in making something like this work. (We do like being married to each other!)
Before taking her back to her foster home, we went out for ice cream and talked even more. We met her foster dad and all the girls when we arrived back at their house, and Anne introduced us to the pet pot-bellied pig (named Delilah!) who got too big for the house and has to live in the backyard now. If I ever hear the phrase "fat as a pig" again, I will picture Delilah. I'm so glad we got to see Anne's current home, and meet everyone there (including Delilah!), because they have been such a big part of her life for the past couple of years.
Many hugs later, we headed back home. This Saturday morning we will pick her up and (despite the drive) bring her here so she can see our home. Not sure what we'll do, but we'll have to take her back that evening. She'll spend the following weekend with us, from Saturday morning 'til Sunday night. We don't have specifics planned beyond that yet, but it still looks like she'll be moving in next month! She's very excited, but will be facing so many changes. Prayers are much appreciated.
