More Changes and an Update on Anne

We can finally say that NEXT week, we can see Anne!  Although, I have been thankful for the pictures the home posts from time to time, I am so very excited to be able to actually see her!

Next Wednesday morning, we will be having a meeting with Anne, her host parents and a staff member to go over some goals.  We will go over goals for Anne as well as goals for us to be working on here at home as well.  The meeting will be about an hour long and I'm not expecting that we will be able to have much time with Anne alone as it will be during school hours.  If, however, we do get some alone time with her, then that will be a pleasant surprise!

Her original date to get her braces off, was February 1.  This did not fall into the window of being past the first 30 days.  Because I wanted to be a part of this milestone, although it took some effort, we were able to get the orthodontist appointment changed to after that window.  I will get to finally have some time with her alone, while we travel to and from her appointment, which will be here in Hutchinson, on February 24.  I am hoping to get a feel for how she is really doing and adjusting to her life in the girls home.

Since Anne has left, she has written us once.  She at that time, seemed to be adjusting as well as could be expected.  This week, I talked with one of the staff members, and she told me that Anne has really been struggling emotionally lately.  We are praying that Jesus will hold her and that she will desire to hear Him and want His help in her healing.  Next Friday, she will begin meeting with a therapist to start learning about strategies to cope instead of cutting.  They will also try to start determining what the triggers might be so that she can start learning the signs of when she might be tempted to harm herself.  We pray that God will continue to work and heal!

Hawa definitely took Anne's leaving in a hard way.  Because she misses Anne so much, she has requested to be moved to another host family.  So within the next week or so, Hawa will be moving to another host family.  Although we will miss her, the family who is willing to host her, will be attending our church so we will still be able to see her from time to time.  Please be praying for her as she adjusts to her new host family.  Also, please be in prayer for us as we will have "lost" two daughters in a short amount of time.  Of the kids, Adia is taking this move the hardest.  Since Anne left, she moved in with Hawa and has been sharing a room with her.  Adia will really miss her big "sister" and will have a lot of adjustments to make once Hawa leaves.

Thanks for continuing to uphold our family in prayer!