One Week Pass Turned into a Longer Pass!!

In our last post, we were pretty discouraged.  However, we are learning that just as in a blink of an eye things can change for the worse, so can they change just as quickly for the better.  God is definitely taking us on a journey that encourages strength in our faith building muscles!

Since I hadn't been able to talk with Anne, we weren't sure if it would be wise to continue planning a two week home pass, so we made plans to arrange for a one week pass.  However, once I was able to talk with Anne to see how SHE was feeling about everything, she wanted a two week pass.

The day we went to pick her up, I saw the director in the office.  He asked if I had seen Anne yet, which I had not.  He said that Anne had good news for me!  Of course as soon as I was done in the office, I quickly went to find Anne. While we were walking, she wanting me to take a piece of paper that was upside down.  When I turned it over to look at it, this is what I saw....

I was so excited that I squealed!  She had been mentioning for a few months that she had hoped she would be able to receive this honor, as each month a different girl is chosen.  I knew that if she was able to come home at the end of the summer, that she didn't have too much time left to accomplish this goal.  So, as a "selfish" mommy, I started praying that if it be God's will that she be chosen.  Not too many weeks, later, we had God's answer of a "YES!"  Even if God would have answered no, in our minds, Anne had already won! :) 

As a result of this special honor, Anne gets to pick out a new pair of jeans and choose to either get her hair highlighted or get a hair cut.  We look forward to seeing what she chooses!

How does one receive the special honor of being chosen for the girl of the month?  It is through character qualities of hard work, integrity, friendliness, a willingness to help, making progress in goals, etc.  There are two main houses on campus, and the girls in each of the homes vote for who they think should win.  The house parents and staff then take the nominations and choose who they think should receive the honor.  The girls from the house that Anne ISN'T staying in unanimously voted for Anne before the other house had even voted.

Needless to say, we brought home a pretty excited girl! :)  The first week, Anne made it back in time to tell Hawa, our former exchange student, goodbye before she left to go back to Africa.   She also was able to spend time helping us celebrate Father's Day.  That week, we were also really busy preparing for our garage sale, and Anne also enjoyed being able to rearrange her room with new to her furniture.

The second week, it was a slower pace.  This enabled Anne to reconnect with some of her friends as well as allow us to have some time for some good conversation.

The day before we were getting ready to take Anne back, she got sick.  This then spread to the rest of the family.  By the time everyone was all well, it had been THREE weeks since she had left the home. Although, it was frustrating to be sick, it was nice to have her home that long.  It almost felt like things were "back to normal" again! :)

We were thankful she was able to be here to celebrate July 4th with us.

                                                    

                                     

This past Wednesday, we took her back to the home.  While we were there, we had a meeting with the host parents and the campus director.  They were very pleased with how well Anne is doing and progressing.  She has officially reached all of her goals!!  As a result, we are officially back into the TRANSITION HOME phase.

Before she can come home, we have to have at least one family therapy session with the therapist she has been seeing.  The first session has been scheduled for next Thursday.  We would appreciate your prayers as we meet together.  Following this meeting, we will get to take Anne home for another week long home pass.  Anne is looking forward to helping with our church's VBS program.

If things continue to progress well, Anne should be home for good sometime next month!!  Thanks for continuing to pray!