While We Wait!

School has started back for Cade.  He started classes last Wednesday. He has a tough schedule.  He's taking Adv. English, Physics, Adv. Chemistry, AP World History, French, and Algebra II.  Brett left yesterday to go back to Mississippi. We spent Saturday night in Nashville, and he left from there.  He was going to a leadership conference or retreat or something like that near Petal, MS, and then on to Mississippi College to begin his junior year. He'll move in the dorm on Sunday.  Katey is at home a day or two here and there, between meetings and parties for the grad students. Her classes start next week.

We've been debating about taking Cade to China with us. He would miss 12 days of class time.  Considering his schedule, that's a lot of important instruction time.  On the other hand,  he'll learn so much about China and his little sister's birth country, not to mention, it'll be a trip of a lifetime for him. So, I'm going to talk to the school.  If they'll excuse the trip and count it as educational, he'll go.  If not, I guess he won't. I worry that something could come up unexpectedly to keep the grandparents from being able to come, since it's not much notice, so it'll relieve that worry, plus we would like to have him with us.  I wish all 3 of them could go, but Katey and Brett cannot miss their classes. I know Brett would love to go, if he could.

There's so much to get done.  I'm not finished with Raeanna's room. I want to do a will, since we'll be traveling overseas. There are many odds and ends that I need to take care of before we leave.

Please pray that the orphanage is preparing Raeanna for the changes that are about to take place.  As far as orphanages go, it's about the best one in China from all accounts.  They do seem to prepare the children well for their new families. The children's needs appear to be met. However, it's still an orphanage, and there is no way that each child can get the nurturing and affection that children need to flourish. Please pray that we can make up for the lack of love she has experienced in her early years, and teach her about the love of Christ.
I'm sure there will be grief, because she has lived at the orphanage since she was a little over a year old, so it's all she knows. In her paperwork, it says she is closest to her caregiver, which has probably changed a few times.  Grief and disappointment can't be new feelings for her. It is my prayer that God prepares her for us and us for her, and that He gives us the wisdom we need to show her love and make her feel secure in her new forever family. Pray that she attaches to us and us to her, and that she has a smooth transition into our family.