Isn't she adorable?! Let me tell you - E is absolutely beautiful inside and out. :)
We traveled in the car for a couple of days before arriving at home in Texas. We enjoyed getting to know E a little bit more before being immersed into every day life. For example, we became aware that a child her age is very concerned about whether or not restaurants and gas stations have Wi-Fi (lol)! Because, priorities. E has an Ipad that was given to her by other caregivers, so Carey and I have had to educate ourselves a bit on some of the fun aps she likes to play. We are lucky that E was already used to having her Ipad only at scheduled times, so we haven't received any push-back about technology yet. We've already discussed with her that she won't have a phone anytime soon but that she can earn trust by being responsible on her Ipad. You know, typical stuff you'd be addressing with any kid her age.
And E does her own laundry. Can we please just take a minute and talk about how awesome this is?! THE ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD DOES HER OWN LAUNDRY! And she likes naps just like the rest of us and can fall asleep almost anywhere. Not to mention that sometimes the exact words I would say come out of her mouth. Poor girl already acts a lot like Momma Leah...haha!
Something that has amazed me about E is her confidence and independence. She seems to be very in tune with who she is, what she is capable of, and what she wants. I am very glad that she is comfortable in her own skin, and I pray that confidence continues to grow even through her teenage years. Also, this girl knows her clothing style and sticks with it - she doesn't have time for inappropriate necklines, short lengths, or other revealing clothing. And, as a Momma, can I just say HALLELUJAH and PRAISE the Lord Jesus for that?!
But the most incredible thing I've witnessed is her compassion toward other children, most specifically Joseph and Daniel. She enjoys building tents, chasing the boys around the house, and being outside with them. Even today, when Joseph was having a crying fit because he desperately needed a nap, E gave him a little stuffed monkey and said, "Here Joe. When you are sad, hold this little monkey and think of something happy!" And the little bugger finally went to sleep. Carey and I agree that she has a calming presence on our entire family.
Today we visited a private Christian school for E. We had previously visited it while considering Joe's kindergarten enrollment, and so we visited again to see what E thought about it. The school is quite small, but it is very in touch with technology and new learning techniques. The lessons and quizzes for E's grade level are all on a computer program and she can work at her own pace (which she seems very excited about). And while most of the classes aren't in the traditional teacher-in-front-of-the-room style, there are a few courses where she would still be learning with other children. We were impressed to see how the teachers simply moved from one child's desk to another and spent one-on-one time with them. But the most important thing to us is that every subject matter is presented through the lens of the gospel, so there is constant spiritual application no matter what is being learned. However, E is not too happy about the knee-length skirts and other uniform items, but I have a feeling she'll get somewhat used to it... ;)
Lastly, we were surprised by an unexpected blessing while reviewing E's documents - we found BABY PICTURES! I had just accepted the fact that we would never have a baby picture of her, and then God, once again, did the impossible. What an awesome God we serve!
We appreciate your continued prayers. God is definitely at work in our family and we are thankful for your support!
