Pancakes for breakfast with an unexpected friend!
Lunch with two American friends, Nana, and the family.
Then, the dreaded airport.
They continued until it was time to say our final good bye.
And then, she was gone.
She went up to the security check.
Chad said, "She made it through."
And it hit me then.
She was gone.
Life for the last 10 months has been very different.
In a good way.
We now know what it's like to have a teenager in our house- a responsible, respectful, caring, helpful, loveable teenager.
We were spoiled with Sophie.
She's made a permanent mark on our Kansas hearts.
We got home and there were arrows on the floor from the door leading into the house from the garage...
all the way down the stairs...
down the hallway to her bedroom...
and this is what we found--
Handwritten letters to each one of us with a picture of her and each of our children.
The gorilla she got for Christmas- but couldn't take home with her- that she asked Trey to take care of for her.
A scrapbook of all her memories she made in America with us and with other people.
And German candy she had her family send because she knows we love it.
See what I mean?
How could you not love this girl?
It hasn't quite sunk in yet that she's not coming home in a few days. It feels like she's just on a trip. But, she's not. I know that because she sent a text two hours ago saying she was on the plane to Frankfurt.
She's gone.
My heart is broken.
She plans to come back and see us someday.
Thank goodness for Skype.
Otherwise, she'd miss hearing Trey's squeaky voice, and seeing Jada's piano playing, and Gracie's first song on the violin.
We love you Sophie.
Our house will always be your second home.
"Bring your heart to Kansas, and Kansas will love you back."
1 comment:
Am sad for your sadness but happy you had such a great experience. I had an exchange student when I was seven. We still email and talk to this day. It was an awesome experience. SOPHIE was lucky to have you guys too.
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