a little mix-up...along with some anticipation

Just as we are finally starting to feel like our daily routine has a sense of structure, and dare I say predictability to it...we faced a slight mix-up! On a normal day, our routine goes something like this. At 2:20 I awaken Nathan (who has still not come to grips with that being our best option) in order to pick up Paige. Remember...she HATES the bus? We leave the house by 2:30 to join the swarm of other crazy parents who sit in their cars (not to mention it is still in the mid 80's every day) for 20, 30, sometimes over 45 minutes to claim their precious children. We've gotten it down to a science. We know exactly what minute to leave our house and which driveway to enter at the school, which books to bring to read while we wait and which snacks are preferred. The system works. As we approach the school building a sweet lady with a walk-talkie calls the number hanging from my rear view mirror, signaling Paige's teacher to send her out. Like I said, it's a normal routine now and we know what to expect. Until today...

As I approached "Gate 2," where I was told by that sweet lady I would claim my cheerful daughter (who, BTW is terrified of the bus and ever-so-shy...have I mentioned that?) I quickly noticed she was not there. After a few moments of waiting with no arrival of said child, another kind lady asks for my daughters name. More walkie-talkie nonsense and I'm asked to proceed to "Gate 0" as they "look for my daughter." First of all, "Gate 0" never means anything good and the fact that they needed to "look" for my daughter didn't feel good to me. Another few minutes go by and I peer into my rear view mirror to see Paige's teacher walking briskly toward "Gate 0." My heart dropped. Sure enough...Paige was accidentally sent home ON THE BUS.

The thought of her on the bus made me ill because I know how terrified she is. But then a worse thought surfaced...there is NO ONE HOME to get her off the bus! Needless to say, the next 10 minutes were tense. Long story short, Daddy located the bus and claimed Paige. Amazingly, she had not shed a tear! She was scared and confused, but discovered that a little girl from her class rides her bus, so they sat together. She didn't cry at all and seemed almost aloof to the entire ordeal, yet refuses to try the bus again tomorrow. We'll keep working on it.

There is a high level of anticipation in our home right now. I finally received word that I am one of two finalists for the job with Bethany. I will have my final interview (with a group of 6 interviewers) on Tuesday, September 29. Please be in prayer for us. I have never had an interview, so to say I am nervous is an understatement. Funny how 5 months ago I would have run fast from this process and now I am beyond hopeful. Pray not just that I can be calm and genuine, but that God will continue to make HIS plan clear to us. We will truly be at peace no matter what the outcome.

THEN...two days later my parents will be arriving at the beach! I can hardly believe it. They will be the first of my immediate family to see our world here and we are beyond excited to have some time with them.