Yesterday, we took Kendra to Third Way and met with her county caseworker and one of the counselors on staff there. It was a tough thing for all of us, but Kendra truly does need help to develop the tools she will need to lead a successful life. Her biggest issue yesterday was learning that as a new resident they are not allowed to smoke for two weeks. With smoking being Kendra's primary coping mechanism, that might get ugly.

Kendra shares a room with two girls and should start at her new school tomorrow. We are taking a big step back for the next few weeks with the expectation that Kendra can accept her new reality and embrace being there and the help they offer instead of seeing it as punishment. Please continue to pray with us for the breakthrough that will allow Kendra to heal and grow during her time there. As Kendra progresses with therapy and independent living skills, she will move from this dormitory style facility to an apartment of her own in a building the program owns.

Noelle and Isaac are taking it in stride. A bit more emotional about things than normal, but I think they'll make the adjustment. Yesterday in the car, Noelle was "reading" Isaac the Christmas story - it was so great hearing her version of the angels appearing and Jesus being born. It was a good chance for me to embrace my true focus.

Thank you for all of the prayers. On Monday, 12/7 Kendra will be moving from our house to Third Way, a residential treatment facility specializing in independent living skills and intensive mental health therapy. Kendra has gone through several stages this past week, from accepting this placement to fighting it and trying to be placed elsewhere. From understanding that it will give her the best chance for success to thinking we don't love her and just want to get rid of her. We respond with the fact that sometimes a parent's job is to do what they see as best for their child long term despite her initial opinion that we are hurtful and mean. I believe it may be a "wait and see what happens" scenario on Monday. We are just praying that God is able to show her how truth and healing can impact her life right now and she obtain the end results she desires.

In the end, Kendra has to choose - what do I want, and what am I willing to do in order to get it?
Hopefully Kendra can find the will to choose change. We will continue to send updates on this journey. Our adoption agency has been notified that we are open to another fost-adopt placement (likely a younger girl this time). We will continue to support Kendra as her family as she progresses through Third Way and we hope that on the other end she can successfully make the choices necessary to be a part of our family.

We expect that Kendra will come home for a few days to celebrate Christmas with our family. My mom gave Kendra her hand-knit family stocking last night to hang on the mantle with the rest of ours. We are looking forward to the holiday and celebrating the hope a tiny baby brought to into our lives.

We've had a yo-yo ride these last few weeks with Kendra. She decided that she really wants to be a part of our family, so we agreed that it's never too late to make that choice and change her behaviors. It turns out it's much easier to make the decision than it is to change the behavior.
Last week we met with Kendra's "team" and collectively decided that if the end goal is for Kendra to successfully be a part of our family, the best way to accomplish that is for Kendra to move into a program in which she will receive the therapy and life skills preparation that she desperately needs. We have committed to being available as Kendra's family to support her through that process. Kendra's stance is that if she is sent there, she will run away. She continues to be defiant and combative with us in the mean time. We are praying that an opening is available really soon so that she can transition.

Please continue to pray for safety and protection over all of us. Pray that Kendra will be able to see that she needs help and choose to stay and actively participate in the work necessary for healing. Pray that they will have an opening for Kendra SOON.

A long lapse in updates means...things have not continued to move forward as we had hoped. Kendra's birthday party went well. We had many people come to show her love and acceptance. Most meaningful were the gifts of a necklace and other jewelry from her biological brothers. A few weeks ago, we accepted the fact that Kendra does not want change and refuses any input or parenting from us. While this may be "normal teenage behavior", it is not what Kendra truly needs, nor how we had hoped to serve in adopting from foster care. We have come to recognize that we can't continue to desperately want a life for Kendra that she does not want for herself.

What happens now? Kendra's team is attempting to determine the best course of action that will support her in accomplishing goals of graduation, emancipation and independence. Please pray for Kendra to utilize all resources as she makes decisions. Pray that God will prepare each of our hearts as we get ready to separate from daily life together. Pray that God would allow the truth that we've spoken and lived while Kendra has been in our care to pierce her heart and grow even as she leaves us.

If you have already donated for the Mexico mission trip, your contribution will be returned to you. Thank you for being so generous and expressing your desire to support both Kendra and our family in this way.

Thank you for all of the kind and encouraging words along the way. Those words have been so