My girl is flying away today….for three weeks.

She is heading across the pond on a student exchange program.  Officially, she is a Loughlin Scholar.   She goes to Britain for three weeks, paired with a girl student buddy from the partner school, living with the family of the student buddy.

St Edwards School. Whoa.

Later, the same buddy comes here to stay with us for three weeks, same deal but reversed.  This is a great program, her brother Jon did it before her and it was a great experience all around. But even so, it’s her first time away from the family for more than one night.  Which means of course that she is chomping at the bit to go and we are excited for her but dreading having her gone.  And while she has spent time with celebrities and such…

….this living with a completely different family, strangers, is a whole new gig.  Can she do it? Sure, she’s got the social skills when she feels like it – typically much more in evidence when she’s not skulking around our own house on her regular loop: bedroom, kitchen, piano room, sunroom.

I fear she will be homesick, but know it’s good for her in it’s own way.  We will be daughter-sick, missing her terribly.

Anyhow, today she flies with her school group.  I would appreciate any prayers you might throw her way.  I pray for her to be happy, healthy, safe and sound – to have fun and be comfortable with her own self in this new group of Brits.  Because, she’s my girl, I think I miss her already.