You're in the Right Place ~ part two

If you want to read part one, click HERE. Part one was one year ago. It was the first time Anna went away to college and it hurt.  

This time, well it wasn't as dramatic. 

And we knew we'd see Anna again.  (that first year we had no idea when we'd visit Anna or when she'd come home) And we really really knew she was in the right place. 

But still, it is hard to say goodbye. And I miss her at home and in our house desperately. 

But I am happy happy for her all at the same time. Boy, there sure are a lot of emotions all tied up together in parenting. 

On to that move in day for her sophomore year. 

Anna left us letters (just like last year) at night on our nightstands. I couldn't open in at night because I knew I wouldn't be able to stop crying - so I waited until we got home from drop off (yes, still cried) 

I thought they looked so pretty in the morning. Anna has always been so thoughtful and able to express her thoughts and love. She is a particularly gifted writer (her minor in college) and these were beyond lovely - treasures forever. 

We wanted to leave by 9 AM on the dot and did it. We loaded up the car the night before and just had a few last minute things to put in that morning. Scott is the ultimate packer (even with a cast on - another post about that sometime) 

All set to go! 

Me: beaming with excitement

Anna: much for calm than last year

It amazes me just how quickly college girls can go from a room like this: 

Their new room is huge, huge, huge (for a dorm room). It has 3 full walk in closets, the most adorable bathroom (yes, they have their own bathroom right in the room), and lots of extra space! Oh my goodness! And it's air conditioned! That is huge! There are two big picture windows that overlook a path and pretty trees. I love it so much! 

But yes, it's really plain (of course) when you first walk in. 

They go from this... 

... to this in a few hours. (and this wasn't even close to done) But they moved their desks to face the beds and it made a much more cozy look. 

Her roommate is darling and they're a great match! I am so happy for Anna! And I can't wait to see how it looks in a few weeks when I can see it again and they've moved in more. Anna keeps sending me adorable little videos of "room updates". I love them so much. 

After a lot of time in the room we took Anna out to lunch. Her roommate was with her family and they planned to go see family friends nearby. We had so much fun at lunch! 

After that it was our plan to attend Mass. It was a lovely, quiet, intimate Mass in the lower chapel of her church. (I talked more about how the homily intertwined with our family theme back HERE) 

And then it was time for goodbyes. Sad, hard, but happy too. There were no tears this time. 

And then we waited as she walked away toward her dorm room... with a cute little wave. 

I took a few pictures of that beautiful campus on the way back to the car. Just love that scene so much. 

And just like that, her sophomore year began. 

 

Back to School Feast : Fix Your Eyes

On Saturday night before we moved Anna back to college we had our yearly back to school feast.  

It's a night that we make really special for our girls - well for our whole family. 

It is important to us that we knit our hearts together before a new beginning. Since we are all in education, we all have our first days and we all have a new start - new hopes and dreams, new ideas, new thoughts, new experiences to look forward to... and this night is all about taking the time to start together, to pray, to ponder scripture (and often a song), eat really yummy food and sip on something wonderful. 

This year: 

I had it all set up outside on the porch and definitely went for an autumn look and feel. 

Their special gifts were waiting for them at their place settings. 

We served pork fajitas with grilled peppers, onions -- so so good! 

I also made homemade watermelon lemonade. 

So delicious and easy to make are watermelon ice cubes: I just chopped up the watermelon that was not in the lemonade and froze it in little squares. So fun! 

After dinner the girls opened their stars. 

After all of these years they are growing quite a collection of stained glass stars. 

Then it was time for dessert (homemade apple crisp) and our theme for the year: fix your eyes on God. We talked for a long time about how the work we do in our schools is important but that we need to remember the purpose. We need to literally stop during the day and fix our eyes on something that will remind us that God is with us; directing our steps. A few things I want to remember from our evening: 

• What is the wisdom of this world? A lot of "wisdom" seems to revolve around being in control and being the master of your own destiny. 
• Power and wisdom seem to be found in self-determination and control. 
• How different is that from the message of the cross, which reveals to us God's own wisdom! 
• When Jesus chose not his own will but the will of his Father, he showed us the surpassing wisdom of handing over control to our loving God 
• We are naturally inclined toward that "wisdom" of the world that urges us toward control and independence. And so sometimes even our attempts to surrender to God are tinged by that dirve. 
• When we hand over control to our heavenly Father, we can trust that, in his goodness and his love, he will take care of us and bring the best out of any situation. 
• So this year, let's take one more step closer to a full surrender to God. Let's make just a little more progress toward living according to the surpassing wisdom of God. 

We also listened to this song: Click HERE

The very next day drove Anna back up to college with a very full car. We spent the day moving her in to her new dorm room and then went to Mass just before we left. I'll never forget the last words the priest spoke in his homily. He said, "unit yourself with God and you will be exalted." It felt like he was speaking just to us. (It was a very small gathering: just our family and about 10 other students) 

Exactly what we are discussing and teaching our girls the evening before. 

Back to School Blessing 2021

Back to School Blessing 2020

Back to School Blessing 2019 

Back to School Blessing 2018 

Back to School Blessing 2017 

Back to School Blessing 2016 

Back to School Blessing 2015

A Birthday!

Oh my! Today was our first teacher day back to school. It was Convocation (whole town meeting - all the schools) and our Open House so I got to meet my sweet class. 

I sure will need some time to adjust to honestly not back to school, but how to do a whole days worth of things at home when I'm at school all day, ha! But today I will not, not blog because: 

And it's also Scott's birthday. 

We celebrated his style 

1. before Anna left for college (yesterday we moved her back in to her new dorm room)

2. simple

3. quick and easy

Sure, I can do all three of those! 

Oh how we all love you! 

 

You Know It's Almost back-to-school When...

 

This Time...

... this book

... this us