Family Weekend

College family weekends have such a special place in our hearts. This is our sixth one in a row. There were four at Holy Cross for Anna, and this is Abigail's sophomore year... six total... and we love them!

Family weekend feels like a little pocket of time - we stop what would be a 'normal' weekend and just be together. 

This was the first year we decided not to stay over. We are about an hour and ten minutes from campus and from being away the two weekends before, we just wanted to sleep at home on Saturday night. Scott didn't mind driving on both Saturday and Sunday to Fairfield... so off we went!

Fairfield University, Sophomore Year 

Saturday

When we got to campus around lunchtime we went to the fun family photo booth and then the food trucks that line the circle... so much fun! It's great just being around everyone, it's all really joy filled! 

 

The best part is being with Abigail in her space, her place. 

The weather was perfection and I didn't take one moment of it for granted! 

There's nothing like campus in the fall in New England! 

We got to drop some things off in her dorm room all cozy for fall! 

She showed us a few favorite places around campus - I love this part! 

We got to see some of her friends and meet their parents. I love putting together the whole picture! These girls are just lovely and such good friends to Abigail! So grateful for all of her friends! 

Then we headed into downtown Fairfield for some gelato and shopping! 

Back on campus we headed to Mass at the chapel on campus. 

One one about this sacred, special place: 

I really wish I could tell you in the space just how special this chapel is. This is the place Abigail calls home. This is where she played her viola for Mass last year. This is where she sings every Sunday night at Mass this year. This is the place where she became a Eucharistic Minister. This is the place where she found her one place to worship the God she loves so much. This church is holy ground. I am so grateful for this space and the priests here on campus for the work they are doing for all of these young adults but mostly for my girl. So so grateful. 

It is beautiful inside and out and Abigal knows all of the meaning behind the construction and art within. She shared it with us. I loved loved Mass on Family Weekend. Truly my favorite part of the whole weekend! 

Out to dinner at our favorite place! 

Sunday

We drove back the next day for a concert that Abigail was performing in. 

Filled my heart to see her in a performace this school year. 

Thank you Abigail for inviting us to your home. We are so very proud of you. It makes us so happy that you are loving this place. 

Campus Retreat

This weekend Abigail spoke at the Freshman retreat. I am so proud of her! She worked picking her song and the words she wanted to say to encourage the freshman all summer long. She poured her heart into it and from the pictures she sent me I can see her beaming. And what a beautiful spot!

I can't wait to hear all about your talk Abigail and every deatil from the weekend retreat when we come visit you for Family Weekend! 

 

Welcome Home (again, year two)

Part of me wants to wait for a while to type up this post. And part of me wants to record the feelings raw just as they are right now. And believe me, they are. 

There are certainly a lot of highs and lows when parenting. We've seen a lot of both to be sure. But this dropping off at college is one of those things in life that is so much emotion balled up into one week. It's almost impossible to document. 

This was year six for  Scott and I on drop offs. We've done this for Anna 8 times (and one big drop off as she went to China for 6 months) We did this for Abigail last year. You'd think we'd be used to it by now. But gosh, this year it took me by surprise, all these emotions did. 

So Much Emotion

So there were nights like these that looked like this (yes, I'm showing you this picture). Oh I was as mad as a hornet watching her 'not be ready'. I was teaching at school all week and she was doing good, things were starting to look like progress. And then on Friday it seemed like it didn't just slow down or even halt. Progress seemed to go backward. Emotion number one that I wasn't proud of. 

Moving In Day

And then there was moving in day. I was nervous, watching the leaving time, and all the while knowing what was coming (more emotion). I was excited and happy. Content really. Finally everything was in the car. At least that worry was over! 

More Emotion

Then we arrived and she got a bit nervous. Not about going away to college, more just the pure emotions of the day, the excitement from seeing friends, all of the other families, everything - she was just a ball of tight emotions (gleefully happy, and tense all at the same time) and so was I. Not a great combination. 

But little by little that room turned into the cutest coziest little spot. I really loved it so much. (I don't have a picture of her desk area that wasn't quite done before we left) 

Such a pretty campus! 

She's in a really special dorm - it's like an apartment for 3 girls. Huge bathroom, hallway, and two seperate bedrooms. 

We got to 'work' right away and it took some time to get that room furniture the way the girls wanted it to go, but once we did it was pretty quick. 

Done! 

Relief

And then there is that part of the afternoon that I really love the most of all. We leave campus and escape for a late lunch. I love that the most becasue all of the first nerves are over, the room is really coming along, and we get our girl all to ourselves for one last bit of time. One last time to check in with her heart, hug her without all of her friends around, and just soak her up without any stress. 

We came across a Farmer's Market and decided to eat there. So lovely. It was the most beautiful day. We even went into a botique and bought her a little dress to go to the Preidents Ball. (we had forgotten all about that) 

Saying Goodbye

After all of these emotions going up and down all day (really all week) saying goodbye this time was okay. No tears. No worry. Just goodbye. I knew she'd be skipping back to that dorm of hers to be with her friends. And that means everything! 

But There's More

Exhaustion on the drive home from feeling all of that. And then getting home - oh how it starts to sink in. She's not here. And then all of a sudden, there's an ache. And it hurts. And I wonder how long it's going to feel this way. A day? A week? A month? I can't remember suddenly all of the other 10 times I've done this. 

Sigh

But life will go on. I really don't mean to be so sappy. I just feel that way right now. Wishing she were here. Wishing she were little. Wishing. Just wishing. 

But grateful she is mine. Forever. Wether she is away at college or away for the first time in Kindergarten, it's all just grateful that I get to 'do Abigail', 'be her mama' forever and always. Every breath, every ache, every tense ball of emotion at a time. She is mine and I am hers. Forever. 

If you are reading this Abigail, I am sorry that there was so much emotion. I wish I could have been more 'chill'. But then I wouldn' have been me, and you and me, filled with so much feeling is one of the very best things in the whole wide world. 

I love you and am beyond proud of you. Have a magical first semester of your sophomore year! 

I know you're not home with us but once again you are home. Welcome Home Abigial, Welcome Home 

Freshman Year post is here