"We're WICKED proud of you"

I wrote back here about how Abigail made her college decision. It was truly in God's hands and we all felt led, followed his leading, and know she made the right choice. 

And it left us with a days after feelings of joy for her. We were just so proud of her and her decision. It really is hard to put into words but when something is so right, you just want to celebrate. 

On the week of school before our April break I had this idea. It didn't come from Instagram, a blog, or pintrest, just my heart. I wanted to decorate her door with all of the colleges she was accepted into. Although Fairfield University is the perfect place for our daughter to grow for the next four years, we almost all felt a little sadness for the other four colleges: 

~ Fordham

~ Providence

~ Sacred Heart University

~ College of the Holy Cross

She had these piles on her desk. (that post back here) One for each college. 

After she decided it was time of course, to not have those anymore. I took pictures, planned in my heart to blog about them because each was so unique and wonderful too. But something still felt missing. 

So I thought I'd decorate her door with all of them and put a bit "We're Wicked Proud of You" in the center. Perfect!

I love the way the door turned out! 

Abigail got home from Saturday orchestra and we asked her to come upstairs... I always love surprising my girls! 

I think the whole door was a surprise and gift alone... but then she realized what "We're Wicked proud of you" really meant! 

Along with that were tickets to the Broadway Musical, Wicked.

Abigail and I have already been to the NYC show (that post back here) for her sixteenth birthday but we've been talking about going back since then. This would be the perfect opportunity. 

So on Sunday of April break we headed into the city and loved every minute of it! 

Here we are just leaving home that next morning: 

Here are a few pictures of our day together... 

Scott (who was on another mission in NYC that I will blog about later), dropped us off just a block from the Gershwin theatre. We were so darn excited! 

Asked someone to take our picture and got some cute ones for sure! 

Love the lights in this one was were in line to walk in. 

Once inside she had to get a Elphba slushy too fun! 

During the intermission we headed to get a magnet to remember our day! 

It was breathtaking and spectacular. Every note, all of it. We really just didn't want it to end. But when it did we were so joyful. Still can't stop thinking about that musical. 

Scott was right there at the doors when we walked out and got these pictures of us! 

And he had made dinner reservations at a special restaurant right on Central Park so we got to walk through and see springtime there. It was so lovely. 

It really was such a special time and so fitting as a celebration for such a wonderful decision. 

There are so many other NYC memories on this blog of mine: 

Here is the time Abigail and I went to Wicked for her Sixteenth birthday 

Here Here and here is a time we headed to NYC during our April break years ago 

A Fun Concert

We went to see Michael W Smith last weekend and it was so fun! Scott and I love his music. During our college years, engaged years, and even first married years Michael W. Smith's music played an important part of our faith journey. We have so so many memories connected to each song. So when Scott found out he would be playing about 40 minutes away we jumped at the chance to see him and hear all of the songs we love. 

He has a new album coming out and from what we heard at the concert, it's going to be amazing! 

I'll have to say that MWS doesn't show his age at all! He is still a showman -- it was an awesome show! 

And it was fun to share this music with Abigail! 

Abigial's Big College Decision

When I started this blog Abigail was a tiny preschooler. How is it possible that I'm typing a post on her college decision? 

There is so much emotion swirling through my heart with this post. And there is so much to say. I want to make sure I get it right so this one might be a long one... hold on to the end. 

When Abigail started thinking about where she might go to college one thing she knew for sure is that she wanted to attend a catholic college. So the plan was really to visit all of the catholic colleges within driving distance. So we did over two years. Some we loved right away, some felt just okay. 

As two years went on we took notes, she worked hard in school taking the most difficult classes she possibly could, getting the best grades she possibly could, enriching her life through her viola by playing in the most difficult orchestras she possibly could, giving back to her church and making sandwiches for the poor as much as she could. She was growing and learning. All the while she was dealing with some difficult medical challenges, emotional challenges. All of this could have made her give up, apply to 'middle of the road' colleges but she chose to dig deep, find faith and inner strength, and press forward. 

Before we knew it, fall came of her senior year and she applied to five colleges. 

And do you know what? She got into all five. Unheard of! 

But then she had one very big decision to make.

In her discernment process she spoke with the priest in our church, we visited all of the colleges again, and we prayed, boy did we pray. 

She still didn't know where God was leading her. She knew, and we felt confident that any of the choices would land her in a good place, but she wanted to find the "one" for her. 

We 'attended' all of the online student admitted events as well. And a few 'fell off the list' that way. We were down to two. 

One was offering her a major viola scholarship and we truly adored that college for many reasons. But this scholarship would include a great deal of travel and a commitment on a very serious level. 

There was one college (and a story for another post) that Scott reached out to the admissions director. There was an in person meeting and something in that meeting told us we should really look at this college one more time even though this one had not left an impression on Abigail. So we did. 

We were able to go to a parents of admitted students on line meeting. And something on my heart and Scott's heart moved. We asked Abigail to join us in that meeting even though it was for parents only and I'll have to say that her college decision came down to two things:

1. That in person meeting Scott had with the admissions director and the things Scott shared with Abigail and I after their meeting.

2. That parent on line meeting that Abigail joined us with. 

By the end of the meeting on March 25th we knew. Abigail were jumping up and down knowing that God had moved all our hearts to this one college we never even thought much about over the two years. 

One part of that meeting I want to remember was this moment when he said, "when the church bells ring for Mass everyone leaves where they are, the lawn, the library, and they go to Mass." That was it for her. She knew she had found the place where she could grow for the next four years. 

Of course since all of the five colleges she got into are catholic ones, they all have Mass, and a faith based approach but something about his one did the most for meeting her heart. 

Side note: I am so grateful to the College of the Holy Cross for helping Anna grow in faith and devotion to the Catholic church over the past four years both in weekly Mass, retreats, and daily prayer in the chapel... so so grateful) 

There were two more confirmation parts after we knew that we are so grateful for:

1. We scheduled a one on one meeting with me and Abigail this time with the admissions director. He answered every question. He spoke about the faith life on campus and confirmed some wonderings Abigail had. 

2. Student Admitted Day in April. More confirmation and just a joyful day to celebrate her decision. 

So here are all of the moments she found out she 'got in'. 

Fordham University in New York City

This was Abigail's top top top choice for over a year. I mean New York City... that would have been so cool! They had an amazing program for her major. It was very difficult to get into and we are so proud of her. 

Providence College - blew us away. So hard to get into. Such an amazing place. 

Anna happened to be home for this 'finding out' night. 

Fairfield University 

This one had the least reaction, although very proud of her as less than 25% this year were admitted (much lower than any other year in their history), she just never felt much over the two year about this college. 

Sacred Heart University - one huge scholarship and the dream of playing her viola in such an amazing orchestra. 

College of the Holy Cross - oh boy, this college had the lowest acceptance rate, meaning that it was the hardest to get into. Holy Cross is the most highly selective college and is 'up there' with the Ivy Leagues for academics and just pure liberal, amazing education. Although it is Anna's school we still never really thought she would get in but boy oh boy she desereved this moment for sure! 

And over the next weeks all of these colleges spoiled her with letters, emails, and gifts hoping she would choose their university. 

Any of the five would have been amazing, really. But it truly came down for Abigail to her faith life. And for that she STILL could have chosen any of the five. But she knew in her heart that she was led to Fairfield University. 

Here are a few clips from her Admitted Student Day: 

That is one warm welcome! 

She happened to run into a friend and she old her she had just committed - I love this hug so much! 

There will be so much more to say over the next four years. I'm just thrilled for her, for her choice. Fairfield is one lucky university to 'get' Abigail. One lucky place indeed! 

Here is Anna's 'she got in' college post. 

In case you might want to see a short video on my insta that link is here.