Scrounge

I’ve reached a new low. The question used to be, “What’s for dinner?” Now: “Are we having dinner?"  This is the season we’re in and the state of things around here. We’re fine. Everything’s fine. :-)

Ireland

Greg found out last minute, of course, that he needed to on a business trip to Ireland.  Off he went for his forth trip across the pond. 

First Days of School

6th grade, 9th grade, 11th grade, and freshman in college

Disneyland, post drop--off

We got up and left the hotel by 5am to get to Disney as early as possible, and we were the first ones in line! Greg dropped me off and went to go park, and I was the only person there for a few minutes. :-) We were set and ready for rope-drop! We walked/ran all the way through Frontierland to Star Wars Land to ride Rise of the Resistance, and we got it done first thing! It was not without a lot of laughter, though. The McLaughlins had never done a rope-drop before (they didn't know how to do Disney and had multiple bad experiences, as a result), and we were determined to show them how it's done and make it the best day every. As we were rushing as fast as possible down Main Street, Heidi was looking at both sides of the street, saying, "But I can't even enjoy the atmosphere!" It was so funny! Greg was practically dragging me behind him as we speed walked. We were quite a site, I'm sure! We did it right, though--got to ride everything we wanted, had lunch at Cafe Orleans for a Monte-Cristo, got yummy snacks, and shut the park down at midnight. Our legs and feet were so sore, we literally hobbled our way back to our cars. We're all getting old, making rope-drop to close more of a challenge. It was such a fun day, though, and the best way to distract ourselves from the sadness and worry we felt about leaving our kids at college. 

Here is my FB post on our way home that Sunday, after saying good-bye, and after Disneyland with our friends:

"Greg and I are on our way home from taking Kari to college at California Baptist University. We flew in Thursday night, moved her in Friday and said goodbye (I sobbed all the way back to the hotel), and then spent the day at Disneyland on Saturday with friends who also dropped off freshmen at CBU. I highly recommend this plan. We had an epic Disney day that started at 6am (very first people in line!) and ended at midnight. As my friend, Tiffany, put it, “We won Disneyland.” :-) It was a blast and the perfect distraction for after drop-off. We may have been limping to our cars at 12:30am (2 straight days of 10+ mile walking in 100 degree heat did us in), but it was totally worth it.

It’s been quite the weekend, and honestly, a wild, roller coaster of emotions. Cal Baptist is an amazing place, and I am so excited for Kari that she gets to be there, to grow and learn, make new friends, and experience all the fun that college life has to offer. I’m certain God has her just where he wants her. While I am absolutely thrilled for her and proud of her for being brave and stepping out of her comfort zone, my heart is also breaking—for her and the uncomfortable newness of this life change but also for us, not having her at home. Life is changing for our family, and that’s hard, really hard. But I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s what we’re raising our kids to do. This wouldn’t be so difficult if we didn’t like each other so much! Kari Lynn, we love you and are praying for you every day and in each step you take. I know it’s hard, but it’s gonna be good! We’ve been right about most things in life, right? ;-) ❤️

(P.S. I totally made the guy in the seat next to me on the airplane uncomfortable with my streaming tears while writing this—I explained but still…)"

CBU drop-off

Greg, Kari, and I flew down to CA on Thursday afternoon to take Kari to California Baptist University. We spent the night at a nearby hotel, and moved her in Friday morning. It was a day fraught with emotion, and it was swelteringly HOT with a high of 106 degrees. The morning did not start out well. We had just parked near her dorm and were walking to the event center to get her signed in, and Kari said, "I don't want to be here!" As you can imagine, those were not words we wanted to hear in that moment, and I got mad. I started lecturing, and we had some very tense moments as she checked in and got her room key. When we were back to the car and starting to unload, the move-in/welcoming crew showed up, and the first person we saw was a friendly, familiar face from home--Nathan Amadio! He was part of the welcoming crew working that weekend. His smile and warm greeting was a blessing and a gift from God in that moment. Kari and I went in and started unpacking. We had a little heart-to-heart about what she said earlier. I asked if she really meant that she didn't want to be there, or if she was just scared and uncomfortable. She said it was the later. We hugged and were okay once again. Kylee showed up shortly after that, and we were busy helping them get their room set up and garbage and boxes taken out. We took a trip to Target for some things they needed and then walked around campus for a bit. We visited Hudson's room and met his roommate, Zack, and explored the campus a bit, taking advantage of the "free" iced coffee, ice cream, and snacks. 

Freshman orientation for students and parents in the events center was the last event of the day. We heard from the president, the dean of students, the athletic director, and the music director, complete with band and cheerleaders. Greg and I loved it and felt reassured, listening to all they had to say, that this was a great place for our daughter to be. Kari did not enjoy it (too loud, too much), and we had more moments of frustration with her attitude. Thankfully, that was not our parting moment. We went and had dinner at The Habit on campus, which was fun, and then said our good-byes in front of her dorm. Hugging her and walking away with her standing on the curb all by herself was absolute torture. I sobbed all the way back to the hotel. I was still crying as we checked in. We ran into the Zeigler's (Zech's parents and Tiffany's sister and her husband), and Tennille and I hugged and commiserated in the hallway. "Isn't it awful?! This is just horrible!" The Pates, Zeiglers, Langleys and McLaughlins were all stayed at the same hotel as us, and we met up in the hot tub to decompress, recover, and to talk about our big Disney day. We weren't crying anymore by the time we got in the hot tub. :)