New Adventures

Elle's dorm Steggy

Yes, I am old!  I sent my first child to college this weekend!  When my daughter Elle was little it seemed so graduation seemed so far away.  It really creeps up on you fast!  On Friday I drove Elle about 2 hours away to Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.  It seemed surreal.  I got to spend all day Friday with her and stayed overnight at a hotel.  I wasn't freaking out on Friday.  On Saturday, my husband and son came up with the rest of her stuff.

Elle moving in

It is a very nice college.  Everyone there is very friendly and helpful.  It's a beautiful campus.  We went to the opening ceremony at the chapel.  They had a Christian rock band that was very good.  There were several key speakers.  You could really feel the energy in the room!  It was very inspiring!  I never experienced anything like that at Buena Vista when I was a freshman.  We went to an outdoor movie on the green in front of the chapel that night.  It was a lot of fun.  After I left Elle got to go to the local Dutch bakery for a night run.  Before the movie a friend from when I was in college came to visit me.  It was great to get caught up with her.  

Dalton and Elle saying goodbye

Saturday was very bittersweet.  While very excited for Elle to experience this time in her life, knowing that we were leaving her there on her own was too much to bare!  We said our goodbyes in the parkinglot.  My husband absolutely lost it.  Then our 15-year-old son broke down too!  This really shocked me!  Showed me how much he really loves his sister! :) 

Me,. Elle and Jeff saying goodbye

Elle starts classes tomorrow.  We are praying that she gets along with her roommate, meets lots of new friends, and does well in her studies.  God brought her there, and I know he will watch over her while we are not there!  She's coming home in about two weeks for her birthday! We skyped with her tonight and our dog Rocky finally figured out where her voice was coming from and tried to lick the Itouch.  It was so cute!

Believe and God will Take Care of You

Elle Dawn after graduating from Carroll High School

Well, we have been stressing over the settlement of Elle's financial aid package.  She got a very good package, but not quite enough.  Well, today, we found out she got more!  I've been praying nightly and the power of prayer has paid off!  


Elle is going to Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.  This is a private Christian college in a Dutch town.  I thought the tuition at Buena Vista was bad!  Tuition for a year of school at Northwestern is $34,000. All I can say is she dang well better receive a great education there!  She chose Northwestern because of its religious affiliation and it's moral values - dry campus and certain safety restrictions other colleges don't offer.  Elle is a Christian girl with very strong morals.  She wants to do good in the world. She plans to study social work and education.  She loves traveling on mission trips and helping people.  She has traveled to the intercity of Washington D.C. to help the homeless and intercity youth.  She also traveled to Joplin, Missouri to help tornado victims.  Elle has a great soul.

Dalton at football camp

Our son Dalton has had a very busy summer so far.  He has practice for high school football and basketball, as well as speed and condition, and weight lighting.  He has also been working quite a bit.  He works as a dishwasher at a local eatery.  It's about the only job available for a 15 year old.  All employers around here require kids to be 16.  Dalton is a very hard worker.  He really wants a car!


Today both kids went on a church trip to Lake Panarama.  Hopefully they will have fun bonding and boating, while learning something at the same time.  I haven't heard from them, so I'm sure they are having fun.  My husband of 21 years, Jeff and I got to go on a date night tonight.  We went to Las Americas Mexican Restaurant.  It is excellent!  Delicious!  Muy Bueno!  

The lesson I learned this week is that some times there are disappoints in your life expectations, but then God turns around and surprises you by answering your prayers in a different way with the same ending that you wanted.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.


Psalms 77:14-19 (The Scriptures 1998+) (14) You are the GOD who does wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. (15) By Your arm You have redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. (16) The waters saw You, O Elohim; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled. (17) The clouds poured out water; The heavens rumbled; Also, Your arrows flashed back and forth. (18) The voice of Your thunder rolled along; Lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. (19) Your way was in the sea, And Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known. 


Well, the Fourth of July is fast approaching.  We are planning on going to Lake Okoboji with my mom.  This has become a family tradition.  Love Boji!  We used to go there every summer when I was little for at least a week.  I have always loved the lake setting.  There is something very calming about it.  Everyone have a terrific holiday!  Independence Day!  My 44th birthday is also quickly approaching - July 6th!  Yikes! Scary!

 

The Day Is Here

Elle at grad party

Tomorrow is Elle's graduation ceremony! Wow!  Time has flown! We had her party last Saturday.  We had a very good turn out!  Elle has 77 thank you cards to write!  I made way too much pasta salad and we had way too much meat and fruit, but oh well, no one went hungry!  We had smoked pork loin that was delicious! Everyone loved the meat and the cake.

Elle's Cake

Elle has chosen to attend Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.  I went with her to college orientation day on Thursday.  It's a great college and perfect for her!  It is a private Christian college.

Northwestern College Orange City, Iowa

Most of my stress is gone now that Elle's party is over and I have accepted reality.  I was so stressed out that I was grinding my teeth and had such severe TMJ that I had to go to physical therapy.  My jaw was so sore that I couldn't open my mouth all the way without it hurting terribly.

I will post the graduation ceremony photos soon. There will be tears tomorrow!

Time is a Precious Gem

Wow, I can't believe that it's been 7 months since I last blogged!  Wow!  Guess I've been a little busy!  Well, anyway, I got the urge tonight! That sounds like a confession!  "Forgive me Father for I have sinned, it's been 7 months since I last blogged!"  lol!


For a months now I have been obsessed with the Facebook garage sale sites.  I was really in to it and it occupied many hours of my precious time!  I did sell a crap load of stuff though!  I finally got over it!  Yeah!  I was on like 20 sites, no joke, and now I cut down to 8.  Three of them are my own sites, and I guess I can't abandon them.  I would like to, but really don't know how!  When I tried to "leave" one group, it said that anyone could be an administrator if I left!  Oh, nice!  I just sold something last week though.  It just took hours and hours to take photos, download them, and put descriptions and prices on them! No thank you!


My daughter is graduating next month!  I am in total denial still!  My husband and mom have been working on organizing things.  Thank God for them and their skills!  I just hope everything will fall together for her party in less than a month now!  I have been doing invitations though and am ordering the cake.  I'm good for somethings!  Oh, and I scanned a thousand photos!


Track has been keeping us busy.  Both kids are in it.  They are both long distant runners, and my son does the long jump.  We have track meets twice a week, and we have been freezing our butts off!  i am posting a couple of photos, one of Elle and one of Dalton.

Elle also had you senior prom this month.  She looked beautiful!  

I can't believe how time has flown, and it makes me realize how precious our time is and how we should use it wisely!  Our son is a freshman, and in 3 more years he will be gone too!  It is mind boggling to also realize how old I am!  I will be 44 in July!  Wow!


I keep hoping to hit the lotto so we could make our lives a little easier.  It would be nice to get a chance to slow down and actually start enjoying some family time!  I am working full-time as a sales rep for an advertising publication and part-time at a grocery store in customer service.  My husband, Jeff, works as a truck driver for a bread company and does refereeing on the side.


My son is also on a traveling basketball team.  My husband drove him to Kansas this weekend six hours one way for a tournament.  Thank God we only have one more tournament out of state.  I may have to drive him to Minneapolis in June.  I hate driving, let alone driving on my own in a city I don't know!  Dalton and I got lost in Iowa City!  omg!

Well, I guess you can see why I have had no time to blog!  I used to blog when I had insomnia.  Now I take sleeping pills and sleep like a baby!  


Well, I just wanted to get something out to let you all know that I'm still alive!  So sorry to those of you who read my blog!  I will try to keep up at least one a week, or once a month!  lol  Remember to take time to smell the roses because one day they will be gone!  Time is precious, so  make time for your families!  I need to make time to exercise too!