Monday, August 20, 2012

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!