I am subbing in the library for the semester, covering a maternity leave.
8.18.10 -- Caeden's first day of Kindergarten
Most of those years went by in a flash.
He is more than ready to finish with his adventures at Ridgeview school.
I pray he will enjoy his final year there.
8.18.22
Jeremy and Sylvia, packing up the Prius to head back to SIUe tomorrow
Annah's things have "expanded" a bit over the last 4 years of college.
8.19.22
Annah left a note for Caeden on the kitchen table.
Sylvia left us a message on the dry erase board.
Confirmation of arriving at campus:
8.20.22
Annah FaceTimed to show me her room all set up.
8.21.22
Sylvia FaceTimed while walking around campus
I zoomed in on a photo Sylvia sent me of her room and was checking out her books to remember what classes she is taking this semester (Physics, Genetics, Psychology, Organic Chemistry, just to name a few), and she thought I was noticing the coloring pages and crayons she had taken to college with her.
Just taking in a little beauty along Route 9 on a stormy Sunday
8.22.22
Good first day of Sophomore year of college!
8.23.22
Mr. Marchese has allowed Caeden to claim one of the practice rooms as "his" to work on his music projects during the school day. They are recording some stuff together as well.
8.26.22
I heard these words come out of his mouth today, "I had a good day at school!"
Caeden may have a little too much time on his hands with several study halls, and he may spend large parts of his days visiting his favorite teachers even though he doesn't have them for classes. And Mrs. McCoy may have put a note on her classroom door about when he may not be welcome.
But, she has always been very kind to Caeden.
He even met and hung out with her son Henry at the football game tonight!
We are so incredibly thankful for a great start to this school year!!!
Annah's check-in time was 9am this morning. So, we planned to leave before 6am. Sylvia and Caeden even got up before 5:45 to see her off.
Well...this was Sylvia at 5:45...
She did give her big sis a hug. They both said that they finally had a nice talk and cry a few nights ago, about how much they love each other and how much they will miss one another, and how they will both stay in touch, and how they will both be ok.
I can't explain how incredibly thankful I am that these two finally started getting along and being friends again this summer!!! They really are good buds, and actually have similar senses of humor (which I know they would never acknowledge!)
Last picture at home!
Annah, all tucked in a little pocket in the car, completely surrounded by her stuff.
We were all pretty snug in there. Annah's computer kept falling over on her all the way there, and Jeremy and I couldn't see each other for the pillows and 5'x7' rug in between us.
But it was a fairly quick trip--about 2.5 hours.
I was thinking this morning back to when Annah was born, and how it seemed so crazy at the time that they would just let us take her home from the hospital! I certainly didn't feel like I knew how to take care of a baby, let alone raise a daughter! I felt like we should stay there at the hospital longer to learn more about what to do, or we should've taken some of the staff home with us to keep helping and teaching us!
Now, today, taking her to college and having to leave her there seems a little bit crazy! Shouldn't she stay home a little bit longer, or shouldn't we stay with her a while to make sure we've taught her everything we should and that she knows how to take care of herself?
I know in 18 (almost 19 really) years, we have had plenty of opportunities to tell and teach and show and instill, but...
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Heading into Greenville...
Annah had checks from a couple local scholarships and summer babysitting jobs with her, so we stopped at her bank and waited for it to open so she could deposit them before heading to campus and getting in the mix of move-in chaos.
Stopping at the bank made us one of the later cars to arrive for move-in. We were told to park behind some other vehicles to unload. Jeremy sent Annah and me in to check in and get her key while he started to unload the car.
Heading up to Burritt Hall
Annah is living on the 3rd floor, and it was so good for my heart to see this welcome her RA put up.
As we approached her room, Annah's roommate Tori saw her and squealed, "Annah!!!!!!" Before we could say official hellos, their RA Bree, stepped in to introduce herself and have Annah sign in. She seems very sweet, and is a friend of Allison.
Annah's New Student Orientation schedule for the day was very full, so we pretty much just worked on getting all her things into her room (thanks to the help of some football and soccer players) and unpacking boxes and suitcases we could put back in the car and take home.
As soon as I opened this suitcase Annah said exactly what I was thinking..."Sylvia did that for me." Obviously.
Jeremy got Annah's adjustable shelf put up where she wanted it, moved furniture around, helped Annah arrange her cords and power strips for optimum safety, parked and re-parked the car multiple times, and carried all the things to all the places.
Annah and Tori in their room!
While Annah was wanting to get more organized, we realized we had 2 hours open before the next NSO activity and then no other flexible time before we would leave. We opted not to eat lunch on campus, but to make a quick run to Walmart (25 minutes away) for a microwave, ramen noodles and easy mac, a screwdriver, a step stool, a welcome mat for wet shoes, and drive through for lunch on the way back.
Annah, already getting used to using her key and locking her room every time she leaves.
It is a tiny 10'x12' room with only 1 closet, but getting the beds lofted (Thanks to Tori's dad!) and getting the boxes and containers out of the room helped a lot. I'm sure the girls will get situated and organize their things better to their liking over the next few days.
I got so choked up when I saw the quiet Prayer Room decorated so lovely, just around the corner from Annah's room. Thank you Lord!
And the coffee shop is just across the street from the dorm!
There's our college freshman!
In the afternoon, Annah had her first meeting with her orientation group, which is actually her McAllaster Honors Program class. She went to that while we went to the chapel for a great parent
Q and A session with various department heads, like campus safety, records, meal plan finances, academics, etc.
President Philby (in a tuxedo!) opened the session. He sounds formal with his great British accent, but he is so sweet and personable and caring.
After the QnA session, Jeremy and I visited the coffee shop and the Panther Clawset while Annah had an info session to attend.
The final portion of the day for us was the Ivy Planting Ceremony. Wow, was it awesome.
The Old Main building that used to be on campus was always covered with ivy, and had to be taken down some years ago. Hogue Tower was rebuilt in its place the center of Scott Lawn in the middle of campus. Now, there are 2 ceremonies involving the tower and ivy for Greenville students--the Ivy Planting Ceremony for incoming students and the Ivy Cutting Ceremony that is part of their graduation ceremony.
I love this huge sign on one of the classroom buildings that was the backdrop for the ceremony from our point of view.
As faculty in full regalia gathered along the sidewalks with families behind them, Dr. Hartley and Admission Counselors led the students around campus toward Hogue Tower.
President Philby explained the ideals and traditions of the silent ceremony
as the tower bell began to ring.
Jeremy found Annah in the sea of 300 incoming students and we saw her pass under the arch.
After the prayers of the faculty, parents, and students, and the singing of Amazing Grace, the students stepped forward to plant their ivy.
After the GU Alma Mater was sung (our first time hearing it!), Dr. Hartley closed the ceremony in prayer, instructed the parents to get out their tissues, give one last hug, and send our children off.
I love that in this photo is also the choral director, Dr. "Doc" Wilson, who is largely responsible for Annah's being at Greenville. He is the one who has reached out to her repeatedly, keeping in touch and encouraging her. He will undoubtedly continue to be a huge influence in her education and life.
VIDEO playlist: Ivy Planting Ceremony
What an incredible way for the university to reassure us as parents that our child is not only in God's hands, but that the faculty there pledges to care for our children as they would their own and guide them to Jesus in everything they do!
Lastly, came the moment Jeremy has been dreading for months.
There were tears.
But, there were also words of encouragement to our precious daughter. She is ready for this! She is at GU with Jesus! She is in good hands! She will thrive and flourish there!
I had only a twinge of sadness and mostly excitement for Annah as she walked across campus in one direction and Jeremy and I in another. I told Jeremy the only thing I can really honestly be sad about is how quickly she grew up. She's doing an amazing job at it! And I know she'll continue to!
It's going to be incredible to watch what Jesus does in and through her!!!
Psalm 139
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
