Moving In Day

We moved Philip into his house in Harrisonburg Friday. Three cars full of his stuff. The rain held off all afternoon while we unloaded, which was a blessing. He will be living with 8 other guys in a really big house off-campus called the Dude Ranch. Thanks to our friend Terry, he has a like-new bed, dresser, and a huge TV and stand, along with our old wicker furniture. I kinda hope the furniture never comes back home.

We also took him food shopping, which was quite an experience. I hope the child does not starve this year, since he will be responsible for many of his own meals. They have two kitchens, so no excuses for not having meals fixed when he needs them.

Junior year.

Wow!

Summer's Over

We took Philip and his carload of possessions back to JMU on Sunday so he can begin his sophomore year. He will be helping move the freshmen in to their dorms starting today, and will be a small group leader for InterVarsity.

You get used to having the kids around, then you have to get used to having them gone again. We had a great summer, even if Philip was gone on mission trips for most of July.

Now it is back to college and time to start another year.

Freshman Year is Over

Today I went to James Madison University to pick up Philip as his freshman year ended. As he went around saying goodbye to all his friends and classmates, I was reminded of many of my own last days of school. It is exciting because the pressure of college curriculum is over, and the freedom of summer lies ahead. But still you know it will not be the same without roommates and close friends from college.

A lot like the rest of life I think, upon further reflection. Philip spent the year in Gifford Hall, across the parking lot from Ashby Hall where I lived for 3 years. Good old bluestone, seemingly indestructible, even if the dorms are much more modern than when I was there.

Now there is all this dirty laundry to deal with.

Some things never change, from generation to generation.

Thanks Mom, for years of laundry service when I came home on the last day of college.
Happy Mother's Day!

Another Transition?

My daughter Emily is back at JMU for the fall semester. This year she is living in a house with four other girls, er, young women. So what is the transition here?

Think about my situation. It is always difficult to have your child, er, young woman moving away. Life changes for me when that happens. There are no value judgements about whether my life is better or not, things just need to change. There is a short-term transition of getting used to having only 3 of us around the house. There are less really late nights at home. Summer is over.

Emily of course is going through a transition. Living off campus is different. She has to be responsible for new things. Safety, always a concern for girls (okay, women!), is more of an issue. Her name is associated with legal documents obligating her to pay for certain things in a timely manner. She now has to get to her classes and back in some way other than walking. Mostly, this transition is about preparing for life after college. On her own. That's when it hits you that she really isn't a child anymore.

And that I have a bigger transition to go through.

I miss her!