Youngest Daughter Update

We got our yougest home and began talking about how her trip to Iowa went...

She began to tell us of the fun night they had on Friday when she got there. They took the girls out to dinner and then to a movie.

Saturday morning after the girls got up, they were showed the campus they would be at. It was very small. Smaller than my daughter's Jr. High School was. It was in Spencer Iowa. The main college campus was 45 minutes away in Estherville Iowa. (The campus she would be at was composed of just the girl's and boy's soccer teams. They were the only college students that she would be associating with each and every day - all day long as well as practices and games.) This was disappointing to her as she thought she would have a real college experience.

The girls then played scrimmage games all day just to see how they fit in. She had a good time playing soccer (she loves it). After they had cleaned up and eaten some dinner the older girls that were there invited them to a party. This is where things took a turn for her. She had been listening to the music for about a 1/2 hour when someone put on some rather offensive music and alot of the kids started doing the dirty-dancing thing. She decided that wasn't the environment she wanted to be around and left. She was told that after she left the alcohol came out in force. I was glad she had the standards that she did and that she left.

Well, on Monday after a day to think about it, her mind was made up. When the coach called, she quietly went into her room and talked to him. She came out and said, "I can't believe I did that." I asked her what she was talking about and she said she had turned the scholarship down. She told the coach that it was just not the environment that she wanted to live in for 2 years.

She then went into her room, rummaged around for a minute and then showed me some scholarships that she had been offered by Utah State University, just over the hill from where we live. With those 2 scholarships and the one she can get from her father's work she can go there with her friends.

She is a totally different girl this week. She is more confident and happy. It seems like the weight of the world has been lifted off her shoulders.

I must say that I am proud of her for making such a difficult decision and all on her own. We told her that whatever decision she made, we would stand by her. I'm proud that she stands by what she believes in and lives it. I know it can be really hard at her age, but she doesn't seem to be bothered by trying to live with higher standards than the worldly ones that we are constantly surrounded by. As a mom I feel blessed to have such a wonderful daughter that is such an example to me!!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggittey-jog

This weekend was a fast one. We dropped our youngest daughter off at the airport (I thought I was going to die). She went to Iowa on her own (It was so hard and I worried so much). It was her first time traveling alone. She had been invited to go and check out a commuity college. They want her to play soccer. She's a wonderful goalie.

Anywho - after we dropped her off, my sweetie and I headed to St. George (Utah).

My sweetie was sick all the way down (6 hours) and then when we got there for the rest of the night. He was way better on Saturday. So we crammed everything in on Saturday. We did some shopping, we went to the movies, we walked and talked and had a wonderful time. It was fast - way too fast!!

So this morning (Sunday) we headed home because we had to pick our daughter up back at the airport. She had a wonderful time and now has to make some life-long decisions. We will be praying for her and also giving her information that will hopefully help out. It is her decision to make and we will support her in whatever she decides to do. We love her and are so proud of her accomplishments so far in her life. She's really a wonderful kid!! So stay tuned and we will let you know what she decides and where she will be off to for college!!

This letting children go is the hardest part. Once they've been on their own for awhile I do okay, but this first part is really hard for me, but this is life and what we as parents do!! I love my kids and am blessed with such good ones as well as a supportive husband! It doesn't get any better than this!!

Time

I am back to normal, if there is such a thing. My sweet daughter and grandbaby are back home and doing well and I am back to my everyday routine. It has been a transition. At first I wasn't used to having a little one again and all that goes with it, i.e. getting up at night, cleaning all the time, etc. And now I am missing it!! I miss having her laugh and play and make messes.

Seven weeks flew by. Time always seems to do that. I will always look back and have those memories though and I will cherish them. I had alot of talk time with my daughter. Time that I haven't taken or had in the past and I'm grateful that I had that chance again. She is now a woman and I loved that we were able to talk about all kinds of things, from decorating to spiritual subjects. She is a wonderful friend and I am blessed to have her as my daughter. She's also a fantastic mom! It was so fun to be there all the time and see how she and her daughter interact together. They will have many fun times together.

I love that things have settled down, but I miss the chaos also. I am having to learn how to fill my time again.

Thanks Maddi and Leola for a wonderful 7 weeks!! I Love you both!!

Migraines

I didn't make it to church today. I could barely lift my head off my pillow. It has been a trying weekend and hopefully I'm on the mend. I have to be my grandbaby will be back this afternoon for me to start taking care of for another week. I'm tired, and I feel like my soul is tired. I will be praying for energy and the ability to go forth this week. I am usually so blessed with good health, that when I get sick I really suffer. I understand that without health we couldn't appreciate it when we're sick. I really appreciate being well and I look forward to more sunshine this week and better health!!