the first one to fly

the weekend I've dreaded has come and gone...

Ali moved into her dorm this weekend.

it truly was a great experience, but

YUCK!

i don't like the way this feels!

goodbye Sarge!

Erin = not. happy.

the face we got when we told Gracie Ali was leaving...

my thoughts exactly

the new roomies!

how can she leave moi?!!!

beautiful & quite a bit taller

than her mama

every freshman class walks under the
main univeristy archway as families
line the way to the front lawn.
when they graduate, they will symbolically
walk out of the campus under the same archway.

sniff*sniff

"i don't want to share my sissy with anyone!"

church service for freshman

& their families

this building will practically be Ali's  

home two years from now!

home away from home!

 free snacks!

the first thing you see on Ali's hall -

love it!

ugh

so, OK,  as i'm processing

my feelings, i think it's not so much

the fact that she's moved away.

in reality we'll see her often as her campus 

is about an hour away.

it's the significance of the change it stands for.

the dynamic around here will never be quite the same,

and this feeling of letting go just isn't

a natural one for my heart.

we couldn't be more thrilled for where she is,

for the provision from the Father - down to the last

penny- for her tuition,

and for the amazing experiences the will have

 over the next 4 years.

we're so proud, and we can't wait

to see the blessings God has 

in store for her!

Ephesians 3:14-21

 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.