A day in the life....of a college bound parent....

What a day! It started at 3:45 a.m. The alarm went off and we started our day headed to Abilene. Yes, we headed out by 4:30 and drove and drove and drove. It was another college preview day. Another day of seeing where my baby girl may spend the next 4+ years of her life. Another day of finding out how much this dream will cost her, and us. Another day of meeting new people and checking out the surroundings.

I enjoyed the ride west. It was dark most of the time but I didn't sleep. Whether nerves or a bug, my stomach was just not feeling right. After several doses of medicine and some bread to settle it, I did start feeling better. The drive was nice though. We got to try out our new truck which though it does not get as good of gas mileage as my car, did a great job. We traveled in a line of other trucks headed the same direction and we made it there in "record" time. Driving in West Texas is a lot different than driving around here! We got to see the sunrise and welcome what has been a wonderful day. It was beautiful to see the rocks glow in the West Texas sun. Tonight we also got to see the glow of the evening sun as we drove east back home.

My daughter slept a good part of the way there and back. Okay....almost the entire way...both ways! Hubby and I had some time to visit, but mostly we listened to music and just enjoyed the ride. It had been a long time since I had been to Abilene. We even got to take the scenic route through town since we took the business route through town instead of staying right on the interstate. We had to try to follow our directions in reverse order to find our way backwards through town. It was fine, we found it and had time to spare.

This time our visit was a bit more comforting than the last visit we made. This campus immediately felt more secure for my baby to go to. We were welcomed and escorted everywhere we went. No chance to get lost! That was great! We had student greeters sit with us and visit for a while. They filled us in on some of the events, discussed my daughter's future plans with her, and gave some advice. It was very warm and inviting. Before we began the session officially, we prayed for God to be with us all. Everyone involved asked for our Father in Heaven to guide our day and our decisions for the future of our children. It was a nice change from the colleges I have visited before.

Several sessions later.....after the financial aid session, the department of choice session and a little fun, we headed to lunch. Wow! I won't worry about my child finding good food to eat! It was pretty amazing....especially for college food! Then we headed to the info booths for a chance to visit with department heads and get some personal advice. Finally, the tour of the campus. We walked and walked and walked! We decided to skip the football game that we were invited to and head back East after a little tour of the city of Abilene. I am so glad we did. I'm not sure we could have made the drive home if we had stayed much longer. We are worn out! But it was still all good.

We are not finished with previewing campuses. We have another university in this college town to visit before we make any final decisions. We also would like to go visit this one again with an admissions counselor at our side. This one really has the degree we are looking for, but we are stilling waiting to see what financially we can do.

So, what's next.....another visit to the websites to see when we need to schedule the next visits. Another visit to the sports med/athletic trainer site to find other colleges with a similar degree plan. Two applications are complete and we wait to hear from the colleges. And then......decision time......

This is an exciting time for all of us. We watched some first time college parents wander around wide-eyed and nervous and others, like us, who knew a little more this time than we did our first time around. I was not near as emotional, but I assure you that will come. This one will be difficult to let go. I'm not sure why it feels like it will be so hard. Maybe because with Ash I knew she would never be too far from me. No matter what, I knew she would still need me in some capacity. But this one......Miss Independent.....this one will take off and fly and I know she will not need me as much. I know I am really letting her go. I know she will take hold of this adventure and really go...... Miss will probably find her Mr. in this next adventure. Someone we don't know! Someone who may take her away from us for good and move her more than 3 hours away! Who knows where God will lead her.....across oceans, south of the equator, who knows! I just know, this is when she will really find who God wants her to be.

So, the next few trips will be coming soon and I'm sure this won't be my last long day driving across Texas and back. I think now, I am going to rest, put my feet up or just simply go to sleep. Another day is quickly approaching and I need to be ready!