SHE IS COLLEGE BOUND!

I knew this day would be here before we knew it. I had prepared (I thought) and knew I would be upset but I had no idea half my heart would feel empty.

 

 I seriously felt like the last few weeks we would be dropping her at Summer camp, then the day got here. The night before I decided to paint a room, clean,cook,stay crazy busy. I really had no idea I was doing all of that until late that night. When we pulled away from our house I had a sinking feeling in my guts....I then felt like we would be dropping her off at the fire station or something. Awful feeling!


 This is the view from her floor. We have been to this school a few times and the campus is BEAUTIFUL. I love it and so does she.

 Her Dad went with us to help move all her junk in...she had what seemed like so much but really once we got there it didn't seem like much. I was happy he went with us....we are a very functioning dysfunctional family and I am happy for that. We all got along, laughed and went to dinner afterwards. I have been asked if that is awkward...No not at all. Not for any of us. Everyone gets along and talks and laughs like a "normal" family.

 The time came to say goodbye.....I felt the pull at my heart but kept ignoring it. Then Nick decided he was not letting go. He kept whispering for her to just come home, lets leave, I am not leaving you. He was crying so hard and I had to peel him off of her. That made it 10x worse on me...I am sure she felt the same.

We left...I was upset, I tore at my husband, I was rude, we were tired and I couldn't help it.( Thank god he loves me) I started to panic wondering what I have done. I also had a sense of relief because she MADE it! She went further than I ever did and I was so happy for that! I also felt good about the fact she was happy there. She loves the area.
I called her a few days later and asked her how it was, how everything was going...."I love this place and it is where my heart belongs" I wanted to curl into a ball and cry all over again.


Nick and Natalie were very upset for about a week. He wanted to go pick her up and bring her home and Natalie I think finally realized her big sister that constantly fought with her would no longer be there to fight with.

Ashlynn just tells everyone she is on a cruise!

I think I have done really good with all of this. I have only had a few moments the first week when I started worrying about her parking in a garage and walking alone. UGH those moments scare the crap out of me!