November 30

When I came downstairs this morning, I found this cutie where I often find him on chilly mornings: lying on the kitchen floor in front of the heater vent with Huge Eyes the Penguin tucked under his arm.

It's always an extra-sweet sight because when I was very young, I would lie down in front of the dishwasher in the kitchen as it ran. There was something about the intermingling of the engine's hum and the smell and the warmth that would lull me into a quiet stillness unlike any other I've experienced. 

So it stands to reason that seeing my Muffin do something similar would make me smile. And for that smile and that whiff of Wednesday morning nostalgia, I'm thankful.

November 29

I think by now it's pretty evident that I enjoy my time at the Mother Ship. (Mostly because I've re-named it, you know, the Mother Ship.)

Anyhow, I was sitting around with some of the people I've met there over the past few years this morning just chit-chatting about life. And then I decided to capture the moment, so here we are: Terry (who will no doubt be thrilled with her expression), Peter, Neil, and me. 

These are genuinely nice, funny people and I enjoy my time with them. So tonight, I'm grateful for random people encountered in random places who become legitimate friends.

November 28

I was working on this piece this evening when I noticed a mistake I'd made a few rounds earlier.

The second I saw the goof, I knew it wasn't one I could just work around or hide with a fancy stitch. So I swallowed a gallon of fresh frustration and slowly, gradually un-stitched hours of my work. 

As of now, the mistake has been rectified and I've started re-stitching what was removed. It'll take an hour or two before I'm back where I started, but at least I'm again moving toward completion.

Younger Me would've been mad and probably would've mentally berated herself for being a dingbat. 

But Current Me? I'm okay with it because I know that life is filled with oopsies and corrections and re-corrections. And that as long as I remain open to correction and learn from those errors, I'm gaining the blessing of wisdom. And wisdom is a mighty good thing to possess.

November 27

We drove Abby to the airport so she could catch her return flight to Wheaton this morning. 

As we prepared to leave the house, I gave Abby a hug. A moment later, I felt Brady's arms go around me, and then a few more moments passed and Isaac joined in. And then Adam captured the scene.

It's so nice that our kids like hugging and aren't inhibited about overt displays of affection. And beyond that, it's wonderful that they love one another enough to join in on a big group hug without provocation.

The world itself may not be so sweet right now, but I'm thankful for the sweet moments that happen regardless of the brokenness.

November 26

Abby had a number of social engagements so she was out much of the day, but we all came together this evening for her dinner of choice: spaghetti and meatballs with garlic knots.

She flies back to Chicagoland tomorrow morning to finish the last three weeks of her first semester at Wheaton. It's been so fun having her back in the nest and chatting in person and watching her SVU dances and listening to her engaging with Isaac and Brady. And I'll definitely miss all of that in the (few) weeks to come before she returns home for Christmas. 

But I'm also so proud of her and of how much she's already grown during her time away. She's a remarkable young woman, this daughter of mine. And I am thankful for her every day, regardless of whether she's at home or away.

November 25

It was a Black Friday rife with Wight family tradition.

Although this year's sales were lackluster, the shopping trip with Abby was decidedly not. We had an initial fuel-up at the Mother Ship (hot chocolate for her, coffee for me) and McDonald's (for her beloved sausage McMuffin with egg) before taking stops at Walmart, Old Navy, Ulta, Target, JoAnn, and a few stores in the mall before we closed out the festivities with late lunch at the Cheesesteak Shop. It was, in short, a valuable half-day of bonding with my one and only girl. And lame sales aside, I wouldn't trade those moments for any others.

After we returned from our outing, we took a brief breather before heading out again --this time with the boys-- to pick out our Christmas tree. (Well, the live one anyway. Adam put up the artificial one that sits in the front window while Abby and I were out.) I wound up selecting the eventual winner this go-round, and as Adam checked out and oversaw its placement atop the truck for the trip home, the kiddos and I engaged in a silly photo session in front of the big "NOEL" sign. They were eager to recreate a pose from last year that featured Isaac lifting Abby and Brady off the ground, and they actually rose to the task admirably. (Although now that I'm looking at my collage, I realize that the photo isn't included. Oops.)

Anyway, as I noted at the beginning of this entry, it was a day filled with tradition. So for those traditions --and for their fulfillment today-- and for the way that repeating them year in and year out allows me to inhale and exhale sweet memories of days gone by, I am very thankful.

November 24

Ah, Thanksgiving. Once upon a time, it was a day to dress up and get together with family and eat a lot. Although I'm not super proud to admit it, the "thankfulness" part of the equation wasn't as significant as I trotted from A to B and tried not to forget any important details along the way.

But now --now that I'm a few years older and hopefully more than a wee bit wiser as I view life through the inexorably curved lens of loss and renewed hope-- things are different. And I am really, truly thankful for the people in this image. And for my family back home, and for my friends who --just by existing-- color my life with their vibrancy.

Yep, I still wish Logan were here. I still don't understand what happened or why. But that doesn't mean that I live a life without thankfulness or hope. In fact, I'm increasingly convinced of the truth that true thankfulness feeds hope. And I am deeply thankful to God for the many gifts He's given me over the years, including every single one of you.

Happy Thanksgiving! May the love of God fill your heart with hope as we embark on the holiday season ahead.

November 23

It was a very pleasant day.

I got up relatively late and sneaked into Abby's room so I could watch her sleep for a minute. Then I went downstairs, decided I wanted to go to the Mother Ship, and went back upstairs to see if she wanted to come along. (She did.) So a little later we were off for some impromptu shopping adventures: Starbucks (where my pal Tony brought me not one but three bottles of wine), Walmart, Target, and Crumbl (because pumpkin pie cookie!). 

Then when we got back home, there were fresh-from-the-oven cheese rolls --a Thanksgiving tradition at our house-- in the kitchen just waiting to be nibbled.

And then while Adam and I went for a walk, the kiddos hunkered down in the living room for a Mario Kart tournament. They were loud and crazy and even broke into song more than once and usually "loud" bothers me, but not today. Today it sounded like music. So tonight, I am thankful for the music my children create without even realizing it.

November 22

Although her flight out of Chicago was significantly delayed which led to an extremely tight turnaround in Las Vegas (and by "tight" I mean literal minutes between deplaning, boarding, and take-off), Abby persevered and is home for Thanksgiving!

We all loaded into Adam's truck to pick her up from the airport this evening, and from there, we headed to CPK for dinner.

It's so wonderful to have her back again, under our roof. In the nest with the other chicks. (Well, with the other two chicks who are here with us physically. It still breaks my heart a little that they can't all be back in the nest but that's why Someday is so vitally important to me.) Right now, in fact, she's partially conked out on the couch that's just a little more than arm's length away, head pushed into the smiling face of her giant hot pink Squishmallow, and it's one of the best things ever.

She'll only be here for a few days this time, but I'm looking forward to those precious hours and to the laughter and the eating and the shopping that they'll hold. 

November 21

I've historically bashed the Bay Area for its lack of real Fall, but I do have to admit that I'm enjoying the pretty trees that still dot the landscape this late in the year.

I was reflecting on that truth that as I went for a quick shopping outing early this afternoon. I admired the red and orange and yellow leaves that still adorn the trees and thanked God for the loveliness that they add to the world.

Given that there are plenty of not-lovely things about human life these days, I'm extra thankful for the things that contribute beauty to my days.

November 20

My friend Laura sent me this image from this morning's church service. 

Mary was formally installed as our pastor, and all current and former elders were called up to the front to pray for her. (That's me all the way over on the right.)

It was a beautiful moment of unity as we all laid hands on Mary and on one another and asked God to bless her and her ministry at GraceWay.

I'd silently wished I'd had a way to get a photo of the moment so I could post it here, and then voila, Laura shared this with me. I love it when God answers my half-baked prayers.

Anyhow, I'm grateful for the gift of prayer that allows us to communicate with God. And I'm grateful for these amazing sisters and brothers in Christ who make my life so much richer.

November 19

It was another blessed Saturday. 

I had brunch with my prayer shawl ministry ladies this morning and then spent the rest of the day puttering around at home -- mostly crocheting and watching TV.

And I just now noticed the date and realized that 25 years ago today, Adam and I started dating officially. A quarter of a century. Wow.

All good things, and I am thankful.

November 18

Today was a travel day. A very, very long travel day that began in Maryland, took a longer-than-expected pit-stop in Texas, and at long last finished in California.

As I walked to my gate at BWI early this afternoon, I passed a selfie station. I thought it was kind of cute and appreciated the sentiment behind its presence, so even though I felt a little bit hokey doing it, I stopped for a moment to take a pic. And voila, here it is.

It's always good to be thankful, and as I close out this half-month of big birthdays that featured big trips to Chicago and Maryland, I feel a sense of gratitude for the two celebrants. I was honored to help my girl celebrate her 18th --the moment she strode into adulthood-- and honored to be there to see my grandma turn 100 and to watch her shine during her birthday party. They're two amazing women who add so much to my life, and I am so thankful for them.

And I'm also thankful to be home again with my boys (and the beautiful roses they left for me in a vase on the kitchen table. That too).

November 17

I felt off when I got up this morning, and during my Mother Ship outing, I realized why: I forgot to take my meds yesterday. That's a big oops. As a result, after I slurped down my almond milk peppermint mocha, I spent most of the early hours laying low, waiting to wake up.

Fortunately, the spacey-ness passed by mid-afternoon and I headed over to grandma's house for a quick hello. It was just a few degrees above freezing outside but the sky was so lovely that I stood outside a few extra seconds after grabbing grandma's mail from the box by the road to snap a few pics. 

My mom picked me up from there for an evening at Toby's Dinner Theatre, which is one of her favorite haunts of late. We dined on a wide array of food before taking in a production of "It's a Wonderful Life." I hadn't been before, but it's a cute little place and the play was well-done, so it was fun to be out. And it was nice that mom wanted to share something she enjoys with me while I'm here. 

Tomorrow I head back home to Adam and the brositos, but it's been a good trip. So I will board my plane with a thankful heart. 

November 16

It was a relaxed kind of day. I got up late-ish and went to the Mother Ship for my morning sustenance before heading to the next town over to do a little light shopping. (Very light, since all I have is a very small suitcase. It's an excellent spending-control device.) My very long-time friend Gretchen was supposed to meet me for coffee but wasn't feeling well, so she bowed out. Feel better, girl! But at least I still got to have some delicious Roy Rogers roast beef for lunch.

After a few hours back at Bobby's house, I offered to pick up my niece from the bus stop. On the way back, we swung by the Mother Ship for an afternoon pick-me-up and a small dose of chit-chat.

And then this evening, I drove to the next county over for dinner with my middle school gals. The crab cake sandwich was yummy and the glass of prosecco a nice blend of dry and not-so-dry, but the company was the best part of the outing. I had a great time laughing and talking about life with these amazing women I've known for more than 30 years. They may not realize it, but they add a streak of fun pizazz to my life. I only see them every year or two, but they're blessings. Every one of them.

So now I'm sitting on the couch in my brother's house, half watching TV as I write. And feeling grateful for another nice day in Maryland.

November 15

Today is my grandma's 100th birthday. 100! 

I asked her how it felt to be a member of the Century Club and she thought about the question for half a second before she gave a partial grin and quipped back 'tiring!' That's my grandma for ya.

Anyway, we had a nice little drop-in style birthday party for her at her house that was arranged by my mom. Although it was something of a yucky weather day, a number of her friends from various areas of her life braved the cold and rain to stop by for pizza, cake, and to share their well-wishes (and in some cases, some stories, too). Some were new faces to me, while others were folks I knew during my childhood, including some from church, 4-H, and the Home Arts building at the county fair (among others). It was quite the blast from the past, and I enjoyed those quick catch-ups.

After the friends departed, we had a quiet evening with just family, including my mom, brothers, sister-in-law, niece, and my Aunt Arlene, who came in from Nebraska for the occasion. We presented grandma with a second birthday cake and had her blow out another set of 10 candles, one for each decade (phew!). And snapped some more photos for posterity's sake.

When I first arrived in the early afternoon, she told me that she'd never had a birthday party before -- she'd been to parties as a child for other children, but never had one of her own. (She mused that it was because November 15 was the first day of duck hunting season, which took her father out of the equation.) So I think it's lovely that she finally had one at 100. And I hope she enjoyed it and felt appreciated, because my grandma is certainly someone who deserves to feel appreciated. She's one of the biggest prayer warriors I know and has been a major influence on me with respect to faith. 

So yes, today, I'm thankful for 100 years of my grandma, and for all of the many, many ways she's demonstrated the love of Jesus to others over the course of her lifetime. Happy 100th, grandma!

November 14

It's truly shocking to realize how much traveling wipes me out. I pushed the snooze button on my phone alarm at least five times this morning before finally dragging myself out of bed after 11. I got ready, went downstairs and said hi to Reaya and Charlie, and then went off to the nearby Mother Ship (which, by the by, means I've been to Mother Ships in three different states so far this month. It feels like an accomplishment. A bizarre accomplishment, but one nonetheless).

Then since I didn't have anything pressing to do, I took a drive along some of the old country roads I navigated during my younger days. It's always a bittersweet experience and today was no exception as I rode along and snippets of days gone by came to mind -- the cow in the road, getting stuck on ice while trying to drive up an incline. Sledding down the hill in the backyard of the first house I ever called home. Yep, I'd call bittersweet a good word for all of that.

Anyway, I came back to Bobby's house and chatted with Charlie for a while before the two of us took his rental Tesla over to the library to pick up my niece at her bus stop. She and Reaya were home for just a brief time before they went off to Bri's dance class.

After a quick visit from my mom, Bobby returned home from work and he, Charlie and I went to dinner at The Hornet's Nest. It was a relatively brief outing, but the food was good and the company better. And honestly, I can't remember the last time the three of us went out together, just us siblings. I'm actually not sure it had ever happened before tonight.

And now, well, now I'm tired. Exhausted, really. We just finished watching the Commanders beat the previously undefeated Eagles on TV and I'm fading fast. So today, I'm grateful for my family of origin and for the (albeit brief amount of) time I have with them this week. It's not perfect, but it's good.

November 13

It was a travel day for me, as I began the day at home in my own bed and am finishing it at my brother's house in Maryland. 

I had my preferred aisle seats on both flights and for the most part, the moving from here to there process was uneventful. (Except when a malfunctioning jetway at BWI kept me and my fellow passengers trapped on our parked-at-the-gate plane for an extra half hour. But we did eventually get off and all was well so 'tis neither here nor there, I guess.)

Then I secured my rental car (that's me on the shuttle bus to the off-site facility), hit the road, and arrived at my destination. My phone even auto-connected to my little Rav 4 without me doing anything. I was amazed. And when I got here, I sat in the family room and talked with my big bro for a while before he decided he ought to get some shut-eye before work tomorrow.

I guess that's all pretty dull stuff, but given how overly eventful traveling can be these days (and how many exciting trips I've had in recent history), I'm grateful to NOT have a big story to tell.

November 12

Adam and I took a walk down the hill early this afternoon.

There's one small tree near the stoplight that gleams an absolutely brilliant shade of red this time of year. The color is so rich and vibrant that just seeing it can lift my mood.

If nothing else, it's a great reminder that even little things can shine brightly and make a big difference in this world. So find your niche and sparkle.

November 11

I decided to try out this scarf pattern a few days ago, and this morning, I finished it.

I'm not huge on individual selfies because they're really not my speed, but I do like this one, both because I think I look okay, and because it's an accurate depiction of my new scarf. (Which is sparkly, if you can't tell. Gotta have some extra glitter this time of year. Actually, strike that last remark because any time calls for more glitter.)

So today I'm thankful that the pattern worked out for me. And I'm thankful for the many blessings I enjoy that make me smile every single day.

November 10

Since Veteran's Day is tomorrow, Larry was outside the Mother Ship bright and early this morning distributing poppies and hearty greetings to patrons.

It was chilly out, so at one point he came inside and settled into a chair across from me. I asked --as I've done numerous times before-- if I could get him a coffee or tea, and he --as he has many times before-- declined. (He's something of a regular on military-related holidays so our schtick is well-tested.)

After some chit-chat, he ambled toward the register to purchase his tea, but before he could get there, this woman stopped him and slipped him a gift card. He tried to decline, but she was insistent. A moment later, I approached the woman, handed her a dollar, and told her that I'd been trying to buy him a drink for years so I wanted to be part of her gesture. She initially tried to say no, but eventually accepted with a smile and said that she'd wanted to donate to Larry's cause but didn't have cash. (He collects for the American Legion.)

It was a lovely chain of events that put the better parts of humanity on display. So for that, I am grateful.

November 9

No big observations today; some days are like that, I've found. And that's just fine with me.

I had my usual Wednesday Starbucks date with Brady this morning: coffee for me, a cookies and cream cake pop for him. Ice water for both of us. And lots of chit-chat and a few giggles. 

So for another precious pre-school get-together with my always-growing baby, I am thankful.

November 8

Sometimes it's fun to just be silly.

So as Adam and I were leaving Cattlemens tonight after dinner, I darted over to a nearby statue inside the restaurant. I waved Adam over and took a selfie. Just because I could.

Yep, silliness is fun. And dinner out with my hunny is fun, too. So I am thankful.

November 7

There are many things that I appreciate about my friend Terry, but one of my favorites is her willingness to listen to and consider new perspectives.

For example, even though she wasn't raised with any exposure to religion, she's always receptive to what I say when I talk about my own faith and even asks questions sometimes. And she knows and appreciates that it's important to me.

So much so, in fact, that she stitched this sweet little box and gave it to me this morning at the Mother Ship. 

It was a lovely gesture from a lovely person. I am grateful for her and her good heart and for our friendship.

November 6

It was an eventful Sunday.

At church this morning, I had the honor of formally welcoming our new pastor to the pulpit. As I stood off to the side with the mic in my hand waiting to speak, I actually had no idea what to say, so I whispered a silent prayer to God asking for the words. And a sense of peace washed over me as I spoke, because I know He granted that request, just like He granted our sincere prayers for a new leader. (Just for the record, Abby was watching online from Wheaton and sent me this screenshot for posterity's sake.) 

Then following a quick pit-stop at home for lunch and wardrobe changes, we loaded into Adam's truck and set off for Brady's last baseball game of the season. At some point during the drive, we heard a series of clunks come from the undercarriage. We didn't think much of those ominous sounds until we turned into the parking lot at the ballfield a few minutes later and the front right tire made a horrible grinding noise. I got out and looked and saw that the wheel was bent inward. Adam wound up missing much of the game (which saw Brady double, walk, and homer as well as pitch a solid inning... but more on that later) as he called a tow truck and returned home to pick up my car. We're not sure what happened, but we're thankful that we didn't wind up stranded (and that we have AAA). As Adam mused, the truck stopped moving at just the perfect time, so I'm grateful for that. (Even if the threat of a potential repair bill does stink.)

Finally, after the game, we went to Brady's team party at Mountain Mike's (which is a pizza place, for those not familiar). We asked for and received access to Brady's stats for the season, and wow, they were incredible. The short version is that he batted a whopping .900 and was the only kid who pitched in every single game. His coach addressed each player with personal remarks, and when he got to Brady, he said he wanted 10% of his second contract when he makes it to MLB (because the second contract is always the better deal). Brady (like Isaac) has always been a great player and it's been amazing to see him shine like we've always known he could.

So yes, some small troubles aside, there was much to celebrate today. So I will go to bed with a very thankful heart.

November 5

When the latter months of the year roll around, I commonly lament the lack of Actual Fall in California (because it doesn't exist). 

I do, however, concede that there are some trees that have color-changing leaves, like this one that's in our yard. I was sitting in the family room this morning and spent quite a few minutes just gazing at those orange- and yellow-dappled branches.

The sight filled me with a sense of contentment. I may not have the full-blown Fall seasons of my childhood here, but at least I have this tree, right where I can see it. 

November 4

I got up this morning, checked out of the hotel, filled up the rental car with gas, stopped by Dunkin for a coffee (for me) and a strawberry frosted donut (for Abby) and headed over to her dorm. 

It's never fun to say 'see ya later,' but after the week I got to spend with her, I'm even more confident than I was that she's right where she should be. She has amazing, supportive girlfriends who love her (and who she loves in return) and her classes are going well (even if she's still a bit shy when it comes to speaking up). And we'll see her in a few weeks for Thanksgiving, too.

Although my travels that followed weren't perfectly smooth (because it seems that delays are the norm these days), I'm home. And I am thankful for the moments I had with my girl as she turned 18, and I'm also thankful that I'm back home again with my guys.

November 3

Today is Abby's 18th birthday. One of my babies --my first baby, the one who made me a mom-- is an adult. It's surreal. Good, but surreal.

I spent the morning and early afternoon hours doing some last-minute prep work. Following some time at another new-to-me Mother Ship (because why not visit them all?), I bought a (what was labeled as and what I therefore naively assumed was) chocolate cake with pink frosting and flowers and a little tube of white writing icing, which I later used to carefully pen "Happy 18th birthday, Abby!" on said-cake.

Then I packed up my bag for the flight home tomorrow and relaxed in my hotel room until she texted that she was ready for me to come over at about 3. So I got everything together --the cake, a big bag of presents, plates and utensils, my purse, and chips, cereal, soup, and candy for her snack stash -- and drove over to her dorm.

Her friends Anna, Laura, Michaela, Meredith, and Ashley all came by soon after for cake (which, despite its label, was actually a marble cake and not chocolate, much to my consternation... watching her slice into that wrong-colored cake felt like a gender reveal gone wrong) and to celebrate the day. I chit-chatted with them a little, but mostly I sat on a chair mostly out of sight and just listened to them talk and giggle and burst into song. It was a beautiful thing.

Then she and I went off to Chili's for her birthday dinner. While we were there, she asked me if I thought she could have crayons for old time's sake, so I asked the server and she brought her several. And then after waiting most of the day, the actual hour of her birth rolled around, and voila, 18 became a formal, official Thing. 

And then we returned to her dorm, where we piled up the presents and video-called Adam, Isaac, and Brady. After we sang Happy Birthday, she unwrapped gifts (which included a teeny-tiny Flynn Rider from one of those Disney blind sphere thingys, which fully amused her because she'd just been joking that she'd like him to ride up for her birthday, a huge amount of cheese from Isaac, and lots of other fun things). It was good fun. 

And then since she had history reading to finish, I headed back to the hotel. I would say that I've been reflecting on what it means to now have an adult child, but honestly, I haven't. I've been thinking about how good it's been to be here with her this week, and about what a blessing it was to be with her in person on her 18th birthday. She's always been a good girl, a good kid. And now she's a good young woman. A good adult. So for all of that --for all of the phases of her life to date and for all of the iterations of Abby that I've been given the opportunity to see and enjoy and for all of the qualities God gave her that help make her amazing-- I am grateful. Happy birthday, Abby! I love you!

November 2

Twenty-four hours from now, my girl will be an official adult. It's crazy. It's insane. I mean, where did the last 18 years go? But I'm getting ahead of myself; I can have my panic attack later.

Today was much like yesterday and the one before, although I stopped procrastinating on the present-wrapping and took care of the task before I headed out for coffee. 

Abby texted me mid-afternoon to say that she was done with class but needed to do some homework, so I watched old episodes of "Too Close for Comfort" and crocheted while I waited.

When she did text, we headed off to Bath and Body Works to do our requisite sniff-testing yet again, and this time as we dabbed sanitizer on our wrists she shared a memory from her childhood that I'd totally forgotten: back when she and Logan and Isaac were very young, they'd whine about going to the mall, so I'd take them into Bath and Body Works and let them smell all the different scents in an attempt to maintain a semblance of order. Just a simple snippet in time, but she remembered it and I'm glad she chose to share the memory.

From there she suggested Olive Garden for dinner, so since we were literally right next to one, that's what we did. And then in order to walk off some of the delicious breadsticks and salad and soup and chicken parm (for Abby), we sauntered around Target before returning to her dorm. I stuck around for a few minutes and then headed out so she could get some reading done. On the way out of the dorm, I ran into Ashley, who was the only member of Abby's circle I hadn't yet met. So naturally we took a silly pic and I sent it on to my girl, who basically facepalmed over how I'd managed to yet again meet one of her friends in her absence.

And now I'm back in my room feeling a little reflective, a little melancholic, and mostly proud of my daughter, who she's been, who she is, and who she's becoming. She's a big blessing to so many, and I hope she knows it.

November 1

Wow, November already! And beyond that, wow, Abby will be 18 in two days!

I awoke this morning to very clear, very sunny skies, so much so that the stream of light that invaded my hotel room when I pulled open a section of the blinds was, well, blinding. 

After I wiped away the sleep and recovered from the brightness-induced shock, I ventured out, bound for a store that shall remain nameless. (More birthday shopping so I have to keep mum!) I stopped at a different Mother Ship location today. This particular store was significantly busier than the one I visited yesterday, so I sat down at a table next to the lovely woman I'm pictured with in the upper left-hand corner of my collage. As I sipped at my blonde Americano, I asked Brenda how her day was going and bam, she was off to the races. She told me about her beautiful daughter who just started dating a nice man and about her son and about how she hopes to move to Vermont in order to help plant a church. I could tangibly feel the Holy Spirit at work in her, and listening to her go on and on about how shy she is about sharing the Gospel made me smile so, so hard (because sister is NOT shy!). Anyway, when she found out I have a college student, she scribbled out a note with her phone number and information about a nearby church service and gave it to me. And as she looked at her watch and realized the friend she was supposed to meet was half an hour late, she proclaimed that we were meant to meet this morning. And I think she was right.

While we were chatting, Abby texted to let me know that her afternoon class had been canceled and that she was hungry, so being the intelligent mom I am, I knew what that meant, so I drove over to her dorm, picked her up, and off we went to fulfil her dreams of a Chipotle lunch. And then we hit up Target and Walmart (where she showed off her high-kick talents in the cars aisle) and the Mother Ship. (Two visits in one day for me!) Then we went off in search of a Bath and Body Works for a repeat of yesterday's jolt of seasonal cheer, but were unable to find the one that my nav insisted was there. So instead of that, we wandered around inside the smallest shopping mall I think I've ever seen, where Abby found a bear a tiny, tiny head. 

Then I dropped her off at her dorm to do some homework while I finished up some shopping --I was so engrossed in my conversation with Brenda that I never did go to the unnamed store this morning-- and went back to the hotel. And finally, I went back to campus and met up with Abby and her friends Michaela and Anna for dinner at the dining hall (which, for some reason, is called Saga. I have no idea why. Neither does Abby. It's actual name is something entirely different). It was my first time meeting Anna and I found both of them to be very sweet, friendly girls. I'm glad that they all found each other! Anyway, they all took off for swing dancing and I came back to the hotel. (Funny note on the swing though: tonight was lift certification night, which meant that had to sign a piece of paper releasing liability for injury. I teased Abby that if she needed mummy to sign for her since she's not an adult yet, to let me know. And then a little later, while I was in a grocery store, I got a succession of texts from her asking me to please give her permission so she could be certified. I laughed. A lot. And then I felt a little reflective over it, since as she noted, it's probably the last time I'll have to give her permission to do anything. Sobering, in a way. But also good to see her transition to adulthood. So good.)

Anyway now I'm back in the hotel, looking at the presents on the extra bed, thinking that I need to wrap them while simultaneously groaning over how much I don't like wrapping gifts. (Usually I'd just have Abby take on the task but I don't think that would work this time.) I'm tired, but I feel energized. I'm so thankful that it was possible for me to take this extra time here in Wheaton to hang out with my girl and to meet some of her friends.