May 15

After spending most of the week at her friend's lakeside bachelorette gathering, our recent college grad returned home today for good.

It's completely insane to realize that it's already been four years since we first dropped Abby off at Wheaton. (And it's even more insane to realize that we'll be dropping Isaac off at Wheaton in just a few months so he can begin his college adventure. Say what?)

Anyway, Isaac was off volunteering at AWANA when she arrived, but Brady was here. And after a few of the requisite "large forehead" remarks changed hands, she literally chased him around the house trying to get a hug. (I'm not sure if he relented or not.)

But then when Isaac did get home, he immediately said hello and gave her a big hug. 

It felt like vintage Wight House action all-around, and I am feeling tremendously blessed to have the gang back together.

May 14

When the boys got home from school this afternoon, they hollered upstairs to let me know that there were two enormous boxes --stuff Abby sent home from school-- by the garage door and asked if I wanted them hauled upstairs.

Since Adam was in Phoenix and my box-lugging skills aren't in what I'd call peak form these days, I took them up on the offer. 

The first of the two packages was large but flat, so they made quick work of it and deposited it on the foyer floor.

The second, however, was much larger. In fact, the listed weight on the label was 78 pounds and given the dimensions of the box, they were unsure that they'd be able to make it up the steps. But they did indeed make it, and now both boxes await Abby's return tomorrow.

That experience of watching them doubt their ability and then get the job done anyway was striking to me. Often, we face obstacles and challenges that seem daunting at first. They're so daunting, in fact, that we sometimes give in to the fear of failure and give up without even trying. But in making that decision, we're cheating ourselves out of moments to learn, since we do indeed learn and grow from both our successes and our failures.

So from a purely practical perspective, I'm grateful for my boys who found that something they perceived as a "challenge" wasn't really much of a challenge at all and by doing so, helped me out. And I'm grateful to God for their desire and willingness to serve.

May 13

Today my mom celebrated her 80th birthday.

I'm not in Maryland, of course, but I called her this afternoon to wish her a happy birthday and to find out how she planned to celebrate the milestone. Her response was fairly simple: "take the day off."

And honestly, although I would've been glad to hear that she was going to a dinner theater show --which is one of her favorite activities-- or out for lunch, I was just as content with the notion that she was having a kick-back day, because for as long as I can remember, she's been a go-getter. I'm glad that she's learned the value of rest and is leaning into it a bit more.

She's taught me many things over the years. She planted the early seeds of my faith and, through her unwavering dedication to her students, she modeled the importance of hard work and commitment to responsibilities. She's intelligent and caring and incredibly stubborn --traits that she passed on to her children-- and adores her people. I am very grateful for all of the ways she's supported me and my family over time.

Happy birthday, Mom! We love you!

May 12

I was in the driveway cleaning out my car this morning when the breeze changed direction and the most delightful scent wafted past my nose.

I should've immediately recognized the aroma, but didn't put two and two together until I walked around the side of the house to toss some trash into the dumpster. It was then that I saw the spray of these lovelies clinging to the fence and remembered.

Jasmine. There's nothing quite as fragrant as some springtime jasmine. (Although our roses are a close second.) I love how God made things for all of our senses to enjoy, and I definitely enjoy the smell of jasmine.

May 11

With graduation weekend in the books and Abby off to Ashley's Bachelorette getaway, Adam, Brady, and I flew back home today. The flights were (thankfully) on time and save some screeching from a toddler in the row behind us, ours travels were uneventful. So I'm grateful for that.

And I'm also thankful for how these two guys of mine took charge of lugging virtually all of our luggage --including two big suitcases and two backpacks Abby sent home with us-- through the airports and out to the car when we arrived in Oakland.

It's nice to feel taken care of, so I'm grateful for their can-do attitude.

May 10

It was a beautiful day to graduate from college. (And a beautiful day for Mother's Day as well, but I definitely wanted my holiday to take a back seat to Abby's accomplishment.)

We (okay, so "we" is mostly "I") took hundreds of photos of everything I could think of to document the day, from my cupcake-cake Mother's Day morning dessert and sweet homemade cards featuring the kids' handprints to the plates of delectable food we practically inhaled during brunch in the school dining hall. And that was all before graduation even happened. 

The ceremony began at three, and just as advertised, Abby was the last grad on her side of the aisle to walk down to the front of the chapel (which meant she led the students out afterward, too. She was pretty jazzed about that). The program was a beautiful mix of worship and acknowledgement of the graduates' accomplishments, and I thoroughly enjoyed both the commencement address given by the CEO of the Museum of the Bible in DC and hearing the names of the students as they walked across the stage. 

Afterward there were hugs and photos with friends, including Laura and her mom Ginger (upper right), who we first met way back at the beginning of freshman year. We have a collection of photos with them from the past four years, so naturally we needed a new one. Isaac had to Uber off to the airport since he has an AP test first thing tomorrow morning, but the rest of us enjoyed dinner at Burger Social. I drew the line at dessert, but my peeps balled out (as Abby says) with milkshakes. Brady had a particularly delicious-slash-heinous creation based on a churro that I half-expected to lead to a high-stakes sugar rush, but he seems okay. In fact, I think he's already asleep.

Adam, Brady, and I head back home tomorrow morning (with several of Abby's bags in tow). The graduate is going to her good friend Ashley's Bachelorette celebration on a lake in Indiana for the next few days, so we'll see her back in the Bay when she formally moves home later this week. 

I don't really know how to fully sum up the day much less the last four years, other than to say that Wheaton is a special place. I feel so blessed that my girl found a home here where she could thrive and feel safe and be loved. I'm endlessly proud of how hard she works and of all of her academic accomplishments (because --mom brag-- they don't recognize Latin honors here with any regalia, but she did graduate Summa Cum Laude). But I'm more proud of who she is and of how she's grown during her time in college. She's a thoughtful, caring, kind, intelligent young woman and on this very special day, I feel extra-specially blessed to be her mom. 

Congratulations, Abby!

May 9

My girl graduates from college tomorrow. I think I can probably say that over and over again and it still won't feel real, because I can absolutely remember the day I graduated from college 26 years ago. In some ways, it feels like yesterday. In others, another lifetime.

Adam's day started bright and early as he went off to Midway to fetch Isaac from his redeye flight, which landed at 5:20. We have two adjoining hotel rooms this go-round so Brady and I remained blissfully unaware of their comings and goings from our side of the wall. (And fortunately for me, my ears did pop --at least enough to enable me to discern when music is way too loud--  by the time I arose.)

We all attained at least a minimally functional level of consciousness at around 10:30, and then made our way over to campus to pick up Abby for lunch. She knows of our collective love for cheese curds and pretzel bites so she suggested Culver's, so off we went. I could feel my heart rise as I watched Abby, Isaac, and Brady sitting together once again, engaging in their usual witty repartee that never fails to make me laugh out loud. 

From there, we went to Target for some immunity gummies and decongestant, since Adam awoke feeling stuffy. I'm looking forward to seeing the Mother's Day cards the kids stopped to make at the little stand just inside the front door! I do love a homemade note.

Then Abby suggested visiting a local flower garden called Lilacia Park. It was super busy because it was apparently Kids' Day, but it was still nice to see the remnants of what was probably a beautiful Springtime spread of tulips and other lovelies.

The English Department had a meet and greet for graduating Seniors and their families set for 3pm, so we went back to campus. Abby bought one last item from Sam's --a pretty blueberry muffin-- and then we spent about 30 minutes mingling with a handful of her professors (and a few of her friends). 

An early dinner at Cane's followed (since Adam nor Brady had ever been and Isaac had given them a very enthusiastic review after his experience last Fall) before we dropped Abby back off at her dorm and returned to the hotel. By then it was probably 7pm, and we were all in low-power mode; Isaac and Adam went to sleep in the other room while I played a game on my phone. I knew Brady really (really) wanted to go to the (indoor) hotel pool, so at 8:30 I said I'd take him down. As I sat watching him bobbing up and down and talking a mile a minute about this and that, it occurred to me that he really likes the water. And also that he's a big sharer. (And I'm thankful for the last part, since I usually know what's going on in his head!) 

And now, well, now it's bedtime. It's crazy to think that by this time tomorrow, Abby will be a college graduate. As she noted in the car this evening, she will have attained the same level of education as her parents. 

And beyond that, she will have written the last sentence of the "college" chapter in her life story. I think her experience at Wheaton has been just what I prayed that it would be four years ago when she began: I remember praying that she'd mature and be more open to adventure, and she is. I prayed that she'd make great, genuine friends, and she did. I know she will miss them and that her heart aches when she thinks about it, but I also know that they're the kind of friends who will always be there for one another, regardless of the miles that separate them physically. I prayed that she would learn a lot, and she has. And I prayed that her faith would be strengthened, and it has.

So for the ways that God has shown Himself to be faithful during my girl's college career, I am grateful. And I'm excited to read the first line in the next chapter of her book.