November 1

It's Family Weekend at Wheaton, so that's where we are, visiting our very favorite college student for a few days.

Given that last year's travels for the same event were more than a bit long and hairy, this go-round's experience could be accurately described as silky smooth: no delays despite a full flight (and we even got to Midway 20 minutes ahead of schedule), quick rental car retrieval, and easy drive to campus. Badda bing, badda boom.

After we retrieved Abby from her dorm, we headed over to Culver's for dinner. It was only when we all got out of the minivan for the first time that Abby realized that she's now the short kid. (Brady's grown quite a bit of late.) There was a little moaning and groaning from one and triumphant laughter from the other but I think she's secretly pleased.

We chatted a little about class and cheer over burgers and cheese curds (yum) and pretzel bites (double yum) and ice cream (delicious but probably overboard). And then we dropped her back off at her dorm for the night. We'll see her cheer for the first time tomorrow at the football game (yay!). And then... probably hang out and do some prep work (aka wrap presents) for her birthday on Sunday.

It's a blessing to be able to be here. It's a blessing to have completed uncomplicated travels (and seriously, after some of the past boondoggles we've experienced, that's a huge Praise the Lord thing). And it's a blessing to see these three together again and to see how happy they are to be together.