November 4

It was a good Tuesday.

Isaac and I got up and went to the Mother Ship, where he dined on a sandwich and I had my usual blonde roast with oat milk. Then we returned to the hotel room so he could do some homework before packing up his things to catch his flight back home. But before I drove him to Midway, we stopped at Culver's for lunch and then over to campus so he and Abby could say their see-ya-laters. I am so beyond thankful that the two of them had a good time together the past few days.

The drive to the airport was a slow one, but he got there in plenty of time and the departures lane was blessedly empty. He successfully navigated his first solo flight and Adam picked him up in Oakland, so he's officially rejoined the bro squad in Pleasanton.

For my part, I visited another Target, where I scored more clearance Halloween candy (I think we may be eating Nerds Gummy Clusters for some time to come) and then went back to the hotel to hang out until Abby texted me that she and her cheer bestie Kamryn were ready to go to dinner. So I picked them up and we went to Chipotle, where I enjoyed talking with both girls and getting to know more about Kam. I've met almost (?) all of Abby's good friends, and I feel confident in saying that she does a good job of choosing her besties. She's been blessed with some truly excellent relationships, and I am so thankful to God for those connections.

Anyway, after I took them back to campus, I returned to my hotel room, hit my 10,000-step goal, and sat down at my laptop to type this entry. And that brings me to this moment. As I look back on the day, I feel a sense of gratitude for many things -- for the time I had to talk with Isaac, for the time I had with Abby and her friend, for the surprisingly warm weather (for Chicago in November), and for the chance to be with my kids as they ponder big life choices, like choosing where to go to college. (Or what to do after it's over.) For all of those blessings, I am so grateful.