Blake Leaves The Nest

This is the day every parent knows will come, but none looks forward to. This morning, we invited family and friends to join us for a 7:15 breakfast and give Blake a send-off to college. After eating much more than my share of breakfast casserole and grits, we loaded up two SUV's with stuff Blake would need for his dorm rooom at North Greenville University. Making the long trip was Blake (of course), me, Karen, Grandma Bonnie, Blair and her boyfriend Chase, Karmen, and Kaelynn.

After getting there, Blake got his student ID, collected some paperwork and other information, and we headed for his dorm in Crusader Court. His roommate is Torrey Minor, who played football and soccer with Blake in high school. Torrey had already arrived and unpacked. We got Blake settled in and organized. It will be interesting to see if the room will always look as neat as we left it. I'm sure it will.

After a nice meal in the dining hall, we went to Turner Chapel for student and parent orientation. They had a wonderful praise band, and each speaker from the president on down reinforced the notion that the most important thing they will do is to help each student find and foster a deep and abiding relationship with God. Blake seems to be in a great place, surrounded by faculty and other students who will go to great lengths to help him discover and become the man God wants him to be.

Five o'clock came, and it was time to say our good-byes. We took plenty of pictures and hugged each other. Karen held up better than she thought she would, at least until Grandma watered up. We love our son and will miss him very much, but for now we know he's where he is supposed to be.

Pray for him, that he will get acclimated to college life and remain focused on his studies and football. Pray for us, that we will be comforted in knowing that all is going according to God's plan, an hour and fourty-five minutes away.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 11:1