Mon Aug 31 08:36 EDT 1998
Weekend Update: The Freshman Class

I have learned that endings are harder than beginnings.

My watershed moment came on Friday evening as the clock ran out on my
parental watch.  The final meal; the final evening she would spend
under my roof as a child under my responsibility; the end to a phase
of our family life.  We packed the van on Friday to ensure we had
everything Miranda needed.

On Saturday, we took our time and had a late breakfast before pointing
the van towards college.  Before we left we had a family prayer and
Mandy's siblings each gave their tearful hugs and goodbyes.

Out of one phase and into another, we arrived at college where the
college had a bunch of people waiting to unload our van - that made it
especially easy for us (and the cars wouldn't block the road). We were
fortunate that Miranda's roommate, Kara White, had arrived several
hours earlier because it would have been chaos to try to unpack both
girls at once.  We helped to set up her room, playing the role of
fussing Freshman parents. By the way, no one mistook Joy or myself for
incoming students.

We ate dinner with Mom and Dad Metcalfe across the street.  Later, the
college had a welcoming service for freshmen and their parents, and
communion was served.  After that, we gave Mandy and Kara several hugs
and told them to go and have fun.  We heaved a big sigh and walked
away.

We dedicated each of our children to God moments after discovering
their presence in the womb.  Over the years, He has blessed us by
putting them in our care.  Over the weekend, we committed our first
child to His care.  She will do well; and so will we when we settle
into our new routines and new phase of family life.

Other tidbits of interest:

. My father-in-law, Tom Crawford, is sharing Freshman status with
Miranda this year, auditing a course in Hebrew from a local college in
Pennsylvania.  Woohoo!

. Also, my father informed me that Dr. James Dobson and his wife
Shirley were in attendance at dad's Church in Wollaston on Sunday.
(He said he was glad that he didn't know until after the service!)

Lots of love.

Mark
                                  @       Mark Metcalfe, Sr. Writer
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