Wow. I can’t believe this is actually happening. In just under 10 hours I will be at Northwestern, checking in, moving in, and meeting Lauren and Rachel! I can’t tell you how excited I am, but let me explain another strange feeling that has overcome me this evening.
After I was finished packing (by the way, I packed the van all by myself! 🙂 ), I practiced voice (getting ready for auditions!), cut Cody’s nails and brushed him (I ALWAYS do that… now mom will have to do it sometimes ), and got dressed for my Commission Service (more on that in a minute). And when all that was done and I had my first down moment for the day, I didn’t know what to do. My room is emptier than it’s ever been, my books are packed away… I feel out of home. I know that’s not true, but I feel like I’m in limbo or something.
Tonight I was pleasantly surprised when dad got home to be greeted by a smiling dad with flowers for ME! Aaww. ❤ There were roses in the bouquet, my favorite flower! Then we had a very nice dinner which consisted of sweet corn, ribs, and salsa! I LOVE Dad’s salsa. 🙂 We ate our fill; we cleaned that table off for my Commissioning Service, affectionately called Annie’s Commissioning.
My family went around the table, each giving me something and saying a few things about me to encourage me, challenge me, and tell me how much they love me. My mom started off by telling me that she prays I spread as much JOY at NWC as I do everywhere else! And she challenged me to love God and serve others. 🙂 Jenna gave me a poem that she wrote about me last year all typed up. She also gave me the picture she drew (at my request) to commemorate the day I got the inspiration (literally!) for Breathe In Me, a song I wrote this spring.
Reedie was really sweet and made me a digital picture in the shape of a heart using words that describe me, ending with my name (according to him) – Annieboo. 😛  It was really cool!! Definitely taking it to college with me. 🙂
Finally, Dad. He said a lot of nice things: stuff I’ve learned, ways I’ve grown, how my parents see me living for God… some pretty sweet things. Sadly I can’t remember a lot of it even though I wish I did. 😛 He gave me a bunch of colored pens, too (well, I HAVE been borrowing his for quite a while… 😛 ). Oh, and he used the peanut M&Ms we were eating as an illustration of the “many M&M’s of the seashore” being the blessings I will receive. He was replicating the Abrahamic covenant – COOL. I feel so loved. ❤ This brings me to describe further the STRANGE feeling I have… such mixed emotions. For the past… oh, at least 3 days, I’ve felt like leaving NOW, like I should be there already because most of my classmates are off at school already. But I realized tonight that I don’t know for sure if I’m ready! I mean, I felt really ready before, but now that it’s becoming real, I think I’m going to really miss my family, Rochester, ARC, Crossroads, Schaeffer, my friends… I’m going to miss what I have come to love. But I won’t stop loving the people, places, and things here, I will just be learning to love a new place, new people who will become wonderful new friends, and new things about this time in life that I’ve never experienced before! God, help me to do what You have planned for me!! I want to do what You want me to do. 🙂
Oh man, NWC, here I COME!!!