Taking Clark to College (Part 2)

So, yesterday, we took our baby to college. And it was good...and it was hard.

I've written about the difference between boys and girls here. Never more apparent than on move-in day.

With Holly, it took us every bit of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to get her moved in and her stuff arranged. Because there were curtains and dust-ruffles with their names on them that her roommate's grandmother made. There was hooking up a TV, and stringing tiny pink lights all around the room. There were shelves to put together and desk items to organize...and all the pictures that had to be put on the walls. Mirrors, bathmats, shower-curtains, chairs, pink...pink...PINK.

Things were a TAD different yesterday. We pulled up, and some of the older students welcomed all of the freshmen by helping them unload their stuff. It was really nice, considering that when Jim stepped out of his car (we took two cars), this guy that he went to school with IN THE 7th GRADE came up to him and they started OLD HOME WEEK right there in front of the dorm.  While Clark checked in, Joshua and I unloaded all the stuff from the car because Jim was still talking.

MARTY WAS NOT AMUSED.

AND, the guy took a selfie with Jim to show his family and friends...and I nearly died from laughing.

Most of Clark's things were carried upstairs by the student group, so we walked in and got to work. Clark's roommate and his roommate's dad had come the night before and put the carpet down, praise Jesus. We had planned on bringing a rug. It was left from when LOGAN lived in the dorm...but it would've been FINE for Clark and his roommate to use. We were so happy to find out that the flooring had already been taken care of. We didn't have to bring the rug, and we were able to get right in and start working on Clark's room.

Honestly, we could've been done in 20 minutes, but we dragged it out, because we had to stay until 3 anyway.

Clark had packed all of his clothes...what he thought he would need for the entire school year...INTO ONE RUBBERMAID TUB.

ONE RUBBERMAID TUB.

His whole life in one plastic container.

(sniff)

And, instead of taking his clothes out of his drawers (at home) and placing them directly into the tub, he had rolled up each item into a teeny-tiny roll, like a Ho-Ho. Anyone remember Ho-Ho's or was that a "northern" thing? We had them when my Dad was stationed in Ohio. They are similar to Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls.

So, that's what everything in his clothes tub looked like.

Also, we brought him a little ironing board...AND NO IRON. So there's that. Don't know what I was thinking. Not that I didn't send an iron...but that I sent an ironing BOARD. If this child is anything like his older brother, Logan...he will use the nearest clothes dryer as his "iron."

After we got Clark all settled, we walked over to have lunch in the cafeteria. Holly always called it, "The Caf." We went and picked up Clark's books from the bookstore, and he tried out his combination on his campus mailbox.

On our way back to Clark's room, Jim found a debit card right in front of our parking place. At first, we weren't sure if it was "real" or just one of those cardboard cards...but the last name on the card looked so familiar, AND we knew this lady was moving her daughter into the dorm that day. I called her and it WAS hers...and I walked over to meet her and her daughter. They are from the town where we used to live, so it was fun catching up with them.

After we got back up to Clark's room, my friend, Sherri, came over to visit. She and her husband have been friends of ours for over 30 years. Our daughters are also friends! She works at the college, so it was awesome to see her. While we talked, Clark took off with his roommate and two other new friends...and that just blessed my heart so much.

After Sherri left, we all walked over to Faith-the-girlfriend's dorm room...which, let me just say, is a NIGHT AND DAY difference from Clark's room. Not just in appearance...but ALL THE PRETTIES. And, the dorm doesn't smell like a locker room at a prison. Faith's room looks like it's out of a magazine. It is soothing and pretty...just like her! She had art all over the wall...it was just perfect.

And then it was time to head to the New Beginnings program for all the new students and their parents. I'll write more about that tomorrow, because this post is getting wayyy too long.

"But each day the LORD pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God Who gives me life." Psalm 42:8