A Milestone in Brenn's Life 8-28-06

Monday, August 28, 2006

A Milestone in My Little Sister's Life My little sister, Brennigan, started her freshman year at college this past weekend. This is a great milestone for any teenager, but an especially unexpectedly large one for her. Brenn has an anxiety disorder and two years ago, could barely leave the house, weighed around 85 pounds, and was completely debilitated by her sickness. Even a year ago, none of us really expected that she would leave the shelter of her home to forge out a life on her own. But this weekend she proved us all wrong, and clearly showed that she is stronger than any of us really knew. She did so wonderfully well as we moved her in, met her roommate, and did all of the orientation stuff. In fact, she did not miss one event, but boldly and in many ways, with more confidence and courage than I had as a college freshman, put herself out there to meet lots of new people and really embrace her new college experience. To say that I am proud of her would be an understatement. I have to say that I left this weekend with a new-found admiration for the courage and determination that she has shown. In many ways, I am in awe at how, for one of the first times, I am finding myself looking UP at my little sister...wanting to be more like HER. I am just so amazed by her and so very, very proud of her. Brenn had to go lottery for her roommate. The college she chose is a "Christian" college, but not a conservative one at all. In fact, in many ways, it is quite similar to a secular college. So...we were all a bit nervous about who her roommate would be. I am just so thankful and really in awe at how God works things out, because Brenn's roommate could not be any better. Seriously. She is perfect for Brenn...caring, flexible, sweet, hard-working, walks the narrow road, has awesome parents, she is just wonderful! I think God knew Brenn needed Beth...and we are just so thankful for her! Ok, so going through the whole freshman getting started thing seriously brought memories back for me. They had the same swarms of guys meet you when you pull up and unload your car and carry all your stuff to the room. Parents everywhere putting shelves together, unpacking, crying...you know, parents stuff. The kids had small groups a couple of times a day, we had to buy books, eat in the cafeteria, walk all over campus a hundred times, etc. I will say that I was dumbfounded by how little Brenn and Beth had in their room. Don't get me wrong...it is DARLING, but what I mean is...they had extra room...they did not have stuff exploding out of every nook and cranny, like Kristin and I did. We had so much stuff, it is quite a miracle it all fit. Seriously. I kept asking them if that was all they had...they even have extra room in their drawers and shelves! They must just be really great packers! Anyway, the entire experience left me nostalgic and missing my alma mater and all of you dear ones. So their college is only about ten minutes from my house. I am so excited to get to interact with college girls again. It is such a transforming, magical four years of life, and I am so excited to get to watch them grow and change and learn. Plus it is an added bonus to have "Aunt Brenn" just down the road. I am just so thrilled that she made it!