Western Michigan University

 Last weekend you had the opportunity to tour the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. You were delightfully surprised by the experience, and felt like it very well might become your first choice in a myriad of options. When I asked you what exactly you liked about the university, you mentioned the practical realities of having a large hospital in close proximity to the campus, as well as the the city and campus with a lot of opportunities to socialize. 

If you were accepted to WMU, then Jacob would join you in Kalamazoo at the community college near bye. All of this is less than an hour away from us in Grand Rapids... and all of this is why I began to hold out hope that you would get accepted here. 

On Saturday we had the opportunity to take a road trip up to Caberfae Peaks to enjoy a Saturday full of snowboarding. Just the two of us. (You had asked if Adelle could possibly join us, and in a rare denial I declined to accommodate. This time I wanted you all to myself. I realized that you'll be 18 in two months, and I'm literally anticipating you're suddenly going to evaporate). As we drove, you further shared with me the details of your trip to Kalamazoo, and why you're trying not to get emotionally attached because every one of the applicants are stellar students with resumes a mile long. But I know you, and there's nobody like my girl!

And then a few days ago, I flew to whirlwind weekend trip to Las Vegas to visit my college roommates. As the plane touched down in the desert, I switched my toggle from Airplane Mode and suddenly a handful of texts came through. 

"Guess who got into Western!!" on the family text thread...

This was followed by glitter and party hats and all things celebrative. 

I must have inherited my unabashed sentimentality from my mother. I don't know why every little conversation or turn of events makes me tear up with gratitude. As you already know, I read that text and brushed the tears from my eyes... this is the next quarter of your life. The page is about to turn, and I don't want to let go. 

I am really struggling with this. I'm leaning into the discomfort of surrender, knowing that it's my job as a parent to raise you up in such a way that you are fearless in the wake of uncertainty. I can gauge my success as a father by one thing: The spiritual fruit that you exhibit as evidence of your relationship with Jesus. Everything else is secondary and pales in comparison. And for this reason, I can exhale with a deep gratitude that my daughter(s) are announcing and demonstrating the coming of the Kingdom of God to the next generation. 

And so it's official: You are Western Michigan University Brono, accepted into a direct admission into the School of Nursing. You're going to study anesthesiology, and follow your heart into a glorious future. 

And I'm the guy on the sidelines, cheering for you my little diesel engine...