College moving day has arrived for Kinzey

Mommy Diaries

By Jana Miller
Posted 9/10/20

With all the delays, cancelations, and interrupted activities this year, my daughter Kinzey was starting to think this day would never come. And what day is this, you ask? Moving into College Day! …

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College moving day has arrived for Kinzey

Mommy Diaries

Posted

With all the delays, cancelations, and interrupted activities this year, my daughter Kinzey was starting to think this day would never come. And what day is this, you ask? Moving into College Day! After a few hiccups involving state guidelines on Covid-19 and inland hurricanes (who knew THAT was a thing?) her moving day was set for Monday, Aug. 17.

We got a bright and early start, packed up her car and my Expedition, to the fullest extent possible and headed off to Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids. We had mixed reactions to the location of her apartment which is on the third floor. Not much fun to climb multiple times in one day with heavy furniture, but on the plus side, she said it will be great exercise every day.

Settling into her new quarters did not take long. She is rooming with two friends, and between the three of them they have turned a sterile three-bedroom apartment into a cozy place to call home for the next year. We celebrated the day by having all her siblings and her dad join us for supper at The Olive Garden in Coralville. We made her first grocery trip to the Super Walmart in Coralville as many stores in Cedar Rapids are either still out of power or low on food items. Many of the restaurants are also closed due to having no supplies.

I like the fact that our daughter, Delaney, lives in Cedar Rapids now, and that means Kinzey has family close by in the event of an emergency. Not that we are that far away, but it is always tough for a mom when a child leaves the nest for the first time. Kinzey has been anxiously awaiting and eagerly looking forward to this day for a long time. I am proud of her, happy and excited for her, and at the same time, feel a bit lost with the empty space she has left in our house. It will certainly be an adjustment for all of us, including our German Shepherd, Thor, who is especially close to Kinzey. She was his daily Fur-Brusher and Treat-Giver, and we are not sure who will take over that role now that she is gone. Jaicey had to assume all the cat-care duties when Delaney left for college in 2018, and she may mutiny if all the dog-care duties also get dumped in her lap.

With Kinzey off to college that leaves us with only one child left in high school. It feels a bit surreal that we are to this point. I have had children in the school system since Whitney started preschool in 1997. I have several friends that have already been “empty-nesters” for a while, and they all seem to be surviving well. I plan to enjoy each phase as it comes, knowing change is the one constant in life.

I do not know what all this year will hold for Kinzey, but I have peace knowing she is in God’s care, and His plan for her life is better than anything we can orchestrate by ourselves.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Copyright @ 2020 Jana Miller