I was warned about the emotional trauma that comes from sending your child off to college.

Shane and I drove to Rexburg, Idaho a few weeks ago to drop Andressa off at BYU-I. My fears and worries have been her having enough food and staying warm. I packed up food, spices, dishes, pots and pans. I figured that we could pick up some more stuff at the local Rexburg Wal-Mart. We stayed at a friends’ house the night we got up there. I was not prepared for the Black-Friday-like shopping at Wally World the next day. There was a run on yogurt and frozen chicken tenders. There was a limited supply on mattress pads and anything else to organize and prepare for dorm life. We had planned on going home that night after orientation but we didn’t feel like we had done everything we needed to do to help Andressa feel settled into her new life. Shane and I stayed in a hotel in Idaho Falls. We went to Target and Dillard’s the next morning to get some organizing shelves and I needed to feel assured that Andressa wouldn’t freeze to death, I bought her a coat, in spite of her assuring me that the thin coat she had was warm enough and that she thought I would make her look like a stay-puffed marshmallow.

It was now time for us to leave. We had done all that we could do to help her be prepared for her new life in the cold, desolate and unfamiliar place. The last thing to do, abandon her. We hugged long and then left. I thought I would cry but no tears.

The next week I went about my busy school and family life. The kids were watching some dumb Disney channel show while I was cooking in the kitchen. The mother was taking her daughter to her first day at preschool. The mom was worried that the little girl was going to have a hard time separating from her mother. The little girl was happy to leave and the mom was surprised on how well it went. I cried. Stupid show.

Andressa surprised us two weeks later by finding a ride home for the holiday weekend. She actually told Shane and me and Savannah, (Savannah is fun to share a secret with), a week before. It was so much fun to see Andressa surprise her siblings. Ali was in shock. We loved every minute that she was home. My favorite was her piano playing filling our house. I cried, again. It made miss her when she was here.

One thing that gives me peace and comfort is knowing that she is where The Lord wanted her to go. I know He is watching over her. She makes me so proud. She was called as the Relief Society secretary the first week she arrived. I know she prays a lot and that her prayers are answered. She will be meeting with her bishop soon to start her mission papers. My guess is she will be leaving some time this summer. I look forward to the blessings that come from having a missionary out.