Well, its very quiet in the house

and boy, its weird. Not that its normally that noisy but usually, I am thinking at this time in the day, need to get things done, Emily will be home from school soon but today the first only person back, will be Gordon at 5.35pm approx ( I look forward to him as well lol).

We took Emily up to Denton (210 miles each way) on Sunday and it was a mad house when we arrived. We quickly went up to her room which we were relieved to find was quite spacious for 2 people sharing and light. I think we were half expecting it to be like Elisabeth's first dorm room which was far from spacious and very dark, which made us feel depressed even more than Elisabeth, I think. Emily's roommate had already arrived (although she wasn't there at the time) and everything was neatly in order. By the time, we left, Emily had unpacked and although everything had a place, it had a definite Emily feeling to it, chaotic order.

Emily's friend from school had arrived a few hours earlier and quickly came over to inspect the quarters. Once Emily had unpacked we went to have dinner with Emily's friend and her family. All too soon it was time to leave. We had done very well up that point but then the tears came (all of us). It was definitely the hardest parting we have had with any of the kids and I was in tears until way beyond Fort Worth and if I thought about her, the tears would quickly spring in my eyes.

I spoke to her a few times yesterday and she seems to be settling in well, although for the first night she stayed in Brooke's dorm room. Apparently, her room-mate who hails from Fort Worth, didn't come back so she didn't want to spend her first night alone.

Emily when we first arrived in Austin in 2000.


On Saturday, she turns 18 and it will be strange not be with her for such an important birthday. I am sure I will be on the phone lots for the next few days but once her classes start on next Monday, she will be on her way to a successful life.




Emily Now.