Exactly one week later, Ainsley and I took off on an airplane to Utah to get her moved in before she began her first year of college. The Sunday before we left, we took some quick family pictures because it has been about 3 years since our last family picture.
When Ainsley and I arrived in Utah, we picked up our rental car and headed straight to BYU (with a pit stop at Wal-Mart for some necessities). Our plan was to get her moved in, shop the next day (you can only bring so much on an airplane), and have some time to play before student/parent orientation began on Thursday. Our plans were a bit overzealous. After that first day, we were exhausted, practically in tears, and not nearly as far along as we had hoped. We both stayed the night at Uncle Charlie's and Aunt Debbie's and hoped to catch up the next day. After a good night's sleep, Tuesday went a lot better, but we shopped the entire day. We went to so many stores, but by Tuesday evening, Ainsley's dorm was starting to look like home.
We were far enough along on Tuesday that Ainsley decided to stay the night in her new room. Alone. None of her roommates had arrived yet. I was a bit apprehensive leaving her because if it were me, I would have been creeped out sleeping there all by myself. She insisted so I said good night and hoped she got some sleep.
Wednesday was supposed to be our play day but we still had some shopping and organizing to do so we sadly decided to call off our plans and finalize her move in. We finished up, ate some delicious BYU Creamery ice cream, met two of her roommates (who weren't staying that night), and I left her again. Alone. Now, she hadn't slept very well the previous night so I was thinking the same thing would happen again. Not so. I got a text from her later that evening that another roommate had shown up and decided to stay the night in Ainsley's room because she didn't have a key yet and couldn't get into her own room. Things looked much brighter after that.
Thursday was the first day of orientation for Ainsley and the only day of orientation for me. It was fun and a bit strange to go to new student orientation for my daughter in the same building where I walked for graduation (the Marriott Center). During the last class I went to that day, I ran into an old high school friend (Amy). She was one of my closest friends in high school, and we hadn't seen each other in over 20 years. We ended up meeting up with my oldest friend, Stacy, (who I hadn't seen in almost 20 years) for lunch the next day. The three of us picked up right where we left off so many years ago and had the best time catching up with each other. Ainsley got to attend a BYU football game the first evening of student orientation. She started making friends, getting to know her roommates, and really settling in to her new college life.
In between my visits to see Ainsley, I had the opportunity to spend time with family members I hadn't seen in a long time. It was great to hang out with the Bell side of the family. Charlie and Debbie are so much fun. I also got to see my cousin Brian and his family, talk to my cousin Chris over the phone, and visit with my mom's cousin Robbie who I have very fond memories of spending time with when I was a kid. Ainsley and I both got to visit with my cousins Kelli, Spencer, Matt, and their families.
Saturday came quickly and soon enough it was time to say goodbye, so I could catch an early Sunday morning flight back to Texas. It was incredibly hard to say our farewells. Once we parted ways, I called my mom bawling. It felt like I was leaving a piece of my heart in Utah. Flying out Sunday morning was hard too. I kept thinking, "This is it, I am going and she is staying". But, once I got home I got back into our routine and life has continued. It has now been exactly three weeks, which is weird because it seems like more time has gone by than only three weeks. Ainsley is thriving. She loves her classes, she loves her new friends, she loves her college life. We miss her, but I can't imagine her being anywhere else right now. I am so excited for this new adventure of hers and can't wait to see what her future brings.
