Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Amazed

I have tossed this over and over in my head...and the word that keeps coming to mind is "amazed".

Just yesterday, it seems, Dylan & I were sitting at my parents kitchen table...looking through the HUNDREDS of college flyers, brochures, etc. that we had received...trying to narrow our focus to a small group of schools that would fit what Dylan wanted to major in.  That day we narrowed our focus to four schools - two that were near to home & small...two that were far away & large.  From those four, Dylan applied to three...and has been accepted at all three.

I never doubted for a minute that he would get in at Florida State or High Point University.  They are great schools and I knew that he not only met their minimum expectations, he exceeded them.  His SAT scores were great...his academic transcripts looked good.  He fit their "bill", so to speak.

The wild card was Wake Forest.  Such a prestigious school...such a small school...such a competitive school.  We just weren't sure.  One day Dylan & I both felt sure he could get in...then the next, doubt would overcome that and we figured it wouldn't happen.  And they take so long to let you know of a decision.  We've known the results from FSU & HPU since December...here we are in March & no formal decision.

That is, until last week...

Although, we didn't realize we actually had that decision until yesterday.

Dylan received a letter in the mail from Wake inviting him to interview for a scholarship. I only read down to the part that told us to RSVP & the details that he needed to send.  I kept wondering "how can they offer this opportunity if they haven't actually accepted him".  Yesterday, I read the WHOLE letter...down to the last paragraph that said (paraphrased) "because you are receiving this invitation, this means you have been accepted & your formal acceptance letter will come at the end of March".

And now my mind is reeling.

My kid was accepted to Wake Forest University.  I'm amazed.  Not because I didn't think he could do it...but it's just so surreal.

I keep going back to those days when I first found out I was pregnant...when I first wondered what in the world I was going to do with a baby. I remember going into a teacher conference with his 1st grade teacher who told me that Dylan was such a perfectionist that when he didn't perform well on his spelling tests, it really upset him...we began studying harder for those tests. Every step...every achievement to get to this point.

And I'm amazed.

In my wildest dreams, this is not what I could've even imagined for Dylan.

On Sunday night, we did a "thankfulness check" at our Youth Bible Study.  When it came to be my turn, I couldn't settle on one thing.  Not because I'm not thankful...but because I just have been given so much.  Someday's its almost overwhelming to look at this journey of the last 18 years...to see where we started...and to see where we've ended up.

Simply amazing.