01/24/2026
There are no words, but I'm going to write some anyway.
In 2005, I moved to this little middle-of-nowhere-Iowa town named Grinnell, because Jared, my new husband, worked for them at the time.
And in 2006, because Jared had been employed for Grinnell over two years at the time, Grinnell provided six weeks of paid paternity leave for Jared when I gave birth to our oldest son, Porter. At the time, Jared had just started his Master's of Library Science program at the University of Iowa, and because Grinnell was very generous Jared was able to fully concentrate on only his schoolwork and Porter and me for the full first six weeks of Porter's life. Porter was in the University of Iowa NICU for five and a half of those weeks, so it was very, very, very nice to not be without our normal income during that tumultuous time.
And, Jared was in school to begin with at the University of Iowa because Grinnell College was paying for his Master's program.
And, when we received the bill for Porter's NICU stay, we paid a grand total of $210 of Porter's $500k medical bill thanks to Grinnell's very generous medical benefits.
And, our middle son, Liam, this year applied to Grinnell College for Early Decision 2.
And not only did Liam get into Grinnell College.....he received so much in scholarships and other aid that it is going to cost less than 1/3 of what it would cost for housing and meals alone at UGA, even counting that he'd likely receive the HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships.
As I said, there are no words. I am so very beyond grateful, and very, very, very proud of and for Liam, and so very excited that Liam will have an opportunity to be a part of the very wonderfully diverse and vibrant culture that is Grinnell College.
