School

Josh and I left BYU before getting our degrees.  We felt very strongly that then was the time for Josh to apply for and take the job as a Police Officer in Arizona.  It was a huge transition for us.  We dropped everything to relocate where we knew no one. It's been a huge blessing, but it also means we have a lot of catching up to do with school. 

 

 Shortly after we moved here I did my best to gain residency and took some classes at the local community college.  It went well, classes were MUCH easier than at BYU, which was kind of awesome ;) Then I wasn't sure if I really wanted to pursue Early Childhood Education anymore.  I switched my major to culinary arts and was SO excited to start, but after we bought a house, I quit my current nanny job and got a job in a great child care facility.  One of the benefits was paying for my schooling if it pertained to...education. So I jumped back on the band wagon, and pretty much finished my Early Childhood Associates degree (I'm kind of missing 1 biology class, I took it as BYU but Pima doesn't want to count it. I have to get a course syllabi from BYU but haven't been able too, anyway, so I count it. Pretty much a degree ;) ) right after Michael was born. I'm talking came home from the hospital and had homework to do!

 

Anyway, here I sit, 3 kids later (well 2 more, I guess, since I finished my last class) devising a plan to further my education.  I've decided I'm going to the Bachelor of General Studies program through BYU.  I've had my interviews and turned in my application and am VERY excited to start.  I'm kind of one of those people who always needs something to do or be working toward (as if raising my technically triplets, isn't enough). I'm hoping to eventually (once my kids are in school) apply to be accepted into a Masters of Nursing Program here.  It's an Entry program, so all you need is a bachelors in anything and to have taken the pre reqs and you can get your Masters of Nursing in 15 months. Awesome. It's pretty competitive, so I'm hopeful but not sure if it will be a reality for me. I've got time though and for now, I'm focusing on my bachelors degree!

 

Josh has 3-4 classes left for his associates in criminal justice, and about 30 credits for his bachelors, but first things first with him ;)

 

It's been quite a trip to come to this realization though.  We were considering our options and after MUCH prayer, stress, worry, and confusion, we know this is the right choice for us right now (ok, at least today.)  We had considered applying for another(many) job(s) out of state that paid a pretty penny more than we make here, but it's a hassle to move, Josh's family lives here, and Josh actually loves his job (for the most part), oh and we own a house that we'd have to rent out. ugh.  It was such a "consideration" that it was what we were planning to do. We would be on the road now, making a 14 hour drive to do testing for another police department this weekend. Crazy.  But we are here and the fact that we don't make as much as we'd like is actually turning out to be a blessing.  We qualify for financial aid and that means we shouldn't have to pay much to finish our degrees. What a blessing.  We truly feel like Heavenly Father is providing a way for us to further our education because it is what we need to do and we are grateful and excited to start (finish?) this journey!