Fargo, here we come...

Just once in while, it sure is nice to have something work out in your favor.

Yesterday, about a quarter after 2 in the afternoon, I heard my cell phone vibrating on the kitchen table. Upon walking over, I picked it up and immediately read the caller was from the 218 area code. Moorhead, MN. Where Concordia College is.

After initial pleasantries, I learned the caller was Dr. Polly Kloster, dean of the school of nursing. She offered me a spot in the accelerated cohort starting in 2 1/2 weeks. I immediately accepted.

I wish I could say I jumped up and down or screamed or had some slightly undignified response, but I calmly replied, "Yes, I'd love to!" My sober answer betrayed my internal excitement which had been too afraid to bubble up since I got a letter a month ago informing me I was an alternate. Although we felt our hearts and minds preparing for a cross-country move since last October when I first heard about the program, to be honest, we began to lose hope with every day that passed there wasn't a congratulatory letter in the mailbox. Nonetheless, we set about making two sets of plans- one if we stayed in Tacoma and one if we moved to Fargo/Moorhead.

It is SO rewarding when you actually get to see your faith be rewarded. That phone call changed our lives in so many ways. It was in some ways a bridge uniting my research about programs, prerequisite coursework, and work as a CNA over the past (nearly) 5 years to an ACTUAL program. I have jealously looked at many a nursing school website's photos of their students donning clinical attire, stethoscopes draped around their neck, examining dummies. Aaaaahhhh...At long last, I going to actually BE the one in the photo.

I remember when the seed to become a nurse was planted in my heart several years ago. It really did feel like a prompting from God because in many ways, it just didn't make sense, it was risky, and I was afraid of everyone making fun of the art major pursuing nursing. It would require MAJOR faith in Him to direct my steps. Yes, I did endure criticism, there were times I never thought I'd make it through A & P being pregnant or the acrimony of microbiology, and I chaffed at the thought of working shift after shift at Manorcare doing humble CNA work. I heard story after story of my classmates and acquaintances applying to school after school in hopes of getting into not only nursing school, but any pre-professional healthcare program. I've never been a stellar student, just good enough to keep my grades up to where it pleases those I wish it to please (ie the faculty at nursing school). I remember praying for the words to write on the admissions essays and for two good recommendations. I had no idea how the pieces would come together, but they all did. ALL OF THEM.

I'll be writing more later on about our move...