The first thing I do when I get to work every morning is check my email. With my job, there is always a ton of it to wade through. This morning, when I finally reached the last message to open and take care of, I discovered it was the email I have been hoping for: the advisor I have been working with for almost a month now emailed me to let me know I have been accepted to start the online program for Christian Leadership and Ministry, associates degree, this fall! I still have some forms to complete, and really need to receive more grants and scholarships, but the biggest step has been accomplished!
Once I am 45 credit hours into the associates degree, I will be transitioning into the Bachelors degree for Youth Ministry. This is something I NEVER saw myself doing. Yes, I like kids, love my own, but to be involved with other kids regularly, and deeply... Not me, no thank you! Well, God had another plan in mind for me. And let me just say, when God finally makes a dent in our stubbornness of what we want instead of listening to Him, He is relentless! It felt like, at first, I just heard this tiny whisper saying "You need to learn how to teach your kids about God". Ok, so I started singing "God songs" with them, talking to Krista (Adalyne is only 2!) about anything and everything she had questions about, reading Bible story books to her... But God said that wasn't enough. The voice got a little louder, it started saying "That's great, but it's not enough. What about kids that don't have parents that do that?" Ok, God, I will get involed in the Children's Church at my church. I am currently taking the steps to make that happen... But, God started screaming at me, "That's not enough. There are so many children who need the guidance that only someone who can relate to them can give."
I have been trying for 7+ years to figure out what I want to go to school for. I tried my hand at Business Admin. Yeah, that lasted 2 1/2 classes. Then I considered Fashion Design. Yes, I love to sew (obviously), but getting into a GOOD fashion design school, and then making something of your degree, extremely difficult. Plus, it just never felt right. Then, I thought maybe become a Pastry Chef to excell at the cake side of my business. I would LOVE to have my own cake shop someday. As gratifying as it may have been, again, it just didn't excite me. But then God made a dent in my stubbornness, and told me to become a Youth Minister. I have never been more exctited about even a consideration of college, than I am about this.
The process of getting there is not easy. Even though God will give us what we need, He's not just going to hand it over. We have to work for it! I spent a solid 3 weeks researching schools trying to find one that would work with my busy life, provide the education that I need, and have the accredidations so that my degree will be recognized anywhere I go. The accredidations are also extremely important for if I ever decide to actually go to seminary school and get my masters. I finally found the perfect school: Oklahoma Wesleyan University. My FAFSA application has been accepted and sent to the school. But, it's not going to be enough to keep me from having to take out loans, which I refuse to do. So, right now, I am praying like crazy for God to provide the funds for this to happen!
Next post: sewing adventures!
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