Friday, December 16, 2011

Things Are Changin' Round Here

November 13th was a big day at our house. A long, long, long awaited day. For two weeks I had been checking the mail consistently, sometimes even 2 to 3 times a day in hopes to find a very important letter stating whether or not I had gotten into nursing school at Boise State. A year ago we had discussed the possibility of me going to school there to become an RN. It is a BSN program instead of ASN which was what I had been applying for originally in California. Basically that meant I would have quite a few more pre-reqs to finish before I could apply such as Chem 102, College Algebra, English 102 amongst a host of health classes. After already going back to school since 2008, we figured hey what's a few more classes and another year? We moved to Idaho after Christmas last December and I started courses that January, through the summer, and until now. Chem 102 was by far my hardest, but also my most rewarding class and still one of my favorites, who knew?! I was working my tail off because I knew that BSU based entrance into their program on GPA. 

Finally having met my pre-reqs and being enrolled in a few co-reqs I could finally apply this last September. Packets could be turned in September 1st and you better believe I was there that day handing mine in! It had been ready and waiting in anticipation on my desk for a few weeks prior. Letters of acceptance wouldn't be sent out until mid to late November. That was going to be an excruciatingly long wait! I called the nursing advisor sometime in October and she informed me that they had DOUBLE the amount of applicants they normally have. There are only 70 slots and they normally get twice that many applicants, so for that to have doubled made me a leeeeetle bit worrisome. Okay, a lot worrisome. I had a 3.8  so it all depended on how many 4.0 students applied. I was hoping very few. 
I played devil's advocate in my mind a lot while waiting. Well if I don't get, and let's just say I didn't, then what's plan B? Then there was just a lot and I mean a lot of praying going on around here. Mostly that I got in, but if in the end I didn't I was praying that at least I would be okay with that. 
FINALLY....

On November 13th I checked the mail for the billionth time and saw a manilla envelope nestled in between a few ads and bills. I brought it inside and Matt came downstairs to see what had come in the mail. Immediately he said a manilla envelope was a good sign. (Later he said that if it the letter had come in a small white envelope he would have said to me, "why don't you let ME open that up") 
I carefully opened it up and pulled out this beauty of a letter below. As soon as I saw the "Congratulations" I was giddy!


That day was an AWESOME day. 


Since then I have gotten all my health requirements done like my physical and immunizations. I actually called the doctor's office that same day and was able to get in that afternoon. The most exciting preparation part was getting my official scrubs embroidered with the BSU logo! I just enrolled in my spring classes (all 17 credits of them) and I start Jan 17th.

Still in disbelief and awe that I got in. 
Yes, I did work really hard to get here as someone pointed out, but I fully believe this was God's doing. I put on Facebook that day that I had gotten my letter of acceptance and was overwhelmed from the response of sooooo many people who support me. The exact post I wrote that day was this... 

"After 4 years of going back to college part-time, lots of tears, lots of prayers and lots of support from family it all paid off as I opened a letter from BSU today saying I got into their nursing program!!!! Now let the real hard work begin!" 

One very, very important person I should have specified was my husband! I couldn't have been able to go back to school without Matt's constant support and of course all his math help in the beginning when I was absolutely terrified of having to take a math class! Ever since Sawyer was born Matt has willingly watched him in the evening after a full day of work so that I could head off to night school. Hands downs, he gets best husband of the year(s) award. 

After talking to a few people I know in nursing school and hearing about how crazy stressful it is I've decided to simply my life in as many ways as possible before I start. I've been preparing a whole lot of freezer meals so that dinner will be easy peasy when I get home from school. I also asked for a crockpot for Christmas for that very reason. But the main reason I am writing this very long and wordy post however, is that it will most likely be my last. This last semester of going to school full time has drastically halted the amount of posts I normally do and that was only taking 12 credits, let alone the 17 I'll have this coming semester. I already stress as it is that I don't have time to update the blog, so Matt and I both agreed it was best to just curtail it until I graduate.  The good news I've been convinced by many to still keep Facebook (yes, I was going to quit everything in order to concentrate solely on school) so there's always that and photos will continue to be posted there. 

Thank you for everyone who has followed our blog that past few years! I plan on this only be a two year hiatus from the blogging world, but who knows, I may come back and blogging will be a thing of the past and something bigger and better will have taken it's place (like mind reading)! 
Hey, you never know ;)

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! We are looking forward to 2012 and are super thankful for all the exciting changes in our future!!



9 comments:

rachel garber said...

HEY! I am super excited for you and also sad you won't be blogging anymore . . . but I understand. If I would only just get on FB I'd know what people are up to but it's just not the best choice for me. So, it's been good stalking you and what is your email address so when I have big news (like a baby or something), I can fill you in??

The Hickman Family said...

I'm sitting hear tearing up over this post! I'll go ahead & blame it on the pregnancy hormones, but I really think its because I am SO SO SO happy & excited for you! All that hard work finally paid off...wait, actually the hard work might just be starting. ;) Either way,congratulation & I wish you the best of luck! I can't even imagine how wonderful that feeling is! I cannot wait for that day myself!

kwriter said...

I am so very happy for you as you start nursing school. I am writing this with tears in my eyes because when you were talking about Matt you could have been talking about Ed--two peas in a pod. God has blessed you with a husband just as He blessed me--someone who who was there to cheer me on and pick up those "mom" pieces I could not do at the time.

CaraBenjamin said...

Congratulations!!!!!

THE CORMELL FAMILY said...

Congratulations!!!!! That is soooo awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

Victoria said...

I would encourage you to keep the blog open. You never know when you will be inspired and have a free moment to blog ;). But definitely don't feel any pressure to keep it updated. You will have many other things to keep you occupied! I guess we'll just have to come see you in person if we want to know how you're doing ;). Congratulations, again!

theRach said...

Yay, Kristen!! That is so awesome -- way to go!

Amy and Craig said...

Congrats Kristen!! YOU ROCK!! So proud of all her hard work (and to Matt for being so supportive)!

HowellAZ said...

I know this is a belated comment, and although I'm not thrilled about your planned blogging hiatus, I am thrilled about your acceptance in to nursing school. I hope you enjoy it and I know you will do well because you are a hard worker!