New Home

For months Jeremy and I have been applying for Physical Therapy programs for this upcoming school year. It is a long and expensive endeavor but one that is obviously necessary and very important for our future. After much research, prayer, and fasting we narrowed down our options to 7 schools: Cal State Northridge, Chapman University, Western University of Health Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Hampton University, University of North Carolina, and Armstrong Atlantic State University.

We studied each school out individually and took it to the Lord in prayer. We were certain about each one except UNC. This school is highly ranked, more expensive to apply to, and very far away. We prayed, fasted, and visited the temple specifically for this school and kept feeling strongly that we really needed to apply. I chalked it up to being a trial of our faith and we went forward with the application.

We heard back from Nova very quickly (all the way back in November). We had been accepted! We felt great! However we had to let them know our decision within a couple of weeks with a $1000 deposit. Because we had heard back so soon, it was going to be awhile until we heard back from other schools. We had to decide without knowing our other options if we were going to go there or not. Again, more praying and fasting and in the end we felt like we should decline the offer. Decline the offer?!?! What if that is the only one we get and we said no? We both were freaking out but felt at peace with the answer we received.Then the waiting game continued. 

Then, in January Jeremy found out that he had been offered and interview at UNC. Wow! Out of over 500 applicants Jeremy was one of 60 chosen. We were so excited. The prices for plane tickets out there, however, were not as exciting. We prayed again to make sure that this was the right thing to do. We didn't want to pay all this money for naught especially because this was the school we thought to be our "trial of our faith" school. But we felt good about the trip. So January 10th, Jeremy left for North Carolina. Thankfully he was able to stay with the Calhouns while he was there and they showed him a good time. The day of the interview I was so sick to my stomach (sympathy nerves...I'm so glad that it's not me having to interview. Then I would be a real mess!) The interview went well and he came home to wait some more. On February 1st we received the news that the waiting was over. Jeremy had been one of 30 selected to attend UNC in the fall. Such amazing news! However we had received another interview offer for Western University and were still waiting to hear from the others. And like before, we needed to let them know within a couple of weeks. It was such a great opportunity for us, yet for some reason it was still hard to commit. We never really pictured ourselves there and it seemed so far off our radar. So more praying. It might seem silly to be praying so much over this decision but we really want to make sure that we go where the Lord needs us to be. With this pure intention, I received my answer very quickly. Looking back I think I knew all along. But it was important that Jeremy receive his own answer. And he did. We both agreed that we needed to go to North Carolina. Being so rooted in California makes this change bittersweet but we feel so at piece with this decision.

I wanted to document this experience because it is a testament to me that the Lord is truly mindful of us. He has a plan for us and wants to help us along the path He has set out for us. It is such a comfort to know that if we humbly ask for help, it will come. 

So, even though it wasn't a part of our original plan, our home for the next three years is North Carolina, and we couldn't be more excited for the adventure!