Education

School is starting up again on Thursday. My babiest girl is starting Kindergarten, and my big girl will be in 2nd grade. I can't believe it! Time goes so fast now, I sometimes don't know where the whole week has gone.
Today, we got to church about 45 minutes late. We caught a talk by a member of the congregation about how important education is. The Church teaches us that education is always beneficial. The only thing we take with us to the next life is what we have learned in this life, so anything we learn here can only be good. I remember once, talking to Aaron about my own education. I didn't have a clear goal, and I said that I didn't want to go to school and end up wasting an education, and he said that there was no such thing as a wasted education. I love that about him. Today, after church, he told me that he'd heard some political chatter about how college is not for everyone, and kind of discouraging people from going to school. Now, I know that college isn't for everyone, but I very much disagree with the notion that most people aren't cut out for a formal university education. I resent the notion that anyone's desire for an education is unfounded.
It's gotten me thinking. I always said that I'd go back to school once all our kids were in school. For a long time I didn't have a clear plan. Then, I did have a plan but I felt too overwhelmed to really think about what to do with it. When we moved to Georgia, Jack was brand new and most of that year is a complete blur. Plus, knowing that Georgia was temporary wasn't exactly motivating. Now, we're in Washington for at least three years. If Aaron ends up going Green to Gold, he's going to shoot for University of Washington (commonly referred to as U-Dub, of all things) here in Tacoma, which would give us 2 more years here. Now, I know I'll have Jack at home, but I have had a plan for about a year now, and I'm ready to make it happen. I'm jealous of all my friends who are taking online classes. I want to further myself. I've been thinking so much about my kids' education, which is a good thing, for sure, but I have been ignoring mine.
I want to be a Certified Professional Midwife. I want to help women birth at home if they so choose. I will need a Master's degree to do that. My Bachelor's will be in nursing. I want to become a nurse and work as a nurse for awhile in a hospital's ob ward, just because I think it'll only be beneficial to be well-rounded. I want to have the medical side and the natural side. After I've worked as a nurse for awhile, I'll go for my Master's and do whatever that entails to become a CPM. I think it's really really time for me to get back to school. I know there are programs for military dependents, and I'd like to take advantage of them, so anyone with experience in this area, your input will be really appreciated.
I'd also like to add that I want to become ASL certified in the process; that might be my first step. I love sign and I feel that having that certification will only help to make me more valuable in my field.

So that's my plan, and I'm ready to make it happen. Pray for me. It's been over five years since I stepped foot in a classroom that didn't have chairs that were only knee-high. I'm a little scared, a little nervous, and really really excited.