Everything Happens For A Reason

I've always been a firm believer in signs and that old adage: "Everything happens for a reason".

Losing my job in November was a blow, to say the least.  I'd been with the company for eight and a half years...started there before I was even old enough to drink.  Funny how you can get attached to a job to such an extent that you can start to feel helpless without it. 

For a long time now I've been thinking about what I'd be good at, what I'd like to do professionally.  I always find myself coming back to one thing - I want to be able to do something to help kids like The Princess.

But how can I do that?  I'm a 28-year-old mother of a 2-year-old autistic girl, and we need to support our family.

The Hubbs and I were discussing this very subject earlier this week after a particularly difficult day in the never-ending job search.  Our case worker had called to confirm a few things about upcoming changes in The Princess's services through the state, and I half-jokingly asked her if there were any job openings in her organization.  She said only if I get certified to become an OT (occupational therapist).

Hmm.

So we started musing about the possibility of my going to school to get my degree.  I've never taken any college courses, so I've got to be eligible for grants, etc., right?  How can we work it so we can keep the house?

All the beginnings of a pipe-dream, really.

Yesterday we found out that it is going to happen - and sooner rather than later.  I will be able to go to school to get my certification as an OT assistant, with the possibility of continuing on for the full OT credentials along the way.  I have a meeting on Monday with the admissions office at our community college to get the ball rolling for (hopefully) the spring semester.

I don't know how we've been so lucky, but I am thankful each and every day for everything we've been blessed with since we met five years ago.  When things are right, they're right.