1.5 weeks 'til Australia!

You know when some things just feel right?

This does.

For nearly two years, Christianne and I have been contemplating our next big move. Finishing up at BYU brought some interesting choices, and the question that many people face upon graduation is, "What's next?" We knew we wanted two things: a baby and more schooling. A baby because, well- have you seen Jett?

We were ready to see if the time was right for our first addition to the family, and it was. But what about school?

Before graduating, I investigated a few schools with good public relations Masters programs. They initially came down to Purdue, University of North Carolina, or the University of Arizona. For awhile, I thought Purdue was it - but I wasn't completely settled on the idea.

That all changed when I walked into the academic advisement center to fill out my graduation forms. I picked up a large blue binder which contained scholarship information for undergraduates and graduates. I plunked down on the well-used but soft chair and opened it. As it was listed in alphabetical order, I started with "A". I read about AustraLearn, a US company that assists Americans to study in Australia. I shrugged at the thought, but the page yelled at me, calling me to think about the idea a bit longer.

I did.

I remember one day talking with some family about my prospective schools. We were at dinner with Hauni and Aaron, going over our short-term plans. Aaron encouraged me to go to UNC, primarily so he would have a reason to come out to a basketball game. When I muttered something about the University of Sydney having a good program, we all laughed. But then Hauni questioned, "well, why not?"

I thought about it a good while longer. Haven't stopped, really. I studied the school and went over the possibility again and again and again. I kept putting it to the test, and the idea passed every time.

So I thought I would just apply and see what happened. I didn't get my hopes up at all, but I was curious to see if I would even get in.

I did.

The months that followed got filled with more ideas, more searching for information, more preparation and more prayers. It was right. We are meant to go to Australia.

I do wonder, though, what would have happened if I started at the back of that blue binder, with letter "Z". Hmm?