One of my biggest struggles as a military spouse has always been what I feel my personal sacrifice has been in order to follow my husband's career.

I put off graduate school and finding a career that I was truly proud of and passionate about.  We made so many moves during my husband’s first few years in the Marine Corps that I was only able to work a year before we were packing again. Each short-term job I held seemed to be missing something.

I worked in bartending, restaurant managing, personal training and health coaching. I enjoyed helping people but I wanted something more. I used our constant moving as an excuse to delay enrolling in school. Not only did the thought of additional school debt terrify me, but also I am terrible at making decisions. I used the military as a way to wiggle out of deciding on a master's degree.

Whether it is as simple as what to make for dinner or as monumental as choosing where to live, I cannot make decisions easily. I would rather someone else make the choice for me because I have a fear of making the wrong one. Hence, I could never decide on a master’s degree.

Now that we have settled into our new home, I have decided it’s finally time to stop making excuses for myself.  I over think things at times and never follow through with my crazy ideas. It’s time to just make a decision and follow through with it.

I cannot tell you how many different degree programs I have looked at in the last few years. I have tried to find a school and career path that would work with our military life. I have researched and talked in circles, always finding an excuse to put it off another year. It has now been eight years since I graduated from college. Life isn’t getting any easier.

So instead of making excuses, I decided to just pick something I enjoyed, and always wanted to do, and go with it. Everything else will fall into place but I need to just start. I am now registered and ready to begin my degree in counseling.

There is no reason why, as a military spouse and stay at home mom, I have to give up my personal aspirations. Why can’t I have it all?

Life is too short to put dreams on hold. Financially, it is time to start thinking about our future. I want to help provide for our family and I am fortunate enough to be able to stay at home while my boys are young.  I also want to be an example to my children. There is no reason why I cannot do this! So, I registered for classes and I begin in January.

I am terrified but excited at the same time.  Stay tuned friends, in a few short months I will be fulltime mom, Marine Corps wife and student! Not sure how I will manage all of these things but I know there are lots of other awesome spouses and mom’s doing it. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for my little family!