She never expected her life to change so quickly, but her journey from a college student to a young mother shows how God’s timing brought strength and hope in an unexpected season.

Audrey describes her story as one shaped by God’s timing. She pursued aviation in college and planned for a career in the skies. But when she became pregnant, her path shifted.

“God really did make me for this and has been preparing me my whole life for what He has planned,” she says. “A baby is an eternal investment, whereas anything I could be doing with my degree won’t last.” 

College, marriage and early pregnancy

Audrey attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, focusing on aviation and working toward her pilot’s license. She met her future husband during their sophomore year, became engaged during their junior year, and got married the following July. 

The couple navigated the transition from college students to newlyweds while adjusting to new responsibilities and planning for their future together.

Two months after the wedding, 21-year-old Audrey discovered she was pregnant. She had already graduated a year early while her husband was completing his engineering degree through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.

Audrey jokingly recalls telling her husband that it would be the “worst possible month” to get pregnant a few days before finding out she was. His graduation was approaching, and they had an uncertain move ahead, with neither of them having jobs yet. 

So when she had a positive pregnancy test, Audrey’s initial thoughts were filled with fear – particularly about childbirth.

“That was always something I was really scared of when I was little,” Audrey says. “Growing up, I had younger sisters and just watching my mom … she had a couple of hard pregnancies. So seeing all of that was kind of scary for me.” 

Audrey admits she felt completely unprepared for pregnancy. Unlike most first-time moms who had been waiting for motherhood and were excited and ready, she says she felt lost. 

“I knew absolutely nothing,” she says. “I didn’t even know [about] pregnancy symptoms. It was just something I didn’t want to think about. So I didn’t look into it at all. We didn’t even have health insurance. I was like, ‘How can you have a baby with no health insurance?’”

Audrey also reflected on the pressure of not living up to expectations. 

“I felt like I had messed up what my life was supposed to look like,” she says. “I was really scared of being a stereotype of someone who was set up for success and then gave up because they had a baby.” 

A few people advised Audrey to visit a crisis pregnancy center, but at first she hesitated.

“I didn’t really feel like I had earned it somehow … or deserved any kind of free help because I was married,” she says. “I was like, ‘I’m probably better off than other girls who go to these places, and I didn’t want to take advantage.’” 

Despite her doubts, she decided to go. The center provided support exactly as it was meant to, and it was there that Audrey had her first ultrasound. It also helped her connect with the Florida public health care system, giving her access to resources she needed to navigate the early stages of pregnancy.

Faith and family support

Audrey faced several obstacles during her pregnancy, starting with the social pressures of being a young expectant mother. 

“I felt uncomfortable and ended up isolating in my apartment for a lot of the pregnancy,” Audrey says. “I started getting pretty lonely … I was the first one of any of my friends to have a baby.”

Fatigue and nausea made it difficult to leave home. Flight training added another layer of challenge since flying while exhausted or sick was unsafe, forcing her to pause her aviation studies.

Despite these challenges, Audrey found community through her church. She joined a young wives’ group, which initially included women who were married but not yet expecting. After Audrey announced her pregnancy, five others in the group became pregnant, creating a shared journey of support and encouragement.

“God definitely did move in that,” Audrey says. “All these little windows opened since I couldn’t fly anymore. My old high school [even] offered me a job as a teacher, which was only twice a week, but kept me busy.”

Her family also played a vital role. Audrey admits she was nervous to tell her mother about her pregnancy, fearing disappointment that her pregnancy would end the aviation milestone they had both anticipated.

“I wanted to be an airline pilot for a couple of years, at least a year before having kids, because I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom,” she says. “I still haven’t exactly figured out what I’m going to do about that because I invested lots of money and time into getting the licenses … I was really close to getting my first job as a pilot.”

Her mother and sisters, however, were enthusiastic and supportive, buying baby clothes and hosting a gender reveal party. Audrey’s sisters had always wanted to be aunts, and as an all-girl family, the arrival of a baby brought excitement and joy.

Faith remained central throughout this period. Raised in a Christian household, Audrey and her husband approached pregnancy with the belief that abortion was not an option. Her church community provided a place where she could ask questions and share concerns openly. The young wives’ group reassured her that she was not alone. 

“It is helpful when you’re going through something like that to not be the only one,” Audrey explains. “That’s kind of a time in your life when you’re like, ‘Is this normal? Should I be worried about this? Is there a solution to this new issue I’m having?’ So that was helpful.” 

Audrey gave birth to her daughter in June 2025, just a week and a half after her husband graduated and received his commission into the U.S. Air Force. The timing marked the start of a new season for their family, balancing the demands of military life with the joys and adjustments of caring for a newborn.

Life today

Just over a month after her husband’s graduation, Audrey and her family moved to Ohio for their new duty station. They recently joined a home church and participated in a small group for young families.

This group has given them a sense of community and mentorship as they transition from friendships with college students and newlyweds to parents experiencing similar stages of life. Audrey shares that it has been encouraging to learn from parents who have gone through similar experiences. 

As a stay-at-home mom, Audrey focuses on finding small joys in daily routines with her daughter. She says she enjoys trips to coffee shops, grocery shopping together, and small creative activities that make everyday moments enjoyable.

“It’s been fun to have a little buddy to go out with,” Audrey says.

Audrey’s encouragement to those facing an unplanned pregnancy:

“God had your baby in mind when He created you and picked you to be this baby’s mother. If my baby had been born at any other time, it wouldn’t have been the same baby. Pregnancy is such a small piece of it all. My baby’s going to grow … She’s already grown so much, and she’s going to grow into adulthood and beyond. Going through [this] hard period temporarily is so worth it because of everything that comes after.”

Written by Melina Nicole.