Reba McEntire stars as Lily, who is blessed with a loving, supportive husband (
Keith Carradine), two terrific kids, and a close relationship with her father, Walter (
Donald Moffat). All is well in Lily's life until a close brush with breast cancer and the death of her father make her keenly aware of her own mortality, and she realizes that something important is lacking. Since Lily sacrificed a college education to get married and have a family, both she and her husband agree that the time is right for her to go back to school and pursue her dream.
Finding the time and energy to meet the demands of college life is especially tough for Lily, since she must work part-time as a waitress to help make ends meet. There is also a culture clash between the rarefied social air of campus and her husband's life as a carpenter. His supportive attitude begins to give way to exasperation and concern that his wife is slipping away from her family. Besides dealing with the academic challenge of the classroom and her husband's frustration, Lily must confront other difficult aspects of contemporary life on campus, which also threaten her marriage.
The strength of Lily's resolve and the love she shares with Brad prevail, however, and both her life and her marriage are ultimately made richer.
