law school prom

 dear law school prom,

thank you for redeeming the proms of my high school career. it was 10000000x's more fun to go to prom with my husband-to-be **82 days, people** than it ever was with a high school date. why? well, for starters, look at him. then there's the fact that he actually dances with me... not like the awkward/grinding/club dancing, but that make a fool of yourself/let loose/have a ball **pun intended** type of stuff! I don't think I've laughed on a dance floor more in my life! thank you for giving me & the law school bests an excuse to break free from the library, dress up, & enjoy life a little before the next 6 weeks-or so of crazy. thanks for providing us with stories to talk about for dayz, laughs to get us through these appellate briefs, & pictures that will stay with us for years. in short, you were the realest. see you next year.

XOXO

{gratitude} lately

things I am thankful for this week:

1. heart friends that call at all hours of the day just 'cuz

2. an adventure partner who never ceases to encourage me

3. and who isn't scared to speak truth, like when he said "you look gross" after I got my first spray tan this week **tell me how you really feel**

4. having the hottest date to barrister's ball (aka: law school prom)

5. the end of an old & beginning of a new journal

6. far away friends that pray for me & send me encouragement

7. new friends that make you belly laugh in the library

8. registering for what might be my favorite class in law school #familylaw **insert leg kicks & shimmies x's 1,000,000 here**

9. professors who invite you into their lives

10. warmer weather & longer nights **is it summer yet?!**

here's to people who remind you to calm down, breathe, & enjoy the right now!

I'm a mess

reasons I love this picture:

a) Michael's face
b) he thinks I roll my eyes at him more than he does at me, but we caught the TRUTH on camera **told ya**
c) I'm being ridiculous
d) all of the above

but really... I am so thankful for this man. yesterday I real-talked with him about how I was feeling like a failure with school & wedding & life; how I had been battling these voices in my head for a few days; and how I didn't think I was going to make it through this semester. **dramatic much? maybe** although he didn't give me this look, I am sure he wanted to, followed by a quick "really??" but he didn't. instead he encouraged me. he reminded me that my strength comes from Christ; that God is the One who brought me to law school for a specific purpose; and that His timing is perfect. and then he prayed over me... how did I get so lucky to do life with a guy who consistently reminds me of God's faithfulness & goodness towards me, even when I'm being dumb/shortsighted?! 

here's to reminders of God's faithfulness, eye-rolls, & renewed perspective. law school, I'm comin for ya.

all the {lies}

today marks the last day of spring break before classes begin again. we are diving head first into the second half of the semester. my appellate brief is due in 3 weeks; oral arguments begin immediately after; and finals are so close I can taste them. real talk: this semester of law school has been rough. I can officially look back at last semester and think, "wow, that was so much easier." **yikes** it seems like this semester the voices in my head are more frequent. they are almost ever-present; whispers mostly & sometimes screams. they tell me that I'm not cut out for this, and I should just quit while I'm behind. they laugh at me for thinking I could plan a wedding & do second semester of 1L year at the same time. they tell me there's no way I'll find a job after this 3 years of crazy. they compare me to all my hard-working classmates who are at the library constantly and involved in everything. they are very convincing, & it's so tempting to believe them.

but then I remember why I'm here. I go back & read this and this and this ... these posts and journal entries on journal entries remind me that this is exactly where I am supposed to be. the Lord brought me here for a specific purpose. do I know what that is yet? no. but it brings me peace in knowing that the voices in my head are just lies; lies that I can choose to believe OR choose to replace with truth. today I am choosing truth. today I will be faithful to what the Lord has called me to do. today I will do my absolute best with what I am given and allow Him to work out the rest.

here's to truth, time to reflect, & realizing the lies are just voices...