twenty-six {goals}

twenty-six. the age that sounds so old when you are a sophomore in college; the age by which you think you will have your stuff together; and the age that sounds so young when you get there. for those of you who haven't visited here before, welcome. this is my yearly goals post that came about on my twenty-fourth birthday. I've been doing this for two birthdays now & absolutely love it! I'll post an update about how my goals for this past year went soon, but this post is solely dedicated to goals to accomplish before twenty-seven **yikes, that sounds old** I love that these keep me focused and help me make the most of each year so that I don't just think "what did I even do this past year?!" by the time my next birthday comes around. this coming year is going to bring about so many fun changes: 3 family weddings **including MINE**, second year of law school, navigating married life, becoming an auntie twice-over when my heart friend has her second littles, and so much more! since this is going to be a crazy year, I have some fun goals that mix fun, adventure, and taking breathers in the midst of the crazy... so, what do I want to accomplish before twenty-seven?

1. run 2 half-marathons = 1 by myself and 1 with my adventure partner for life
2. take a weekend to hike/camp in the Shenandoah Valley
3. strength: do 100 push-ups consecutively & handstand
4. breather trips with Michael: DC, Virginia wineries, & Monticello 
5. mind: read 5 fun books **not school related**
6. write & send 1 handwritten letter by snail mail per week

this year will be one for the books, ladies & gents! here's to another year of lessons learned, adventures conquered, and twenty-six!!

stressed desserts

one of the girls at regent law has a little reminder on her carrel that "stressed is just desserts spelled backwards." I smile at it every time because it makes stress seem small and not too scary. however, when I look back over april, I see one word to characterize it: stressed. not the desserts stressed, but like REAL stress. just to give y'all a taste of this past month:

april 6th = appellate brief due (aka: way too many hours of work)
april 6-10 = practice rounds for moot court
april 9th = was told I have until the end of the month to move out... which is in the middle of finals
april 13-17 = mandatory rounds for moot court
april 16 = interview for trial advocacy
april 18 = elimination rounds for moot court
april 21-22 = move out
april 27 = first exam... morning of spill coffee on my computer & michael took my keys on accident, so I called friends frantically to catch a ride to the exam

and that's just dealing with school. april felt like curve ball after curve ball... once I adjusted for the first one, the next one was like, really?! it has been a month of asking the Lord why & trying to not freak out. april 27th was the day all the pressure inside just exploded. after that first exam, I cried for hours. when there is that must stress and pressure built up inside of you, it must come out at some point. and then I was reminded that the Lord really does have me here for a reason & He really is in control. I could not have made it through this past month without Him. the morning of april 28th I read Psalm 46... 

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride... Cease striving and know that I am God..."

talk about perfect timing?? the Lord is my refuge and my strength... He is a very present help in trouble **and stress**... cease striving. those two words are so freeing because the Lord is telling us to stop trying to make things happen on your own strength. stop relying on yourself to get through. stop trying to be strong. it's annoying that it took me a full month of crazy to finally realize I can't do this. I need the Lord, and it's only in Him and through Him will I make it through this semester. here's to eating dessert, taking one step at a time, and letting go. **cue frozen soundtrack here** happy may second, peoples!!