Taking a Deep Breath.

I've always loved the Holidays...but this year I have been especially grateful for Christmas and all things involved with this season.  The LIGHTS (the white ones. i've never been a fan of colored lights), the FOOD- snacks, candy, good homemade meals- all free of calories, of course! And being around friends and family is definitely the best part of it all. Being so far away from home has been one of the best things I've ever done for myself- not being able to call my parents for every single thing like I was able to do for 22 years of my life...I was forced to "grow up" and learn to figure things out on my own, ask other people around me to help (a humbling experience for sure) and ultimately, I was forced to find out who I really was, apart from everything and everyone I've ever known. What a wonderful experience it turned out to be! I have made friends that I will remain close with for the rest of my life, I have learned what will (and what WON'T) make me happy in the long run... and I have learned that sometimes, you need to put your WHOLE heart into certain things- not knowing what it/they will give back to you in the end. In my opinion, there is no point in living life half-way..."Go Big or Go Home." But seriously, life is way too short to not take some risks. So you get hurt or may not succeed sometimes...well, isn't that what friends are for- to help you back on your feet and remind you why you went "all out" in the first place? I am talking about school, jobs, friendships, relationships....anything that is important enough to be willing to put it all on the line. I feel like I have done that with several things in my life this semester- some have turned out fabulous, others have been a disaster...and some are still very much up in the air. But regardless, I know Jesus came to give me life "to the full"...and I am going to take complete advantage of that fullness! And what a better time of year to be reminded of all the reasons Jesus came to earth for us than right now. 

Speaking of fullness, I guess I should update everyone on some of the events that have happened the past couple of months in my blog-absence! Well, I had a birthday.  23. I dont know who said all birthdays suck after 21, but I dissent! (ah, legal terms) This birthday was BY FAR my favorite birthday I have ever had. Maybe it was the people, maybe it was the week-long birthday events, or maybe it was just the break from law-school misery for one weekend, but whatever the case...it was AWESOME. Harris flew into town for the weekend, and we celebrated her arrival with a couple of friends that night, then the next day- Harris came to class ALL day with me- and one of my girl friends brought a birthday cake for me to class (my law school section loves to celebrate), we had a big mexican birthday lunch with friends, and then a big cookout that night at my best friend James's house with all of my close law-school friends- cake and all. But it gets better...

The next day (my ACTUAL bday), me and harris and Bri (by FAR the two most fashionable girls I know) went shopping all day and then that night we celebrated at cute little Italian restaurant for dinner and finished the big weekend 

with KARAOKE- my favorite activity (besides dancing). Of course, everyone LOVED Harris and it was so great to have my best friend from home along with my new best friends from Va.

Along with celebrating my birthday, I also celebrated Thanksgiving this year in North Carolina with my friend Katie's whole family. She has a legit beach house that her family always goes to for holidays, and we spent the weekend there-hanging out w/ her cousins and eating ALOT. It was sad to be away from my home for Thanksgiving for the first time..ever...but being with her family was definitely the next-best thing! 

Although I was able to participate in a couple of fun activities this semester...real-life hit HARD and fast after Thanksgiving break. Law School is "special" in the sense that we only have ONE test per semester that determines our entire grade in that class, which comes at the end of the year. A week after thanksgiving, our reading period began for a few days before our first final. Finals lasted two weeks (one test every other day) and I definitely think we kept Starbucks, 7-11 (Super Big-Gulps!), and chick-fil-a in business for those few weeks. It was the longest two weeks of my ENTIRE life, but I finally made it through the first semester! Now, only 5 more to go. I wont find out my grades until the first of January, so I am taking a break from all things Law School during the break. I have NO idea how I did on any of my tests, but I do know that I felt SUCH a peace during each test- due to the massive amounts of prayer by my parents, friends, and professors during each final. I especially love how the Dean of the Law School personally stopped me in the hall before one of my finals to let me know he would be praying for me during that test. Wow, what a blessing.

I apologize for the extremely long post...but that's what happens when I don't have time to post during the semester....hopefully more posts will follow soon!!