soulmates.

as i write this post, erik is going into surgery to have his appendix taken out. obviously, having an appendectomy is NEVER a good thing....i would know. I had my appendix taken out almost a year ago, and it was the worst pain i have ever experienced. So when Erik called me this morning at 4 am to tell me he was going to the hospital with a really bad pain in the lower right side of his stomach, i immediately knew what was going on. The crazy thing is, last night we were skyping, and I was complaining b/c my stomach hurt really bad...and as we were talking, he started getting a stomach ache too. When i finally said good night and went to bed, mine was starting to feel better. He never brought it up again, so I just figured he was feeling better too. Little did I know, he was getting WAY worse. I never ever hear my phone when I am sleeping (i can sleep through anything), but for some reason when he called me in the middle of the night, I jumped up and answered it without even thinking about what time it must be. As soon as he told me he was at the hospital getting it checked out, I knew what was happening. Sure enough, he called me back an hour later to confirm that he did, in fact, have appendicitis and would be having surgery first thing this morning. I got out of bed, grabbed my suitcase, and started packing. I'm flying down there in a few hours to stay with him for the weekend-I figure I would know better than anyone how to take care of him since i know EXACTLY how he feels/will feel when he gets out of surgery. I mean, what are the odds of BOTH OF US getting appendicitis within a year of each other!? There is only one explanation I can think of for my feeling the symptoms even before he did, for my waking up to his call in the middle of the night, and for knowing immediately what was wrong (since i have already been there, felt that) when he called....we're soulmates. :)

please say a prayer for him if you are reading this in the next few hours, and also that i make it on my flight- I don't have an ID (i lost mine in LA and my duplicate copy is in the mail at this very moment) but I am praying they will allow me to get on anyway. thanks!!

change of plans?

a potentially MAJOR update:

so i found out today that i am eligible to "visit" another law school next spring for my final semester of law school. As in, one in Texas. (insert a very excited shrieking noise). It just so happens that Erik goes to one of the law schools in Texas that would approve me to take my final 6 credit hours. coincidence? i think not. I need to take several classes that are heavily tested on the Texas Bar and Regent doesn't offer them, and so it is kind of perfect that I can do this. Me and Erik have spent the past few weeks in CONSTANT prayer about God's next steps for us, both as a couple and individually, and as soon as one of my law professors heard about our long-distance relationship and how serious it is getting, she suggested the possibility of either graduating early or visiting the last semester. Apparently, I have too many credits to try to cram into one final semester, and the probability that the Dean and Academic Committees (3 separate hurdles) would approve me to visit another school (without a VERY good cause...i.e. already married and have to move w/ husband) was almost an impossibility. At least, according to everyone I talked to...until today. I am the Dean of Students' Graduate Assistant, so I had a meeting with him today about something totally unrelated- but I took advantage of having some time to talk with him and just asked his advice about my "predicament." He actually met Erik during one of E's visits to Virginia, so he knows about us and how we are doing the whole long distance thing. He told me about his own engagement being long distance (disclaimer: i am NOT engaged- i am just stating what our conversation included) and how it was so hard for them, so he completely understood my situation. Long story short, he told me that he would approve anything I needed to get me to Texas for my final semester. Since he is the Dean of Students, he has the final say in all matters concerning transferring, visting, etc. at Regent. Coincidence that I already had a great relationship with him before knowing transferring would one day be an issue? Again, I think not. So anyway, it seems like doors have been just flying open all over the place the past couple of days- both me and Erik are discovering TONS of legal contacts that we have in the Austin/San Antonio areas.

I also found out today that I am eligible to get my 3rd-year practice certificate, which would allow me to try cases on my own in court before I even graduate...and it just so happens that I am allowed to take up to 2 more externship credits that would count towards the hours I need to graduate. How does this fit together? Well, there is an externship opportunity this summer at Legal Aid, a non-profit organization in Norfolk that offers pro-bono services to low-income citizens who really need legal assistance but cant afford it. (ps, WHAT A GREAT SERVICE!) The best part about this story/opportunity is that I did not know anything AT ALL  about it before this afternoon- the professor I would be working with for the externship credit hours approached ME in the hall (not knowing at all who I was or anything) and just started chatting it up with me...asking about life, interests, etc. After hearing that my interest is mainly in non-profit law, she started telling me all about the externship and how it would be a good opportunity for me to experience NPO's first hand. Oh and then the part about trying cases-on my own, as a student, came up. Um, that's all she neeeded to say- I was already sold.

All I can say, is that God is SO FREAKING cool, and awesome, and WISE, and creative in his plans for our lives. I cant stop thanking him for what he is doing in my life right now. wow.

                  if those dimples aren't a good enough reason to get to texas, the muscles should do it. :)

the life of a professional traveler.

the past month has been nothing short of CRAZY. i know, i know, i feel like every time i finally get around to blogging I end up saying that, but I promise the combined months of December/January take the cake. As if finals weren't crazy-stressful enough themselves, I spent the weekend before finals in Mississippi for Bo and Em's wedding. Taking a break was totally worth it- the weekend was SO MUCH fun and so so sweet- it was a memory I will never forget. Two weeks and 5 finals later, I hopped on a plane and flew to Texas for the weekend to see Erik and hang out with his family. had a great time and LOVED the family. Then home to Mississippi for about a week for Christmas....the best part of the break for sure! I got to see MARGARET the night I flew into MS for our once-a-year get together, and I made it back to Starkville just in time for the S'ville Christmas Party at Barrister's the next night to see all of my old friends. so fun. The weekend after Christmas, we (me mom and dad) headed BACK to Texas to visit Erik in Austin and then to Houston to help Bo and Em move into their new apartment. It was a crazy few days, but we got them all moved in (they have an awesome place in Midtown) and Erik even came and helped move one night....what a doll. The day before NYE, I flew to New Mexico to spend a few days with Sarah in AngelFire, where her family lives and has a cabin near the resort. We snowboarded for a few days (well, until my butt was literally numb from falling down so much) and spent the rest of the time sledding, hiking, eating, and sleeping. I don't know if I am necessarily sold on snowboarding after that trip, but I definitely enjoyed the challenge. I did hate the cold weather though...too much altitude for my preference....i think I will stick with the lake and wakeboarding from now on. :)

After spending TWO days back at school, I unpacked, repacked and left again for California to go to the National Championship Game in Pasedena (my Christmas present from E) and then spent the weekend in Santa Monica with Erik and his friends. It was definitely one the best trips I've ever taken....we stayed at Erik's aunt and uncle's house (in a legitimate mansion....think elevator, maids, etc.) and the view from the balcony in my room overlooked- the mountains to the right, city to the left, and ocean directly in front. not bad. We spent the weekend hanging out in LA, riding bikes from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, and eating some really good meals. The weather was perfect the whole time- needless to say, I did NOT want to come back to Virginia to the cold and tons of school work piling up really fast.

I am FINALLY home for a couple of months- I have enjoyed getting back into a routine and getting school under my belt....i have a really tough load this semester so I am trying to stay on top of things before Younglife and my internship kick back up full force. But if this month is any indication of what the rest of the year is going to be like....all i know is that it's gonna be a good one. :)