BEACH HOUSE!

okay here they are....pictures of my new house! For those that don't know, me and FIVE other girls in law school got a sweet deal on a beach house for this school year (and probably the next as well if we like living here). Since Virginia Beach is such a tourist city, there are TONS of fine beach houses on the Oceanfront that the owners obviously rent out during the summer. However, during the off-season, all of these houses are not really being rented but the owners still want to make money off of them--and that is where we come in. As law students, we are not really around during the summer since everyone is somewhere else doing their internships, so we only need housing for 10 months out of the year...none of those months being the peak tourist season months. Pretty perfect, huh? So we are renting a million dollar home RIGHT ON THE BEACH for way less than the regular rental rate. It is technically four stories, but one floor doesn't have rooms on it, it's just a landing area....so I guess it's really just three stories, but it's still huge. My room is on the very top floor- I even have my own balcony right off of my room, a king size bed, and a flat screen TV already included. Needless to say, God has blessed us with this house.

the house from the outside. there is a balcony above the front door.

One side of my room. I have like 20 ft. ceilings...i love it!

my king size bed. all furniture/wall decor was already there.

my huge ceilings. again.

kitchen area.

living room. it is much bigger/brighter than in this picture, but you get the point.

my balcony (looking into my room)

i will post more pictures when i can take some more...my phone died as i was taking them but i wanted to go ahead and put up the ones i had.

blaahhhh

first day of school as a 2L: the PITS! i could not have had a more stressful first day back....not because of the classes, i am obsessed with each one of my professors so far and my classes are going to be SO much more interesting than the ones last year (which were required for all 1Ls....we got to pick for this year!) but because of everything else that happened outside of class! Not only did I get lost on my way to school (I took a new route from my new house- stupid idea) and THEN, my student loans, which i not only have for school but for rent, groceries, and just living in general, did not come in on time because apparently my bank doesn't do student loans anymore but failed to inform me OR my school about it! So i spent the entire day stressing about where I was going to get the money to pay tuition, buy books, etc. and what bank would lend me that much money on such short notice. I couldn't stop crying all day, so of course my face looked like I had an allergic reaction because we all know that when i cry....i CRY. if it weren't for my amazing friends here who were so sympathetic and comforting the whole day, I would not have made it-in one piece-out of that school today. And of course my wonderful parents came through- as they always seem to have to do for me- and helped me out financially, for this week. I know, I sound so dramatic about this, but it really is a big deal because tuition was due today in order to stay in classes...and on top of that, a few other really bummer things happened today that I wont go into now, but the point was things just were NOT going my way. at all. not even a little bit.

and then....as i was laying on my bed (in my awesome new room in my awesome new house--which did make my day a little better and I will show you pics of soon) I got an email from a Max Lucado mailing list thing...and it was seriously just what i needed to hear. [God does things like this to me a lot I've realized] I copied and pasted it below, just in case anyone else out there had the same kind of day or has had one recently. I trust that God is good and is my provider and wants the best for me---so no matter what I am facing around me, I really want to make an effort to praise him and rejoice in spite of it.

“This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

“This is the day” includes every day. Divorce days, final-exam days, surgery days, tax days. Sending-your-firstborn-off-to-college days.

God made this day, ordained this hard hour, designed the details of this wrenching moment. He isn’t on holiday. He still holds the conductor’s baton, sits in the cockpit, and occupies the universe’s only throne. Each day emerges from God’s drawing room. Including this one.

by: Max Lucado

hello.

in an effort to keep up my posts, here is a quick update on life.

1. I am technically homeless right now. very fortunately, i have awesome friends who have given me my own room in their house-complete with closet space AND a super comfy bed- which i have made good use of this month (well, and a lot of other nights this past year) while waiting to get into my new house.

2. Speaking of my new house, we move in on Saturday! I will be sure to post plenty of pics so you can all be jealous, don't worry.

3. ASP ended last friday- I met a lot of cool new students and had a great experience being a TA, but I have thoroughly enjoyed having this week off to sleep in, hit up the beach everyday, and hang out with all my friends. (everyone is FINALLY all back!)

4. I started working out again hard-core this week. I am currently doing "body by ryan", which really is just Ryan's excuse to yell at me about stuff in public. that, and for him to have a workout buddy at the gym. I didn't even wake up to go this morning, so I wouldn't say Im off to a great start there.

5. Bo is coming tomorrow night to stay for the weekend- he gets to help me move in on Saturday (along with 6 other of my friends who have offered to help--should go fast) and then I am planning on taking him out on the town and giving him the full Va Beach experience for the weekend.

6. Last but not least, classes start Monday. I haven't bought books yet, haven't looked at my assignments yet, and I'm not even sure what time my first class is (or even what it is) on Monday. Yep, sounds like me.

the abundant life

i try to get a run in everyday. i hate running, actually. but i do love how it makes me feel after i finish...and more importantly, i love that God likes to talk to me about all kinds of stuff when i run. yesterday was no exception, and i wanted to share a part of our conversation with you. (I'm sure He won't mind). 

first, i should note that i have been more content/happy, since being back in Virginia Beach than i have in a very long time. it is also important to know that in all my plans and hopes of going to law school, i never dreamed i would end up in Virginia- esp. Virginia Beach- for three years to pursue that degree. i have been trying to figure out just what it is that has given me so much joy these past two weeks that was somewhat missing before...not that i was depressed in Texas by any means (i had a GREAT and fun summer!) but something has been different (more peaceful) in my spirit lately, and I desperately wanted to know why. So I asked God while we were running, and sure enough- He let me know. 

I feel like God revealed to me that Virginia Beach (and specifically Regent) was COMPLETELY His idea/plan...i couldn't have dreamed up a school and place like this even if i would have tried (and we all know the size of my imagination)...my idea of a "good law school" looked a lot different than what Regent seemed to be upon first glance. But I trusted in where I heard God calling me, and I came to Va Beach, knowing no one and almost nothing about the school, city, etc. (i can still say it was the scariest thing i've ever done!) One year later, here I am...happier than i have ever been, with deeper spiritual friendships than i've ever experienced, and more in love with God than I ever thought could be possible. I can honestly say those blessings are ALL because I  was obedient to God's will for me to be here...and I am quickly realizing that His plan is always the most fulfilling! God has already been doing so much in and through me since I have been back, and I know He will continue to do so in the next two years (and who knows, maybe even longer!?)

Since that revelation, my desires/plans have quickly changed. I have been saying for a long time now that I would only move to Texas or back to the South after law school and I would only practice certain types of law, and I would only date/marry a certain type of guy. Now, I want my next move, career path, and relationship to be completely God's plan for me and in no way my own. No restrictions. I know that God puts desires in our hearts to pursue, but I want to be able to discern which desires are truly HIS and which desires are my own selfish desires. I do know this- I now fully know how it feels to be living out God's plan, and I know how it feels to be living out my own desires...and although God can work through and bless either path, I want to maximize the peace and contentment in my life whenever possible. amen!

finish the sentence...

i saw this on LT's blog. the point of it is to fill in the blank of each question to finish a sentence. i can never decide if i want to post these kinds of things on here, on facebook, or neither...sometimes i feel like i am opening up myself to be majorly stalked by some creeper out there. but for now, i will post it. if it gets deleted soon, just know that i re-gained some sense of wanting privacy. but never less, enjoy while it's here. 

 

1.Maybe I should......go for a run instead of wasting time blogging. nah. 

2. My ex is......forgiven.

3.I love......wakeboarding, law school, my family and friends, and my mac.

4.People would say that I am......passionate. about every aspect of my life.

5. I don't understand......how to have self control with food.

6.When I wake up in the morning......hit the snooze button at LEAST five times.

7.I have lost....too many items to try to list.

8.Life is full of.....heart-to-hearts.

9.My past taught me....how to really love people, even when they don't know how to love me back. 

10. I get annoyed......easily.

11.Parties are....wonderful, as long as I'm not in charge or responsible for messes/accidents.

12.I wish.....I knew what kind of law God wants me to practice. 

13.Dogs .....are fine with me, as long as they don't bite me or make me sneeze. i want one....someday.

14.Cats....make me sneeze; therefore i hate them.

15.Tomorrow is....Sunday- my absolute favorite day of the week.

16.I have a low tolerance for......parents that think their screaming baby doesn't need to leave the service at church.

17.If I had a million dollars....I would sponsor (or adopt) as many kids in Africa as possible.

18.I am terrified....of losing anyone close to me.

19.I've come to realize that my last kiss....makes my stomach hurt to think about.

20.I am listening to....Hillsong United.

21.I talk....too much, probably. 

22.My friend(s).....mean everything to me.

23.My first real kiss.....makes me laugh to think about. it was definitely awkward. 

24.Love is.....a choice.

25.Marriage is...something i am trying not to focus on too much right now.

26.Somewhere, someone is thinking.... "Jesus really did that for me?! that's awesome!"

27.I'll always....keep in touch with my best friends.

28.The last time I really cried......was during a heart-to-heart with Sarah about our futures. 

29.My cell phone is....quite handy for twitter and facebook...notsomuch for getting calls and texts.

30.Before I go to bed........ I need to remember to make sure my alarm is set. 

31.Right now I am thinking about.....what I should eat for a snack.

32.Babies....are precious. I just don't want/need one anytime soon.

33.Today I.....want to cross everything off my to-do list. 

34.I really want to.....be a judge one day.

tattoo

i am 90.2% set on getting a tattoo. i have been thinking/praying about it so much lately.....this is what i want. on my foot (left foot- right below my last three toes) and pretty small.

X:XV

It stands for Romans 10:15. "how beautiful the feet of those who bring the good news."

I have a heart for GOING and doing God's work somewhere- and at this point, i don't even care where as long as God is in it and wants me there. I want this to remind me of why I am here...on Earth, in Virginia, at Regent Law, in this classroom.  Thoughts?

a new distraction

my attention span is officially in major trouble. from reading some friends' blogs, i have discovered a new website that is SO MUCH FUN. granted, i am not a fashionista like mk, ktac, and mo...but i do what i can with the little fashion sense that i have. this website is like paperdolls on steroids...and in virtual form of course. i've only made a few outfits so far...most of which aren't that great, but i am pretty certain the more i do, the better i will get. 

this is one that i did called the "first day of school"...i actually have this outfit (minus the shoes and handbag) and i very well may wear it one of the first days when school does start back...although i dont know that i will pull it off as well as it looks on "virtual" paper...and the second one (below it) is just a summer outfit i put together. that's what i wish i could wear to class everyday!

first day of school by annholland featuring Forever21

summer swing by annholland featuring Juicy Couture accessories