One Month

Today, Charlotte is one month old.

She is already one month old.

It's amazing how much she has already grown and changed in those four weeks. She surprises me with something new every single day and keeps us on our toes.

I'm also back to work already, which has provided its own set of challenges. Al works early mornings, home in time for me to get to the office by 8 am, then I come home and take over so he can do school work and attend evening classes. It's a complete whirlwind and incredibly draining on both of us.

But this face...

It's so worth it.

Happy One-Month, little lady. Thank you for enriching my life and filling my heart. You have taught me patience and resolve and shown me that love goes deeper than I ever thought. You make me a better person and your father a better man and we're both so blessed to continue this adventure with you.

By the way, for your birthday, I got you a set of size 1 diapers! Time to move up, darling!

Minivan Family

Well, it's official. I've handed in my cool points and succumbed to driving a minivan. The new (to us) van arrives from Florida on Monday after making the journey from my Aunt's house in Florida. They gave us an amazing deal that, for practical and financial reasons, we just couldn't pass up. My car was no longer reliable - at least not when you add late nights at work and a baby to the mix - and with Al's job transition we needed something cost-effective as well as safe.

Enter my generous family who gave us a great deal on a Chrysler Town & Country with less than 60,000 miles on it and the full luxury package. It was almost impossible to say no. And I promise to never get a stick-figure-family window decal or drive like an idiot. I also vow to regain many of my cool points by wearing leather pants, watching sports, and being a kick-ass mother. 

Does that make up for it? 

More on our Little One

Last weekend, my mother flew in from Minnesota in order to be a part of our gender reveal appointment. On Thursday, we picked her up at DIA and Friday after a half-day of work, we headed to the hospital at Ft. Carson for our ultrasound. 

After the first 25 minutes, the radiologist asked if my mother and I wanted to know the gender. (We did. But Al was out in the waiting area since only one person was allowed in at a time.) We had him tell us anyway because I didn't want to wait - Al came in shortly thereafter and found out himself.

So...our little one is a...

 ...a girl!

{That's a pink cupcake, which I brought to the office later that day.}

Now, Al and I were both pretty set on a boy. We figured it'd be easier for our first child and, well, Al's a total sucker for a pretty girl who cries. And, if I'm being brutally honest, I have no idea how to do pink and ruffles and princess stuff. 

Nevertheless, our little one is a little lady. She'll probably wear tutus and drive tractors and paint her nails and shoot a gun. In other words, she'll be the perfect dichotomy of all things awesome. And, the next day shopping with my mother I found these... 

Leopard print AND pink. Okay, so having a girl probably won't be too bad. Now, if Al can just figure out how to say "no" we'll be just fine!

Breckenridge, CO

While my mom and aunt were here, we took a trip up to Breckenridge, Colorado for one night. It happened to be an all-school reunion for the DODDS high school my mom and aunt attended, so Al and I were simply along for the ride. Of course, it's off-season for Breckenridge, so it was mostly just pretty mountain views, good drinks, and great company. I'd love to see it during ski season - I'm sure it's magnificent. 

I plan to give you an update on my new job (loving every second of it) and a few posts on the house (many projects completed over the past few weeks) but in the mean time, here's a photo dump from the Breckenridge trip. 

That's Sgt. Babysitter to you!

The closer we get to the end of Army life, the more often we are asked "why?" Al will have served for 8 years, and that's a long time to invest towards a career only to walk away. At the same time, no one should pursue a career that doesn't make them happy (at least in theory.) 

The answer to the whys has always been the same: I signed up to defend my country, not be a babysitter. I want to mentor and be a leader, but I don't want to teach a grown man how to tie his shoes.

Obviously, he's exaggerating a little bit. But honestly, only by a very little bit.

For example, Al came home the other day - after a longer-than-normal day - frustrated. I asked him what happened and he proceeded to tell me that he had to counsel quite a few of his soldiers for "defacing government property." Now, the actual story is that one of the guys drew male genitalia on a vehicle in the motorpool, which subsequently washed off with little issue. Nevertheless, it was a minor act of vandalism that required punishment.

I personally think it's possible to go your entire life without drawing a penis on something, but, if you absolutely must, doesn't it make more sense to draw it on a post-it or something you can easily dispose of? And if you're trying to be "funny" or perpetuate an already existing office prank (as was the case here), then the even bigger issue is why a group of adult men think this is funny in the first place. But before I digress too far into the crevasses of the male psyche that makes up the "fart jokes" of the world, I'm led to a new question... 

Is dealing with these minor infraction (while insensitive and juvenile, it is still minor) the best use of my husband's time? 

Certainly part of his job is to counsel the younger soldiers through disciplinary issues in order to teach structure, discipline, and mutual respect. And it is certainly necessary to get through some of those problems in order to teach them how to do their actual jobs. (Those problems, by the way, my husband is more than happy to mentor them through.)

If incidents like this were rare and the majority of his time was spent doing tasks related to his MOS or his role as an NCO, things might be different. As it stands, stuff of this nature is relatively "normal" and consumes more time then it should. Which leaves Al feeling unmotivated and less than useful, not mention downright fed up.

Maybe it is integral to the Army mission that he handle the less significant matters. Maybe with the draw-down and decrease in military funding, this is going to be a bigger part of the day-to-day. If that's the case, however, then it might not be the right place for us. 

Fart jokes and penis drawings aside, the Army is transitioning out of war time and into a garrison Army. We are starting to see a big shift in how the Army spends their limited resources and the military as a whole is in a huge holding pattern. That holding pattern is impacting many MOS's and altering their job descriptions and, ultimately, removing any flexibility or control over your own military career. 

So, it seems we have reached the perfect time to walk away - the perfect time to find a new way to serve. One that suits Al better, utilizes his full potential, and provides him fulfillment he deeply deserves. Hopefully, one that doesn't involve male genitalia prominently displayed on his work vehicle.

The Button Room

Many months ago, I was up-to-my-eyeballs frustrated with Al. For some reason, every little thing he did was getting on my nerves. One day, I looked at him and said:

You are pushing my buttons. It's like to found the secret key to a button room and every single button inside is labeled 'melissa' and you are running around frantically hitting all of them to see what they do. Every. Single. Button.

He looked at me and replied:

I'll find a new room to play in.

(psd graphics, free domain)

Since then, the term "button room" has been a running joke. Whenever I'm agitated with him, I can usually say "are you playing in the button room again?" and that's enough to alter the behavior.

Well, this week has been a mess. A real doo-zy. 

Al started his stop-smoking regimen on Sunday and is showing clear signs of withdrawals. {And, to be blunt (overshare alert!), I stopped my birth control so I can start tracking my cycle again in preparation of baby-making. We're still some time away from actually "trying," but with my trip to Vegas coming up, it made sense to alter my cycle now anyway.} Between his nicotine withdrawals and my hormone imbalance, we are just getting on each other's last nerve. 

Last night, laying in bed, I clicked off the TV and rolled over to Al who was almost asleep. I poked him, moved his arm, and started inching as close to him as possible. And just when he thought I wanted a cuddle, I put my ice-cold feet directly on the back of his legs. He yelped and quickly flipped over to look at me. 

20 minutes later, I was still trying to warm up my feet and pestering him to stay awake with me and chat. Finally, he looks at me and says:

"seriously woman, back the hell away from the button room"

Oops. I guess I found the panic button.

"Holiday" of Love

We don't celebrate Valentine's Day. I'm not a fan of over-hyped and unnecessary "holidays" and the red-puffy-paint-hearts on damn-near everything just makes me want to gag. As a kid, I hated passing out Valentines because they "made" you give them to everyone so no one felt left out and in college I remember scrambling to find a date "'cause no one wants to be alone on Valentine's Day." And now that I'm happily married, I just don't see a reason to make one day any different than every other day when it comes to showing love and affection.

It has just never been a big deal to us, so we usually have a low-key dinner at home, followed by a little TV, and bed at our normal time. This year, though, our anniversary was a total bust (literally) and for some reason I am feeling abnormally interested in doing something for V-day. The 15th also happens to be our dating anniversary (holy four years, batman!) so it makes sense to do something a little different. 

Our first date (or what we base or "dating anniversary" on) was pretty low-key anyway. We spent the day hiking in the mountains and came back to our hotel, ordered-in pasta, sipped wine, and did a puzzle together. Looking back, my favorite part of the whole evening was sitting on the couch with an absolutely amazing guy and laughing my ass off all night. And we recreate that memory multiple times each week. 

Since I will be working until late on Valentine's Day and we're currently on a spending hiatus, I'm sure we'll do our typical meal-and-movie-at-home and be in bed by 9:30. I'm sure we'll have plenty of laughs and maybe even sneak in a few extra moments to love on each other. Really, what more could I ask for?

Two Years

Two years.

We have been through so much in two years: being separated by many miles, law school, graduation, the bar exam, moving across the country, starting a whole new career, and buying our first home. And while so much has happened, very little has changed. 

You still make smart-ass remarks at the worst times and think fart jokes are funny. You always forget to put your laundry away and refuse to throw out your dirty, holey socks. You delete my shows off the DVR and can't find something sitting on a shelf in front of you. You never make the bed.

But you know what else...

You are a great cook (and happy to have that responsibility) and rarely leave a mess. You make me laugh so hard I pee and can make the most mundane tasks seem like fun. You can fix or build just about anything and serve as the the heater to my frozen toes. 

You are crazy-smart. You know so much about history, science, and how the world works. You are a wonderfully loyal friend. You are hard-working and punctual (even when no one else is) and you always come prepared.

You are my biggest supporter and you rally when even I can't. You are my rock when I forget reality and my inspiration when I need to relax. You make me feel beautiful every second of the day and you are constantly pushing me out of my comfort zone.

You are my best friend and a royal pain in my ass. You are my right-now and my forever.

Thank you, baby, for an amazing two years. 

Here's to 50 more years of love, memories, and fart jokes.

Happy Anniversary!

Gifts and why they really don't matter as much as the memories!

Last weekend, Al approached me with his head down and informed me he lost my anniversary gift. He purchased it in Las Vegas and had been holding on to it for the occasion. He had wrapped it in his clothes in his luggage, but never emptied it when he got back. When it went through his bags to find it, they were gone. 

I had to laugh. It is not a big deal.

In fact, I assumed we'd grab dinner somewhere and be in bed by 10:30. And I was perfectly happy with that scenario. I certainly didn't expect a gift (and, in all honesty, I had no intention on getting one for him - unless a coupon for "naughty time" counts!) We're both perfectly happy just spending the evening together, you know, 'cause we are in the same state and actually can spend it together.

Even still, I knew he felt bad. (Probably in part because of this Christmas when he sort-of forgot we agreed to exchange gifts.) I assured him that it was not a big deal and he certainly shouldn't rush out and replace it (as he offered to do.) Ultimately, I figure it will turn up someday and even if it doesn't, we have another good memory to share with our kids. 

"Remember that time dad lost your anniversary present?"

In a non-cliche and completely honest way: it is the thought behind the gift and time spent putting it together that counts. 

So why do we put such an emphasis on gifts in the first place? 

Doesn't that take the joy out of both giving and receiving them?

 If I want to buy him something, I will. And I don't need reciprocation, unless he wants to as well. And if he gets me a gift, or flowers, or even just picks up my favorite pint of ice cream on his way home one day, I'll be thrilled. I will kiss him, thank him, and be happy he thought enough about me to do that. I appreciate those gestures when they occur. I appreciate the gifts when they come. I certainly don't need them (or expect them) - SO, it's time we stop making gifts the focus of these important milestones.

Honey, if you're reading this, know this: an evening with you is all I need this year.  And if you really want to make it special, you could always wear a tie. I'm printing off your coupon right now!

Reflections on 2012

Today is the last day of 2012.

It is amazing to look back on the year and remember everything I experienced, accomplished, and enjoyed. It truly was a year of blessings, new adventures and hard-work. 

Here is the break-down:

In January I started my final semester of law school and Al and I celebrated our first year of marriage. In February we PCS'd to Ft. Carson, Colorado and in March I spent Spring Break in Colorado getting settled in. At the beginning of April, I was fortunate enough to travel to Washington D.C. (a beloved city) and coach a moot court competition. Also in April, I took up boxing - something I've always wanted to do - and hope to continue the sport in 2013. On May 1st (less than 24-hours after my last exam), I packed my car and drove the 14-hour drive from Minnesota to Colorado. We were able to celebrate our birthdays together for the first time. Finally, in May, I graduated from law school!!! In June I started a new career in finance, unsure of whether I would enjoy ir or even be any good at it. And at the end of July, after studying most of my summer, I sat for the Colorado Bar Exam. When August rolled around, Al and I made the decision to buy a house (a BIG house!) and in September we moved in and immediately started renovations. In October, I had two wonderful surprises when my favorite people visited from Minnesota and I got the news that I passed the bar exam!! November was mostly centered around work and the house (but I voted) and building our great new friendships. When December rolled around, we were thrilled to visit Minnesota and see family and friends.

At the beginning of the year, I created a list of 12 goals that I wanted to accomplish this year. They were not the standard set of goals, but more like a set of guidelines on how I wanted to live in 2012. You can see the journey as I checked in on those goals throughout the year (click here). I looked back over those goals for one last time today and I am pleased with what I accomplished. Life is fluid and some goals have to be as well, but I got so many wonderful things out of the goals I set for the year that I consider it a success.

For 2013, I decided to simplify those goals a bit and to make them more manageable. I want to head into the new year with a clear focus so I can advance myself professionally and personally and make this year even better than those before. I will debut those goals tomorrow, so stay tuned!

One last reflective thought: In 2008, on New Years Eve, I reconnected with an old friend and invited him to accompany me to a NYE party. We played blackjack with a kiss as the high stakes. We drank and laughed and found that our friendship felt like a little more. That friend is now my husband and I am full of joy knowing that four years after that party, we are lucky enough to curl up in front of our fireplace and toast to the new year together. Now, as the calendar rolls over into 2013, I can hardly wait to see what the new year will hold!

Cheers and Aud Lang Syne.

Show and Tell Monday: My Man

I am in Denver for the day for the Colorado swearing-in ceremony! By the end of the day, I will officially, legally, actually BE an attorney. How surreal is that? I have literally spent my entire life working for this moment and am thrilled that it has all come together. I'll be sure to give you the recap as soon as I return!

In the meantime, I decided to link-up with From Mrs. To Mama for Show n' Tell Monday rather. Today's theme is "How I met your father" or show n' tell your man!

1. Tell us how you met your husband and what first attracted you to him.
I first met Al about 8 years ago. We worked for the same company, me in the office and him out in the production plant. At the time we were just friends, and I was too young to know what I wanted in a relationship, so it wasn't until 4 years later that I "fell for him." I was most attracted to his sweet nature and sense of humor. 
Read more about our story here.

2. Show us the very first (or an early) photo of you two.
I don't have any photos from that early time because we were only friends for a few months before he left for the Army. This picture is from what I would call our first date:

NYE 2008
And these are from the first few months we were dating (about 4 years ago):

 Attending a wedding, January 2009

Hiking, El Paso, TX, February 2009

3. Tell us some of your favorite memories together.
One of my favorite memories is from very early in our relationship. We had visited a water park and decided to hit the DQ drive-thru on the way back. The drive-thru was poorly marked and didn't have an arrow so we accidentally drove in backwards. Rather than turn around, AL ordered and pulled up to the window backwards - with me facing the  window. It probably isn't that funny to most people, but I was in hysterics. 
I've written about many of our other memories here.

4. Tell us what qualities make him "the one." 
He is not afraid to be himself - beer tats and all:

(yep. that's my man.)
He is kind and loyal. He is smart and incredibly funny. He is genuine and trustworthy.

He sees love and respect as unconditional and simple concepts. He gives so much of himself for his friends and family and always puts others first. 

(See! Total weirdo!)

And, at the end of the day, we balance each other out, push each other towards success, and make each other laugh.  

5. Tell us what your date nights typically look like.

4-wheeling in Minnesota, March 2009

 Drinks at Lavo nightclub in Las Vegas, April 2009

 Outdoor concert, Ft. Bliss, TX, July 2011

We both really enjoy good food so more often than not, we will cook a nice dinner at home or try out a new restaurant. We prefer low-cost dates so most of the time we'll pick up ice cream cones and drive around exploring our city - drive up the mountain to a park or ogle expensive houses in a high-end neighborhood. Really though, after spending so much of our relationship apart, curling up on the couch with popcorn and a movie is good enough for us (so long as once in a while, I can put on a great pair of heels and some red lipstick and head out on the town!)

Reflections

I have been living in Colorado a little over a month and a half and we are finally settling into a groove. It helps that we have done this before (sort of), when I spent the summer in Texas last year. But to say that the transition has been flawless would be a lie. As you might expect, we've had our share of complications. Arguments. Compromises. It's all normal and it's all really good for us, but it does make for some interesting stories. So, let me share what I've learned so far in the transition from being a wife to being a wife who lives with my husband. 


1. He is cleaner than I am. I am not a slob by any stretch of the imagination, but he is an official neat-freak. If the living room gets a little cluttered or the dishes are left undone for one evening, he gets a little crazy. 


Example: I stayed home and studied by video today. I had been up for a couple of hours, sipping on cup #2 of coffee and gradually preparing to start homework (i.e. clearing out email, Facebook and Google Reader.) He comes home between PT and work call and in the 45 minutes he's home, tidies up the living room and clears the clutter off the dining table. Basically, in that chunk of time he was more productive than I had been yet that morning. 


Instances like this, and the occasional, "you didn't get the dishes done today?" make me feel lazy. Or like he thinks I'm lazy. And I'm not, at all. It is just one of those transitions there we're making: where he needs to learn to relax a little and I need to learn that I don't live alone anymore.


2. He is a cuddler. I am so not. It used to be that we would see each other for short periods of time, so the desire for physical connection was high for both of us. Now that we are together all the time, I feel a little smothered by the constant day-to-day touching. Don't get me wrong, he knows how to make me feel sexy and beautiful and I appreciate that, but sometimes a girl just wants to drink her coffee without being groped!  


3. He treats me like I am in the Army. This has without a doubt been the hardest transition for us - shutting off "Army-mode" at the end of the day and remembering that I am his wife, not one of his Joes. Sometimes it comes from vulgarity and inappropriate commentary, sometimes it's a complete inability to have a conversation without making jokes, but either way, it's hard for me to deal with.


And the change is mostly on me. He has been working on this significantly, and it has greatly improved. I need to lighten up a bit and continue encourage the positive behavior that comes out of his Army personality - the sexy confidence, great leadership and sense of humor. And the fact that he usually makes dinner, always has coffee ready in the morning and has been super-supportive of my joblessness. Working out these kinks is a part of any marriage and, really, I have it pretty darn good!

Love the Way You Miss Me

It could be because Al is in the field for the week, or it could be because Casey James has such a silky-smooth voice, or it could be the rock vibe to this song, but right now this song is where it's at!

I'm donning a suit and skipping BARBRI today in order to attend a job fair on post. I have a half-dozen copies of my resume, so I hope this pays off!


Happy Thursday!

First Impressions

I had the pleasure of meeting a few of Al's co-workers and his Platoon Sgt this weekend. They all seem like great guys and Al has spoken highly of them thus far. In fact, when we went to lunch, his Platoon Sgt toasted me and my success in graduating law school. I'm fairly certain his last chain of command couldn't care less about the wives' successes. It was a sweet gesture and a pretty good indicator that we are going to get along with him and his family. 

In fact, Al is enjoying his new unit so much there have been rumblings of staying in again. You see, prior to Ft. Carson (and my arrival here) it was almost a guarantee we'd be done when his current contract was up. He'll be past the 8-year mark so there would be no chance of stop-loss or getting called back. He could still go Reserve if he desired, while going to school, but he would be done with AD.

Now that things are going well - he's got a great command and is doing his actual job - he is on the Army-love bandwagon once again. We always knew we would take each enlistment as it came and not solidify any plans until we had to and, frankly, I'm not surprised that Al is considering staying in. He's happy again and fulfilled in his job.

If he stays in, (and we're still a very, very long way from deciding anything) it would not be enlisted. He talks about going Warrant and flying choppers or some other Warrant artillery jobs. In the meantime, we're loving Colorado, his current command and our prospects for making a life here. If I can get a good job, we can really make this a home. 

First impressions are everything and this place has left me with a good one!

My Birthday Recap {Baseball and Beer}

A quick recap of my birthday: 


I woke up at 7:30am and Al made me breakfast in bed (sort of - we don't eat in bed!)
I spent the morning lazing around the apartment and messing around on the internet. 
Around 11:30, I answered a knock at the door to find a flower delivery:

(from Caroline)


We left for Denver at 2pm and went for Sushi.
Then we headed to Coors Field for the Colorado Rockies game:
(which already crossed something off my list!)

We had amazing seats - 3rd row in left field:

And we got to see a Michael Cuddyer (for MN Twin) hit a grand slam in the first inning. Granted the game went downhill fast and we left in the 8th inning with the Atlanta Braves beating the Rockies 10 - 8. On the drive home, it started to rain and the game was delayed an hour before resuming. We caught the last bit of the game on TV and the final score was 13 - 9.


It was a lot of fun to go to a baseball game just for the food and fun. I wasn't emotionally invested in the game or either team, like I am in Minnesota, so we were able to just enjoy the whole experience and leave whenever we wanted to. 


Al left for the field this morning for the week. I am happy to have some time to really dig into all the closets and finally get everything organized! I also have to do final edits on both of my long papers, so this will be a busy week. I hope to have that all done by the time he returns on Thursday. 


Did you enter my giveaway yet? 

A Long Trip Alone

{Warning: this is a long post. It is also a late-night stream-of-consciousness, so bear with me. I needed to get this out.}


My husband is a beautifully strong man. Sometimes, he is strong to a fault. He struggles to see the value in sympathy and compassion. He doesn't naturally recognize the need for encouragement and the recognition of others. And he does not, ever, find it necessary to worry, wallow or pity oneself.

In many ways, I envy these traits. His ability to stand clearly for who he is an not waiver to others is admirable. His constant get-up-and-get-the-job-done attitude is one of the things I love and respect about him. Sometimes, though, I feel as though his toughness is a defense mechanism - to keep him from "going soft" on emotions and losing track of what needs to get done. Sometimes, I want him to feel more.


Because I feel. A lot. 


 I am fiercly independent and wholly passionate. 
And I am strong, confident and meticulous.

I don't need validation from my husband. I don't need him to make me whole or strong or capable. That is a fact. It is a fact upon which he fell in love with me. That unyielding desire to follow my dreams and the strength that carries me through it is one of the things that I draw from within myself. Not from anywhere or anyone else.

At the same time, it is human nature to seek approval from others, to seek companionship, to desire a sense of belonging. God intended for people to pair, to mate and to go in life together. While I don't need Al, I do want him. I want him to be proud of me. I want him to lift me up when I need a boost and to remind me why I desire the things I do. I want him to want those things from me.


After all, life is about the journey, right? It's not about the end. We all die sometime and I'd rather look back on my life and know that I was surrounded by love and family and good people rather than plaques and awards and accomplishments. Ultimately, successes are empty if you can't share them with someone. 

Without Al, I would still get up tomorrow and I would still accomplish many things. I would do it without his support, or the support of others. But that doesn't mean it's my first choice. No one wants to go it alone. I don't want to go on this journey without Al. 
Given the choice, I will always want him by my side and me by his. To celebrate the successes and to strengthen each other when the going gets tough. 


Without him, life would still go on, but it is an awfully long trip alone.

Words on Separation: Then and Now

While putting together my 30 by 30 list (to be revealed on my 28th birthday in May) I scrolled through my archives for ideas and some reflection. I stumbled upon a really cool post that I wrote back when Al was deployed - Almost exactly 2 years ago. 

~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~

1. The heart really is a lot tougher then I'd initially thought

2. Talking on the phone over thousands of miles is a much different kind of communication

3. Absence does NOT always make the heart grow fonder

4. But absence DOES help teach you what's really important

5. Emotions are more intense and conversations more vital when you can't have them face-to-face

6. Being able to "kiss and make up" is hugely underrated

7. So is make-up sex, morning sex, and really any kind of sex we don't get to have

8. I miss fighting over the covers and explaining why I bought another pair of shoes

9. Even when he's crabby, smelly and sweaty, a soldier still looks hot in uniform

10. I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world

(from this post on April 19, 2010)
~~o~~o~~o~~o~~o~~

It's funny how I read that list and still agree with everything on it. I'm not even sure I would change it in any way. 2 years ago, we were dating, going through a deployment while I was in my first year of law school. Now we are married, I am weeks from graduating and moving in with him in Colorado. We've come so far...

But the basics...those are still the same. My heart is strong (but not fonder) and boy do I need those arms around me! That will never change. Thank God for that!

A Lovely Tune

Every single morning I wake up and I look at my phone. On that phone is a little box with a number in it, telling me how many days I have left until I am in Colorado and in Al's arms. As that day draws closer and closer, I am growing more and more anxious. 

This new song from Josh Turner pretty much sums it up...

"Time is Love" people!

"I got someone who waits, waits for me and right now [he's] where I need to be."

So Close

20 Days...

Until I take my last law school final

21 Days...

Until I move to Colorado to live with my husband

40 Days...

Until Graduation

I am so excited, nervous, tired, overwhelmed, delighted and about one million other emotions. My parents have been amazingly supportive since my little corner of their home looks like a disaster area. Al has been a saint as I'm sure he's received the brunt of my varying emotions. 

(A funny article about the end of law school - category #5 sounds nice! ha ha!)

It is surreal to think that this is almost over. I look back to where I started and where I am today - and remember all the steps along the way. Wow.

Now I need to pass the bar and get a job...

Wordless Wednesday: Looking Back

New Years Eve, 2008

{And a few brief words: go HERE and enter Our Little Fam's blogaversary giveaway!}