I am so thankful. It's safe to say I had the best thanksgiving ever yesterday. I had the chance to sit in the company of the best people on this earth and just be. I watched as two families joined as one to celebrate each other and the love between the two. We ate the best food, laughed at the best jokes and took the greatest pictures. I have so much to be thankful for, and I love that I get an entire day dedicated to basking in that. I'm positive I have the greatest family on earth. The five of us don't get together very often, so when we do it's always a blast. Getting to spend an entire day with them is my paradise. I got to spend the day with my best friends - they're the greatest and they bring the joy of the world into my life. I got to celebrate my new family. When Tom started dating Camila she brought this new world into ours and we've (Tom) hasn't been the same since. Yesterday I got to watch the first Englert-Urtubey Thanksgiving and boy, was it wonderful. I watched two families from two different worlds join together, and it was as if we've known each other for years. There was a point yesterday afternoon after we had finished stuffing our face where I just looked around. Camila's dad was playing the guitar and singing in spanish, the moms were on both sides admiring and taking pictures, the boys were smoking cigars and everyone was drinking baileys and coffee enjoying the sounds of the day. At that moment my heart was so full I could have cried. I am so blessed, and I don't acknowledge that enough. So this is to all of you [Englert fam, Urturbey Fam, Leisenring Fam & Kuipers Fam], who made yesterday great, I am so blessed to have all of you in my life. I would be lost without you. And, to everyone who couldn't make it yesterday... You were so missed. I am so blessed to know and have you as well. To Kate, Carly and Callie, I am thankful for the relationships we made in college and have continued since then. To my beautiful law school friends, Kristin, Alyssa, Lynds, Britt, Hannah and Sarah - you girls continue to amaze me and challenge me. I am so blessed to go to school every day with such inspiring girls. To Adam, thank you for being such a wonderful boyfriend. I hope one day all of you get to join in at least one Englert Thanksgiving - because it's crazy, and loud, but it's full of love and a sight to be seen.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie
Camila, Aunt Lynn, [me], and Mama.
Pops, Natalia, [me]
My kindred spirit.
Dad and the girls.
Sisters: Juliana & Coti
My family.
My Whitty.
hair swagger... I just found this new blog I love and I just thought this was too cute.
Enjoy, Happy Tuesday!
One of my favorite Keith Urban songs made better by the sweet guitar and voice of Mr. John Mayer.
Enjoy, Happy Sunday.
I forgot your birthday post, but I'm glad I waited because this picture is my fav. So, here is the latest Happy Birthday post ever. I'm glad I got to spend your birthday with you Kris, and I'm so glad the universe is spinning our of control.... because of us :) Love you miss!
What is a friend?
I will tell you... it is someone with whom you dare to be yourself.
-Frank Crane
-Frank Crane
It's coming. They're coming. Finals are 19 days away. In 19 days I will be taking tests that define my last 4 months. Not only do they define my last 4 months, but they decide if I get a clerkship next summer, and a clerkship could be the beginning of a job opportunity, and a job opportunity equals a career. In 19 days, I'm going to define my career. It's absurd. It's scary, but they're coming and needless to say I'm starting to freak out a little bit.
I'm tired.
I'm starting to get worn down.
I'm wondering if I'm really cut out for this.
Am I prepared?
Will I pass?
All my self-doubts are rising to the surface and while I'm doing all I can to quash them before they get too much... sometimes its nice to sulk about it. But not too long of course, because just when I start to think I'm all I am are my insecurities, I have people that shake me out of it. I have this new boy who makes me happier than ever. My study buddies and law school comrades remind me that we're all in the same boat, and then my best friends back home remind me that in 25 days I'll be back in Arizona celebrating the Christmas season, and all this will be worth it, all my hard work will pay off. So I'm gonna disappear for the next couple weeks. I'm gonna bury my face in the books and get down to it. Because in a month I want to feel secure in a job well done.
Right before I moved to Omaha, Whit gave me this quote on a home-made CD,
I'm tired.
I'm starting to get worn down.
I'm wondering if I'm really cut out for this.
Am I prepared?
Will I pass?
All my self-doubts are rising to the surface and while I'm doing all I can to quash them before they get too much... sometimes its nice to sulk about it. But not too long of course, because just when I start to think I'm all I am are my insecurities, I have people that shake me out of it. I have this new boy who makes me happier than ever. My study buddies and law school comrades remind me that we're all in the same boat, and then my best friends back home remind me that in 25 days I'll be back in Arizona celebrating the Christmas season, and all this will be worth it, all my hard work will pay off. So I'm gonna disappear for the next couple weeks. I'm gonna bury my face in the books and get down to it. Because in a month I want to feel secure in a job well done.
Right before I moved to Omaha, Whit gave me this quote on a home-made CD,
"The leading rule for the lawyer, as for the man of every other calling is diligence. Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today."
Omaha never ceases to amaze me. I experienced my first snow last night. And, when I say snow, I mean snow, not just those pretty little flurries that sparkle in the street lights, but full snow, I'm talking at least 3-4 inches. Most people probably don't think that's a lot, but I sure did. It all started driving to Kristin's birthday dinner, (Shout out- Happy Birthday Kris!) and it was raining pretty hard. All of a sudden, Kristin says, "Oh my, Kristen, it's starting to flurry," I didn't believe it for one second, but sure enough, I couldn't deny the SNOW that was building up on the side of my windshield. With tears in my eyes, I continued to drive cautiously with my 3 girlfriends guiding me along the entire way, "break slow," "turn slow," "don't speed." They were my guiding (back-seat driving) angels. Once I parked, the snow was in full force. We ran, slid and hobbled our way to the restaurant through the slush. Picture this: 4 girls, 4 pairs of high heels and a lot of snow. It was a comedy show to say the least. We finally made it across the street to Pitch, this warm, amazing, cozy little pizza joint, and from there the night began. We cheer-sed, sipped wine, ate cake and laughed together as the snow fell outside. I felt as if I were in a movie. It was a magical night.
The Birthday Girl.
Making her wish.
<3.
My first snow.
Krist(e)(i)ns.
Dancing in the snow.
Three of a kind.
Today, I introduced Henry to the snow, and surprisingly he kind of liked it. Granted, he hated the sweater he was forced to wear, and didn't exactly enjoy having wet paws, but I still couldn't pull him away from the snow. We're adjusting.
Henry and his first experience with snow.
My first Omaha snowball.
It's cool, my dog's a model.
So, I made it through my first snow everyone. I threw a snowball, I danced in the snow with my girlfriends and I complained about being cold. I loved the snow in parts and I hated it in others. Regardless, it's going to be a long couple months, but it's going to one where I learn, grow and hopefully have great stories, great pictures and even better memories. Welcome to winter ladies and gentlemen, I hope you brought your cashmere gloves, because it could get chilly.
You and I, we will live differently
With our hearts in our hands, like loaded guns.
We're the lucky ones.
This moment is yours, this moment is mine.
And we're gonna be fine.
City lights, stretching from sea to sea.
You and I... it was meant to be.
Perfect Imperfections. The more I grow up, learn new things, meet new people, have new relationships, and learn more about myself, the more I realize how honest this statement truly is. Perfect Imperfections. I wish I could say I read this on some really great memo about accepting yourself, but I actually read it on the inside of a pair of jeans, but regardless of where I found it, it got me thinking about people.
Last night I was watching my TIVO'd Ellen episode of the one where she interviews Portia Di Rossi. Here sits the most beautiful model I've ever seen, discussing how she used to count calories to the point of weighing a mere 86 pounds. She discusses the need to be perfect in a world where nothing is perfect. I sat that, obviously re-thinking that last slice of pizza when I realized that, those imperfect moments, or imperfect parts to someone are what make everything perfect in the whole. A crooked smile, maybe a little too tall or a little too short, it's all part of the whole person that makes those little imperfections, truly perfect.
I've been learning about other people recently. How they think, how they handle situations, how other people hurt. Needless to say I've grown up where the people around me are very similar to myself and my background. Even in California, I didn't venture too far out of 'me.' So, I've been learning about other peoples lives and the things that make them who they are. Sometimes it's irritating and frustrating, trying to figure out why some people do certain things are act a certain way, but all it takes is one conversation. A simple conversation, from the heart of a friend, to really learn about that person. It takes having someone care enough to make the effort and ask. It's about learning what they consider their own imperfections which in turn make me realize my own. [I'm too sensible when it comes to relationships. I have a hard time saying no. I feel obligated to please everyone else before considering my own happiness. I don't understand how to be vulnerable.] Maybe when I can figure them out, I'll learn how to turn those imperfections that I consider a negative aspect of myself, into the perfect imperfections someone else loves.
Last night I was watching my TIVO'd Ellen episode of the one where she interviews Portia Di Rossi. Here sits the most beautiful model I've ever seen, discussing how she used to count calories to the point of weighing a mere 86 pounds. She discusses the need to be perfect in a world where nothing is perfect. I sat that, obviously re-thinking that last slice of pizza when I realized that, those imperfect moments, or imperfect parts to someone are what make everything perfect in the whole. A crooked smile, maybe a little too tall or a little too short, it's all part of the whole person that makes those little imperfections, truly perfect.
I've been learning about other people recently. How they think, how they handle situations, how other people hurt. Needless to say I've grown up where the people around me are very similar to myself and my background. Even in California, I didn't venture too far out of 'me.' So, I've been learning about other peoples lives and the things that make them who they are. Sometimes it's irritating and frustrating, trying to figure out why some people do certain things are act a certain way, but all it takes is one conversation. A simple conversation, from the heart of a friend, to really learn about that person. It takes having someone care enough to make the effort and ask. It's about learning what they consider their own imperfections which in turn make me realize my own. [I'm too sensible when it comes to relationships. I have a hard time saying no. I feel obligated to please everyone else before considering my own happiness. I don't understand how to be vulnerable.] Maybe when I can figure them out, I'll learn how to turn those imperfections that I consider a negative aspect of myself, into the perfect imperfections someone else loves.
My mom's the best. Today has already been one of those days. With everything that happened over the weekend, to now being in the final four weeks of school, it's easy to get kind of worn down. This morning has already been long; being late to get up and get ready, forgetting to eat breakfast, cleaning poop up, being 45 degrees out to then spilling coffee down the front of my shirt all I heard in my head was, "This is going to be a shitty day." But then my mom sent me this quote, doesn't say much or probably mean much to non-dog lovers, but she knew it would make me smile and I can already see the day getting better. So, even though I'm sitting in the library before the sun comes up, watching it rise through thick double-panned glass, I just have to laugh about the stupid stuff and smile about the great stuff...today's gonna be a good day.
"Happiness is a warm puppy."
-Charles Schulz

-Charles Schulz
Happy Birthday Britt!
I'm so glad that I get to spend it alll day with you in law school!
Let's make it a great day!
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