hard to believe that it's Christmas Eve...where has this year gone? It's safe to say it's been a long time since I've blogged. With the incredible mess I'd like to call finals taking up three solid weeks of my life, all I wanted once I was done was to put my computer away and hide myself from all things studious. After finals were over I basked in the glory of my girlfriends and boyfriend and celebrated before I headed home for Christmas. So, needless to say, I'm not sorry I've been MIA from the blog world because I've been spending some much needed quality time with my beautiful family and friends and soaking up all they have to offer. It's what the Christmas season is all about right? So, I hope all you out there are enjoying friends, family and copious amounts of Christmas cookies, songs, movies and love. It's the best season of the year no doubt, and I feel so blessed to have some time off to enjoy it. So, everyone, shut down your computer tonight, and celebrate the joy of Christmas with those you love. So, I'm going to get comfy on the couch with a cup of coffee and watch a Christmas Story, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! Here's a couple verses from my favorite christmas hymn... it's seriously the best and puts me right in the christmas mood.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy Birth,
Jesus Lord at Thy birth. 

And... a couple of my mom's christmas drawings :)

It's that wonderful time again, finals week is back and we're all in the midst of it. The library is thick with tension and frustration as 1L's, 2L's and 3L's struggle to find the meaning of the past three months and synthesize it in to 3 hours. In one week from today I'll be done with the first semester of my second year and be half way through law school and I couldn't be more excited. I can almost taste the christmas eggnog. It's been a long semester and all my (and everyone else's) hard work has finally (almost) paid off. Sometimes when school gets hard it's tough to remember why we're doing this. But we're here, we're going to be lawyers some day.... So, to everyone in the thick of it, keep up the good work, rock those finals and then let's celebrate.

It's been a whirlwind of a week to say the least. Last week at this time I was arriving at home in Arizona to a toasty 80 degrees and spent the following four days basking in the sunshine with my beautiful family and friends. Thanksgiving was so wonderful as always as we celebrated with our newly extended family. It's so wonderful to watch our family and Camila's family join together and celebrate. It was such a blessed day. Friday, I got to have lunch with some girlfriends from high school and celebrate the birth of Shalyn's baby girl, London. Saturday, I was on my way home to Omaha to prepare for three tough weeks of finals prep and finals. After a wonderful Monday yesterday, I'm finally ready for this semester to be over. I can't wait till Friday after finals when I can have a glass of champagne and toast to a semester well done. Keep up the good work everyone, it will be worth it when we make it, we're almost half way!

One year. Adam's probably going to be slightly embarrassed by this but....It's crazy to believe I've been lucky enough to date Adam for a year... let alone the fact that I've been living in Omaha for over a year. I'm proud of our one year accomplishment. Some nay-sayers out there might think a year isn't very long, but I like to believe a year is an accomplishment, especially for me. We met, we've learned a lot about each other, ourselves, law school and everything in between and one year later we're standing here together, hand-in-hand, stronger and better than ever. I'm so blessed to have been able to spend a year with Adam and I can't wait to see what the future holds. God definitely knew what He was doing when He brought Adam into my life and I couldn't be more thankful or blessed.

I have never been more excited to head home to Arizona to spend some much needed time with my beautiful family and friends. This semester has been tough, a lot of things are changing, for the good and bad, and I just need a break. I'm starting to realize other peoples expectations of me. I always just kind of 'floated' and got it right. But recently I've realized that I'm failing in regards to what certain people expect of me. It's tough when you realize that who you are and who you once were are two different people and finding where that new person fits, is hard. I know this sounds random and all over this place but that's kind of where my head's at. I really need some time at home to get back to that place of floating. I guess I have to realize that I'm not always going to meet everyones expectations of who I should be, but at the end of the day, if I can look myself in the eye and be proud, then I've met mine, and sometimes that's all I can do. Only 15 more days until I'm back in the comfort of my family and my best friends and I cannot wait. 

My Sunday night musical inspiration that's getting me through studying. Coti showed me her and I just can't stop listening. Enjoy. Kina Grannis.

It's Britt's 24th Birthday today! Britt and I met during Orientation first year when I overheard her talking about the fact that she was a Kappa! I instantly knew I wanted/needed to be friends with this girl if I was going to survive my years at law school. Needless to say a year later she is one of my closest girlfriends and I couldn't be more blessed by her friendship. She's kind, so funny and always there when I need her the most.

We had our first snow day today! I know it's hard to believe but I was so excited when I saw the snow! Needless to say my mood has changed drastically since my first snow last year. But, I threw on some earmuffs, a sweatshirt on Henry and we spent some time outside. It's weirdly beautiful even in the midst of the freezing cold, sometimes muddy snow and the gloom.

I am so happy it's finally November because this month brings so many fun things! Multiple birthdays (britt, erin and tommy!), a big anniversary for me and adam, the possibility of snow, and thanksgiving! Thanksgiving will be the first time I get to go home since August and I am so so excited. I get to see Whitney for the first time in 11 months (longest ever!), go out with my best friends and spend so much quality time with my family! It's going to be such a joyous month and I'm so excited it's finally here. So everyone, grab your warm boots and jacket, go jump in a pile of leaves (or snow) and find a reason to celebrate, because this is going to be a great month.

I read this on a random blog a while ago and I thought it was a wonderful way to start the week. There are 5 days left until fall break, only 5 more until no more legal writing and only 5 days till I have no school for an entire week. I cannot wait. On top of it being fall break, I get to see one of my best friends that I haven't seen in over a year and half. So everyone, count your blessings, this week is going to be a good one.

Yesterday (sorry it's late) was my Dads 60th Birthday! I still think he looks not a day over 45 but maybe I'm just bias. I think my dad is the coolest person in the world. Not only is he my dad, but he's a great husband, role model, supporter, best friend... basically all the things you would wish for in a parent. I'm so bummed I wasn't there to spend yesterday with him, but it just means we'll have to have a huge party to celebrate when I'm back :) Happy Birthday Pops! You deserve the best, because thats what you give of yourself. I love you!

My dad sent me this yesterday and I think its the sweetest story of love and courage. Enjoy.

I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, "I love you, and I pray you enough."
The daughter replied, "Mom our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough, too Mom."
They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed be in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'
'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'
'Well... I'm not as young as I once was, she lives so far away and has her own busy life. I have some challenged ahead and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.
'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I pray you enough.' May I ask what the means?
She began to smile. 'That's a prayer that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused for a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I pray you enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'
Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear. I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more. I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everylasting. I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest joys in life may appear bigger. I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye. 

Then, she began to cry and walked away.

Happy Weekending, I pray you enough.

 

Yesterday my heart was heavy as I re-watched all the coverage regarding the 10 year anniversary of September 11th. I sat on the couch as I watched daughters, sons, wives, husbands and parents read the names of their loved ones who died on that day. I was brought back to tears as I heard George W. Bush read from the Bible, looking for courage and strength in those words. I felt as if it was 10 years ago, and I was seeing those images for the first time. In the midst of incredible emotion, there was solace in the strength of all the victims, the strength of the city of New York and the strength of the United States.

After the memorial in the morning, it was so incredible to watch 2 football teams and all their big, bad football players come together, salute the flag and sing the words to our National Anthem. It's proof that regardless of the amount of hate that was displayed on September 11th, the United States will join together, hand in hand, heart and heart, and never forget all the men and woman who died on that unforgettable day. Thank you to those who fought and continue to fight to protect us.

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children. “  - President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001

Tomorrow is the first day back to law school. I feel like it was just yesterday I was starting my 1L year, but I'm finally a 2L, hard to believe, I know, but I finally made it. Entering my first year there were so many feelings, anxieties and nerves. But starting tomorrow I feel good. I'm excited to be back with my friends and my peers. So, after such a fun summer it's time to buckle down and hit the books again. To all my lovely, fellow 2L's, enjoy your last night, have a glass of wine (or 3) and I'll see you in the AM. Let's do this.

Lately, I have had nothing to blog about... summers coming to an end, schools about to start and there's just not a whole lot going on. So, to break up the monotony I decided to do a blog challenge. Yes, yes... I know, I never even finished that previous one, but this is only a 10 day. I found it over at http://inthemindoflovestricken.blogspot.com/ (check her out). I'm going to start at 10 and work down... so, here's to doing (and finishing) this challenge.

I haven't blogged in what seems like forever, but it's summer and I'm enjoying the last bit of freedom I have before school starts up (2 weeks from tonight). But, in the meantime, I'll leave all you wonderful followers with my favorite song (and now video) ever. Could Carrie Underwood look any more beautiful?? Enjoy, and pretty soon, I'll be back with law school, all the drama, and all the awesome events of fall. I hope summer is good and everyones enjoying the sunshine.



xx Kristen

I've been completely MIA the past couple weeks. It's been a whirlwind of events from a week in Phoenix celebrating Camila and Coti's birthdays, to jetting off to Lake Tahoe with my family and Adam. Now, this weekend I'm heading to my cousins wedding! So, I'm going to continue being MIA for a few more days until I'm back in Omaha, but then I'll litter this blog with photos and stories. Hope everyones enjoying the summer and all the sunshine :)

"I shall pas through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can show any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." 

Tomorrow I finish my last final of summer school (hallelujah), then I head to the lake to celebrate the 4th of July (and Camila's birthday of course), back to Zona (holler) to celebrate Coti's birthday, Lake Tahoe with the family and then my beautiful cousin Kelsey's wedding. Summer is almost here and I can't wait to start celebrating with everyone I love. So, to my last final of summer school. Please don't be to difficult and please go by fast, because it's far past time to start celebrating summer.

"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer."