"Hard work is the key to success, so work dilligently on any project you undertake. If you truely want to be successful be prepared to give up your leisure time and work past 5 pm and on weekends. Also, have faith in yourself. If you come up with a new idea that you believe in, dont allow other people to discourage you from pursuing it."

Charles Lazarus

I was given this quote right after I graduated college, and at the time I really didn't know what it really meant. To say the least, I wasn't that diligent when it came to my homework. I did what I needed to get by and I got by, but I definitely wasn't the one with all the cords around my neck come graduation.

Then I went to law school and my whole world sort of changed. I couldn't just get by because I was "naturally smart." Spending 30 minutes on class reading and 2 hours for a paper due the next day soon turned in to 5 hours of class reading and days of preparation for a paper. This past year I've definitely been challenged mentally more than ever, physically & emotionally.  It's more work than I've ever known. But I have hope because one week from today, I will be finished with my 1L year classes. I will have pushed through, fought the good fight and finished. (Besides finals of course). This year has been a rush, and in one short week it will be over. I will be a 2L, I never thought I'd ever be able to say those words. But, I keep reminding myself that I'm doing what I love, I'm doing what my heart wants. The next three weeks are going to be challenging, there will probably be tears of stress, anxiety and utter-frustration, but I will keep my faith in myself and my abilities, and I will find solace in that.

So to everyone in my boat, to everyone who's working hard towards their dream, to my 1L class, it's been quite a year, let's kick these finals where they deserve it and move on, let's be 2L's. So, keep studying, keep pushing, keep working dilligently. Because, I can guarantee you, it's going to be a proud moment when you can say, "I did it."

I'm getting a little homesick. I LOVE Omaha, but there's something about home. But, in 24 days, I will be home, and bringing Adam with me. So, let's just get through these finals and then I can go home and see these lovely people. Thank Heavens.

The perfect reminder that love is everlasting is always there, even when it seems nowhere to be found.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."Jeremiah 31:3

This is post number 600. Can you believe it? This blog has now been going since August 2008, and this is the 600th post. I've been waiting to create a 600th post because I wanted it to be something that meant something. I wanted it to be something that people read and we're inspired by, words that changed people, words that meant something. But, I went back to my first blog, the reason for this blog, and I realized that this blog started for me. So I decided I was going to write this blog for me. So, this blog is about the people, in my life, who inspire this blog, who inspire me, and who mean the world to me. [This is dedicated to the one(s) I love.]

This is dedicated to my all over-extended-non-traditional family. Living in Scottsdale, Arizona, Omaha, Nebraska, Malibu, California, Boston, Massachusetts, & Florence, Italy,  I've learned the real definition of a family. It's the people in your life, who regardless of blood line are your everything. It's not necessarily those to whom you are blood-related. It's the ones who make you feel comfortable and loved regardless of where you are. In Arizona, my family is obviously my beautiful and wonderful mom, dad, erin & tom. But not only that. It's Coti and Whitney (even though she's in Utah), it's the entire Urtubey family who will soon be my [non-blood legal] family. It's Brooke&Kelcy who I worked with at Oregano's who still amaze me. In Georiga, it's Lauren. In California, it's Callie, Kate&Kate, in Colorado, its Car-bomb. In Omaha, it's Kristin, Lyndsey, Britt, Alyssa & Adam (& his fam). I've been more than blessed to have extended family all over. They are the ones who will be forever joined with me. They are the ones I turn too when I really need help, someone to listen, someone to care. These are the people that will forever be in my heart. They are the ones I laugh with till I cry, the ones I drink copious amounts of wine with. These people (above) have the hearts of angels, and will always be my guardian angels. They have forever changed me, and molded me into who I am today. Without these people I wouldn't be who, where or what I am today. I am everybit of who they all are. They have made me courageous, strong-willed & motivated. They have shown me what true love means; that regardless of mistakes & faults, that their love will never falter. They have never given up on me, and I know they never will. These people are the greatest people you will ever have the privilege of knowing.

Family is God's daily gift to us, and the easiest thing to do is take that for granted. But one thing I will work daily at, is making sure I never take them for granted. So, this is to my 'family,' thank you for being exactly who you are. Thank you for being in my life, I only hope I can be as much as a blessing to you, as you are to me.

While I'm far away from you, 

Another great week, even better pictures. It was so fun to get dressed up with everyone I love and eat, drink and dance the night away... with a thousand pictures documenting the evening. Enjoy :)

I've never appreciated Spring Break more than being in law school. It is seriously the best break from school, but this time I got to spend it with my law school girlfriends in Arizona and then with my boyfriend in Chicago :) I'll let the photos do the talking. Happy Spring-breaking everyone!

We can't forget to keep praying for Japan.

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS: Putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities. Donate here.