25 Things I Did Before 25

So today is my 25th birthday and I have been freaking out about it. I am excited but for some reason 25 seems like a big one. I spent some time analyzing why this birthday has been hitting me so hard and even did a little research on the web. Turns out, I am not the only one that finds 25 to be a milestone. Everyone I found on the web seemed introspective regardless of where they were in life. I saw a married mother of 3 freaking out about turning 25 and laughed. It seems no matter what is on our list of things to do, we all seem to freak out when we haven't gotten there by our self-made "milestones". I happened upon one girl's blog that broke my heart. She stated: "But what really upsets me about turning 25 are my relationships. I have one best friend that I've known since high school. But other than her, I don't really have any friends. She and I go out occasionally, but we're both so busy with our own lives."

It struck me as so sad and yet true, life really is what happens when we are busy making other plans... And boy do I make a lot of plans! But God is so faithful anyway. In my introspection I have determined that I have so many amazing friends and a spectacular family despite the fact that we are all so busy with our own lives. I am truly blessed! I hope to be better at making time for the people I care about in my next 25 years, but I am blessed to have so many people that I love dearly and that share the sentiment! Praise the Lord for His blessings! I already feel so loved on my 25th birthday and it has just begun!

So instead of thinking of my list of things to do in my life and how many of them I have yet to accomplish, I would like to share with you 25 things that I have done by my 25th birthday!

Enjoy:
1. Lived in England my own for seven weeks... and survived.
2. Ran/Walked a 5k and a 10K.
3. Laughed so hard I cried.
4. Walked barefoot on the beach.
5. Watched the sun set.
6. Pulled an all nighter.
7. Been a bridesmaid 9 times.
8. Put someone else's needs above my own.
9. Completed a Triathlon.
10. Beat my mom at several Wii games but gotten my butt kicked by her in Wii boxing.
11. Learned to cook and managed to give my self food poisoning only once through the process.
12. Had several real and deep conversations that have shaped me life.
13. Taken a risk with my heart and lived through it.
14. Blown a tire 20 miles into a 21 mile bike ride... So close, and yet so far...
15. Been camping in a rain storm.
16. Had a mud fight.
17. Been abroad four times and counting!
18. Pushed myself farther than I thought I could manage... and survived.
20. Been drenched and played in the rain.
21. Been in the newspaper.
22. Eaten sushi... and loved it...
23. Sang at the top of my lungs in my car despite the fact that I am tone deaf.
24. Read more books that I can count.
25. Survived law school (close enough)!

Proud of Mis Padres

I want to take a second to brag on my parents. They have both been dieting for the last few months and are doing so so well. Each of them has lost over 25 pounds (28 and 29 to be exact) and I could not be more proud of them! My mom just bought a new outfit for my brother's graduation that is the same size she wore before she had kids (like 25 years ago....)! Also, my daddy is fighting off diabetes with his diet! His blood sugar is under control and much lower as a result of his weight loss and he is no longer at threat of having to take insulin (for the time being and hopefully forever). I am thrilled and proud that my parents are getting healthy because I kinda hope to keep them around for a while. I love you both! Feel free to congratulate my parents along with me! They read my blog DAILY and I am sure they would like the encouragement and the shout out.

Got to love a floppy hat

I picked up my graduation regalia today and as I was trying it on, thinking about how ridiculous I look in the floppy hat, it hit me... I am graduating from law school in two weeks! I have yet to fully rap my head around it (seeing as I have been in school for the last 21 years, I can't quite imagine life without studying) but I am getting there. The real world is feeling much less surreal which means it's about time I figure out what I want to do with my life. Haha! But honestly, and this might sound a little pompous, I am actually proud of my accomplishment! There were a few times I was afraid I wasn't going to make it. You all know law school was not easy for me and my social life and self-esteem took a few hits along the way, but I am going to make it and, even more shockingly, I am glad I did it.


As I reflect over law school, I see the Lord's faithfulness! I am overwhelmed with gratitude that He brought me through the fire and strengthened my faith through law school. I always wanted to come to law school for so many reasons but in large part I think I needing to prove to myself that I could conquer it. Throughout law school I have wondered if I was actually following the Lord in my education or if I was on a crusade of my own. Well, in knowing that He is stronger in me than He was before law school, I have no doubts He called me to law school. I know who I am (and I like who I am). I know some of that comes with age, but for me, law school helped the process. I finally accept the fact that I am intelligent (for those of you that know me well, this is quite possibly the biggest victory of my life) and more importantly I freely give my intelligence and all of my other gifts to Him that He may use them and me for His glory. I am praying that the Lord shows me where and how I can best serve Him after I graduate, and I would love it if you would join me in that prayer.

I fear my biggest battles may still be ahead of me, but I am encouraged by His love and grace towards me thus far. Praise Jesus I am graduating and ready for what lies ahead, whatever it may be! Okay, back to studying so I can pass my classes and then GRADUATE! Woohoo!

I see the light...

I just turned in my last paper of law school! Three finals to go and I will be an attorney. Let the studying begin.

Brian Regan

I went to see Brian Regan last night and it was a great study break! His material was new and quite hysterical. This is an oldie but it is my absolute favorite set! If you don't know his comedy, watch and enjoy!

Hand-me-downs

Poor girl is going to have an identity crisis... Once she can read that is. :) It is weird to think I was ever that small...

Expelled- April 18th

For those of you that did not see my brief post the first time, a movie by Ben Stein called Expelled about creationism comes out this weekend. I plan to see it after finals or during a study break. You should too!

http://legaljen.blogspot.com/2008/03/expelled.html

Roommate Reunion

This weekend I went to Dallas for my annual "roommate reunion" with my college roommates. Last spring we went to Austin, this weekend we went to Dallas. Two of our college roommates were not able to make it, but the six of us had a blast!

Friday Night:
Once we all arrived in Dallas we went to Mimi's Cafe for dinner. Afterwards we went back to Dre's house and played Quelf. It is a ridiculously random board game that is hysterical. The pictures below were taken during the mayhem that is Quelf. If you have never played, you need to!

Saturday:
On Saturday we all woke up early and made breakfast. We then took the Dart rail down to the Dallas Zoo. We saw all sorts of creatures. My favorite were the gorillas, but they wouldn't turn and look at us. The tigers were pretty impressive as well. Unfortunately the lion, Boris, died earlier this year and the zoo has not procured another one yet, so I did not get to see a lion. If you can't tell by the three animals I named, I tend to like the BIG king of the beast type animals that could kill me... Don't really know what that says about me... but it is true.

After the zoo we went to an amazing restaurant, Poppy's, that is in the square of McKinney. If you ever make it there, you have to try the artichoke dip. So good! I found everything I ate to be wonderful but the dip was my favorite. We then walked around the square and window shopped.

Saturday night we went to a Roughrider's game. They beat the Cardinals. I got a hot dog and some roasted pecans. Have to love a ball park!

Sunday:
On Sunday we went to Mattito's for brunch before heading back to Houston. Like always when my roommates get together, the weekend quasi centered around food and everything was delicious! It was great to see all of my roommates again! Can't wait till next year!

I'm Ethical

That's right ladies and gentlemen, I passed the Multi-state Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)!!! I am ethical enough to be an attorney!!! Woohoo! While some of you may joke about my profession of choice not setting that high of an ethical standard, the exam was hard and I am thrilled that I received a high enough score on my MPRE that I can practice law anywhere in the nation.

If you want more of an explanation of the examination, here goes... Everyone has to take and pass the MPRE and the bar before we can receive our bar cards (allowing us to practice law). The Bar Examination is the dreaded test I am taking at the end of July covering more subjects than I even want to think about at the moment. The MPRE is the same in every state (where the Bar is state specific) and tests our ethical compass and knowledge of the model rules of professional conduct. Each state has a different score that must be achieved in order to "pass". Well, I made a high enough score that I could practice anywhere in the nation assuming I took and passed that state's bar (since Texas has the second highest score requirements, this really wasn't that much harder than just passing for Texas), but I am pumped!!!

Joy of being old school

The joy of having been a blogger for a while is the ability to recycle. I have been tagged by the wonderful and lovely Kim Smith but I have done the tag before (almost exactly... enough so that I am going to count it). So for all of you that are linking from her site to mine... Here are my answers from before. Enjoy:

http://legaljen.blogspot.com/2007/02/weirdness-of-jen.html

However, since number 2 is no longer true, I have seen Braveheart (but not Beaches) in the last year, I will give you two more random facts.

1. I never ate peanut butter until I was 19. Ever. No PB&J's from my youth. My brother is allergic so I was not allowed to have it either growing up. I branched out in college and felt quite rebellious doing so.
2. I am about to move back in with my parents... at 25... and I am actually so excited about it! I honestly have missed them for the past 7 years. I can't wait to live life daily with them again (at least for a while). But, when I move back in with them... I don't know who I will blog for, since I blog for my mother now...

And so it begins... for the last time

My last final of law school is less than a month away and with the sense of jubilation awaiting me in 30 days... The stress of finals has finally hit me (FOR THE LAST TIME). While the productivity that comes with my stress is quite beneficial, I hate the other side effects. As is always the case during finals prep, my posting is about to decrease in consistency and substance (I know... you are so excited to keep reading anyway... ;). Don't give up on reading my blog though, I promise to try to think of something mildly creative every week or so...

If you think about it, be praying for me while I am cramming... I mean studing. Three finals and a paper stand in the way of my graduation!!! The end is in sight!!!

New and Improved

My blog’s spectacular face lift is brought to you courtesy of Penny Lane Designs. Marina spruced up my blog for me! You should check her out if you are looking for a bloglift! I could not be happier with the result! She gave Jen Cates’ blog a makeover as well (which is where I heard about her). This world is ironically small thought because she and her husband went to A&M and her husband is in law school at SMU. He graduates in May (like me) and we will be in the same Bar/Bri class this summer. Crazy!!! Anyway, her blog is chock-full of blogs that she has impeccably redesigned and other useful and crafty information. I plan to add her to my daily reading list! Thank you Marina!!!

I emphatically told her that she should be charging for her service. If you admire her work, I suggest you all ask her for a re-design quickly because who knows how much longer she will be designing for the sheer joy of beautifying blogsville.