One Down, Five to Go

Done and done! As a fellow law student explained to me the other day, "we are 1/6th done with law school."  Maybe more exciting for me than the realization that I have completed the first of 6 semesters, is the fact that I survived the first round of finals.  Coming into school I had heard all of the stories about the level of stress that having one 3-8 hour exam that determines 100% of your grade has on a person.  I failed to comprehend that while that in and of itself is too much pressure, tack on the recruiting benchmarks that require that you achieve in the Top 10% or 25% of your class and it's downright silly the kind of pressure you are under.

With that as a backdrop, I went to work.  Come Thanksgiving the demeanor of my fellow classmates seemed to change.  Where before everyone seemed happy to be studying the law and learning the ins and outs of personal jurisdiction, negligence, and homicide, now the focus seemed to be on endless cups of coffee and shoving as much information into their heads in order to survive what was ahead of them.  My schedule remained mostly unchanged, I still awoke each day at 6am and worked till 5 or 6pm, took a few hours to be with Kim and Karlee then would return for a 2 hour review before returning to the pillow only to start it all over again.

During finals, I was blessed to have piece of mind and comfort as I tried not to hit the "freak out" button.  Further, I was blessed with comfort that I had put forth my best effort and come what may (grades) I did what I could to put myself in the best position to succeed.

All that said I learned something far greater than when my neighbor is acting negligently, or how the insanity defense really works. . .  I learned about priorities. 

Taking Sundays off was hard for me, as I knew my peers were locked in the library pouring over information, but I feel as if I was blessed for not studying on Sundays.  Putting God first one day a week seems so easy, but in practice requires concentrated effort. Further I learned just how much I love my dear little family, Kim has been such a support running all the errands, preparing meals, and putting up with me.  Karlee has been an angel and my escape as all that matters to her is that daddy is home and wants to play, not that he is a law student or under stress. Through it all like layers to an onion I have learned a lot about myself.  For it all I am grateful.  It has been hard being away from family especially over the last 4 weeks but I am anxious and excited to see most of my family on both sides in the coming weeks!

So after what I estimate to be 3000 pages of material, 300 pages of notes, 3 exams and a myriad of emotions. . . we turn to the next.

Thanksgiving

Karlee and I went to my sisters house in Wisconsin for Thanksgiving...leaving Matt behind to get lots of studying done. We had so much fun spending time with 2 of my sisters and their families. Karlee was entertained the whole time by her cousins. She had a blast.

My Bro-in-law Barry cooked the turkey. He marinated it in coke. It was actually very tasty.

Hanging out watching football on Thanksgiving.

Erin, me, and Jodie

Karlee and Kendy at the little little kid table

YAHTZEE

Black Friday Shopping

Erin thought it looked comfy to sit in the box of pillows. It was until she tried to get out.

Dance party

Karlee with her cousins Porter and Clara

You can't go to Wisconsin and not try on a cheese head.

Karlee and Kendy playing at gymnastics

We had a lot of fun! Thanks Acors for letting us come hang out with you!

A visit from Grandpa and Grandma Belcher

My parents came to visit this last week and we had so much fun with them. It was fun to go and tour Williamsburg with them. We couldn't have asked for better weather while they were here. It was great!

We toured Colonial Williamsburg

Dad's always on the phone. We tried to get pictures of him each place we went when he was on the phone. :)

We ate lots!

Dad taking another call...

Went to a fun blow-up bouncy place

Mom and dad racing through the maze. Dad is on the left and mom on the right.

:)

Went to Virginia Beach.

Very cold and windy that day. 

Played at the park.

Ate some more.

Toured the Law School

Saw Jamestown settlement.

Proof that Matt came with us somewhere.

We had a Thanksgiving dinner since I am going to my sisters for Thanksgiving...leaving Matt behind.

Helping Grandma make an apple pie.

Went to Yorktown. It's beautiful!

Phone!

And of course spent quality time with Grandma and Grandpa

Karlee was in heaven the whole time. She loved having gma and gpa here and so did we.