The Final Countdown

Well after 20 years of homework, pop quizzes, TAKS tests, and finals, I am in my last full week of school. How crazy is that? To think I've been in school all but 5 years of my life and now it is coming to an end. It is so amazing, yet so scary at the same time.

I'm a very Type-A person. I like to have a plan--not necessarily for the day-to-day activities, but for the future. I like to know where I'm headed next because uncertainty and the unknown tends to scare the living sh*t freak me out a little. Law school has helped with this phobia- it has taught me a lot about taking things day by day, to control what you can and let be what you cannot. However, I still appreciate the opportunity to be able to have a future plan.

This will be my third go-around of graduation yet my first where I don't have any clue as to where I will be in 6 months to a year from now. When I graduated from Abilene High, I knew I was going to be a Red Raider.

Hey there hot stuff

When I graduated from Tech, I knew I was going to Tech Law (thank God).

My sweet family <3

And now I'm going through my last round of senioritis (which by the way, is worst than ever before), my last week of school, my last graduation and I'm not quite sure what the future holds. All I know for now is that I have my family, my friends, and my man who love me, support me, and cheer me on every single day. Because of them I have made it this far and because of them, I will make it through the next step into the unknown "real world." You know, the world of work days, maybe 2 weeks of vacation, and no summers...woof.

So for now, I'm going to enjoy these last few moments of being a student. Of being able to get the student discount at places, of being in class with my friends, of walking the halls of my school carrying a backpack. For now, I'm enjoying and living in the moment. Because in a few short weeks, this moment will be over.

And maybe I'll go buy a Lisa Frank trapper keeper and go out in style :)

Starting Over

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted...You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."  --Matthew 5:3-15 
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After the tragedy in Boston on Monday and West yesterday, I came to the realization, now more than ever I think, that life is so incredibly short. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow, we are not guaranteed anything. We are not guaranteed to finish this path that we have set for ourselves. Life can truly change in an instant. It flies by so fast, that sometimes you miss the miracles and beauty that surrounds you. 

I have realized that I have been wishing my life away. Wishing to be done with high school so I can go to Tech, wishing to get into law school, wishing to be engaged (yes I'll admit that #honestmoment #dontjudge) wishing law school was over so I could finally get a job...wishing it all away when what I should have been doing all along was enjoying each moment, the triumphs and failures, the laughter, love, and tears, that are part of life. Those moments, those people, that make your life what is it, that make you who you are and who you will become. 

That being said, I am going to try to press the reset button and start over. I am going to try to chronicle my moments here, in full honesty, so that I take the time to enjoy my life and reflect on all the "little" moments. I want to be able to look back, years from now (if I am so lucky) and show my kids what my life was like. The struggles I went through. The lessons I learned. The people I loved and the people who loved me back. I want to be able to look back when I'm older and have these wonderful memories. I don't want to ever forget how lucky and blessed my life has been.

I will try to catch things up to where life is now in the coming entries but for now, let's try to enjoy every moment, take time to tell the ones you love how much they mean to you, and pray for the lives lost in Boston and West, as well as the individuals who are trying to recover from their injuries, and the families whose lives will be forever changed because of these tragic events.