Random Ramblings of a 3L

I've had an eventful couple of weeks. My substantial writing requirement is turned in. The. Final. Paper. Is. Turned. In. Yea!! I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders this morning when I hit the "send" button. Poor professor Thomas now has to read twelve of these monsters. Professor Thomas is retiring after this year. I have been in three of his classes. He is kind and knowledgeable. Many professors have not practiced much and teach more theory than practical knowledge. Professor Thomas has practical experience and teaches both. It is a sad day for the law school. Professor Wood is another awesome professor that is retiring this year as well. I know the students will miss them. It is starting to dawn on Robert and me that we are leaving this year as well.

Law School has had its ups and downs. I have grown so much through this experience and met some truly amazing people. A part of me thought this day would never come. But here I am staring at my graduation announcements and ordering my cap and gown. I entered law school as a scared 1L (first year law student). I was single and thought I would remain single for some time. I had started to make plans for my life. Then, I met Robert. I started my 2L year as a newlywed; I never thought I would have a child when I graduated. Yet, I started my 3L year six months pregnant. I took one set of finals while throwing up from morning sickness, and another set of finals recovering from giving birth. I learned through this experience that I can do more than I thought I could. I also learned that the Lord does prepare a way for you to accomplish what he commands, even when it seems impossible.

Yet, things are difficult. I never really rested after having John. I had classes to attend less than two weeks after his birth. Then, I had finals and the holidays. While I had two weeks to rest over Christmas, it was not enough. Soon, I started another semester and went back to work. I'm not suffering from anything huge, just several little annoyances that will not go away. I feel like I'm only functioning at 60%. But, as of last week I no longer have a job. My good friend Elizabeth hired me last year as an editor and I loved that job. After a busy day writing my paper and taking care of a very fussy John, I had had it. After John finally went to bed Robert noticed that Elizabeth had called us both repeatedly. Sure enough she had left five voice messages on my phone. I knew then that it was not good news. Robert called her and she and her husband wanted to come over (it was 9:00). Elizabeth and her husband are our classmates and our good friends. Elizabeth told me that most of the company, including herself, had been laid off earlier that day. I know that must have been hard for her to have to do.

I am sad and a little scared, our summer plan was for me to work while Robert took the July bar; he would then, hopefully, get a legal job and I would take the February bar. Now, we do not know what our plans are (other than Robert is taking the July bar). Once again I had made plans for my life but my life is going in a different, unknown direction. With this added stress came the stomach issues and the flare up of my TMJ (inflamed jaw due to overuse). When I'm stressed I clench and grind my teeth which causes my jaw joints to swell and protest in pain; I do this in my sleep as well. I have not a flare-up this bad since High School. Usually, I have a mild flare-up every couple of years. I take some advil for a day and then I'm fine for another couple of years. My jaw has hurt so bad this week I could barely talk (but I finished "that paper" in spite of it). I guess the point of all this rambling is that life never turns out how you expect it to. There will be times of great stress and distress but, hopefully, things work out and you make it through.