What I Think: {As a Post Law School Wife}

Now that law school is officially over, I find myself looking back on my experience and comparing to those who have also been law school wives.

 

Spring Semester, 2L

Here are my two cents.

As a law school wife, you hear a whole lot about this thing call "law school widow".

I don't think that term needs an explanation.

 

Spring Semester, 2L

Here is what I think about it.

Fall Semester, 2L

Law school is exactly what you make it. Yes, every school is different, yes, every law student is different, and yes, every wife is different. Some law students spend hours and hours and hours in the library just to pass. Some rarely study and still do very well. Some do better or worse depending on which year they are in. All circumstances are different. This I understand.

 

Spring Semester, 1L

However, when Mike started law school, we decided as a couple, that it was more important for us to maintain a loving, nurturing relationship, than it was for him graduate in the top 5% of his class. Don't get me wrong, Mike worked hard, and he graduated in very good standing, but what I would like to propose is that perhaps maybe law students and their spouses should re-evaluate this widow status. I mean, neither parties like it, therefore only hurting the relationship.

Maybe we have our priorities a bit out of order.

Spring Semester, 1L

If you are shooting for that top 5%, and it means that much to you, then by all means, do it. I think that's awesome! But if you aren't so worried about it and you just want to do well, then maybe spending a little {little!} less time at the library and a little more time at home would be a better choice.

And who knows, maybe by spending a little more time at home will make the wife happy, which makes the husband happy which may in turn just make law school a little bit easier.

Our homemade OU t-shirts to announce to our families where we had decided to go, Spring 2009

I would like to point out that law school wasn't easy for us. We had our difficult times. Competition season was always such a bugger, and that first semester as a 2L? Nearly deadly. But we made it work. Which all couples do, it's just more about what you are willing to sacrifice, I guess.

What We Did: {Moved}

Over 1200 miles and 20 hours later, thanks to our folks, we made it back to Utah. With nearly all of our possessions intact! {We did have a pair of sheets that decided to kick the bucket.}

It was once again brought to light that Abby is quite the crazycontrolfreak. Moving is rough for me. So hopefully we can keep this moving across the country thing to a minimum.

It has been so wonderful to be able to spend so much time with family since we have been back.
I love them.

However, even though we know this place like the back of our hands, it still doesn't feel like home. Oklahoma still feels more like home. But I don't live there. And I don't really live here. And in a week we move temporarily to Washington D.C.

Just call us nomads, for it is what we are.

What We Ate: {Turtle Cookies}

I love chocolate.

Mmm.

My mominlaw had these cookies on her Pinterest, so I thought that while they were out, I would make her a treat that she had been meaning to try.

And I'm not kidding when I say that these things were gone like wild fire.

Delicious.

Turtle Cookies

The Stuff:

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
3 dozen individually wrapped caramel candies

The Doing:

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium sized bowl whisk together flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and combine. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Do not overmix. Add chocolate chips.

Roll into balls and dip half of the ball into the chopped pecans.

Place baking sheet with the pecan dipped side facing up. Gently push one caramel candy half way into the center of each ball.

Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.

What I Consider To Be In The Top 5 Best Days: {Law School Graduation}

I feel so out of practice. This whole typing a blog thing seems almost foreign.

But I am so glad to be back! My computer still hasn't been hooked up, but hopefully my posts can be a little more consistent than they have been.

There are several days of updates to come, but one of the best updates...

That handsome man standing next to me in that picture, yes, my husband, has officially graduated from Law School.

Yes, I am married to a lawyer.

Okay, okay, he hasn't actually taken/passed the bar exam yet. But no matter.

Just call me Mrs. Esquire.

May 12, 2012.

It was a dreary day in Oklahoma. Downtown provided the graduation venue with construction and mud. But nothing could dampen our spirits. He was finished. We were finished. Law school would no longer rule our every waking thought. Our folks had come to town. And we were so grateful to have their love and support.

Mike's brother and his family had also driven up from Houston, giving Mike's parents quite the joyous surprise.

Even being surrounded by those that are dearest to us, nothing could distract me from the pride that I felt. That was my husband. That man up their being hooded; receiving his Law degree.

The effort that he put in to his education suddenly all became worth it. Every moment I felt lonely. Every $300 book. It was all for this. This joy of being educated. This joy of seeing his efforts be rewarded.

Now on to our next adventure!

What I've Been Doing: {Honestly, What Haven't I Been Doing?}

Family Coming to Town

Packing

Moving

Law School Graduation

...

Life could not be crazier right now. But I love every second of it! 

I am still here, and still thinking of all the things that I need to catch up on. And I promise that when I get more than a handful of minutes, I will be posting all kinds of fun details.

Much more to come!

What Is Worth Celebrating: {Last Day}

Short and sweet.

Mike took his last Law school final today.

He's done!

Done!!!

What Today Marks: {5 Years}

Five years ago today, I married you, best friend. On that day five years ago, I was at my happiest. We were at our happiest.

At that time, I didn't think it was possible for things to get better. Yet somehow, they did. And they do every single day that we are together.

“There is nothing more sir, than to love and be loved.” -Birdsong

And a very happy 5 years to us.

What My Life Looks Like: {In One Picture}

This is the mess in which is currently my home.
Because in 10 days, we stuff our entire life into a moving truck and drive out of Oklahoma forever.
Then we throw it all into storage and fly to DC where we will proceed to live out of suitcases until further notice.
My life is so weird.

And starting next week, posts are going to be getting pretty scarce around these parts.
I'm sorry friends, but life comes first.
Don't worry, I'll be taking many pictures along the way to share with you all when my life gets back in some form of order.

What We Ate: {Homemade Lasagna}

I haaattteed lasagna growing up. I never ate it. Then it was like someone flipped a switch, and my grown up palate came on. I was a new woman. It's true.

This is the recipe that I grew up with.
{Except I substitute ground beef with ground turkey.}

Lasagna

The Stuff:

1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 lb ground turkey
1 yellow onion, diced
3 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 pkg of lasagna noodles
1 16 oz. container cottage cheese
2-3 tbsp parsley

The Doing:

Heat oven to 375. In a large skillet, brown the turkey and the onion. In the meantime boil the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Once the turkey is fully cooked, add the spaghetti sauce to the skillet. Add a few tablespoons of parsley to the cottage cheese container and stir until mixed. Grease a 9x13 baking dish {or we like to do two 8x8 dishes and freeze one of them for later}.

Layer ingredients in the pan as follows:

1/3 of the Sauce/Turkey/Onion Mixture
Noodles
Another 1/3 of the Sauce/Turkey/Onion Mixture
1/2 of the Mozzarella Cheese
Noodles
Cottage Cheese/Parsley Mixture
Noodles
Remaining 1/3 of the Sauce/Turkey/Onion Mixture
The other half of the Mozzarella cheese

Bake 30-40 minutes {or about 25 minutes for 8x8}.