Summer Planning

A couple weeks ago I found out that I was accepted into the Blackstone Legal Fellowship. Blackstone is a 9 week summer fellowship that "addresses some of the challenging cultural and legal issues facing the Christian lawyer in the new millennium." Over the summer, "students receive highly specialized, in-depth training, and hands–on work experience." To find out more about it, click here.

Blackstone trains all of its interns at the beginning of the summer for two weeks in Arizona. After those two weeks are up, intern go to their Phase II placement, which could be anywhere in the world. Placements vary, but all of us will be doing legal work, addressing either the sanctity of life, marriage and the family, or religious freedom. I should find out where I am placed for those six weeks sometime mid-March to late April. We are so blessed because Jonathan doesn't work for two months in the summer (his position is only 10 months), so he will be able to go with me wherever I am placed.

We can't wait to see where God will have us this summer - home, Seattle, Colorado, Washington DC - it could be anywhere! We're hoping Jonathan will be able to find an internship in the area of my placement doing something he loves, like working to strengthen families. But, at the very least, we are glad that he will have a chance to rest and focus on his studies, instead of trying to work full time and take classes! We'd appreciate all of your prayers as we wait to hear where we'll be placed!

After working for six weeks at my Phase II placement, Blackstone has all 120 of its interns regroup in Arizona for a week of debriefing and looking toward the future. It looks like it's going to be an exciting summer and I look forward to following in the footsteps of many amazing Blackstone Fellows!

Thank you God for great opportunities!!!

Date Nights

Before Jonathan and I got married, one of the best pieces of advice we received was to make sure we had a date night every week. Some weeks we get dressed up and go out; other nights we stay home and watch a movie or play a board game; and other nights we get some exercise.

For this week's date night, we acted like kids again and played on a local swing-set (unfortunately it was pretty dark out, so the photo is grainy). After the swings made us sick, we went for a walk on the pier and then went down to the beach for a while. It's so much fun to be able to get away from schoolwork and work-work and just enjoy being together!

Last month, Jonathan and I had a date weekend. We started the weekend off with a one-night marriage retreat in Santa Barbara. After the retreat, we visited Solvang and then stayed in a quaint B&B - it was such a treat to get away, grow our marriage, and relax!



Another recent highlight was a Christmas Present from Jonathan - a trip to see How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical! It was a great show, perfect for the Christmas season, and I don't know why, but there is something about getting dressed up and going to the theatre that makes me really feel like I'm on a date. :)

I don't have pictures, but for last week's date night, we volunteered at a Rummage Sale to benefit Haiti. It was so fun to volunteer together and know that we were helping a good cause.

I'm so thankful for the wonderful couple (Christopher and Colleen) who told us we should have weekly date nights. They have helped us to remember in the midst of a very busy life to keep each other a priority! We're having a blast together and love finding new things to do for date night!

Colossians 3:16

For months I have wanted to start a blog, but was a little confused as I tried to navigate the blogging world. I finally decided to bite the bullet, because there are many people in my life that I would love to stay in better touch with! In addition, I am not very good at keeping a journal (writing takes too long) and think I'll be better at blogging, so hopefully years from now I'll be able to look back on this blog and have some record of my life.

When attempting to think of a title for my blog, I was inspired by one of my favorite songs, Gratitude, by Nichole Nordeman.

The lyrics are so convicting and remind me to be grateful no matter what because I get to have a relationship with my heavenly father and in everything (even when he doesn't answer my prayers as I would like him to) he teaches me lessons and helps me grow. The lyrics are as follows:

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .


I pray that I will remember to have gratitude in all circumstances! I am so thankful for all of you reading this and look forward to staying in better touch!

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ~ Colossians 3:16