Two Years Ago...I was sitting in my first law class and met my nemesis

This memory popped up on my "on this day" notification on my Facebook feed, and it was too good not to share. Two years ago today, I was at our community college finishing my administrative assistant Associates degree, taking an evening legal ethics class. The following occurred during the lecture...

Just when I thought I was overcoming my aversion to spiders, the following took place in class:
While very seriously discussing unethical lawyer solicitation, I suddenly noticed something huge and brown scurrying across the floor in front of me. When I realized it was a giant spider, I almost gasped out loud, but managed to keep my calm. I seriously considered getting up in front of the class and announcing the presence of the eight-legged horror so I could carry out due diligence and execute it. However, I reconsidered since the teacher is a well-respected, dignified attorney (it’s all about networking, folks).
Thus, I kept quiet and eyed the eight-legged offender. I’m sure she and my classmates were wondering why I stopped paying attention to that part of the discussion and was staring into the corner. I’m sure they were also wondering why I kept shifting my feet around for the remainder of the class in hopes of discouraging any other horrors from crawling up my legs.
Needless to say, I have a ten-minute memory lapse from the lecture tonight, but can thoroughly describe to the you path the spider took and how he attempted to climb the wall, failed, and continued to walk along the wall until he disappeared from sight, leaving only the memory of the horror he inflicted and food for my imagination about where his cousins could be hiding. 

...And, because I try not to post without a picture, here is an unflattering selfie I took at the beach a few weeks back. Just add a smidge of horror to this face and you'll get what I was feeling in the above anecdote. 

April Reflections in a May Post...Plus I'm Graduating

So, I never did get to posting again in April. Oh well. School (which was business organizations law, family law, real estate transactions, and estate planning and trust administration) the last four months has been very busy, and the last month or so has been absolutely crazy with school. Full-time school and full-time work don't easily coincide with trying to finish school a week or two early. However, GOD IS SO GOOD! I finished!

In fact, my plane (because I'mg going to the school to walk) boards in about three hours. I decided now is a good a time as any to do a quick blog post since I'm all packed and am just waiting for Peachy to arrive so we can begin our adventure. Also, I've been up since 5:30 since I was too excited to sleep...Annoying, but I'm not exactly complaining. 

April was a lovely (if not busy!) month! About a week or two in, Peachy, Si, and I took a trip to the beach that was sponsored by my work! We had a lovely time. There are a few additional pictures below as well.

The Chunk (2) and I on Easter Sunday. Not the best picture of either of us, but this little man is hilarious. He is sometimes a total jerk (i.e. refusing to give me a hug, etc) but also a total sweet heart at the same time (if you are injured, he is extremely concerned). He's also learning to talk and has been putting hilarious sentences together. Last Saturday, Aunt Pollywog (20) was climbing over a seat in the car to fit in the back, and the Chunk exclaimed, "Aunt [Pollywog] climbing car!"

 Pollywog and I on a walk several weeks ago with the newest member of our family, our new "nephew," Potato the Husky. 

 Sweet Pea (17) on an "sunny day outdoor trip" we took with our church a few weeks back. She is so beautiful, inside and out.

 Spring apple blossoms. 

Mozzarella and I still enjoy working together, and taking walks on our lunch breaks as homework and the weather permit.

Hold fast to Jesus! 

Sonia

Fantastic Sibling Moments Post#12: Working College Student Study Buddy Sisters

I'm hoping to post an actual April update, but the month is quickly coming to a close and I haven't found time yet. So, while this is not an actual April update, it is certainly a moment I hope to remember for years to come...

After getting home from work, I started studying in the same room as Pollywog (19), who had been studying all day (she is in nursing school). She appeared to be hitting the point of slight-insanity, making border-line nonsensical statements and bursting into laughter over not-so-hilarious-things. After several minutes of quiet studying -- her studying some sort of medical thing and me attempting to study real estate transactions and mortgages -- the following took place.

Me: "I'm having a hard time understanding all the different mortgages."
Pollywog: "I don't even know what a mortgages!"

She then started laughing hysterically while I gave her a blank stare. She had to repeat her sentence about seven times before I understood why she was laughing so hard...I'm still not sure why it was so hilarious, but I'll give her points for cleverness. 

Love her so much.

Here is a flashback picture from January of this year, from when Pollywog and I were both on Winter Break and able to enjoy a snow day with the family. 💕

Now back to this wretched fascinating real estate title project, in which I analyze a Statutory Warranty Deed and Deed of Trust...

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia

Fantastic Words (and Where to Find Them)

With Spring Break nearly over and my final term just around the corner, I decided to share some of the words I learned this past term (or relearned). There are so many wonderful words in the world, and the more I learn the more I realize the current limit of my vocabulary. 

• Avarice: "excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain." Webster's Dictionary, Avarice (1828). (I know I've heard this word used, but never took the time to appreciate it) 
• Dereliction: "The forsaking of a legal or moral obligation with no intent to reassume [sic] it: abandonment (dereliction of duty)." Dereliction, Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009).
• Oligopoly: "Control or domination of a market by a few large buyers or customers." Oligopoly, Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009).
• Scienter: "A degree of knowledge that makes a person legally responsible for the consequences of his or her act or omission; the fact of on act's having been done knowingly, esp. as a ground for civil damages or criminal punishment. " Scienter, Black's Law Dictionary, (9th ed. 2009).
• Surreptitious: "(of conduct) unauthorized and clandestine; stealthily and usu. fraudulently done (surreptitious interception of electronic communication...)." Surreptitious, Black's Law Dictionary, (9th ed. 2009). (I knew this word before this term, but, again, never took the time to appreciate it)

Anyway, I shall try to finish my last term without dereliction of my duty to extend my best effort, and that without avarice or oligopic intent. Further, I shall attempt to avoid acting unethically with scienter in my studies or with surreptitious conduct. 

While I am uncertain I used all of those nice words in their correct context (or tense), I think you get the idea. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24 (English Standard).

Graduation is just around the corner, and my Lord is faithful!

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia

March Madness...Or Something

Aha, it is March, and I am writing a blog post! While March hasn't ended yet, it has been quite packed...In addition to surviving my second-to-last subterm, I spent time with dear friends, road-tripped to the beach with Sweet Pea (to also be joined by the rest of the family later), and explored a nearby town with a dearest friend. 

My Lord is faithful, and has been revealing so much to me lately. Specifically, about just how sinful I am, how amazing his grace is, and the magnitude of His Spirit inside His children. I mean, how crazy is it that the Spirit of God -- the Holy God, the Creator of the World -- indwells those who are saved by Christ? God loves us so much that He gave His Son -- God in flesh -- to die a gruesome death to offer a means of salvation to humanity -- humanity who by nature live in opposition of Him! Seriously amazing.

In closing, here are some pictures from the first half of this month.

 Lovely spur-of-the-moment visit with this lady! We enjoyed exploring downtown, getting a free tour of a historic building, and even got a free truffle!

Spring is coming!

 Sweet Pea (16) and I had a lovely time road-tripping down to the beach to surprise our grandmother for her birthday! The rest of the family joined us about three hours after we arrived, and we all had a lovely time spending time with our grandparents, each other, and at the beach!

 Sweet Pea. 💗

 Amazingda, The Chunk (1), Strong Ox, and Mini-Man (11)

 The Chunk, Squish (4), and Strong Ox "playing" Frisbee with a boomerang...It worked decently well with those of us above 4 threw it around (as in, we didn't know how to throw a boomerang correctly so we threw it like a frisbee)...

 Love these two, so very much.

 The Chunk started eating the sand when no one was looking. Contrary to appearances, we quickly removed the sand from his mouth upon discovery.

 Strong Ox and I playing "Frisbee"...sort of. Let the record note that I do sometimes do sports! Also, when you're trying to compete against your big and tall older brother, he's likely to win if you're both headed toward the same frisbee and you value your life! 

 Auntie Sweet Pea and Squish reading before bed.

 A few of us stayed in a rented condo; this was the morning view of the backyard. It was truly beautiful.

 Sweet Pea, Munchette, and I briefly stopped in town after a morning walk on the beach.

 I seriously love this child!

 Footprints in the sand.

 This dear sister, the beach, and messy, windblown hair!

 Peachy and I found a Groupon in January for a fancy hotel in a nearby town! We planned this trip as a Christmas present for me from her, a birthday present from me to her, to celebrate her two-year graduation from nursing school, and to celebrate the beginning of my last spring break before graduation! 

 Our room had a balcony with a private hot tub!

We watched part of a "Spongbob Squarpants" show, and were slightly traumatized and also a smidgen amused...But mostly traumatized. haha

 Visiting the Saturday Market

 We also went to a fancy chocolate shop that has all sorts of (nice) chocolate...chocolate snob that I am, I ended up purchasing three (expensive) bars...oops....Peachy was wise and just purchased 1 bar and a shot of chocolately espresso.

After lunch at a vegan cafe (because I'm dairy free and we wanted something delicious we could both have), we discovered this lovely wall, so we took a picture of it. 

And this concludes my mandatory March report reporting much miscellaneous mischief! And now to wait for my grades from this last subterm to come through... 

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia

Two Years Since Our Last (Earthly) Goodbye

As my grandmother's passing approached its February 18 two-year mark this week, her life and her death have frequently been on my mind. She loved selflessly and deeply to the very end. Her last words were directed toward Squish: "I love you too." 

May we never forget to thank our Lord for the time we had with her on this earth. I pray that someday I will see her again, where death has no power and all of our tears are wiped away. 

Roses from her memorial service, where we comforted one another and shared precious memories of her kindness, snarky attitude, and giving spirit.

Those roses are still in my room, and serve as a sweet reminder of the precious grandmother we had. 

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment."

Revelation 21:1-6 (English Standard)

February Reflections: School, Singles Awareness Day, and Miscellaneous Memories

Aha, I'm actually following through on my "goal" to post something once a month! (Ignore that this is only the second month of the year)

Okay, so I'm in the middle of studying right now -- drafting a discovery plan for a hypothetical divorce, and it is a beast, so I'm actually procrastinating -- and decided now would be a good a time as any to post some reflections on this past month...

First, school has started again (I can't believe I'm halfway through my second-to-last term!) and, thankfully, my post-break blues are wearing off so I only have moderate senioritis. In other words, God has been gracious and helped me to be able to focus and get assignments done on time. 

Second, since it is February and -- I supposed -- duty demands it, Valentines Day happened. Here is where any readers discover I'm single (haha). However, contrary to many individuals' feelings of the day raising awareness of their singleness, while I felt kind of sad about not getting free flowers or dairy free chocolate, I was not bothered or "made more aware" of my singleness. When Paul wrote about single people using their singleness to promote a single-minded focus on Christ, he knew what he was talking about. While I'm not perfect, and do sometimes struggle with fears of being eternally single, I really want to take this time to grow more in my relationship with Christ and his people, serve the church, and get to know and minister to (and be ministered to by) my peers at our new church. Also, I selfishly like being independent, and having a significant other does limit such independence...

 My grandparents on New Year's Eve (sorry, I know it's not from February - but they are so sweet).

 The side of the front desk that clients don't see. The "Farside" comic has an interviewer with a puppet in his hand saying "Mr. Whiskers always comes with me on interviews." It is amusing.

 "Poppi" and The Chunk at church...The Chunk (1) fell asleep on Poppi and it was very cute.

 Saturdays spent at coffee shops with coffee (although I am NOT addicted to it anymore!), Family Law, and Organizational Business Law. 

Nicole and I went to a folk dance several weeks ago, and it was fun watching her dance (I danced too, but not during this dance)! She's a super cute dancer... 

 The heavens declare his glory!

 Clari and Cowboy got a house! And it's only ten minutes away! Squish (4) and The Chunk were "helping" Clari move a box. Clari asked for help, and The Chunk promptly climbed on top of the box, waiting for a ride.

 Squish loves SnapChat and snuggling. 

 And making silly faces. 💗

 What is a post without a bowl of dairy free ice cream? ...Just that.

 The Chunk and his daddy, Strong Ox. 

This is how I usually feel while watching the Super Bowl. This year, however, while I didn't know what was going on during the game, I rooted for the Eagles! Not because I knew how well they played, but because the quarter back, Nick Foles, goes to Liberty University Online (just like me!) and he and other players are Christians!

Anyways, I must return to my studies, but can now check writing a blog post off my February "to-do" list.

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia