Just Checking In.

Hey everyone!

Sorry I have been MIA lately, but things have been super busy around here!

There is just a lot going on with school, and there is so much packed into these next two weeks!

Today was our last day of classes (woohoo!)
 and our finals begin on Tuesday (aaaahhhh!).

For those of you who are curious, here is the my exam schedule:

Tuesday the 3rd: Civil Procedure (3 hours)

Tedious, annoying... scared.

Friday the 6th: ConLaw (Closed book, 4 hours)

Detailed, philosophical, no outlines...terrified.

Monday the 9th: Legal Writing (2 hours)

Memo is turned in...slightly indifferent.

Wednesday the 11th: The Legal Profession (3 hours)

Based on a lot of opinion...banking on good BSing writing abilities.

Friday the 13th: Sales Transactions (3 hours)

Last exam = grade depends purely on adrenaline and pushing through the exhaustion.

So, fortunately, after the first week is over, I will have the hardest of my exams behind me.
Sales will be somewhat tough, just because I have tend to suffer an allergic reaction when using the UCC, but I will be so happy to have summer in sight I will push on through!

Speaking of summer...
Friday the 13th at 5:00.01 pm

Praise Jesus, cry, dance, sing, shout, jump up and down, call people I've neglected for the previous two weeks several months, do laundry, rediscover Target, rediscover makeup, revisit the gym, throw my outlines in the Olcmogee River, sleep 8 hours, pack for family vacation, finally feel excited for awesome family vacation because that feeling will no longer be overtaken by fear of exams, cry some more, eat a large bowl two large bowls of ice cream, read a non-text book, change my blog name because I will officially be a 2L, thank God for bringing me through 1L, jump up and down, rediscover the kitchen, rediscover drinks with alcohol content, dance party, hug my family, my friends, and my kitchenaide while apologizing for my absence.

Dear life,
I'll see you in 13 days.
Love,
Lizanne

Thanks everyone for the sweet emails, texts, calls, cards, etc!!!

And your prayers mean the world!

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1-3

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10

Happy Easter!

Whew, I miss my family today!

It's strange business being away from home on such a great day.

Buttttttt to "grow where I'm planted"...

I invited some school friends to church with me this morning and we had a big lunch at my friend Eleanor's house afterwards.

So even if I did miss my mom a lot, at least she gave me her macaroni and cheese recipe to make. :)

Now I have to get back to work.

My final memo is do at noon tomorrow!

I keep scrutinizing over every detail because well...it's my only grade in my writing class.

(Y'all getting the pattern yet?)

I'll leave ya with this:

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming a human being

so I do not have to pretend or try to be God.

I thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming finite and limited

so I do not have to pretend that I am infinite and limitless.

I thank you, crucified God, for becoming mortal

so I do not have to try to make myself immortal.

I thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming inferior

so I do not have to pretend that I am superior to anyone.

I thank you for being crucified outside the walls,

for being expelled and excluded like the sinners and outcasts,

so you can meet me where I feel that I am,

always outside the walls of worthiness.

- Fr. Richard Rohr

via this site

Oh, and this:

Mercy

Mercy

Mercyyyyyyyyy

Can I get an amen?

How great He is-

 Lizanne

Exciting Friday Night.

Laptop.

ConLaw outline.

Civil Procedure books.

Memo draft.

Turvis tumbler.

Prayer journal.

iPod.

5 shades of highlighters.

150 flashcards.

External hard drive.

UCC supplement.

Who's ready to party?

Bless bless bless.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

Hey people!

It's my birthday today!

Here's a fun birthday list for y'all.

The random happenings of this awesome day so far.

Bless you if you make it all the way through.

1. Quiet time with yummy coffee early this morning:

So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27 

 

2. A call from the parents at 7:15am.

Full of loud, full-on birthday singing, of course.

Garlee I love those two!

 

3. Needtobreathe Pandora Station while checking emails from sweet friends.

Every heart has an hour of existence

Every breath brings a chance for redemption

If somehow we could wake up

Let us love

Like we were children

Make us feel

Like we're still living...

  4. Being (mistakenly) called on by the ConLaw professor.

"No sir, that wasn't me who asked you that question yesterday."

"Oh it wasn't you Miss? I thought it was a dark-haired beauty- so I went to you first."

Ah shucks, don't make me blush, teach!

 

5. Another phone call...this time from my sweet fella.

"Thanks for calling me on my birthday Scandy! GUESS what I am eating for lunch today?"

"Cheese and crackers?"

"Ah! How'd you know?"

"Because you are the snackiest person alive."

 

6. A lunch of cheese and crackers, chips and salsa, carrots and ranch... and peach ice cream.

I am the snackiest person alive.

It is what it is.

 

7. Reflecting more on how amaaaaaazing our sweet Jesus is via some Mumford love.

So thankful for and humbled by this life Jesus has given me. Not only today, but every day through the events of this weekend.

LOVE taking a "secular" song and finding so much Jesus love in it.

Oh man, I cannot describe what this song does to me.

 

Roll away your stone? The stone has been rolled away!

That's exactly how this grace thing works? Oh grace, what a gift!

So I'll be found with my stake stuck in this ground? In him we stand firm!

Man oh man. I love it.

 

Please, turn that volume up...

 

8. Studying.

Oh yea, that.

Ready to knock these next 21 days out of the park!

 

I hope y'all are having wonderful days!

 

Thank y'all so much for all the lovin'!

Mom & Pops, TownB, Mrs. C, Ashley, Andrew, Maddi, Steph, Al, Danielle, Jamie..sweet things!

 

Lots of love from me to you-

Lizanne

 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well. 

Psalm 139:13

 

Ps- I am going to dinner tonight with some school friends at the Fish'n'Pig out on the lake! I will post pictures soon! It's turning out to be quite the party, but don't worry it's no surprise...like Sue, I just cannot handle them:

 

It just can't be a birthday without Sue!

Why Don't We Just Dance?

Heyyyy everybody!

What a beautiful Sunday Jesus has blessed us with! I hope this finds each of y'all enjoying this special day and basking in the love of our faithful God. HOSANNA, He really is! :)

Friday was my last fun (somewhat) weekend in Clemson before...

what is it again?

I feel there's something I should be working on...

wait, where am I?

Oh yea! BEFORE FINALS.

Those pesky little things that show a whole semester's worth of work in one grade.

Dear law school, why must you do this to me? Sincerely, Lizanne.

Anyways!

 Now that the next four weeks of my life will be filled with outlines, flashcards, coffee, timed practice exams, study groups, coffee, pulling my hair out (no worries I have plenty extra), and exams you probably won't be hearing from me too much!

Unless of course you like blogs that say: "Hey out there! I'm at my desk! Have a nice one!"

However, before becoming a law school hermit, I ventured to Clemson to see my friends and stock up on some much-needed fun.

That's just the kinda girl I am.

Let's begin with Thursday afternoon, shall we?

3 spoons froyo date with Miss Ashley!

Then dinner with one my favorite families...

followed by another round of 3 spoons froyo.

That's also the kinda girl I am. I've made peace with my undying love for delicious, highly caloric, ice cream- any time, any where. (ps- these babies are arriving soon!!!)

Thursday night, my sweet friends had a little early birthday get-together for me!

 As my birthday (FYI I'll be 21....for the second time.) falls next Thursday which falls under the "law school hermit" category.

Thanks again! Love y'all!

Love you two!

Friday morning, Andrew and I visited the class I student taught in last year.

Some of you may not know, but I was a special ed major in college! Love em to pieces.

"Are you jealous?"

Sweet things.

Friday night was military ball with some of my favorite people!

This involved a number of things:

Gettin' all spiffy.

Takin' lots of pics.

Cuttin' a lot of rug.

Annnnd just being our regular, goofy, loving-life selves.

Whew whew, SO MUCH packed into 36 hours!

So blessed!

Now, back to studying. Hope y'all have wonderful weeks!

Lizanne

PS- One of my favorite songs ever. Grab your sweetie and give it a go. Enjoy!

Orange & White.

Ah, what a wonderful weekend!

Wonderful weather, wonderful friends!

So wonderful that I only managed to take three pictures! Oops!

Black Betty and I rolled through the beautiful Georgia farmlands, over Lake Hartwell, and  into Clemson around 6 on Friday. I thought I would never get there! The next 48 hours were a whirlwind! Clemson was sooo full of festivities!

First stop: dinner with AXO Bible study friends at Monterrey.

Hiii Devin, Lauren, Ashley, and Kristi!

Then there was the Zac Brown Band concert on the intramural fields.

Andrew and I sat by the lake listening to the concert and catching glimpses of the baseball game!

Saturday was the Spring game!

Oh hey football! I've missed you so much!

Beautiful, sweet, fun friends!

Hey, cutie pie! You make me happy! :)

The rest of Saturday was spent:

Eating.

I'm really talented in this area. Sadie, Jordan, Andrew, and I ventured to 3spoons frozen yogurt. Oh-my-gracious. SO GOOD. Later that night, Andrew and I had mellow mushroom. Always a favorite. So yummmm!

Concert-ing.

We then ventured across the street for more ZBB! Such a beautiful night!!

Adventure-ing.

And then to the Walker golf course where our sitting-by-the-lake-star-gazing was interrupted by a not-so-thrilled security guard on a golf cart who was VERY spotlight/flashlight/blinding-light-nonetheless happy. I'm just grateful to have made it out without having to argue my trespass to property defense.

See the Tiger Paw?

Overall such a great weekend! I hope you guys had a great one too!

Love, Lizanne

Hosea 10:12---

I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,

and you will harvest a crop of love.

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,

For now is the time to seek the LORD,

that he may come

and shower righteousness upon you.

A Request.

Dear complete stranger I just met in the grocery store,

Let me preface this letter by saying, first of all, I sho' don't mean no disrespect...but we, as well as the dozens of other people like you, need to have a little come-to-Jesus.

I would really appreciate it if you would quit reacting in certain ways when I tell you I am studying law. Now, you know good and well what I'm talking about. :) You either respond with:

"There are already too many lawyers."

"You like to lie?"

"Lawyers are corrupt/greedy/snobby/bad people"

"Why in the world would you want to do that?"

Oh... and then there is my personal favorite:

"A sweet girl like you shouldn't become an attorney."

Although I value your right to an opinion (which by the way, is established in the U.S. Constitution, which is interpreted by..lawyers) I didn't work my butt off in undergrad to accumulate an awesome GPA, minor in legal studies, study full-time for taking the LSAT (twice due to my perfectionist personality), toil over one application after the other, spend I-don't-even-want-to-know-how-much money traveling to look at great schools, and pray over 10 different "pro-con" lists when attempting to make a final decision; and spend 60-plus hours a week reading cases and statutes, analyzing opinions, solving problems, and surviving the socratic method...all to just decide one day while talking to you on the pasta aisle at Publix:

"Shooooottt, you're right! I'd better go put a call into the dean right now..."

Are there too many lawyers? Really, you think that? Heck, I didn't realize there were so many. Also, I didn't realize how there are equally as many (and more) people in this world who are incapable of solving problems that really matter on their own.

And, yes, there are some forms of representation I don't agree with; but thousands of people use it all the same.

How would that DUI last month have turned out if you couldn't run to your lawyer?

Maybe he should have declined his services so you'd learn your lesson.

Or that divorce? Do you really think she would've settled for half if it weren't for your attorney you call at all times of the day?

Your court (and therapy) bill sure would be a lot higher.

How about your attorney that kept your business out of bankruptcy court?

Or the attorney who settled with the government to keep you from being thrown in federal tax prison? (For the 3rd year in a row)

Think about it. Are there really too many lawyers?

Or just too many irresponsible people?

I mean, with which group are you truly outraged?

Then there's all other sorts of problems that, if it weren't for that lawyer you bad-mouth, well...(and allow my roots to show here) you'd just be up the creek, fella.

Do you think your landlord would have ever gotten around to fixing all the dangerous places in your apartment if it weren't for that letter your lawyer sent?

Would you have been able to close on your house if it weren't for the lawyer checking the validity of that 45-page contract? I mean, were you really going to sit down and read it for 4 hours?

Or how about when you decided to adopt a child in need?

Or finally break free from an abusive relationship?

Or ensure your family is taken care of when you die?

Or seek justice from the criminal that victimized you/your friend/neighbor/loved one?

Or advocate for those who are impoverished, disabled, forgotten?
Sure. There are all sorts of "bad people" in this world (are any of us "good enough" to say that we aren't? Another topic for another time...). But they aren't all lawyers.

Stereotype much?

And lastly, yes, I realize...I AM a sweet girl.

I have a heart for people and for helping others less fortunate than myself..

And I am blessed to have opportunities for both- here at school and in my future career.

Now, I'm definitely no feminist, but if you have a problem with me being able to keep up with a man in the classroom and in the job force, get over it.

I haven't the slightest issue with doing both of those all while finding the perfect skirt suit (and matching heels) at the Loft, baking cupcakes for a fundraiser, curling my hair, encouraging a colleague with a nice note, serving someone a warm meal, going to the gym, leading Bible study and, one day hopefully, reviewing documents with a baby on my hip, followed by picking my kids up from school, loving on 'em like crazy, and helping them with their homework (so they can get A's and become a lawyer too if they dream!!!)

I may not be an attorney forever, God may tell me otherwise, but for now...that's the plan.

I value what I do. I value what attorneys do.

So please, next time you ask me what I do and then try to make me feel like a bad person, I have a list for you:

One, remember you asked me first! And that does not permit a window to scrunch up your face and place judgments. I wouldn't do the same to you.

Secondly, I do realize there are bad lawyers. There are "bad people" everywhere. Unfortunately, yes, some of them decide to be lawyers. That doesn't mean all attorneys are corrupt, money-hungry liars with terrible TV ads. Most of us generally want to use our God-given talents (and dorky tendencies) to help those who can't help themselves. There are so many lawyers who have mentored me, molded me, and encouraged me to do so. If you'd like to meet them, they would sit down with you (free of charge!) and show you for themselves.

Lastly, read a book. May I suggest this as a starting point. I read it every summer I promise it won't disappoint. Then, maybe move on to this little number. This sweet little girl's read it. Have you?

(Oh Atticus, how I love ya.)

Respectfully yours,

Lizanne

PS- Thanks y'all for reading and supporting me! It means the world!

April Blog Fun.

Happy Wednesday guys!

So I got invited to do another "30 day blog" type deal, but I'll just be picking a few of the days to do here and there. Don't really want to bore y'all with silly little posts.

(I prefer to bore you with long ones, duh.)

This week's pick is "15 interesting facts". This is NEW for me because I normally do not like things like this...but I figured it'd be kind of fun. :)

My life is somewhat boring (oh hey, law school)

so I am going to try and make this, well...interesting!

Be sure to click the orange-y words, as they take you to links.
Just click back to return to the post.

Here we go.

Ahem...

1. Saved by grace. Freed by grace.

Oh, for the grace to love Him more!

Loved this day with you Townsend! Wouldn't miss it for the world!

2. I am a twenty-something, college-educated woman...and I didn't vote for Obama.

 Booo big-government politics, wooohoo America!

3. A hugger. That's me.

 

This man I've happened to have known for 22 years,

but it doesn't matter if I've known you for 22 seconds.

I'm going for it.

And none of that side business!

4. Just give me a big body of water and a tan.

However, I don't care what Lucky says, I'm over maxi dresses 'cause they are really hottttttt.

5. I like to make new friends wherever I go.
The grocery store, the (awful) post office line, the elevator...

And I like to keep them around!

  And drink a little wine from time to time!

6.  In the second grade, I wrote when I grew up I wanted to play in the WNBA, teach school, be a lawyer, live on a farm, and have five children.

While some most of that has changed, I'm still quite the 7-year-old.

7. Aside from Summer, football is my favorite season.

8. I once was a person who swore up and down I'd never be an "air-headed, drama-filled, materialistic, wild sorority girl."

Before I knew it, I was president of my chapter.  

 I'm really glad I'm not that ignorant person any more.

9. Besides, you just never know who you might end up taking to your last function.

10. Boots over heels. Any day.

11. In high school, I didn't quite understand whyyyy in the worrrlld my parents woke up at 6:00am to drink coffee and read their Bibles and pray with one another.

Somedays, I miss waking up to that! And I'm so happy they taught me so much from it.

12. I keep holding on to this inclination that I'm a good dancer no matter the circumstance.

Completely by myself...

After being dared to do a break-it-down dance-off...

With a friend...

A family member...

During cheesy, make-white-people-feel-good line dances, that I've been drug onto the floor for, that make me feel awkward so I twirl my hair like a 5-year-old...

And even with a random group of strangers...

People! Why haven't y'all smacked me yet??

13. Although I still may be in the dark on my true dancing abilities, I do know and accept that I am silly, spontaneous...and just plain ole' weird.

He seems alright with that.

14. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11  

 15. I love this life. I'm tired. :)

Goodnight, all!

(Thanks tumblr for the pic at the top!)

Some Monday Encouragement.

April is Autism Awareness month!

My niece and nephew are two beautiful children who just happen to have Autism, so this is a special cause for me!

I wasn't able to catch the ACM's last night, but here is a video that I just LOVE.

Love some Darius..and love those with disabilities.

Enjoy the video (I promise it'll put a big smile on your face!) and happy Monday!

Picture Happiness, Final Week!

Monday, March 28th

How can your Monday be bad when THIS BABY arrives in your mail??

Adore this magazine. Me in periodical form.

Tuesday, March 29th

Dear K-Cup machine, you make my day.

Sincerely, tired student.

Wednesday, March 30th

Interviewed an awesome lady at GA Legal Services for my Legal Profession Class

Such a great cause!

Thursday, March 31st

A rainy day WaHo brunch date with Section 5 friend, Natalie!

Yes, I said Waffle House. Have some mercy on me for a few reasons:

I live in and "work" in Downtown Macon.

Actually, I think we could probably just leave it at that, but,

Sometimes a girl just needs a sweet tea to get her through the day!

And beloved CFA is 15 minutes away from her!

And middle Georgia doesn't believe in Bojangles!

And she had to be quick and get back to studying!

You just have to understand, right??

Whew, I feel better.

Well y'all...

I can't believe March is over! Where did it go?

Thanks for sticking with me through this fun little project!

Love and lots of it-

Liza