Just Me, Catching Up

Ah! I feel so guilty, I have not blogged in AGES. I apologize for my long hiatus but my new goal is to make this a priority.

So being a new lawyer has had its ups and downs but ultimately it has been great. I have been at my job now for 6 months and I still adore it. How wonderful is that?! I am constantly learning new things, processes, outlooks and strategies and I feel vested in a firm that is vested in me.

Oh! We found out on Friday afternoon 10/23 that Justin M. Lovely passed the SC bar exam! WHOOT WHOOT! My chest is just bowing and beaming with pride! I am amazed by that man.

We moved at the beginning of October to Conway, which is about 20 minutes from MB. Why you may ask: Because I work here in Conway and the courthouse is here. Driving 25 minutes a day became too much and we found an adorable little house right in the heart of downtown. And I love it. Just me, Justin and Coop and we are loving it.

Halloween is just around the corner and I'm excited about traveling to Knoxville, TN for the UT/SC game this weekend and Ashley and Dunkin's engagement party!!! YAY! I get to see all of my fab friend from law school!

My heart is happy.

Amy

My Hectic, Manic LIFE!

The last week or so has been super busy with work, which is ALWAYS a blessing. I am still loving my job, my boss and my sweet lil paralegal! Last weekend I left out on Friday and headed to Columbia and spent the night hanging out with Justin and enjoying a lil QT with my honey :) We went out in 5 points, had dinner, drinks and a lot of fun. On Saturday we headed to Asheville, NC for Thomas and Janet's wedding at the fabulous Bohemian Hotel and it was FABULOUS! It made my heart so happy to see all of my law school friends. We had the very best time! I'll post some pics when I can! Sunday we had lunch at Tupelo Honey, a FANTASTIC restaurant that has the most wonderful gigantic Mimosa's in the world! I got to see my sweet lil Bobby and catch up on all the gossip, fun and life that has been happening.

After brunch, Justin and I headed back to Cola and then I drove back to the beach to meet my parents for dinner and company. I had not seen them in a couple of weeks and I was in need of a lot of MOM and DAD time! We spent hours talking and catching up on the happenings of my life. I love that they are such active parents who genuinely care and love their kids.

Work this week has been great. I've gotten a lot of stuff done, things that I've never done before and I'm excited to be able to cut my teeth on such interesting stuff and to have a boss that's a great teacher.

I went and worked out for the first time in over a YEAR! Wowzers! I woke up feeling yucky and realized I needed to make a change in my life. For right now, I need to just get on a treadmill/elliptical and burn off some steam and stress. I walked out of the gym covered with sweat and out of breath -- OPERATION CRAZY WORKOUT = COMPLETE!!

Off to shower and catch up on Bravo.

~Aimless~

Happy

So it's Friday night and I'm laying in my bed, vegging out, and watching "What Not to Wear" and I am LOVING EVERY SECOND of it! The only thing that could make it any better -- is if Justin were laying beside me. I think that this is the 1st weekend I have spent at home in Myrtle in months. I feel like all I've done is travel like a crazy girl and this weekend is all about just relaxing and getting a lil me back.

My job is going F-A-N-T-A-B-U-L-O-U-S-L-Y! I feel so at home and good about what we are doing and trying to achieve at the firm and it makes my heart happy to know that I have a good person for a boss. His whole family is great: him, his wife and his kids. They are all just great. I'm learning so much and he gives me an opportunity to put my 2 cents in. I've finally found exactly where I need to be.

Justin is studying for the bar exam in Columbia and I am LOVING that he is finally in the same state as I am! He's stressed out and going through all that is the bar exam but he is surviving and doing well. He finally gets why I was such a mess last summer.

Last weekend one of my good friends Johnathan Minga got married in TN! Let me first say this, Minga is one of the best men I know. He is good, kind, thoughtful, sweet and genuine. And he found a girl that is just as lovely and great as he is and it was a true gift to be able to witness their marriage. It was great to see friends from law school too. Gosh, I miss my law school friends. Next weekend is Janet and Thomas' wedding in Asheville and I am BEYOND excited about the upcoming nuptuals!!! I feel like I had a hand in the whole thing --- I mean I did get the 2 of them together! Ah!!!! YAY!!! A ton of our law school friends will be there for the weekend and I my heart leaps at the idea of seeing their lil faces.

Tomorrow I think I'm going to go sit on the beach, read my new Grisham book and just "Being." I think I need a little ME time and I'm excited.

XOXOXO

Updates

My new job is going fantastically! I love it. I have a fantastic boss, I'm meeting great people, learning new things and I'm a part of something bigger than me and I am HAPPY! I drove to Columbia to visit Justin tonight and I'm heading to Johnson City in the morning for Minga's wedding. I just love Minga and I'm super excited to see him take the big plunge with such a kind person (Christina). Off to bed my loves.

A New START!

Today I started my new job!!! And it went great. After leaving my last job I was actually bombarded with 3 job offers and I ended up taking a job with a solo guy that made me feel super comfortable and was just a nice guy who was normal. He and his wife (and his kids) are all just great and I am so thankful that God has placed such a fantastic opportunity in my life.

I'm looking forward to Katy's Bridal Shower this weekend! Mom and I have been planning feverishly, trying to make everything just perfect for my baby sister. We have 65 ladies coming to the house for a fabulous shin-dig. I can't wait to post pics of all the fun.

Justin starts Bar Prep class in Columbia next week. I was thinking back about being nervous about starting my preparation for the bar exam and all of the craziness that ensued. I do not envy him one bit. The bar exam is one of those things you would not wish on your worst enemy. AH! THE PRESSURE! But the pressure makes the diamond, right? I know he will do just fine and has nothing to worry about.

Off to watch the Real Housewives of NYC!

XOXO

Justin Gradutated From Lawyer School!

I know it's been a while since I've posted but I've been running around the South East like a mad woman! Last Thursday I spent all day in court in Dillon, SC dealing with an appointed DSS case. A heart wrencher to say the least. It took 2 1/2 hours to get to Dillon due to thick smoke/fog. You literally could not see more than 5 ft in front of the car. Scary. On the way back to town, I got a call from an attorney I have been in talks with about a job and got a formal offer--- Of which I accepted. I'm super excited about this new avenue. I think it will be a fabulous fit.

I left out Thursday night for NC and on Friday my parents and I drove up to Grundy, VA for Justin's law school graduation! Hip! Hip! Hooray! He did it! Okay, enough with all the exclamation points. After graduation on Saturday and lunch at Cuz's (a crazy BBQ place with fantastic food), Justin and I headed to Knoxville to unpack all of his "stuff." I've determined that men/boys do not have belongings they have "stuff" or maybe the better word is "shit." So off to K-ville we went, truck loaded down with the Virginia mountains in our rearview mirror. Leaving Grundy was bitter sweet. In my heart I knew I would not be returning for quite some time. There's something about that little, tiny mountain town that makes my heart so happy and warm. Maybe it's because I loved all of my classmates so much, or maybe it was where I found out what I am really made of, or maybe it's because Grundy is the place that Justin and I met. It's the place that we became friends, made 2 am Huddle House runs, played Scrabble for hours and the place where I fell in love with that silly boy. Ah, I just love Grundy and ASL.

Okay, enough with my stroll down memory lane. We spent Sunday unloading and unpacking and on Monday we left out early for Franklin, TN where we picked up a car Justin bought. After a 12 hour fiasco, we hit the road for NC. We stayed in NC and hit the road for Myrtle Beach on Wednesday night. AH!!! I'm so sick of traveling.

Today, I met with my first big personal injury case and I really am excited about helping my new clients! I really feel like I can make a difference and do it well. YAY!

This weekend is Justin's birthday and I have no clue what to do for him......last year I took him to Abingdon for dinner and a drive in movie. Maybe we will go to the Darlington race this year. He loves Nascar and I know he would have a blast.

Time for bed,

Amy

Ah!

The past week has been a bit nuts! Myrtle Beach caught fire!!! OMG! It's a wildfire that has been burning for over a week now and they are saying it could burn until Fall. Here's a picture from my neighborhood. Part of our golf course caught fire.

I went home to NC to spend time with my family and to get away from all this yucky smoke. It's still pretty bad in the morning. I feel so sorry for all those that lost their homes- over 45 people lost their homes, cars and stuff.

This week has been one of transition. I'm trying to find my "footing" as my brother would say and I'm trying figure out exactly where and what I want in life. I think I'm just going to pray about it and wait. Sometimes you just gotta sit back and let things happen.

Cheers to good things for everyone.


Amy

Sometimes You're the Tree and Sometimes You're the Boy

My favorite book in the ENTIRE world is "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein! It's been my favorite book since I was a little girl. Part of what I love about this silly little kid's book is that sometimes in life we feel like the tree. We give and give and give, expecting nothing in return and the faintest gratitude makes us feel worthy to just breath. To feel so special to be just a trunk, for a boy, we love. And sometimes in life we take a step back and realize we have been just a boy. Taking, too preoccupied with all that is life to realize we are not being grateful, yet taking more than we are worthy of.

Today was a day of reflection and realizing that there's a gift in being both the tree and the boy.

I'm grateful to give my heart, time and love to those that mean so much to me- never expecting anything in return , except maybe a smile and a happy heart. To open your soul so wide for another and really love the act of giving something of yourself to them. That's a gift.

And sometimes being the boy is a gift because in the end - he has someone that loves him unconditionally and is willing to give him the world to make him happy. The gift of being the boy is the realization that someone loves you that much, figuring it out and being eternally grateful for another's sacrifices.

Just when I feel like the tree most days - I'm reminded that my sweet little Mother is the Eternal Tree, never waivering in her love and always giving of herself to me. I am thankful beyond words and my heart is filled with gratitude to have such a good, kind, loving, funny Mother. God has given me a true gift - a Mother that loves me just for me.

Amy
xoxox

Just Life

Ah, I feel like my life has been so crazy the last couple of days. So much to do, so little time.

Today I sent a package to Tony, a friend of mine from law school who is stationed in Iraq (his 2nd tour of duty) Tony amazes me. Tony did his 1st stint in Iraq before he went to law school and during our 1L year got sent to New Orleans for like 6 weeks to help with Hurricane Katrina, 2L year he got sent to Arizona for border patrol so when he got through 3L year without the big call up- we all let out a sigh of relief! And then at graduation he found out he would be shipped out for over a year right after the bar exam. He passed the TN bar and off he went! So all of us in our law school class have been sending him little packages to let him know we love him and how proud we are to call him our friend. And to top it all off - he's such a good man with a great heart!

I had a phone interview for my potential new job and I am so excited. It went great! We are having a sit down on Thursday afternoon to discuss the specifics! YAY! I'm super duper excited! Can you tell?

This weekend is going to be nuts. Friday morning I'm heading to Grundy to see Justin and attend a party that the Dean of the law school is throwing. I'm excited to see some of my favoritest people in the world. (and yes I know favoritest is not a word) Saturday morning Justin and I are going to an auction and then heading to Knoxville, TN to see Justin's family and go to the UT Orange and White game.

So that's my life for the past couple days. Nothing too deep, just life.

Blessed

This weekend was good for my soul. My parents and my brother and his fiance Miranda came down for Easter weekend and it was nice to have company! Friday, my mom and I shopped all day and found her dress for my sister's wedding in July. This was uber exciting because my mom has bought 3 dresses all of which have been a "no-go." So to find a great, classic, beautiful, elegant dress that is not too frumpy or mother of the bride-ish is a great fete! Operation Find-a-Dress complete. I went a little crazy at J-Crew and bought a navy searsucker suit of which I'm in love with.

Saturday was a day of doing whatever my heart desired. I decided to try my hand at wedding cake baking (What was I thinking?). So I went to Michaels, coupon in hand, and bought cake pans and all the goodies for my grand attempt. Miranda and I embarked on a project a little bigger than 2 silly girls who like to google how to blogs. It was not a complete disaster - but it was not a major accomplishment either :) Picture to follow!

Today we went to church at "Church of the Lost and Found" in North Myrtle. I love that church, I don't think I've ever experienced a pastor who can use humor, scripture and rawness to accomplish so much for the glory of God. Pastor Beaver amazes me. God is good.

The whole crew left here around 3:00pm and it made me a little sad because I really miss spending time with my mom and dad. I love living in SC, but I still miss my family being 5 minutes down the road.

Justin spent the weekend in Grundy preparing for his trial next week and boy did I miss him! He is 20 days from graduation and I am so proud of him! I know how much time, work, energy, blood, sweat and tears go into the 3 years of law school and I am amazed at how he's done all of it with grace, determination and drive. YAY! In 20 days we will live in the same state!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!! And in 3 1/2 months I will have him all to myself!! I can't wait.

So, I'm preparing for a new week - excited about new job oppurtunities and hopeful that God has a plan for me that's bigger and better than I can imagine.

A New Outlook

Wow, I haven't posted since I found out my Bar Results! Forgive me for letting so much time go by. A lot has happened since October 31, 2008! I've worked for a firm that worked on the FTC Country Wide litigation - which to be quite honest was SUPER boring but very lucrative! In January I took a job with a firm doing criminal defense and personal injury. What an experience!!!! While I cannot go into details on just how crazy the entire 3 1/2 month experience was I did learn a lot.

I learned that my gut instinct is pretty right on. I learned that kindness goes a very long way. I learned that no matter what station people are at in life, they deserve kindness and respect. I reaffirmed everything I think I knew deep down in my heart, everything my parents have taught me in business over the years. Kindness and good manners go a long way in life and they are free.

I'm living in Myrtle Beach, finding my place and patiently waiting for Justin to graduate. God is good and I am blessed.

Amy