Law School Update

Because I'm experiencing writer's block, and because it's basically two-thirds through the semester, I thought I would share a little update on life as a law student is going. My current most frequent questions are:

Are you stressed?
Oh, no, not at all... Yes. I'm stressed at times and at others it feels like a normal day. The worst sense of overwhelming stress was last week, waiting on an emailed assignment that I had 30 hours to write. So I rearranged my apartment. I just desperately needed to feel in control of something.

What is the hardest part?
Keeping myself motivated. There are days where you just do not want to read, you do not want to pay attention, and you have to keep nudging yourself forward. I've only missed one class because of a lack of motivation (and a migraine) so I think I'm managing it well overall.

Are you a Royals fan now?
HA! No! But I've always said that I cheer (and do) for the Royals as long as they are not playing against St. Louis. But I am falling in love with the city, something I never thought would happen.

How's Lily?
She's fantastic, and slowly getting the hang of being unkenneled during the day. Currently, she's confined to the bathroom, but we hope to have graduated to the entire apartment by next semester.

Are you sure this is what you want to do?
I have never been more sure! I really enjoy the material, I'm loving the challenge it presents, and there are tidbits of my interests scattered around and I cannot wait to actually get to help someone. My only issue with all of this is that I miss having Josh around regularly. But, we have less than a year, and I could not be more excited!

So yeah! I'm not just surviving, I am thriving. Here's a song to jam to, get pumped! It's almost CHRISTMAS SEASON!!!!

Tota tua,

LeAnn 

Vocations: Part Two

Let's Add The Church

In my last post, I talked about vocations in terms of careers, the job that will make you happy as opposed to wealthy.  But there's more to vocations than what we are going to be when we grow up.  As someone who was raised Catholic, I was raised knowing I would be one of three things:

1.) Married

This would mean I was married and raising my family in the Church

2.) Single 

Living my life for God and the Church; a family is still possible, just unconventional 

3.) Religious 

A sister or nun.  My life would dedicated to the order I belonged to, and as always, God.  

When I taught at Camp Re-NEW-All this summer, our Wednesday's theme for Reform classes was "Service".  During the time I had with the kids, we would discuss the different types of vocations.  Almost every kid in the room would proudly tell me that they had at least thought about being married.  Yes, even my fifth graders had "thought about it".  But when I asked them the next question, I received very few affirmative answers.  

Have you prayed about it?

A fifth, sixth, or even ninth grader will be able to tell you that they've thought about getting married.  Some of the young ladies have even started planning that big day in their heads.  But how many of them have prayed about it? Asking God if it was in His plan for them to get married?  How many of those young men had thought about, let alone prayed about the type of plan God has in store for them?  I can tell you now, very few.  

Let's take it one step further; how many of those kids have prayed about God's plan for them and actually listened for an answer?  Considered that it may not be what they think it's going to be.  We can't all get married, some of us will be priests, sisters, and singles.  

Our society has stamped the idea of being single with a social taboo.  Between Disney movies, Barbie and Ken dolls, and even Star Wars, our protagonists tend to end up as "dynamic duos" that conquer the world together.  We need to tear down this concept; being single in not a flaw.  

God made us all perfect the way we are right now.  Man and woman were created to be perfect companions, but at the same time, He did not make us lacking of anything we need to achieve what He desires for us.  

Whether God's plan for you includes a spouse, a cat, or a parish, He wants to help you reach it.  

He can only do that though if you let Him in.  Pray about it.  Turn down your music, put your phone screen down on your desk, and ask Him what He wants for you, and then listen.  It just takes a minute or two, so why don't you try it now?

Our Lady of Lourdes in Pittsburg, KS 

Totus tuus, 

LeAnn 

Vocations; Part One

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

When I was five, I wanted to be a dance teacher.  This dream continued until I realized dancers needed to be able to touch their toes, which is something I still cannot do.  If someone asked me from fifth grade up until my sophomore year of high school, my answer was lawyer.  It was shortly into my sophomore year when I started toying with the idea of being a high school English teacher, or maybe a band director.  

But if you ask me today, my answer is lawyer.  

This past summer, I had an opportunity to really think and pray about who and what I wanted to be in five and ten years.  I spent months tossing around ideas of what I wanted to be, and how I was going to get it.  Starting in early April, I toyed with various plans:

a different college; maybe I need more of a challenge 

a double major; pushing me outside my comfort zone 

maybe I just needed time off from school

I could just live on campus next year.

I couldn't reach a decision I was comfortable with.  Almost every one involved money I didn't want to spend, not one offered me the sense of peace or security I was hoping to find.  So, finally, I did what I had been avoiding the entire time.  

I let go; I just let things happen. 

The funny thing about our vocations, they're never too far off.  It's right there in front of you, maybe just a step or two ahead, and always attainable.  

There's a reason people ask us what we want to be when we grow up.  It's because they're trying to plant those seeds young.  Help us to create, realize, and fight for our own dreams.  

Remember that cliche:

"Do what will make you happy, not earn you the most money"

It's a cliche for a reason.

Totus tuus, 

LeAnn