Red Light Green Light.

I recently came to the conclusion that rushing through life busily working and worrying is just pointless. It's like those little red cars that rev up their engines, vroom vrooooooom.... all loud and obnoxious like they are going somewhere really cool and important. 5 minutes later they are stopped quietly at the RED LIGHT next to you. You think the driver has learned a lesson, but sure enough, when the light turns green they are off again! Racing themselves to the next red light.

In life, we have the same choice... we can drive the speed limit (occasionally a little over). We can take time to observe our surroundings and notice new things along the journey. We can be smart about risks. OR We can cling to our flashy lifestyle and speed past everyone and everything in our way.

For those who choose to throw caution to the wind, remember that in the end you are racing to the same red light... Life has a way of slowing us down involuntarily for a pause here and there. We are all human and our resources are limited. If we constantly push it to the limit and refuse to take breaks, WE. WILL. CRASH!

I will NEVER forget you twenty eleven!

Happy New Year to you friends and family!

It's been a while since I have posted, mainly because God has been opening up windows and pouring out blessings and... I've been busy trying to make room to receive them all. I just have to give Him glory for all of the exciting things that have happened in 2011 and for all the exciting things sure to happen in the new year.

Thanks to AT&T, I have a moment of actual free time... I'm stuck at my office waiting for a repair technician to fix my phone lines. He is scheduled to be here "some time between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 pm." Gee, thanks for being so specific folks! I digress, sometimes it's good to slow down and reflect.

I'm stealing this reflection exercise from my friend, Whitney Newby, who writes for an amazing blog called Elm Street Life. Love the way she pulled memories from each month of the past year. You can read her blog here.

Twenty eleven, I most certainly will never forget you...

january

started my last semester of law school

february

took a pole dancing class with friends at my bachelorette party

enjoyed biscuits and strawberries with cousins Frank & Gwen

march

married my honey and promised (through tears)

to loved him til I breathe my last breath... and I will.

mini-mooned at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel!

april

learned true faith through an unexpected rejection from Teach for America

may

housed the Huntsville "refugees" through a terrible tornado

graduated from Vanderbilt

celebrated mom's retirement surprise party

june

decided to take the bar at the eleventh hour

painted picture frames to welcome my awesome step-babies home for the summer

july

went to the Giles-Jeter family reunion in Savannah, GA

studied day and night...

studied some more...

took the big bad bar exam

august

started work as an immigration law clerk

saw my strong husband face illness and learned to love in sickness and health...

september

watched my old roommate get married at the Symphony Center in Nash (gorgeous)

moved to Memphis, TN by faith

met wonderful people all over the city, especially at the Community Legal Center

october

learned that I passed the bar!

surprised my honey with a belated birthday present that he loved

celebrated Devin's 25th with a girl's weekend in Atlanta

co-photographed a 50th wedding anniversary with my love

november

took yet another exam, the MPRE

quit my job by faith, and decided to hang my own shingle

drove all around the US to be with my step-babies for Thanksgiving

enjoyed the best meal that I've ever had at mom's

picked out (yes) picked-out Mariah's dread locks

december

turned 25! and celebrated with friends and loved ones

passed the MPRE and got sworn in :)

moved-in to my first office space

celebrated a quiet, yet sweet Christmas with new friends

found a church home (por fin!) at Iglesia Adventista del Septimo Dia

Whew! So blessed... you know, when you look back, it makes you wonder how you could even "fix your mouth" to complain. God has been so good...