It's Christmas!!

You have no idea how glad I am that it is Christmas break. Even though I have to finish a 30 page paper by January 8th and have yet to make it beyond the second page, I am still so glad to have the time off. Christmas began at 3:35 pm on Wednesday, December 19th. That was when I finished my last law school final. Not just for the semester, but for law school. Never again will I have to take one of the dreaded little buggers (although I am sure the Bar Exam is 10 times worse). I had an enjoyable weekend and was finally able to spend some time with my honey. We went to his parents ward on Sunday where his father is the choir director. His choir did an amazing job, and Brad even sang "O Holy Night", which brought me to tears. Spencer and I then went to my parents ward for a less impressive Christmas program. We had dinner with the Dyes. On Monday, I had Christmas Eve lunch with the Woolleys. We then spent the afternoon with them. Spencer left for work at 4, and the Woolleys and I ventured across town to see Michael sing in a Madrigal performance at the Methodist Church Christmas Eve Service. They did an amazing job.

On Christmas morning, we had breakfast with the Woolleys. Then we retired to the family room to open gifts. My future in-laws were much too generous with their gifts. In addition to several books, they gave me a gorgeous bracelet with garnets, blue topaz, amethyst, citrine, and peridot. Much too sweet.

We then ventured to the Dyes for Christmas brunch. Although still full from breakfast, we (or Spencer when it came to the meat products) managed to eat our fair share of steak, Christmas mushrooms, eggs, bacon, funeral potatoes, and crab. After brunch, we retired to the living room for gift opening. My parents gave Spencer and I a mattress for Christmas. So comfy. I love it. In addition, I got a new camera and Spencer got some random items such as a blue bathrobe with his monogram on the front, Star Trek Season 1 (silly Dad has made my life interesting with this gift), and a pen and pencil set.

Spencer had to leave for work and I spent the rest of the evening with the parents. On Wednesday and Thursday, I spent much of the day helping Daddy with home improvement projects. I promise to post the pictures when we are done.

All in all, I had a very enjoyable holiday. I was so glad to spend time with my wonderful family.

Attitude of Gratitude

As this week is thanksgiving, I have had cause to reflect on the blessings in my life and the wonderful year this has been.

What am I grateful for this year?

1. The love of my life: Spencer was the biggest and best blessing this year. He is an amazing person and I am daily amazed that he loves me despite my flaws.

2. My education: I can't believe that this is my last year of school. I am shortly upon my last set of law school finals. I can't say I have loved every minute of the last seven years (or the last 20 for that matter), but I am grateful for where I am because of my education and the opportunity I have had to get an education that many only dream about.

3. My family: I have the greatest family and I am grateful for their example as I begin my own family. I am also grateful for Spencer's family. They have welcomed me into their family with loving arms, for which I will be eternally grateful.

4. My friends: I have wonderful friends that also love me despite my flaws. They have been a wonderful support in my life, and especially over the last year.

5. The Gospel: I am grateful for the influence of the gospel in my life. I love the strength it gives me. I love the truths that are in my life because of it. Most importantly, I love the testimony it gives me of the Savior.

What more could a girl ask for?

A Candlelight Dinner with My Honey

Emily is going to be very upset that I forgot to take pictures...sorry Emmy.

Because Spencer was in Denver on his birthday, we decided we would celebrate this week. I carefully planned all the details and tried to make many of his favorite foods. I had the table all set with fancy glasses and candles. It was beautiful, and Spencer was so surprised when he arrived.

We started with a raspberry walnut brie. For dinner, we had salmon on lemon rice with pear Gorgonzola salad. We held hands while we ate. It was magically romantic.

For dessert, we had my mother's contribution to the meal, her amazing lemon meringue pie. The parents came home with Kim and Kade after dessert and we all just spent time together as what now constitutes our family. I had a wonderful time.

ABC's of Chel

I think Emily may go on blog strike if I don't get "the November post" out early.

ABC's of Chel

A- Attached or single: attached
B- Best Friend: I am a stages of life best friend type of a person. Until my honey came along, the last few years have been spent with Emmy. Before that, it was Cory-Ann. Before that, it was Aubs. The list goes on. Amazingly I am still close with all of them, even after years spent apart in some cases.
C- Cake or Pie: Pie. Pumpkin and Chocolate Satin.
D- Day of choice: Sunday. I get to spend most of the day with my honey.
E- Essential Item: McDonald's coke and tylenol. (Cures what I like to call the law school headache)
F- Favorite Color: Pink
G- Gummy Bears or Worms: Love the worms
H- Hometown: Holladay, Utah
I- Indulgence(s): My nails and Bajio, I love that place.
J- January or July: January! It is my birthday.
K- Kids: Two. Three or four if the husband to be gets his way.
L- Life is Incomplete Without: Spencer. The parents. The kids (as I affectionately call them)
M- Marriage Date: 5/8/08
N- Number of Siblings: 2 sisters, no brothers.
O- Oranges or Apples: Oranges.
P- Phobias or Fears: The Bar Exam. Law school finals
Q- Quotes: "The greatest things in life aren't things."
R- Reason To Smile: The semester from hell is almost over.
S- Season: Spring
T- Travel Destination: I have come to LOVE Colorado. Specifically Breckenridge. Enough that we have decided to honeymoon there.
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I think my sister is one of the funniest and coolest people I know.
V- Vegetarian or Meat Eater: Vegetarian since I was 10.
W- Worst Habit: Closing my eyes when the camera flashes. I have so many good pictures with my eyes closed. Can't wait to see how the wedding photographer deals with that.
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds. Yes, I have had several. Weird since none of them was for pregnancy. Of course, since I have yet to be married, none of them should have been for pregnancy :)
Y- Your Favorite Food: Mexican. Spaghetti Squash.
Z- Zodiac: Capricorn.

The October Post

As Monday morning (and reality sets in), I have been reflecting on the past week and specifically the past weekend. This was a very important weekend. This was the weekend the two most important men in my life had lunch. Not just any lunch, this was THE lunch. The love of my life asked my father's permission to become my eternal companion. Yes, I am almost 25 years old and really don't need my father's permission. But then again, I think I do. So, if for no other purpose other than tradition, my love asked for my hand in marriage. It feels real now, and I am so excited. I love this man so much more than I ever thought I would love anyone. He is everything that is important to me, and is in many respects my better half. He has an amazing family, who have in just the last two days, welcomed me with open arms and loving hearts. I feel so blessed.

A Day in the Life...

Monday's are bad. They are very bad. I have so much to do, and not enough time to do it all.

On a traditional Monday, I talk myself out of bed by 5:45 am. I then get dressed (I have taken to showering on Sunday night as to avoid getting up at 5:15 am). I haul my very large load of weekend homework downstairs in order to pack it up for school. I put a bagel in the toaster and make something to take for lunch. I am out of the house by 6:40 am.

I then enter the world of commuter's paradise. It takes approximately 45 min to get to the law school. I start my first class at 8:00 am. Secured Transactions. In secured transactions, we talk about liens, lien priority, and how to perfect a lien. We finish at 9:15 am. I then take all my books from the weekend homework to my carrel. At the law school, we each have a desk/cube like thing called a carrel. Our carrels are our homes away from home. They have a bank of drawers and two locked shelves where we can keep our personal effects/textbooks.

I then work on getting ahead in a class for Wednesday, and go to Wills and Estates at 10 am. I then have an hour break from 11 until 12 when I work more on Wednesday's homework. At noon, I go to Business Associations. I have another break from 1 until 3 when I can try to finish Wednesday's/Thursday's homework. At 3 pm, I go to Debtors and Creditors. I am there until just before 5, when I go to Civil Trial Practice until 6:40 pm. I usually get home shortly before 8pm. I then work on more homework and try to be in bed before 11 because I have Institute at 8 am on Tuesday.

Not much of a life these days, but all a means to an end.

Lessons Learned from Law School

Lessons Learned from Law School

As I get ready to start my final semester of law school, it has given me cause to reflect what I have learned during this period of my life. The fact that I learned the law is a given, but there are other lessons I have learned that are far more important.

1. My self worth is based on so much more than grades. I have found that I am just as pleased with myself as when I was #1 in my class, and there are other things to be learned when you are not at the top.

2. There is a bond between me and my classmates that is not comparable with any other circumstance. Law school is an experience that cannot truly be explained and can be understood only by those that have experienced it.

3. Competition can bring out the most ugly side of people

4. Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.

5. Law professors are not as scary as I expected.

6. You can find amazing mentors in places that you least expect.

7. If you look really hard, there is something to be learned from everyone that crosses your path.

8. BYU Law professors are so much more than great legal minds. More importantly, they are men and women of God with amazing spirits and powerful testimonies of the gospel. They have taught me not only how to practice the law, but how to do it the right way.

9. The title “law student” makes people think that you are much smarter than you probably are.

10. I want to be a lawyer now more than I did three years ago. I suppose this is a good sign.

20 Things I Disagree With

20 Things I Disagree With:

1. Arrogance. I appreciate confidence, but despise arrogance.
2. Fantasy Fiction: Really! What is the point?
3. Tardiness: My time is too valuable.
4. Loud music: I get sensory overload very easily.
5. Girls waiting around to find a husband while putting any other ambitions on hold.
6. Women who MUST have a man, even a bad one.
7. Law school grades
8. Girls who wear revealing clothing
9. Condescending remarks
10. Denial
11. Being Cold
12. Rollercoasters
13. Having more to do than I can possibly get done
14. Being kept in the dark on important information/events
15. Undue attachment to good parking spaces
16. Professors that forget you are taking more classes than just theirs
17. People who don’t understand my sarcasm
18. Traffic
19. Paying for parking at a volunteer job
20. Failure to take responsibility for one’s own actions/mistakes.

25 Random Things About Me...

1. I have been a vegetarian since I was 10. The raw chicken at Wheeler Farm day camp sealed the deal.
2. I have wanted to be a lawyer since the second grade. I have this cute crayon drawing from the 2nd grade of a gavel that I intend to have framed and put in my office.
3. I hate roller coasters.
4. I LOVE to talk. My favorite thing to do is have lunch with a friend and talk for hours. That is why the law is the perfect place for me. That is what they pay me to do :)
5. I have a best friend for every stage of life. I haven't lost the previous best friends, but I tend to just have one at a time. I am more of quality than quantity person. I have dragged poor Emmy through three going on four stages of life.
6. My favorite movies are "Gone with the Wind" and "Mona Lisa Smile". I love the civil war era and the South, so GWTW is the perfect movie. I love "Mona Lisa Smile" because it is about women in education, a favorite cause of mine.
7. I am a serious Neil Diamond fan. I have no idea where it comes from, but I love everything Neil does. I once drove to Boise for 24 hours just to see a concert with my friend Aubrie.
8. I love studying the law. If we didn't have grades to worry about, law school would be perfect.
9. My favorite classes in law school were criminal law and legislation. Oddly enough, my lowest grades. Go figure.
10. I love a good supervised nap. My best naps are on the living room couch when at least one other person is in the room. I don't know whether it is a safety thing, but I get the best sleep.
11. Along the lines of #10, I am an expert "power napper". I can get more out of 20 minutes than most people can out of an hour. This works very well for law school.
12. My favorite place to travel is NYC. I love the Broadway shows and the SHOPPING. Gotta love Chinatown.
13. I love Church History and church history sites, especially Palmyra and Nauvoo. It is amazing to me to stand where people of that level of faith stood and to feel the spirit of the time period.
14. I also love faith promoting experiences and I love when people trust me enough to share theirs with me.
15. I get along really well with people who are much older than I. As a child, I always wanted to spend time with the adults over the kids. In fact, some of my closest friends and mentors are older than my parents.
16. I love Mexican food. My new favorite is Bajio. This becomes a problem since my lunch buddy HATES Mexican.
17. I love to spend time with my family. My parents are amazing and my sister is hilarious (the brother in law is entertainment as well).
18. I am cold all the time. I sleep with an electric blanket in the summer because I am so cold.
19. Reality TV is my vice. I love shows like the Apprentice, The Amazing Race, and Survivor.
20. My favorite show during junior high was Days of Our Lives. My friend Aubrie and I would rush home to see what Stephano was going to do to John and Marlena today.
21. I love that the law and gospel principles relate so well, and appreciate my time at BYU primarily for this reason.
22. I really don't mind living at home. As long as the parents are ok with it, so am I. What more could I want? Two bedrooms, a bath, laundry facilities and a pool? Moreover, I love my parents house. The yard is amazing and the floor to ceiling windows that look out over the amazing yard are priceless.
23. My parents are AMAZING people. I love that they work so hard, that they have a strong testimony of the gospel, and that they have endured so much. I was even more amazed by them when I watched them pull us all together at the death of my little sister.
24. I rarely go a day without checking my email several times. Law school has chained me to my laptop, and now I am addicted.
25. I was talked into the blog by Emily. I blame it all on her.