If you are a friend or longstanding kind reader, you know that Michael and I seem to gravitate towards transition. We got engaged, planned a wedding, got married, I moved halfway across the country, started a job I had no training for, and then we conceived Kate all in a five month period. We then moved halfway across the country again with a 4 week old less than a year later. Our girls are 17.5 months apart. We’ve moved three times in less than four and a half years of marriage. We’ve been members of four churches. But who’s keeping score?
We’ve been fairly stable the last eighteen months. We own a home. We’ve stayed in the same church. But beneath it all, we’ve been contemplating a big change.
About nine months ago, Michael began rethinking old, before-children plans for graduate education, and was drawn again to the idea of law school. He contemplated it for a while, and decided to take the LSAT, just to see what would happen. Unsurprisingly (to me, at least), he did exceptionally well, and started receiving correspondence from top tier law schools hither and yon (and some bottom feeders, too.) Alabama has one excellent public law school, and alumni who are friends recommended it highly. It’s also quite a bargain for in state students. And so, Michael sent them an application. (In exchange, they sent us a $25 iTunes gift certificate. I’m not kidding.)
Back in November, they accepted Michael for the fall term and awarded him a full tuition scholarship. Because the school is close enough that Mike can commute and we can continue on with our lives here in Birmingham, he didn’t even apply anywhere else. We’ve visited the law school and are confident it’s a great fit for him.
And so, we are embarking on a new adventure. Michael studying law. We’re going to put the bungalow on the market and move into the city. I am going to look for a job, as Michael is not permitted to work during the school year.
We’re grateful for the opportunities and confident that all the details are going to work themselves out. All the alternate plans are already on the table, and we’re okay with them, too. Whate’er my God ordains is right, after all. We’re just along for the ride.
You know we’ve been in the midst of grad-school-with-family. . . It definitely has its challenges, but has been such a good thing for this time in our lives. I know the Lord is directing your steps and that whatever comes next–it won’t be dull!
Yay. You are definitely on a path. Praying for you.
Big step! We’re here for you guys when you need it!
That’s so exciting! I do know quite a few folks who’ve graduated or are attending UA law school. Law school in general is rigorous…Good luck! Too bad it did have to be Alabama, though. ;) (Our parents are all Auburn grads…)
Seriously, if you ever want to talk to some experienced lawyers…both Gaines and my dad are attorneys…one in private practice and one works for the state (they, ironically?, both went to law school in B’ham).
We may be following you down the parent in grad-school path one of these days…Praying for you!
Oh, that’s so exciting! I have a LOT of friends who are 3Ls at Alabama right now. It’s a heckuva ride, but it surely won’t be dull!
Where in town are y’all moving to?
Very exciting news! I look forward to hearing more about your upcoming transition(s).
Congratulations, Michael! And we’re looking forward to y’all living a bit closer to us!
Exciting stuff! He’ll go to a great school– and full tuition? What an honor. You just can’t be that.
Have you thought about living in West Homewood or Bessemer? A little shorter commute and good housing prices.
At any rate, congratulations!
We really need to be close to our church and others in our school community as Kate will be in K and 1 while M is in school! And so, our idea would be a house/duplex/triplex Southside.
Wow! Congrats, all! Big changes. J’s pondered graduate school with a stay-at-home homeschooling wife and three kiddos, and haven’t yet made the plunge. I’ll be paying attention and learning from you!
Congratulations! It sounds like it will be quite an interesting next few years. I’d love to hear some of your thoughts about the law school and law culture. I’ve mostly had a view from the outside, although I’ve had a few chances to get up close and personal.
Congratulations, Michael (and Kristen, Kate and Lexi)! I am very happy to hear your news!!
Thats really exciting, Kristen! I will pray for you as you transition again into a new house and a new job!!
I’m excited that y’all will be closer neighbors! And all the best law geeks live in Southside. :-)
congratulations!
and just as i was deciding to put off law school for another year…
Wow! Scary, fun, exciting changes! Prayers will most certainly be sent your way.
Well – in the open, now, congrats! Since ours is open now too, I guess I should post a little something on our little-read site as well.
How did that go, telling all who needed to know?
Grad school is a pretty big thing! Good luck in all the transition.
I’m sad you’ll leave your bungalow. I really love your house (from the pictures anyway ;) ).
Kristen: Congrats to you and Michael on this decision; Bama has a great law school. Law school can be really hard, but practicing law can be lots of fun . . . as a prosecutor I’ve been blessed with a job that I find fulfilling . . .
Wow, cool! Welcome back to student life and best wishes as you navigate all the transitions. What kind of job do you want, K–teaching again?
We’re grateful for the opportunities and confident that all the details are going to work themselves out… We’re just along for the ride.
funny, i always say that everything in our life has fallen down outta the sky too.
we had a lot of ch-ch-ch-changes in our early married life too, things seem to have settled here for a while, though i can sense it won’t be for long.
my baby boy is now eighteen and is about to leave home to go to university, and soon my little three boys will be off to school and then i’ll have to think about *what katie does next*
i can feel myself hanging onto this season, cos i’ve loved it so much…
wishing you all the best, kristen
(btw, i love your name “penelope” for our honda odyssey… love your sense of humour)
mwah X
Wow! Congratulations! It’s a shame you have to sell the house, but it’s so cute, I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Hopefully with the more conventional colors you can make some money on the deal!
If I ever got out of the workaday world, it would take a lot to get me back in it, but then I’ve got a newborn arriving any day, which definitely makes a mama want to mama as much as possible!
Wow. That’s so amazing. You’re brave for going on this road but it’s a good road to be on. Congrats on the full tuition, too. Whoo hoo!
Oh WOW! I just ended up here from Birds’ Books and had to read this post, because we too started off like you – ten houses in twelve years or something….now we’ve been in the same one for five…oops six… years – but we’re about to go travel the world with our eight kiddies (for a while it seemed every time we moved house we had a baby!)…..now here’s the WOW bit……down here on the comments is Kate5kiwis – one of my very bestest friends who always writes lovely long comments!!….last time I visited I was quizing her on *who* comments on her blog….now I’ve “met” another one of you!
Hi!
I already congratulated you guys…. did I ever tell you I wish I had my act together half as well as you all did when I was your age?
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