I just hope this is my last sick day during bar study! I don't know if it is baby or virus, or a combo of the two, but not much has gotten done today.
I did finish my small outline for (what I endearingly refer to it as) the dumbest law subject of all time - Commercial Paper aka Negotiable Instruments. I am so glad that Tax Law is not on the CA bar or the WA bar, because I think that one could give Commercial Paper a run for its money.
Each bar study run has been so different. The first time around it was INTENSE. The second time around it was easier, and kind of enjoyable (I still get weirded out by that - but it's the truth).
This time around - it is ... different. Pregnancy has hugely impacted my energy levels and mental capacity. I am so glad that Washington is easier to study for than California. But that doesn't make it easy. Each time I've adjusted to this kind of full-time exam preparation lifestyle, I've had to get into a routine.
And this time it took me a couple of weeks to understand that being prego was going to significantly alter my ideal study routine. But we are getting there and in 26 days I am getting on another plane (providing my OB allows the travel). PS - thanks to couponing I got a free flight to Seattle! Gotta love the deals.
Speaking of finances ... I am feeling very blessed and lighthearted. I think I am always going to remember 2010 as the year I became financially mature. William found out his job was being cut out of the school's program, and that was tough. He didn't work a lot of hours, but his income bridged the gap for us. And then the really big news came. Because of his health, he'd dropped behind enough in credit hours one semester that we did not qualify for student loans for four months - and when we finally did qualify again, his summer tuition had to come out of funds we use to pay our bills. So while what little income we did have disappeared, financial obligations we had increased. The twisting and turning of the screws!
For the last 9 months, we have daily felt the burden of 'what in the heck are we going to do?' When I think about how I started learning about coupons and how that whole process happened, it truly was heaven sent. It seems amazing to me that we've squeaked by - but each month we were able to take care of our obligations one way or another. God truly has intervened in our behalf. At Christmastime I constantly saw the incongruity between two facts: 1) 2010 had been our toughest financial year yet and 2) our children had their best Christmas ever! God is great.
We have considered - and are still considering - the possibility of selling our home and renting for the next two years. But at the moment it looks like we have it figured out, and all I can do is take a deep breath.
I really don't think I'll ever forget getting my haircut last Saturday. It was the best haircut ever! It was my first haircut in nine months. And William gets to get his cavity filled finally this week. I am just reveling in the comfort of knowing that for the next little while, we can take care of our needs.
We aren't going to go crazy though. The kids are stuck getting haircuts from me - yikes! I see how a whole new way of living and of life has been opened up to me - and I don't know that it could have happened except through the difficulties we've faced. Funny how things work out like that. I am going to take these financial lessons we've learned to heart. Once again, lessons I'm grateful for but from a period of time I don't want to repeat.
