Kelli, what can you tell us about Lent?

I'll preface this musing with the disclaimer that today's post is very spiritual in nature. If you're not interested in my thoughts on faith, God and Lent, I won't be at all offended if you don't read on.
Much love,
Kelli

As many of you know, Fat Tuesday was this past Tuesday, and that is always followed by 40 days of Fish Fillet commercials and people saying things like "I can't eat that because I gave up ____ for Lent." To kick off this stretch of time that is described variously as "the desert," that time before Easter, or just "that Catholic thing," millions around the globe attend an Ash Wednesday service, and I was among them. Because I attend a Catholic school, and evidently, Lent is a "Catholic thing" (I'll expand on this below,) there was an Ash Wednesday service right in the lobby of our school. Without going into depth about the significance of the imposition of ashes (though, if you're curious, feel free to contact me for a summary,) every one gets a reminder that we are dust, and to dust we shall return. That reminder is a black smudge of ashes in the form of a cross on your forehead.
That black cross is a bit like a bulls eye for people who skipped the service, and who probably skip Lent, to subject you to an inquisition. Only moments after leaving the service, I was heating up my lunch in our student lounge when a classmate asked me:
"Kelli, what can you tell us about Lent?"
I responded "What do you want to know?"
classmate: "Does it have anything to do with Moses?"
me: "No. It does not. There is a symbolic meaning in the 40 days because 40 appears at various times in the Bible, including the 40 years that Moses and the Israelites wandered in the desert. But, no, Lent is not related to Moses."
classmate: "Then why do they show 'The Ten Commandments' at Easter?"
me: "Because 'The Passion of the Christ' is too controversial and gory."

What I can tell you about Lent is that it isn't a "Catholic thing." I've observed Lent my entire Lutheran life. I don't know who doesn't observe Lent, but I do.
I can tell you that I eat whatever I want to during Lent. I could give something up, but I don't. Instead, I'm taking up a devotion. This year I'm praying for 30 minutes a day. Now that is tough for me.
I also know that Lent gets a bad rap for being depressing. I kind of like Lent. I like going to church on Wednesdays and eating Lenten soup suppers. It reminds me of my childhood, where Wednesday nights were still church nights. And in the bleak, dark time of winter, I enjoy the opportunity to reflect on my blessings, my mortality, and God's hopes for me in this life. Lent is not a 40-day shame-on-you-for-sinning; it is a 40-day reminder that we sin, God loves us anyway, so much, in fact, that we are saved by God's grace through our faith, and not by our good works.
I hope that this season, whatever it is for you, brings you peace and time to reflect on what matters to you.
With love,
Kelli

Prom

I am slightly embarrassed to realize that I attended Prom last night for the 6th time in my life. It makes me seem so indiscriminate in my Prom date choices to have attended Prom 5 times in High School. The reality is that I love to dance, I love rhinestone-bedecked dresses and I love fancy hairdos.
The Law School puts on Law Prom each Spring semester, and it was a really fun way to spend time with my classmates. It is remarkable how nice everyone can clean up from the jeans, sweatshirts and backpacks look! As you can see from the pics below, (if you have trouble seeing them, click on "view larger" then enter the password: kelliandandy) we also had to do the "pose with your date" shots before leaving the house. It almost felt strange without someone's parents directing everyone on how to stand and to scooch together. We gathered at my friend Marit's house for a pre-Prom cocktail hour. We couldn't resist some high-school Prom inspired poses. Andy confessed he even thought of getting me a corsage, but thought better of it since it's the weekend before Valentine's Day. Sweet gesture.
Our friends Andrew and Claire, who don't like to dance, decided that didn't preclude them from cocktails, so they joined us. All in all, it was a great way to kick off a night of kicking up our heels.
Andy and I had a great time at our first Prom together. Andy said "We danced on our first date, and we danced at our wedding, but I've never gone to Prom with you. Now I have!"
More deep thoughts are coming down the pike this week, so stay tuned.
As always, much love,
Kelli

Law Prom

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Back to School

As usual, I am shocked at how long it's been since I've updated my blog, and how much has happened since I last wrote. I had a wonderful break and enjoyed spending the holidays, and the season with family and friends. A real highlight was seeing my family at end of my break at a benefit for my Aunt Shelly. Shelly was diagnosed over the summer with ovarian cancer, and the benefit helped raise money to offset the costs of her treatment. Some very exciting news to follow that was hearing that she is officially in remission! She found out last week that she "Kicked cancer's ass!" I couldn't be happier!

As usual, lots of photos of what I've been up to:
Please see my shutterfly sharing page: http://kellisfotos.shutterfly.com the password is kelliandandy

Andy and I had his cousins over for a movie and some Wii on Friday. Since my mama raised me right, we cleaned the apartment top to bottom, and then added some creative staging. When Andy asked why we had to put his work schedule and his electric razor in a drawer hidden from sight, I explained that it's important to lie to your friends and family and pretend that you always live like that. "Make believe," if you will. I posted some Wii-tastic shots of us bowling.

I added some pictures of my latest adventure: scrapbooking our honeymoon. I had a clean house, and nothing else to do, so I revived my love of scrapping, and grabbed some peanut M &Ms and a Diet Coke and set to it. In a record achievement, I finished 8 pages! check them out.

Also, I added pictures of what I'm calling Hamit clean sweep. My mom always complains about all the junk in the basement (doesn't everyone?) and how she can never find anything, blah, blah, blah. So, I told her we'd clean it out and settle the problem once and for all. After an entire day, we only got one closet done, but it was totally worth it. You really have to see it to appreciate it. I won't even post the pictures of the places we didn't get to. It would just be too embarrassing. For now, my mom has one clean, organized closet and hopefully is inspired to tackle the rest. If not, there's always next Christmas.

Last, I added some pics of my mom's 50th birthday shin-dig. Don't worry, no one thinks she could be that old; it's not just you. She is fabulous and 5o and the proof is in the pictures.

Other than that, life's good. Busy, but good. I'm really back in the groove at school. I got what I consider good grades for last semester, and I'm really enjoying our classes this semester: Constitutional Law, Property, Criminal Law, Foundations of Justice and Lawyering Skills. Look for existential ponderings soon. Foundations of Justice really stirs up the deep thoughts.
Also, I was able to observe a deposition in an employment discrimination suit with my mentor. It was a really great opportunity and only furthered my interest in employment law.

That's all for now. Much love always,
Kelli