The MARY KAY Opportunity

I know you were all anxiously awaiting the return of our blog, so here it is! We have, believe it or not, been super busy. I actually think I have been busier these last couple weeks than I was when I was in school, if you can believe that. One source of my business is my new job- being a MARY KAY consultant. For those of you who know me well, you are probably a little surprised that I would choose to do this. I am not a huge make-up person nor can I be defined as a social butterfly.

So you ask why Mary Kay?

Well, I did the research and I discovered that I could make some decent money only putting in a couple of hours of work a week. It's a great opportunity for me to make some money while I'm in school and start paying down some student loans and just do some extra fun stuff. Also, I figure if I can grow my business over the next two years of law school, then when I graduate I can work part-time as an attorney and part-time as a Mary Kay consultant. I have been thinking for awhile that I would ideally like to work part-time once I have a family and doing Mary Kay in addition will allow me to do that. After what seems like forever of odds and ends jobs and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, it seems to be falling into place this summer. Thanks be to God who is faithful on all his promises.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Coming Back....May 15th!!!

Ashley's Oscar Picks

This year I decided to watch all the films that were nominated for Best Picture so I would be better informed to make my Oscar picks. Of course, this had to be the year that they upped the nominees to 10! But I was determined...so in between studying Property, writing briefs, interviewing, I fit in 8 of the 10 movies. I only missed the other two (Precious and An Education) because they are not yet out on DVD and my commitment did not consist of paying $10 to see the movies in the theaters.

So, drum roll please..... Here are my Oscar picks!

BEST PICTURE







Avatar- I did not want to see this movie at first but after hearing rave reviews from several people all with different tastes, I gave in and experienced it in 3D. I chose this movie mainly because it was the only one I saw that had the "WOW" factor.

Consolation picks- Up In the Air and Inglorious Basterds. The Blind Side was a favorite too but It just doesn't seem Oscar worthy.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE







Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker). I have to admit I did not see the performances of Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart or Colin Firth in A Single Man. From the three I did see, I would have to say that Renner's performance was the most inspiring as he played a soldier whose job it was to disarm EADs.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE







Meryl Streep (Julie and Julia). Once again, I only saw the performances and Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep. So maybe I will let you know after I view the others, my real pick. I love Sandra Bullock and will not be disappointed if she wins, Meryl Streep is a great actress and an excellent portrayal as Julia Childs.


ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE







Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones). I am making this decision on behalf of my husband since I did not see The Lovely Bones. My runner-up pick is Christoph Waltz.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE







Maggie Gyllenhaal(Crazy Heart)

DIRECTOR







Quentin Tarantino for Inglorious Basterds


Tune in tonight to see how I did! Next year I will strive to watch all of the nominees.

The Best Sex Ever

Ok, you can pick up your chin off the floor because this is not going to be about what you think it is. This month, being February, Josh is doing this series at The Underground, which is our youth service. He purposely named it this instead of 'True Love Waits' to get people's attention and to keep it from being the same old thing that students here every year. Last Sunday was the first session, and he talked about sex being a heart issue. If you have teenagers or work with teenagers, are a single adult, or have been married for 20 years, this message is relevant to you. You can check it out at www.ibc-students.org/listen.html.

Suits, Stilettos, and Smiles

This past month, I have been interviewing for summer legal clerkships. What a taxing process that is! Not only do you have to wear suits that are mildly uncomfortable and heels that leave blisters on your feet (maybe just mine from the lack of exposure), you have to smile and look overjoyed for a solid hour as if you were high on the gas from the dentist's office. Needless to say, interviewing has not been the highlight of my legal career.

Although I do feel that I have a solid resume and good experience, I always feel guilty in an interview as if I am trying to deceive the interviewers by selling them something that won't live up to the hype. I feel that cover letters, resumes, and interviews come very close to crossing that thin line between proud and pride. I find myself after every interview feeling defeated and there is a 100% chance that I will not get the job.

Thankfully, my identity is not found in my ability to wow interviewers or in my GPA or class rank. If I placed the whole value of my life in things I have achieved, I will always fall short. There will always be people with better grades. There will always be those with better speaking and interviewing skills. Law school has been both a humbling and rewarding experience. Humbling in that, it is always putting me back in my place. Rewarding in that through my humility, I have been able to put my reliance on God. Praise be to God that I can place my identity and worth in him

To Stand (Josh)

STAND- "To remain firm or stedfast in a cause"

Does this describe you? Would people say that you take a stand for a cause? Not just a cause of buying a Haiti Tee Shirt because it's the "cool thing" to do. No one is going to persecute you for that cause. But what about causes and stances that are not so popular. Would people say that no matter what comes your way that you wouldn't budge, you would remain firm in your stances for those causes? Say what you want to about Tim Tebow but one thing you have to respect him for is his ability to stand firm for his cause.

Are you dedicated to the cause of Christ? Would people say that you take a stand for your faith? Or would they say that you are wishy washy and you don’t really stand for anything, only what is cool, hip, or will give you an advantage to increase your popularity at school or the workplace.

At the end of my life I want to be known as someone who stood firm for what he believed in. I want people to be able to say that just like in the song "The Stand" that my soul was "completely surrendered"to the cause of Christ.

There are days where this is true and then there are days where Standing for a cause gets tiresome and I think that life would be so much easier if I just didn’t have to stand up for a cause that sometimes I think no one is listening or responding to anyways. Because if I am going to Stand then it better be for something worth standing for.

I have been to concerts where it was standing room only, sweat dripping all over me, and every single minute of it was worth it, because it was a cause worth standing for. I remember going to UT football games where I was completely on the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting for the next play to unfold, standing and cheering my heart out for a cause that I believed was worth standing for. Back in the days of Shakespeare people would walk for miles and mile and stand to watch a six hour play because to them it was worth standing for.

People will stand for something great that they want to be a part of and this is where I need to show the world that I am standing for something great, something worth standing for. Something that is so far beyond me and my wildest dreams, a life where God himself wants to reach down and touch my life and do incredible things through that touch to reach the people around me. That is worth standing for.

Sitting in pews and singing songs and reading a book for five minutes is not worth standing for.

But, sitting in a pew wanting to hear something from the word of God because you know it has the power to change your life is worth standing for.

Singing songs to the top of your lungs screaming out to the God of universe praise for giving you your last breathe, for you know He is worthy of all praise, is worth standing for.

Spending more than just five minutes with the creator of the universe because you know that encounter will fill you with the Spirit to be able to go and into the world and bless others is worth standing for.

That is what I want to stand for, not some boring religion, but I want to stand for life change, I want to stand for a creator who blows me away with his creation, I want to stand for something that not only changes my life but the lives of those around me because they see it is something worth standing for.

And what I am standing on? The ROCK, CHRIST, THE SOLID ROCK, all other ground is sinking sand.

Will you join me?

Valentine's Day Candy

I (Ashley) LOVE the little Valentine's Day candy hearts, hence the background choice. I used to go through boxes of them during the month of February when I was in college. I was so sad last year because I did not have a single one, so this year I made sure to buy them as soon as they hit the shelves in the middle of January. Buying candy hearts is tricky because there are two different kinds, one kind is hard and a little more sour and the other is softer and sweeter. I prefer the softer ones. If you are a candy heart lover like me, you know that there is a huge difference. I'm glad these hearts are only available for purchase one month out of the year because if they were available year round, I might be several pounds heavier and visiting the dentist more often than I would like. But for now I will enjoy my candy heart addiction!