Most people we talk to say that the first year is the hardest. If that’s true, then we’re in for the vacation of a lifetime because this year has been so easy. Don’t worry, we’re not under any impression that this has been the hardest year we’ll experience. But it is so sweet to know that we are still just as fit for each other as we expected.

To celebrate, we wanted to get away for a few days and relax in a quaint mountain town while sunning by the pool. Instead, we went to Branson.

Our original plan was to stop and see Lauren’s grandmother in Bella Vista, then head on to Eureka Springs. Unfortunately, there was a biker rally in Eureka, and all the lodging was booked. So we went north a bit and stayed in Branson for a couple of nights. I’ll spare you the details of our lodging complications, but suffice it to say that you should never, EVER use Hotwire if you want a specific amenity…like an outdoor pool.

We managed to find a wonderful restaurant that is east of downtown, across the lake. If you’re ever in B-town, you must eat at the Candlestick Inn. We had a beautiful sunset dinner that was relaxing and delicious, not to mention heavy on the romance. Afterward, we walked around Branson Landing and took in a water fountain and fire show. Not bad at all.

After shopping and go kart riding, it was nice to chill out by the pool and catch some rays. We were able to keep from burning to a crisp and did some reading. Nothing too exciting, which was exactly what we needed.

There are at least two good things that came out of this summer’s studyfest.

First, I came to an even greater appreciation of just how blessed I am to have Zac as a husband. He was incredibly supportive! I don’t know how I would have made it through without Zac’s daily (sometimes twice- or thrice-daily) pep talks, prayers, and shoulder rubs. He also took up most of my regular house chores for the last three weeks so I could focus all my energy on studying. What a guy!! Every day I appreciate and love him more!

Second, after spending nearly every day in July at home, all day, I can proudly say that I am Henry’s favorite parent!! Zac was the clear favorite until now, probably due to my weekly trips to Norman and Zac’s nightly puppy playdates. Now, that dog is a mama’s boy! Henry was a wonderful companion during all the time that I spent at home – Zac often came home to find me hunched over my study materials in the office with Henry curled up on my feet under the desk. We’ve got such a loyal pup!

So what am I going to be doing with my time now? Well, I spent the last few days off, enjoying some poolside pleasure reading and a somewhat-embarrassing reality-TV binge. Next, I’m going to be finishing some (paid!!) research for the Federal Judicial Center, attempting some new recipes, and spending quality time with friends and family – you know, enjoying life!

Can’t wait!

Lauren eats poop.

In actual news, Lauren is wrapping up the final few hours of studying for the bar exam. She has been so diligent! In fact, she hasn’t left the house in over a week because she’s been studying so hard! I couldn’t be more proud of how dedicated and consistent she has been. She is going to obliterate that sucka!

Now that I think about it, the last time we went out together was for our friends’ wedding–the one I had the honor of officiating. We managed to get them hitched without me having to join a cult, and it was very special. The weather was warm, but it was worth it to stand outside and see such a wonderful couple start their life together. For the most part, it went exactly as planned. I forgot to seat everyone until just before the giving of the bride. Thanks to the groom, I recovered and made it through the rest. People graciously laughed at my jokes and cried at the sweet stories. It truly was great.

Things are going well on the home front. Henry is still just as cute as ever, and my job is rocking along well. I’m learning more every day and finding my way as a civil litigator. The pace is much slower than being a prosecutor, but the stress level is also less.

Until next time, go Lauren!

Our weekend has been really great, regardless of the study time. We witnessed the baptism of a friend of ours. It’s been really special to see how she’s grown spiritually over the past few months. She had friends come in from out of state, and it was great to meet her family.

Some of you know that Lauren and I recently left our church. While it seems like now would be a time of feeling like we don’t belong, we’ve actually managed to find a nice fit with a group of friends who meet regularly throughout the week. We’ve been doing an experiment using this as the premise: “What if you were an alien and had to figure out what a church should be based on what you read in the New Testament of the Bible?” It’s been a very challenging and wonderful time. We’re excited to see what the future holds for us here in Tulsa.

Speaking of weddings, I’ve been asked to do something I never thought I’d ever do. Our friends Josh & Kara are getting married in July, and they’ve humbled me by asking me to officiate. Unless I manage to get appointed as a judge for a day, I’ll have to find a way to get ordained. I’m sure it won’t be too hard, but I’d like to find something at least somewhat more legitimate than paying a fee and getting a certificate. Should be fun!

In other huge news, Lauren just found out that she got a federal clerkship! This is an amazing blessing and opportunity. Only the brightest students are chosen for these positions, and I’m extremely proud of her. It will be great to see where this takes her career. We’re very excited!

Strangely, it was BYOFirewood, and nobody told us. It was a good thing we brought a small stove, a pot and some soup to make. Click through the pictures to the right for an idea of what our feast looked like.

Since it was the beginning of March Madness, we went over to a friend’s house and introduced Henry to Louis, a spunky Goldendoodle (seriously). They had a good time running around, but Hank had to stop for a smoke during a break in the action.

As you can see from the pictures, we had a lot of snow on Saturday, so we thought it was perfect weather for a barbecue! The steaks given to us by the elder Lindseys were great!

This week has been particularly difficult because my exceedingly brilliant bride had to stay an extra day and help select the next round of bright law students for the Oklahoma Law Review editorial board. It’s an honor to be on the journal, so we’re happy to accommodate, but it’s been a long week. As I type this, it’s ~11:30 p.m., and it’s still just Hank and me here at home. Throw in a 12-hour day or two of work for me this week, and you can bet I’m waving the weekend home.

Since we’ve started living somewhat like misers thanks to FPU, we’re really excited to have a cheap date tomorrow night. Looks like we’ll be hitting up the dollar theater to catch “Invictus”. Then it’s a play date with Jake and Star on Saturday. Hopefully, I’ll make some headway on learning how to build websites and web apps with Rails. We’ll see!