The burden has passed..

...as of yesterday, the paper I have been working on, an Appellate brief, has been turned in. Its a little scary to think that those 21 pages represent 50% of my grade in that class (Legal Research and Writing). How do I feel about it? Well, to be honest, tired. Yes, my bed time as of recent has been between 2-3 a.m., one night as late as 4 a.m.!! But, by the grace and strength of God, I finished it. Overall, when I went back over it in the wee morning hours, it didn't look half bad. The graded part of the class is now over, and we now move to oral arguments. This is where the fun begins. :)

Today are the speeches for members running for class office. I am making my bid again for Class President. As usual, not exactly sure what to say, but I trust the Lord will give me the words, if that is where He wants me. I see it as another service opportunity. My first flyer for my campaign reads:

"DID YOU KNOW?
...in German, 'Wohlschlegel' means 'good hammer'. Let me serve as an Effective Tool to represent you. Vote Mark Wohlschlegel for 2L Class President."

Cheesy, huh? :p We'll have to wait and see what happens.

No word yet on what I will exactly be doing this summer.

Quick testimony of grace today:
My roommate and I pray everyday on our way to classes, usually asking God to help us remember what we've read, and to give the correct answers to the professor. Well, because of all the work with the paper this weekend, I was not prepared for class at all. So this morning, when I prayed, I asked God to be with my roommate if he got called on since he had prepared, and left myself out of it. Well, at one point in the class, the professor was looking for an answer that others were having trouble getting. Thinking logically, I raised my hand and offered an answer. Lo and behold I was right! He asked a follow up answer as well, which I also got right, and all this for not having read the case. I guess the training in thinking logically is working here. :) God is good!

You May Wonder, "To What Do We Owe the Honor of Your Post?"

Well, I am ashamed to say, that I am not posting because of any "big" news. I am not posting because I all of a sudden remembered it has been a while (well, that is part of it). I am not posting because I am bored. Far from it - life in law school is as busy as it has always been. Are you ready for this...

I decided to post tonight because I needed a break from the Appellate Brief I am currently writing. I have been working on it straight pretty much since 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. In that time I have "crafted" five pages (lawyers don't "write", they "craft").

Now that I am underway, let me see if I can come up with any interesting news from my life....

- No news yet on where I'll be for the summer. I had an interview last week for a Public Defendant Assistant here in Virginia Beach. Should hear back about that early next month (which is coming fast!!). I also applied for a judicial Internship here in the area. The way I see it, I have rent paid up through July, so why not stay near the beach??? These positions also run about 20 hours a week, so that would enable me to work on the side, perhaps pick up a security job in the area. Still waiting to see what doors the Lord opens up.

- Regent is holding class elections again for our 2L year. This year's Class President is stepping down, so I have put my hat in the running again for Class President. Second times the charm, right? :) It is still very much something I would like to do, but there is always the question of how busy I will be next year. Time will tell. I had to laugh though. A girl in my class today just realized that after talking to me that I had NOT been our class president this whole time!! Go figure.

- I am down to only 3 weeks of classes left!!! Time is going so fast. Hard to believe finals are right around the corner again. Lord willing, I can up my grade average. My last final is May 2nd.

- Outside of school, I have been participating in intramural basketball. This has been a blast. I really enjoy playing. I have finally got to the point where I can play for more than 2 minutes without needing an oxygen mask! LOL! This weekend are the playoffs. Our team is like 5-2. Sounds like we will only be down to five men on Saturday though. Could prove to be a challenge. Bring it on!!! :)

- Recent visitors to Virginia Beach included Faith Brobst, and Marianne and Casey Wasson. It was good to see some familiar faces. I always enjoy company! (hint, hint) There is visit from the Schwartz tentatively on the calendar now too. Yea!

- I have been saddened by the sudden turn of events at PHC with four professors announcing their departure at the end of this year. :( Two of them have been there from the beginning. My prayers go out to the students and administration of the college. There are certainly alot of changes going on there. God is in control, and I believe that ultimately that God is doing what is best for the college. It has certainly created a stir on the Alumni Board.

- Kate, my 1990 Ford Thunderbird is still running strong for me. Praise God for passing state inspection over Spring Break. 211,000+ miles and counting!!!

- Personally, I find it has been hard to sit still as the weather has began getting warmer. I get so antsy, that it is hard to stay in the books. I have kept up thus far, and trust the Lord will carry me home thru finals.

- Spiritually, I have found that it is so easy to pass by devotions and time with God and dive into the day. This is not good! This catches up with you very quickly, and you find that your perspective on life is greatly changed. Praises to God that He refuses to settle for that type of relationship with His own. My prayer is that I will not settle for that either. For those of you feeling the same way, I encourage you to Keep on Keeping on!! God is always right there. Seek His forgiveness, pick up that cross and follow Him.

Well, I think that brings everyone up to date as of now. Back to "crafting" my brief. ;)

Grace & Peace. ~ Mark

Monday, Monday

It is about 9 p.m. on Monday night and I am sitting down with some of my Mom's famous apple pie as I blog tonight and reflect on today. Today was my first day back to classes at RU, and I have to say, Monday was kind to me today. Despite having done next to nothing "school wise" while home (that is why "it is called Spring Break" as one of my classmates put it), the week has broken me in easy. (Can't say tomorrow will be as kind.) By this, I mean I wasn't called upon today to explain the cases I was frantically re-reading this morning in preparation. Thankfully I had worked ahead a little before I left, so most of my prep was reviewing cases I read a week ago.

The thought has struck me more than once since I rolled back in about 11:15 p.m. last night, "Have I even left Virginia Beach?? Did I even have a Spring Break???" Yet, the taste of the evidence is still tickling my taste buds. (No one makes an apple pie like my Mom! Yummy!) And I have to say, I do feel a little more rested. Lol! Isn't it crazy how quickly we can fall back into routines, even after a week break, and feel as though we never left? I can remember one pastor talking about the first thing he desires when he first wakes up (no, it is not coffee): MORE SLEEP!! I can relate. How quickly I forget to thank God for what He has already graciously given to me. Afterall, Ps.127:2 reminds us that God grants sleep to those He loves.

I have been looking at Ps.23 lately. I think it opens up with the secret of being content, which could read "[Because] the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not be in want" (vs.1). God already knows what we need afterall. How comforting is that. We can be satisfied because He is our Shepherd - a provider, protector and someone who leads us in the way we should go.

Well, I best be getting to bed. Grace & Peace out there.

Spring Break

Though it has come a little early than usual, Spring Break started this past weekend. Began by kicking it off with a dinner and desert at the Baileys (a fellow classmate) Friday night. It was a good time to laugh, look back over the semester, and enjoy some good food.

Saturday, on the way home, I attended the afternoon wedding of Jonathan and Jenny Nelson. It was weird to watch a wedding from the pews (I am used to being on the stage). LOL!! There were a whole lot of PHC'ers there. It was almost like a homecoming. I got to see many old classmates I had not seen in a while. Matt, Katie, & Autum made the trip from GA too! It was good to see them. Autum is getting so big.

Made it home to Pennsylvania about 10:30p.m. Saturday night. It has been a nice break to be home. The two things that I have been hoping to accomplish while home is to get my taxes done and have my car inspected. So far. . . well, I have an appointment for my car. LOL! Still working on the taxes. As for school, I haven't done much, though I should probably read some cases for my next brief I have to write.

Watching the "Interpreter" with Nicole Kidman right now. Pretty good flick so far. Boys rocked on American Idol tonight. I'm calling it now. . . Sway & the black guy with the big smile. We'll see tomorrow. Good night America.