these last few months

I'm finally resurfacing on the blog. I've been underwater for the last little bit, swamped by all the demands on my time. But, now felt like an appropriate time to surface from the depths for a life update on all that's happened in my life recently. 

I'm an immigration lawyer. How I landed my job is nothing short of a miracle, something that's probably too sacred to describe on the internet, but if you ask me about it in real life (or over a FaceTime date), I'll tell you. I'm working as an immigration attorney, and I LOVE what I do. I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to have found a career that fulfills so many parts of me and gives me a deep sense of fulfillment. My job allows me to put on a variety of hats: researching complex issues brings out the detective in me, going to clients with interviews at USCIS brings out the advocate in me, prepping clients and meeting with them in the office brings out the journalist in me. I'm learning so much, I feel like a sponge. Learning is fun for me; I like feeling challenged and so my job makes it feel like there's fireworks going on in my brain. 

I took the California bar exam. Studying for this test was the bane of my existence.  I work long hours, and would come home and try to study, but it was challenging. My weekends in Jan/Feb were hellish. I desperately wanted to relax and recharge after a draining work week, but I'd feel guilty if I didn't devote at least 5-6 hours Saturday and Sunday studying for this test. It was tough. If you've been following this blog throughout the years, you'll know how busy I tend to make myself: I take on lots of projects, get involved in groups— it's just my nature. January + February felt like the culmination of all my previously crammed semesters, like the big event I had been training for. For now, it's done. I don't need to pass this test, my job/career doesn't depend on my passing this test, and for that I'm SUPER thankful. This is not to say I didn't take the test seriously, but I also still haven't completed a few portions of the application for admittance...

I bought my first car. While in Utah, I was driving Carlos, my beloved 2012 Camry. He was technically the "family car," but I picked him out right before I left on my mission, and all family members refer to him as "Lauren's car." Still, I left Carlos behind in Utah for my brother, Devin, to use. Now, I'm the happy owner of a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. I named my new car Xolointzcuintli  (Xolo for short) after the hairless, Mexican dog. The xolo dog is the guide of wandering spirits, and the name felt appropriate, because really that's what I am. The car buying process was fun, which I know might sound crazy, but again, I love learning and my brain thoroughly enjoyed learning about the world of car purchasing. I took xolito on his first roadtrip yesterday and WOW, my car was made to be driven in nature. 

I got called to be a Relief Society President, again. This time around is a different ball game. When I held this calling in the 97th ward mostly every sister was an RM/lifelong member, all the sisters lived within walking distance to each other, and most everyone was going to school or working full time. BYU wards are full of high-functioning people and it makes it so that these wards are mini leadership incubators. My home singles ward is made up of almost half-converts, covers three stakes, has a wide range of people in life stages and paths, and is very diverse. Back in November, a friend of mine told me, "I think you're going to be the next Relief Society president." I replied, "hard pass." I was fully invested in my call as Sunday school teacher, and felt like not much time had passed since I last served as a RS president. I wrote about our conversation in my journal that day and said, "If I were Relief Society President, I think my main focus or my main objective would be to train leaders," and I proceeded to write down the names of sisters I think would make great counselors and teachers. Then, the YSA ward in the stake I grew up in was dissolved, and our ward swallowed their ward boundaries. Two weeks later, I was asked to be Relief Society president. The timing of this whole thing has been a big point of reflection for me. When I wrote my journal entry back in November, I thought that IF I were called, for sure God would extend the call in March, post-bar exam. He knew how busy I was, and surely he wouldn't ask me to make something out of nothing. How wrong I was, I was put in the first Sunday of January. Trial by fire. Now that the bar is over with, I do have more time to put into my calling, but it's been a balancing act. (I might write more on this, later...)

Dating. Only real ones will read through this whole post, therefore only the true friends get to read this. :) In a recent FaceTime convo with a friend, she told me that since she's moved to a Polynesian ward, she's been hit on so much more. Her conclusion: "Provo is racist." haha! I wouldn't go that far, but I will say that since moving to a more diverse place, I've been asked out SO much more! I've been on a few dates with really great humans, but gah the struggle to feel equally yoked is so real. I was interested in someone here for a hot minute, but I think we're at different stages of ready. I'm passed the stage where texting games are fun. I'm pretty done with living in a land where plans don't come to fruition. I've got too much going on in my life, I can't do a relationship in limbo stage. 

Now that the bar is squared away, I can actually devote mental energy to focusing out post-school life. I don't know how to do this, but I know that I've spent the last 10 years training for it! Stay tuned, amigos. 

Probably one of my favorite perks of living in California again is living near my high school friends! This photo is from back in November when my parents threw a little gathering in honor of my passing the bar exam.