The last semester of law school was better than the first four were; Mark was interested in his classes, not very stressed about grades, and generally knew what professors were talking about. The spring was an unexpected and exhausting adventure for me in a long-term sub position as a one-on-one aid for an emotionally disturbed third grader who runs away from school when he doesn't get what he wants.
Mark graduated from law school! I'm so proud of him! And we're so happy to have that chapter closed. Will miss a few friends and ultimate frisbee in Austin (and living with my awesome in-laws!) but overall, it's been a lonely, difficult, dry season for both of us.
What's next, you ask? Well, not a week after graduation, and he's already back at the books, studying for the bar exam, which he will take in Virginia at the end of July. While he studies for these next two months, we're in Roswell, NM, with my family, including sweet nieces and nephews. :)
As for work, we're really excited that he was awarded a fellowship (think grant) to work on a project he created, serving limited English proficient clients who are victims of aggressive debt collection and payday/car title lending. He'll work for the same legal aid office he interned with last May-June in Harrisonburg, VA.
I will continue my master's program in Conflict Transformation at Eastern Mennonite University starting in August. I'm really excited to see where God leads me with this, as there are a number of areas of conflict in the Christian community that are on my heart right now.
We have a few more nieces/nephews on the way, this time on the Dawson side, and we're excited for the changes in the family.
Come visit us in the beautiful Shenendoah Valley! We'll be between Shenendoah National Park and George Washington National Forest. There are fireflies in the summer, pretty leaves in the fall…and we don't yet know what wonders the other seasons offer. Harrisonburg was also recently rated number 19 on the list of "Most exciting small cities in America"! We will have a spare room. Please come see it after August!
Some people are asking when we're leaving the country next, and we don't know the answer to that. We hope to be in Harrisonburg for two years then head overseas after that to put our educations to good use. Mark wants to pursue anti-corruption law. We're also seeking God about what it looks like for us to be parent-figures, which might include foster care? Please pray for us to hear and obey whatever God tells us about this.
