Arizona Trip and Law School Graduation

Due to a little calendering hiccup, we celebrated Logan and Ashley's birthday a month early the day the Farnsworth's arrived in Blanding on May 17.  Then we hitch hiked a ride with them in the Farnsworth-mobile for the law school graduation trip to Arizona.  Grandpa Sam Burdick, Ashley's parents,  Kerry and Kelly, along with Anthony, Ashley, Sam and Logan, and were all part of the entourage. 

We had a great trip down, with nice warm weather and no wind while we were there.     

    We all went to Karen and Stan Reidhead's on Friday night for a big celebratory bar-b-que for Anthony and Ryan (his study buddy and his family) and for Loren who just graduated from ASU.  Mark was also back from Russia, so there was a lot to celebrate.  I also forgot to take photos there also.  Nonetheless, the food was delicious and we all had a lot of fun.




Logan and Sam kept entertained with their i-pads while we waited for the ceremonies to begin.  I'll have to admit they are more efficient in reducing noise than the quiet books we used to use!




Ryan Smith and his wife with Anthony and Ashley.


















Saturday was the actual
graduation. Here Anthony is marching in with all his pomp and ceremonial
regalia.

It was wonderful seeing Anthony and Ashley attain this challenging goal of earning a law degree, and to see how focused and attentive Anthony was in not only studying the material but absorbing and remembering what he was taught.  His grades reflected his hard work as he graduated summa cum laude and also was selected to work on the Law Review after his first year.  It was truly a team effort and worth it. 

Anthony Passes the Bar and Nails first job!

   Though it seems somewhat backward in chronology, Anthony successfully passed the law bar exam in Utah, on his first try even before he officially graduated from Law School.
   We found out April 14 and celebrated via phone.  What a terrific accomplishment, and how great it was to have that pressure lifted from his shoulders.  We are so proud of him, and thankful for his good wife, who shooed him off to SLC for 6 weeks to take a prepatory class for the exam.  Her Uncle Parke donated his condo to the cause, and after that it was just study, study, study.
    Anthony only took one real break when he flew to Mesa when we went down to help Ashley clean out their home, prior to moving back to Mountain Home..

Once Anthony knew he passed the bar, he recontacted the Duschene County Attorney's office and let them know he was now "legal" as a lawyer, hoping there might be an opening there.  Because he had worked there his first summer as an intern, he had prior experience and connections with them.  They told him there was a slight chance they might be able to get the County Commissioners to let them hire another attorney.  Fortunately, the commission met to review the 2012 budget the following Monday, and they were able to present a proposal to hire Anthony on tract for the rest of the year.  It was approved on April 23, and he now has a job! A double blessing this month for them and everyone who has been praying for them.