"Here's to the bright New Year, and a fond farewell to the old; here's to the things that are yet to come, and to the memories that we hold."

How wonderful it feels to be both back home again and on the brink of a new year.

Quick weekend recap: Traveled to Maryland early this week and spent two much-needed nights with my grandfather; I would drive up there again myself if I could just to relive the joy on his face when we were there. After Maryland, we headed down the coast to our nation's capital to watch the Military Bowl, but unfortunately, the Pirates faced a devastating defeat. But it was still a lot of fun, especially at the tailgating party beforehand! We decided to spend the night in the city and ended upstrolling around DC afterwards, looking at all the city lights and buildings thatremained decorated for Christmas. (Gosh, I just love the buzz and the people and the window displays in cities like Washington. I am such a city girl!) We woke up this morning for a brisk walk and grabbed breakfast before heading back to North Carolina. And let me just say, the day ended perfectly (that is besides the bumper-to-bumper traffic for three hours). A double-overtime bowl game with an insane finish, and my Heels pulled out a 30-27 win! Born a Pirate, bred a Tar Heel.

Anywho, I already posted about some of my memories from this year. I'm so ready for a fresh start, for the new year feels like it turns over a new leaf for me. I know it's just the next day on the calendar, but there's something enlivening and unexpected about what's to come when the ball drops. First night here I come!

Belle of the Ballet

Rodarte's drawing for the White Swan in the film Black Swan. The costume on Natalie Portman, in my opinion, was picaresque. In terms of the ballet, my favorite between the two will remain the Black Swan (Odile), because of her precise movements, fierce fouettes, and overall eccentric demeanor. But I fell in love with the costume's elaborate headpiece and use of tulle and feathers. Gorgeous, darling!

I think the bizarre/horrific parts of the movie have worn off, so I might listen to my Swan Lake soundtrack as I travel this week. I'm heading up north to Maryland and then Washington D.C. for the ECU bowl game, then to Charlotte for the weekend. I'm almost getting used to living out of my duffel.

Holiday Heaven

This is what happens when I have too much time on my hands. I surf the internet for entirely too long, drooling over things I can't afford.

Holiday Heaven by julieemayo featuring a wrap ring

BUT I did purchase those velvet Gap flats today in navy blue for $4.76. Thank you thank you thank you, after-Christmas sales.

Two Thousand and Ten

What a year.

With the snow falling six inches deep outside, keeping me snuggled inside for the morning with endless cups of coffee and homemade lattes, I have some time to reflect on what the year Two Thousand and Ten has brought.

• Second semester senior year. A trying time for me, I can remember praying for high school to end, I was so ready to get out of there. Those months were filled with both good and bad. I learned to persevere and love my (fr)enemies; I learned the value of true friendships. I fell in love with my newspaper position and knew I would miss it greatly. Loved the laid-back feel in my classes after receiving my acceptance letter, hated being idle. Prom, Charleston, graduation. Looking back, it flew by, despite my feelings at the time that it could never come soon enough.

• A lovely summer. The first of which I mostly stayed home, working at a summer camp and enjoying time off. Stayed away from relationships and got back on my own two feet, becoming genuinely content with being single for the first time in a long time. Visited my grandmother for the final time, met my beautiful new cousins, spent time with my best friends. Entered the blogging world.

• Entire semester at college. Phew. Never would I have guessed college would have been so busy. I got through it, blessed by the formation of new friendships and suitemates who continually demonstrate Christ's love. Love my sorority, love my campus. Struggles came with old friends, but I couldn't bear to lose the lifelong treasure that only they can possess. Began to meddle through my passions, grew a desire to study in Spain for a semester next year. Cocktail parties, finals, my 19th birthday. Tough choices and experiences. Tears, celebration, concentration, and laughter encapsulated these past few months.

Who knows what the year Two Thousand and Eleven will bring.

Cheers

Enjoy this special day with the ones you love, and I wish you all a very

Twas the day before Christmas

Have you noticed that Christmas Eve is one of the busiest days of the year? There's the cooking, the baking, the last-minute shopping, the cleaning, and of course, the wrapping. All of which I should probably be a bigger help ;).

Although I love the craziness, my favorite part about Christmas comes at the candlelight service this evening. When all the lights go down and one candle is lit, continuing to be passed row by row until the whole sanctuary is consumed by a chorus of voices singing Silent Night and the lights of flickering candles. So gorgeous it almost feels magical.

Can'ts Into Cans

Peanut Butter Perfection

Probably my favorite cookie of all time. Baked these goodies last night and seriously couldn't stop eating the batter. Goodbye waistline?

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
recipe from Maria Vastola

1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 egg
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped (any kind, but Maria used Caramel Kisses and Hugs)

Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit. Combine ingredients. Roll into 1" balls, roll balls in sugar. Bake on cookie sheet for about 10-12 minutes. Top with chocolate Kiss immediately upon removal from oven.

Winter Wonderland

I cannot possibly get enough of this wondrous season.

*Not pictured but things I love nonetheless:

Christmas carols, the buzzing activity at the mall, chiming bells in the sanctuary, holiday classics like White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life, and snuggling up on the couch for an afternoon of endless Hallmark Christmas movies.

And I better go ahead and mention how much I've fallen in love with the entire second chapter of Luke all over again. I memorized it as a kid, but back then it just didn't hold this kind of power for me. My pastor preached on a few of its verses this morning, and I've been reflecting all day about how much depth and beauty is in this one single passage of Scripture. Not only is it packed full of the history of Christ's lineage, it gives insight into what made up that beautiful night. It's more than just the Christmas story, it's a story of life and salvation. It's a story of His mercy and forgiveness, and of a Child born as our gift.

Note To Self

"The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter."

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."

I'll Be Home For Christmas

I'm home I'm home I'm home! I was so ready to throw all my crap in the car, hit the road, and head back to Raleigh after my last exam. It was probably the most beautiful feeling in the world, to finally be free from those long days of intense note-taking, highlighting, and paper-writing. Oh, and of course studying my tush off. Worst part of college by far.

But it's over, and I am overcome with joy.

First off, let me make a few points.

Point A: You never know how amazing a queen sized bed feels after you've been sleeping on a nasty worn-out twin sized one at college. Especially after you've been told that your room used to be the room of two gross freshman boys.

Point B: The only bad part about breaks is being away from the rooms/suitemates. Love y'all.

Point C: Why have I not listened to Train until now, besides their overplayed singles that is? They are incred. Parachute is a current favorite.

Point D: I'm convinced Kate Middleton is flawless. Not only is she engaged to Prince William, she's freaking gorgeous. And I'm a teensy eensy bit jealous, if you couldn't tell. I want her wardrobe, her sapphire ring, her hair. Ugh some people just have it all.

Point E: Flash raves are scary. And so are psychological thrillers involving Swan Lake melodies. Quite horrifying, actually.

Point F: I. Am. Going. To. Blog. More. No more finalssss! Take that Chapel Hill education. All A's and 1 B, what up, I think I can handle you. Maybe I'll even apply for the DTH next semester?

Point G: I'm 19. What an awkward age. It's sort of like 17, but not as cool because you're in college now, not high school. But holy wow next year I'll be 20, which sounds way more legit.

Point I: Have I mentioned how good it is to be home?

Exams...

suck the life out of me.

11/29/10

Life can sure throw curveballs.

For some reason last night I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned all night, my mind going on all sorts of tangents and trails. My phone rang around 7:50 this morning. It was my dad. My dear grandmother passed away around 5:45 this morning. We all knew the inevitable, that she was close to going home to her place in heaven. But I didn't think today would have been the day.

I'll admit. Yesterday I was incredibly selfish. My cousin called my mom, asking her to drive to Maryland since my Mommom was really not doing well. They just moved her into a nursing home last week, and her poor little heart was failing. But I wanted my mom to stay, so we could have one final relaxing day of Thanksgiving break, and so she could help me settle back in at school. I didn't want her to go. But now I can only be thankful that she went, that she was there, resting next to Mommom all night. It's difficult losing such a sweet grandmother, I can't imagine what it's like to lose a mother.

I have to keep reminding myself that she's in a better place. I can't think about losing her here on this earth. She was my only grandmother left, and she will forever hold a special place in my heart. I'll aspire to share her strong-willed spirit and cherish the memories we had. I'll remember her preciseness about her clothes and how she fixed every meal when we visited; I'll remember reading her letters to Poppop during the war. She won't be sitting on the front row of my wedding or be able to hold my children, but she will be present, watching us from above. She'll be with Jesus and that's what matters.

Thankful

I'm thankful for lifelong friends. For holidays spent with the family. For traditions. For love. For memories. For reconciliation. For smiles. For joy. For spontaneity. For the love of Christ. For life.

I'm thankful for snuggling up in warm sweaters. For wearing Jacks in November. For beach music played at weddings. For the smell of coffee brewing when I wake up. For rainy afternoons. For eating too much and not worrying about it until tomorrow. For driving with the windows down. For homemade bread right out of the oven. For good books I can't possibly put down. For singing at the top of my lungs on the car ride back home. For sleeping in. For drooling over Chuck Bass on Monday nights. For sappy Hallmark movies. For boys in bowties. For people who are much more musically talented than I. For sparkly headbands. For staying in pajamas all day. For monogramming anything that stands still long enough. For good music that reminds me of high school. For college tailgates. For being single and not knowing what's in store.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mountain and the Sea

^Miss my roomie. (And her incred closet.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4ToOLDTh6s

Ingrid, you give me chills.

You can move me if you want to

You can move a mountain, you can move everything

Untitled.

Thanksgiving is oh so close. I cannot contain my joy.

I'm so amazed by how things have fallen into place these past couple days. When you finally realize that you can be wrong, when you learn to understand how another feels and start to see from their perspective, when you forgive and let go. It's an amazing feeling.

Here's a little something I've been working since last night, but I can't seem to come up with a title. Suggestions would be much appreciated.

He trudges on, pedaling arduously. He travels for miles and miles, with nothing but the sound of bicycle tires spinning on the pavement. June’s rays illuminate the road ahead but harshly darken the skin around his Teva-sandaled feet. Carrying merely what his bike can hold, he moves forward to the next destination on the map. Distinct white lines catch the corner of his eye as he looks for a place to rest his head for the night. Sunset falls; he sets up camp and sleeps until dawn. Day breaks; he awakens in search of a nearby diner before embarking again toward the California coast. This morning, bitter black coffee will just have to do. He climbs back on his beloved 1970 Schwinn bicycle in search for something new to behold. Perhaps he’ll meet a friendly face or encounter a mountain range or even take a wrong exit off the highway and find himself terribly lost. Distance and solitude encompass his journey. Time stops, only nature consumes his thoughts. Away from home and away from a schedule, he desires only the necessary and relishes in the peace of endless possibility.

He began his journey in Emerald Isle, mid-spring, with another bicyclist. After his companion grew weary of the tour and regressed home, he traveled solo, biking an average of seventy miles a day. To catch his breath, he stayed with a fine southern family in Georgia who provided absolute luxury in terms of a warm shower and cake for his twenty-fourth :) birthday. He faced challenges as the weeks progressed—backtracking eighteen miles for a forgotten book bag in South Carolina, two broken spokes in Mississippi, a sprinkler accident underneath his tent in Texas, voracious winds in Oklahoma (that made reading Grapes of Wrath during his travels absolutely fitting), and waiting hopelessly for a bike shop to open. Nevertheless, he continued. Although short-lived, he developed friendships with fellow cyclists and even learned the art of bee removal in Albuquerque. Deep conversations marked his contact with the people he encountered, giving him a respite from loneliness. But it was in the quiet moments, under his “speckled sky,” that he found peace. These were the moments he spent watching the desert sunsets, the moments he spent overlooking the immense Pacific Ocean, the moments he spent basking in the glory of the redwood forests. Sheltered by the shimmering stars and nestled between the rolling hills of the coast, he laid down to sleep, reminiscing his cross-country travel. Thinking. Dreaming. Believing.

Who is this he you ask? He is my brother—a brother five years older than I. A brother I never learned to appreciate until I noticed the zest and sparkle that characterized his life. Growing up, he and I were on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Always musically and poetically talented, he cared less about grades or society’s standards. Not afraid of change and always requiring very little, he did things for the sake of adventure and discovery, eventually earning money along the way to backpack across Europe. I, on the other hand, was the straight A student and a perfectionist in all sense of the word. I was the girl running back and forth from ballet class, the girl working draining hours after school in the newspaper room, the girl spending her Sunday afternoons scribbling to-do lists all over her planner. I guess that’s what makes us so different. But no matter the difference, he has something in himself that deep down I aspire to share. Do I have the ambition to travel alone across the country without the daily comforts that I am so accustomed to? Probably not. But his voyage emphasized contentment in a slower-paced way of life, serene moments of escape, and a return to a simplicity that I someday wish to experience myself. He saw the world from a different perspective—a perspective shaped by lush surroundings and meaningful individuals who helped him along the way. But most importantly, his perspective was shaped by embarking on a goal and achieving it, on his own, atop two wheels.

How To Have a Lovely Day

Fall Showcase

Dancing felt so wonderful last night. I've forgotten how it makes me feel just to move to the music, stop thinking about the steps, and enjoy the moments onstage. And the fact that everyone in the showcase was dancing for the joy of dancing was such a breath of fresh air. I think that's what made it so special. No matter how busy life can get, dancing always takes me away, somewhere where I don't have to think about the million things running through my mind, somewhere where I'm given an escape, somewhere where I'm at peace.

Davis Library, perfect blogging spot.

Parents cocktail at the Carolina Inn

Senior/freshman get-together

Parents brunch

UNC vs. VT tailgate

A photo update will just have to do for now since the book stacks are calling my name, but it really has been a wonderful weekend.

Color and Glitter Galore

Parents cocktail tonight! If only I had...

1. This closet.

2. These ballet flats.

Thursday's Thoughts

Thank God it's the day before Friday. Which means one more full week until Thanksgiving break! ::victory dance::

Yesterday threw me for a loop. Assignments kept seeming to build up, my body was drained, class scheduling was a nightmare, and putting pointe shoes on for the firsttime in five months made my feet throb. You know, not that I'm complaining or anything. But I sure am ready to spend time with my family, catch up on sleep, and just chilllll (even though I know I'll be spending most of the break racking my brain for a topic to write about for my creative paper for English).

Since it's been awhile, here's my current obsessions list:

Glee's Teenage Dream this week, Top O before cocktails, yoga unit in LFIT, Caribou's chai tea, bright red nail polish, the new Harry Potter trailer, afternoon naps, oatmeal for breakfast, orange gerber daisies from ADPi, Tay Swift's new album, and the following three pictures with my girls.

This Is Your Life

Good reminder huh? It's currently the comp wallpaper (:

I apologize blog, I really do. I am such a slacker. And I hateee that all this time has gone by without updating. I can hardly fathom that my first semester of college is almost over. It's been an absolute whirlwind. I feel like I'm constantly on the go, jacked up on caffeine, desperately trying to get some zzz's in between my studies. And you know what, I LOVE it. I feel in my element here, there's really no other way to put it. I love going to Caribou on Monday afternoons, I love chapter meetings (no matter how long they go), I love sitting on the library steps sipping white mochas and reading the DTH, I love the energy and the people and the work ethic and the diversity. I love walking to class watching a spontaneous dance party erupt, I love Gossip Girl nights in the dorm, I love splashing in puddles on rainy days (or rather falling in puddles on rainy days), I love Friday mornings to myself with God's Word.

On another note, some things have propped up in my life that's made me realize a few things, specifically about change.

"Change is the essence of life; be willing to surrender who you are for who you could become."

"Sometimes you just need to distance yourself from people. If they care, they'll notice. If they don't, you know where you stand."

Change is inevitable, especially in college. People can say what they want, telling you you're turning into a completely different person, or that you're not the person that they want you to be. But you know what? Maybe a new environment is making you the person you're supposed to be. Maybe the new faces, the new experiences, your new-found ideas morph you into someone for the better. There's only so much you can do to please these people. Sometimes it's better to leave them be, stand on your own two feet for awhile, and trust your instincts. Change can be scary, but nonetheless necessary.

Words of Wisdom

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

-Dr. Seuss

Falling for Fall

Autumn—the smell of fresh air, crisp colorful leaves, wool sweaters, cardigans, argyle socks, riding boots, hot soup, pumpkin spice lattes. I cannot waitttt.

Chapel Hill, I'm begging you to cool down just a bit.

Sand, Surf, and Sisterhood

I leave for Charleston tomorrow with my beautiful sisters. And I couldn't be more excited.

(And just to throw this out there about the game on Saturday...go Heels AND Pirates!)

Being Perfect

A devotional that showed up in my email today. It was too good not to post, so here you go.

By Rachel Olsen

"Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God." Romans 8:5-6 (MSG)

Devotion:

There's a moment I dread when going to the doctor for a check-up. It's not putting on that tissue paper rectangle they mistakenly call a "gown." It's not having my finger pricked for blood tests - though I'm really squeamish about that. It's the moment right after the nurse finishes her questions, grabs her clip board, and announces the doctor will be in to see me shortly. Pulling the door closed behind her, she leaves me alone with it.

I already know what it's going to say about me; I've read it before. It's going to say that I don't measure up. That I'm not reaching my potential. That I don't equal my ideal. It's the height/weight chart that declares the perfect weight for my height - and I'm several pounds away.

It extends no mercy. It offers no grace. It makes no allowances for how old I am, how many babies I've birthed, or the fact that my husband can eat three plates of food every night without gaining an ounce. It demands perfection.

A few years ago I heard a verse that seemed to be the scriptural equivalent of the height/weight chart. A single verse to measure my worth against, and feed my expectations for perfection: "But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matt 5:48, NIV)

I figured this verse justified dressing my family in matching sweaters, in the middle of July, to take the Christmas card photo because I'd just gotten the perfect haircut. I figured it warranted pricey tooth whitening treatments because I drink coffee and tea, and it shows. And I figured it would be my defense when I drove my family nuts about deep-cleaning the entire house because my new friend said she might stop by.

While the verse came in handy when I needed to justify my quest for perfect teeth, perfect photos or a perfectly clean house, it added to my disappointment, guilt and occasional loathing when my life, body or family didn't match the ideal notions in my head. Rather than fostering perfection, it fueled my self-criticism. Surely this is not what Jesus intended!

In the years since hearing that verse, I've embraced a core conviction that goes like this: If God created life, He alone gets to define it. This conviction drove me to find out what exactly Jesus meant by "be perfect."

Matthew wrote this verse. And the word he used in the ancient Greek language means something a little different than Mr. Webster's English definition. The Greek word here is teleos and it means "complete, full grown, developing."

The first two pieces of that definition indicate something already accomplished, while the third indicates an ongoing process. So this perfection Jesus prescribes for us is already complete and yet still developing. Complete in Him; still at work in us. We're allowed to be a work-in-progress!

All parts of this definition, however, refer to maturity of character, rather than a flawless figure, immaculate home, or the faultless execution of a task. Jesus just doesn't care so much if there's dust on our mantle, a stain on our teeth, or a scratch on our car. He isn't interested in how well our bedspread matches our curtains; He's interested in our spiritual maturity. Jesus teaches I will not find my worth in my ability to reach my perfect weight or accomplish my to-do list flawlessly, but in the fact that I am learning to reflect His character. To graciously give and receive love.

That's good news for a recovering perfectionist. Plus, as John writes in 1 John 3:18-19 of The Message: "My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it."

Dear Lord, thank You for grace! Thank You for mercy! Thank You for empowering me to be like You as I submit to Your Word. And thank You for not caring about dust bunnies or stained shirts. Help me to care less about those things as well and focus my heart more on You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

Spend time reading through the gospels, noticing what concerned Jesus and what did not.

Reflections:

What surface-level thing(s) have you been worrying over lately?

If it's not about your character, let it go as imperfect and rest in God's grace today.

Power Verses:

Phil 3: 8-9, "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith," (NASB)

Big-Time Business

I sure am slackin' in terms of this blog business. College is kicking my butt, I'm in the midst of midterms, I feel like blah, and all I want to do is wallow and crawl into my little twin bed. And on another note, my dorm has horrible coffee cups. I mean really people. That eensy bit of caffeine does absolutely nothing for me.

What is it with Tuesdays? The school week isn't half over, and the looming presence of assignments keeps me too stressed for my taste. In my mind they're worse than Mondays. But then again, I'm in this weird nothing is going my way funk today.

So I went home this past weekend, and it was ah-ma-zing. Even though I mainly sat on my bed and did homework and practiced speaking Spanish into the computer for forever long, it felt like my old study sessions in high school. Coming back here was difficult, if I'm going to be honest. I guess just some things felt wrong, and my life feels kind of out of whack. Yeah, I'll just leave it there. I'm at a loss for what to say.

Since this bad mood of mine is getting the best of me, I thought I should come up with a "looking forward to" list.

• Tuesday night worship
• Alpha retreat in CHARLESTON this weekend
• Mallard Ball
• ECU Homecoming

Pleaseee come soon.

Wait! Photo update!

Here's a picture of my Big and I. She's such a beautiful person, inside and out!

peace, love, and adpi

WHY do I never have time to blog? I'm a freaking college student, that's why.

But wait, some good news! I'm an ADPI!!! And I am so thankful. It was a last minute decision, but I know I wrote down that name for a reason. And I'm excited as hell to find out what that reason is. I. Am. So. Pumped. (Excuse the corniness of these next two sentences) But hello, my dream came true! I am finally a sorority girl.

Okay, updates updates. First of all, classes are hard here. Everyone is smart and I can hardly get a word in edgewise in my smaller classes. I feel dumb, but heck, honestly, that's perfectly dandy with me. Second, I got a hair cut. (Eh no, I got my hair CHOPPED off and I donated it.) And being the worst hair-savvy person on the planet, I cannot style it at all. Third, I love the girls I've met here. (Not so much the boys, but that's another matter.) Every time we go out, whether it's for a night out on the town or a Ben & Jerry's run when we're having a horrid day, I'm continually surprised by them. They are solid ladies, and I'm so happy I chose this school, especially for the reason that I have the privilege of meeting these girls. Fourth, I've been in this weird funk this past week. Maybe it was just rush, or I was a bit homesick, or something else...can't quite put my finger on it. One moment I'm crying to my mom and the next I'm on the top of the world. So weird. But maybe that's just freshman year in college. Fifth, despite my nervous breakdowns and meltdowns, I love Carolina. It's the absolutely perfect fit for me. I couldn't have asked for a better roommate or suitemates, or group of friends. And I can freaking dance here. It's wonderfulllll.

Alright, enough for now. Mark Twain's Roughing It is calling my name.

College Girl in a College World

Quick bits on a Tuesday night. (I really do apologize for my extreme lack of time to blog. It's no good.)

But let me just get some of this off my chest...

I can't wait to cut my hair and give it away to locks of love. Rush starts WEDNESDAY. I have to lay out my outfits pronto. Everyone here is brilliant. I love my English professor. I hate myspanishlab.com. I think I would marry a Clef Hanger on the spot. Free t-shirts are the best. I took a two and a half hour nap today and it was wonderful. I have yet to do laundry. Weekends pass too quickly. 8 a.m. classes are a pain in the butt. I kind of sorta know my way around. I'm excited about so many things coming up, Campus Crusade, recruitment, football games, Bible study, and Carolina Style. EEK.

Home Sweet Home

Holy moly.

I am a college student. I've been here for the past four days and everything has been beyond my wildest dreams, Carolina is amazing. I'm overwhelmed of course, especially when I saw the size of just my class grade at convocation yesterday. It was INSANE. I'm not quite sure what's in store for me here, I'm scared and excited and overjoyed. I've met so many wonderful people; my roommates are an absolute blessing. People here have such a zest for life, it's been so refreshing. On the other hand, classes start tomorrow, and for the first time in a long time, I am ready to get to work. I like routine so this whole not knowing what's next feeling is kind of stressful.

Side notes: Rush is coming up next week. And who knew it was such a formal event?! I better step up my game. AND I think I'm going to join some kind of Christian organization, I'm excited to see what God has in store!

Alright, here's the dorm pictures. After three days of hard work, I think it finally came together!

The roomie...

And our little humble abode...

The High Country

A few photos from this past weekend. I apologize for not being able to write lately, all this packing craziness has me tied up! (And it's made me want to pull my hair out, but we won't get into that.)

Hiking at Hebron Rock Colony

Elk River Falls

Grandfather Mountain

The New River Winery