"Why would I wanna be anywhere else?"

The new semester has begun and I am glad to say that I have high hopes for the next few months. My motivation is at an all time high and I find myself getting all my work done on time or sometimes even ahead of time. Although we are only a few weeks into the new semester, I am trying to keep a positive mindset and pray it will carry on through until May!!


I thought that a pictorial glimpse of the past few months would be fun, because everyone loves photos!

Even with all of the stresses of my exams and work, I managed to spend some quality time with my room mates and friends to spread a little bit of Holiday cheer.

*Our "Charlie Brown" Christmas Tree**we took our decorating skills to a whole new level*

After exams, I went home for a much needed break! It was a blast getting to spend time with my friends and family. My house was decorated with not one...not two...NOT three but SIX Christmas trees. It's not something that is a norm in my family, my mom just really got into the Christmas spirit...to the highest extreme!

*This is our traditional Christmas tree we have every year.*

*This is a tree that was decorated for an auction that raises money for Hospice*
*My mom used to have an aluminum tree when she was a kid, so now we have one too*
*I've had this tree ever since I was born.*

*My mom bought this red tree and used some old dough ornaments to decorate it with*
*We donned this tree in our kitchen*

To say the least, we had A LOT of trees in our house this Christmas!! Over break, my parents and I went to a place called BrookGreen Gardens. During the holidays, they have a festival every year known as the "Night of a Thousand Candles". Brookgreen is a place full of beautiful sculptures and gardens, and for four weeks they keep the gardens open at night on the weekends. There are many different white tents that house special events such as Christmas carolers and a reading of a Christmas Carol as well as the piano stylings of the famous Rocky Fretz.

*Rocky is one of the greatest musicians of all times, he used to play piano at our church as well as at the Carolina Opry. He is one of the nicest people I know!*
*At home it was never under 60 degrees...ever! I even got to go to the beach one day with my friend. The sun was always shining and we called it the Christmas of July. A bunch of my friends got together at my friend's house for a bonfire on one of the more cooler nights. Most of these people I've known since I was in 2nd grade; it's always great when everyone is home at the same time from our respective colleges.*
*Santa brought me a macbook and some sick skull candy headphones. It was a great Christmas!!*

When I got back to Boone, it was cold and snowy. These past few weeks we have been getting quite a lot of snow. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, my roomates and a friend got together and went sledding around campus. I came away from it without any injuries!!

*Sledding down a hill in Sanford Mall*
*My roomates, Emily and Channing, and I getting ready to go down the hill!*

2009 is going to be a year of new ideals and I believe great moments. I am looking forward to my classes and continuing my collegiate journey here at App.

Until next time,

-Abbie