My First Frisbee Tournament

My first tourney was at UNC January 25-26! We came in seated 4th and finished 2nd! So fun!!

This was us getting a sweet treat after playing all those games of frisbee!

Happy Birthday Papa Bear!!! :)

“My father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived, and let me watch him do it.” – Clarence Budington Kelland

So the quote is not spot on, because my dad does verbally instruct me how to live and helps guide my path, but I like this quote so much because I truly believe that actions do speak louder than words. My father verbalizes truths to me; but more importantly he lives and lets me watch him- and that is his greatest lesson. My dad teaches me to be organized, intentional, and balanced- I learn this from the way he keeps a home and does life. My dad teaches me to work hard and diligently; as working for the Lord and not for men. I see this in his work life; the way he works tirelessly as a Mortgage Loan Officer. My dad teaches me to be patient, forgiving, humble, persistent, and loving-- he does this by the way that he faithfully loves the women he married. And although they are divorced, he continues to feel called to love and care for her. I used to see it as weakness; I now see it as the strength and beauty of a man pursuing God obediently even when it is confusing or hard. I have always had a special relationship with my dad and I feel so incredibly blessed for that. And I'm sure he'll read this and think I was just going on and on about how great he is so for his sake I will create a disclaimer... My dad is not perfect (but man oh man is he pretty darn close). 

Dad, Happy Birthday. I love you so much and pray you have a blessed day. 
Love,
Grace-oline 

SNOW!!!!!!!!

I have got to upload pics! I just haven't had time yet. We got over a foot of snow last night. It was insane; it started snowing at 3pm and just did not stop! Although, only morning classes have been cancelled so I guess Blacksburg isn't shutting down. BUT lucky me, my first two classes were cancelled cause of snow and my 3rd class has been cancelled for a week because my professor had to go to a conference. No class for me today! Yay!

Last weekend was IV's Winter Conference at camp Rockbridge. SO GOOD! The theme was Gospel Justice, and it was super powerful. The speaker, Jonathan Walton, threw some real convicting, super awesome stuff at us. I really enjoyed the weekend, learning more about what the Bible has to say about justice (Isaiah 58) and reconciliation- as well as, spending time with my small group gals. Love those crazy girls. I think I definitely have the weirdest small group ever, seriously, such weirdos... but then again, the leaders (Jamie and I) are some weird chicks haha. Wouldn't want it any other way.

Got a Valentine's Day package from GG and PJ, which my roomies and I have been demolishing. I cannot believe it is already February 13th! That blows my mind. This year has FLOWN by! I have begun applying and interviewing for programs for next year. I cannot believe that this is my last semester at Tech. Then a summer semester in Florence, Italy and then who knows where I'll be! What an exciting place to be in life. I look forward to the adventure. That's all for now folks;)

"Back to Life, Back to Reality; Back to the Here and Now"

I am for sure a highly functional nerd. Katie and Sara made so much fun of me because as we were driving back I just had this moment where I got super stoked for classes. I genuinely enjoy learning (do I always love being swamped with homework.. no... but I enjoy the overall experience of reading and class discussions ect.) So we're back! Books ordered, schedules finally worked out, and coffee constantly being brewed;)

My schedule: M/W class 12:20-3:45 (Intro to Cinema which is crazy cool so far and then Global and Environmental Issues which is difficult but interesting, oh and a little depressing). M nights I have recitation... for Cinema.. which means we watch a movie haha- killer I know. Last night we watched Moonstruck which was um weird, but good. W mornings I have small group planning meeting in the morning (8:45) at Next Door Bake Shop and then I stay and do my online class. Next Door is so cute and I get to try different coffee drinks if I choose to so treat myself haha:) It is a really nice mid-week mood booster haha. W nights I have dinner with my small group (that Jamie and I started mid last semester) and then bible study. Tomorrow we officially begin again and we are studying John 4:46-54. We are studying different stories of God's power seen in John for the next 6 weeks. T/R class 9:30-1:45 (Public Speaking, Physical Geology, and Asian Religions). T nights I work 4:15-7 teaching the little tots ballet and jazz. So fun! R nights I have frisbee 4-6. Then I have an online class called Travel and Tourism Management, a good amount of work but definitely a doable class if I stay on top of it. FRIDAY EQUALS NO CLASSES!!!!!!!!!!! So happy about that!! 18 credits, 2 work shifts, some studyin of the Bible, and lots of fun and shenanigans in between!

Road Trip 2014

So my roommates Sara and Katie took a road trip with me at the end of break! It was a great adventure. Sara and I hitched rides from Richmond to Leesburg to Hamilton, New Jersey. There, Katie picked Sara and I up from our friend's house. We then drove to Sea Girt, NJ. We got to see where Katie worked in high school, the beach she grew up hanging out at, and more. We stayed at her mom and step dad's house, but were 5 minutes away from her Dad and step mom- so we got to spend time with them as well. Friday we woke up at 5:30 and took a train into New York City Baby!! Sara had never been, so it was really cool to be with her as she got to see all the highlights of NYC. We were tuckered out by 4pm though and so we trained it home. That night we had pizza with Katie's younger siblings and step mom which was a blast. We spent one more full day in Sea Girt: ate at the local diner, played apples to apples with Katie's mom and her friends, went to the melting pot for dinner!

Jersey to McLean, Va where we stayed a night with my family: the Alberi's. We went to dinner at Seasons 52 at Tyson's Corner which was super yummy. Then Monday morning we got a sweet VIP tour of the Capitol- my great uncle Bob hooked us up haha.

McLean to Norfolk where Sara and I got to meet my family. Monday we got in around 4 so we just hung with Meg and Nate and watched a movie. Tuesday we had lunch with Granga and Megan which was a blast! G is a hoot! And then Sara and Katie got the Virginia Beach tour and saw where I grew up, my elementary school, church, etc. Then dinner with Dad and the siblings at Captain Groovy's.

Norfolk to Richmond where Sara departed from us to head home to Charlotte, NC. Katie and I spent Wednesday afternoon in Goochland visiting the farm and camp. We then had dinner at Steve and Mandy's house. It was really good to catch up with them, and cool for Katie to see everything I experienced this summer with my internship. Then Thursday we hung in Richmond with Owen and Jordan: did Cary town, went ice-skating, had dinner at Owen's house.

Richmond to Lynchburg. Katie and I visited GG and PJ for the night. We went to Indian for dinner which was a treat! Then waffles for breakfast and we hit the road: Tech bound.

Now we're home! It was a great road trip, but it's so nice to be settled in. Classes start tomorrow, I'm really excited but I am taking 18 credits which is gonna kick my butt:/ Oh well. I'll make it work, always do.

Central Park

Sara and I outside the Today show

Melting Pot: SO MUCH FOOD!!!!!

Rockefeller

Time Square

Rosa Parks statue at the Capitol in DC

Dinner with Papa John, Grandma Gracie, and Katie

Georgia! Christmas 2013!

This year for Christmas, the kids stayed at home for Christmas morning (our awesome grandparents from Lynchburg came to stay with us for Christmas Eve and Day-- Grandma Gracie and Papa John) but we then headed to Georgia for Christmas night. Chrissy (our lovely aunt) and her husband Matt opened their home to us and showed us a fabulous time in Tucker, Georgia. We arrived in GA around 5 on Christmas day, we arrived to a lovely Christmas meal: pot roast, sweet potato casserole, and honey corn muffins. Delicious! Oh and dessert was criminal: peppermint ice-cream pie (which includes oreos, thick chocolate fudge sauce, and peppermint ice-cream). We stayed Wednesday till Saturday and had a great trip! Hiking, serving at an awesome organization in Atlanta, movies, a bonfire and s'mores, shopping, amazing food. It was overall a very special, family filled, and fun.

Me, Nate, and Meg. When did Nathan become a man?!?

Nate, Megan, Chrissy (my aunt), me, and Michelle (Chrissy's good friend)

Nate, Matt (uncle), Chrissy, me and Meg

Nate, Me, Megan, Chrissy, and Matt

On top of Stone Mountain in Georgia. Such a great hike. 

The crew at the Atlanta Union Mission.

Christmas Parade!

Once again, this post is super late. Whoops. Charlotte, Katy, Katie, and I went to the Blacksburg Christmas parade December 6th. I could only stay for 20 minutes, because I had to attend my last 180 as MC of IV. None the less, it was a blast. I got a free candy cane and got to see the kids in the highschool band playing and the girl scouts marching. So good. My saying this year has been "Christmas soul." Like I said that going to the Christmas parade (even though it was only for 20 min) was necessary for my Christmas Soul. Or seeing the Christmas lights, or drinking hot cocoa... all to satiate the Christmas soul haha. Anyways, home now. Stoked to rest, hang with friends, hang with the fam, go to Georgia to see my aunt and uncle. So much fun to come! 

Charlotte, Katy and I

Roommate Katie! 

Roommate (from last year) Katy

CHRISTMAS PARADE!!!!!

Fake snow! What!?