"The Best of Times is Now"

WOW!! This week has flown by, or should I say December has flown by.  This time of the year is just so busy that it seems to get here and then its gone by the snap of a finger. 

I've really learned a lot about myself and who I am these last few weeks that I've been home and had some time to myself.  Sometimes you get so caught up everything thats going on with everyone else's lives that you forget what it is you want.  I know I do that a lot and its so easy to do but its important that we as human beings remember to ask ourselves "well what is it we really want out of life?"  Life comes and goes way to quickly to not focus on what you want out of life. 

One thing that I've really focused on lately is making God the center of my life.  I know that I can come to God for anything and he can get me through anything but I have to follow his plan and do the work that he has set out for me. 


Another thing I've learned while on my break is I have some AMAZING friendships that I have built over the years.  I hate that there are not enough hours in the day or enough days in the week to see everyone and hangout with everyone but as long as I can keep in contact with my friends and see them as much as I possibly can, I know that I will have these friends forever because thats just the kind of people they are!!!!

Here is a picture of my best friends at our Christmas Gift Exchange/ Dinner/Movie Night!!!

We are a crazy bunch when we are together, but we're always happy when we all get together!!

FAMILY

Well what can I say besides the fact that I love my family so much and they are always here for me through thick and thin!!  Family is about being there for one another and loving one another!  I am blessed beyond words. 

Can't belive tomorrow night is Christmas Eve!!  Excited to have the family over for a special Christmas get-together! 

Christmas is in 2 days and I leave 4 days from today for my Trip!! 

Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!!!

Liz

LOL

I always LOVE Christmas break!  There are always so many exciting events and things going on everywhere.  I really enjoy the part where I can sleep in, this doesn't happen in Wilmington since I decided to take 8 AM classes... Yesterday I started my day off with a trip to the gym early in the morning.  My day doesn't feel right or complete if I haven't ran.  There is just something about running that gives me this AMAZING feeling.  I am very passionate about running and staying in shape, I hope to still be running at an old age! 

After the workout and spending some time at home my family and I went to my twin cousin's 2nd birthday party, YES they are two twin girls and they are absolutely precious!!  Morgan reminds me of my cousin Megan when I use to babysit her as a baby.  Megan and I have a lot of precious memories together!  I love her so much and enjoy the little time that we are able to spend together.  My cousin Jessica was at the party yesterday too, we do love taking us some pictures hahaha!!!  I love all of my cousins so much and enjoy every minute I spend with them!  It was so nice spending time with my family! I have learned one thing through my lifetime that no matter what, your family is always going to be there for you and love you!  What a great feeling knowing that you are blessed with wonderful people to surround your life.  They all mean so much to me. 

I also had a lot of fun last night with some great friends!!  Olivia, Daniel, and Matt (some of my great friends from high school) and myself all went out to a comedy club last night and hung out.  We had the best time and the comedy club I will have to admit was pretty funny!  I did laught out loud, p.s. the name of the club was LOL!!! hehe I thought that was funny!  We all had such a great time though and enjoyed catching up with each other.  Its always a good time when your in Johnston County.  Olivia stayed with me last night and we had such a good time catching up and laughing about our funny, crazy, and wonderful memories from our cruise we took last summer!  Olivia is one of my closest friends from high school, I am so blessed to have great friends! 

Tonight my mom and me went to our Church Christmas Program, I always enjoy going to this each year.  Its so nice to think about the true reason for the season and the birth of baby Jesus!  I loved the play and catching up with some great Church friends! 

What a great weekend!!!

Eliz

Home for the Holidays!!

Well what can I say, it has been one AMAZING Winter break already.  I've spent so much time with my family, they mean so much to me.  Although Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday, I do enjoy Christmas very much.  Although you can't forget the reason for the season. 

Right after Thanksgiving my mom and I put the Christmas Tree up.  Its so beautiful and sparkles with red and gold bulbs and decorations that we've had for ages.  I absolutely LOVE decorating the Christmas tree, in fact I do it every year, so everyone else knows not to put the tree up until I'm home!  ONce the Christmas tree is decorated, then we move on to decorating the rest of the house.  Since I've been home for break me and my dad have added a little Christmas touch to the Fireplace.  I hung the stockings, put out the Manger Scene, and we decorated our stairs and hallway upstairs with with pretty greenery and lights.  And of course you can't forget the outside lights and decorations, my dad did these.

One of my favorite traditions during the Holiday season is going to Church and enjoying being with friends and the loving people of our Church.  Last Sunday all the ladies enjoyed a Christmas Tea, I love going to this every year, it is so much fun.  Laura a friend from high school went with me and of course my mom was there and we listened to our Sunday School teacher talk about Baby Jesus and how we need to surround our lives around Jesus and ask what we can do to change ourselves to do better for Jesus.

Over break I have also met with some of my friends from high school and enjoyed spending time with them.  Tuesday I had lunch with Heather a friend I've had since elementary school, we've been through a lot together.  After we ate, we shopped around and enjoyed window shopping LOL!!  I'm also excited to be spending time with my friends: Brittany, Sam, Jessica, and Allison next week.  We always have the best time when we are together, but thats what happens when you've been best friends forever!

Now that there are 9 days to Christmas, it also means that there are 11 days before I leave for Europe, crazy I know!!!  I am having a hard time figuring out how to pack everything that I need to fit into one suitcase.  With as many clothes, scarves, and shoes as I have this could most definitely be a big problem.  I will fit it all in there somehow.  Ahh I am so EXCITED to be going on this trip, it will be a life-changing experience for me and I CANNOT wait!

There are just so many things I want to do before I graduate from UNCW, and time is running out.  I will graduate next December with my degree in Accounting!  As exciting as it is, it is also so very scary.  I don't know where my road will take me after that.  Hopefully to come back and receive my Masters at UNCW!!  I couldn't have chosen a better school for myself, it completes me.

I am so BLESSED!! 
I thank God every day for all that he has provided me with and given me.


Until next time!
~Liz

Sometimes its HARD to understand the way our lives work,

but if you work hard enough for something and are passionate about something just follow your dream and you'll reach it!! 

Be patient and don't ever lose sight of

your dream, some things just take time 

Life is about your journey and what you do to get there!

Fall 2010 Semester COMPLETE!!

I am finally on Christmas Break =) 

I have waited for this day for a while now... It has probably been my hardest semester but I am sure glad its over.  I completed Intermediate II Accounting and Advanced Managerial Accounting this semester and I still want to do Accounting, so I guess thats a good thing =)  Last year I got really discouraged with my Intermediate I Accounting class, I was so overwhelmed with all the work and just wasn't really sure if accounting was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.... I am glad that I followed through with my goal and stuck with Accounting, I think it will pay off in the long run.  I am a very organized person, and enjoy numbers, so I think its my calling.  

I don't really know what the future holds for me but I do know that several of my accouting friends want to move to New York after we get our MSA and work in the BIG CITY =)  I think it would be an amazing experience and I would be able to gain so much coming from a small town where I live.  I absolutely love living in a small, southern town, but I know there are bigger and better things out there waiting for me to grab while I'm still young and single.  

 I've been trying to decide for the longest time now if I wanted to study abroad or not... Well I finally made a decision in 18 days I will be traveling to Europe.  I am so excited and cannot wait.  This will be an amazing experience and I am so EXCITED!!!!!  I will be studying there for two weeks, attending International Business Seminars, and taking tours of several big, known places throughout Europe.  I know this experience will probably change my life, but I am ready to travel the world!! 

 I am so excited to be going home to visit my Family for Christmas break!  I love them so much and look forward to spending quality time with friends and family and my yorkie Coco =)  I love the Holidays and am excited to be able to spend it with the ones I love but its so easy to forget the reason for the season... I keep focusing on the Lord and the work he has set out for me over break to glorify him and not worry about presents and the Christmas rush.  Just being at home with the ones I love is the best Christmas gift I could ask for =)

Until next time!

Liz 

"A human life is a story told by God" ~Hans Christian Andersen

It has been a while since I've gotten to write on here.  A lot has happended in these past few days of my life.  I have to say that Thanksgiving break was AMAZING!!  I was able to spend it with my dear family and friends who mean the world to me!  Although I am still catching up on lost sleep from Black Friday, pretty much lost a whole night's sleep to shopping.  I found some great deals =)

Over break I was able to spend quality time with my family, which is so nice since I'm always so busy at school.  I also got to see a lot of close friends from home, we went out to dinner a few times and of course did the Black Friday thing with some fun girls!!  We shopped till we dropped!! 

Early Saturday morning I received a call that my first grade sweetheart had been shot and killed.  This was so hard to believe since Devin was so full of life and always had a smile on his face.  Its so hard to understand how God works, but he does work in mysterious ways and you just have to trust in him<3  I spent some time with Devin my freshmen year, we watched Marley and Me, he would visit me at Chick-fil-a when I was working and we would chat on myspace.  Its so hard seeing a dear friend like Devin go, but knowing he is with the Lord is so comforting and warming.  I can still remember back to the first grade when we were "boyfriend and girlfriend", I can still remember his cute, adorable smile!  Losing a friend or loved one is such a tough thing to deal with.  I lost my dear Grandmother Marguerite "Nana Alley" last year.  She was my inspiration, my role model, and a tough lady.  I looked up to her so much and loved her dearly.  She will always hold a special place in my heart<3