lots to be thankful for

Now that I have enjoyed a beautiful Thanksgiving feast with my wonderful parents and two younger brothers, I think it is time to reflect on all of the things I am thankful for.

Every year comes with many new blessings and reasons to be thankful. So here are just a few things I am thankful for this year:

I am thankful for my parents, who have raised my brothers and I to be the best we can be. 

I am thankful for my amazing friends, both near and far, who love and support me no matter what.

I am thankful for the privilege of attending Virginia Tech and getting an outstanding education.

I am thankful to be an American, and to live in this amazing country.

I am thankful for all of the men and women serving for our country overseas. 

I am thankful for the food on my table, the roof over my head, and the clothes on my back.

And most importantly, I am thankful for Jesus Christ who sacrificed himself for us, and for a God who loves me no matter how many mistakes I continue to make.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

a friendly rivalry never hurt anyone

After the results of last night's game, the VT/UVA game on Saturday is becoming a lot more interesting! There is nothing I love more than college rivalries. The winner of the Commonwealth Cup will go on to play Clemson in the ACC championship on December 3rd.

With all of this competitive buzz going around I have seen tons of smack talk all over Facebook, Twitter, and various blogs. However, my favorite is the following...

A man dressed in Chicago maroon and burnt orange walks into a Charlottesville sports bar with a small dog under his arm. He says to the bartender: "Hey, can I leave my dog here while I go to the VT/UVA football game?"
"A dog in my bar? No, absolutely not."
"But He's a special dog", the VT fan says.
"In what way?", the bartender asks.

..."Well he'll watch the game on TV with you.
When Virginia Tech scores, he will walk up and down the bar on his hind legs.
When Virginia scores, he will walk up and down the bar on his front legs.
When Virginia Tech wins, he will do back flips all the way down the bar and back."

"Wow!" the bartended says. "That's amazing. What does he do when Virginia wins?"

"I don't know" says the Hokie. "He's only seven years old."

LET'S GO HOKIES!!!!

hokie football and heading home

On Thursday the Hokies played UNC in Lane Stadium for our famous night game. Despite the below freezing temperature and wind chill, Lane Stadium did not disappoint. And neither did the Hokies for that matter! I know I always post videos, but this one is a great representation of just what it was like on Thursday night in Blacksburg.

The only thing that this video leaves out is the fact that Darius Rucker was at Lane Stadium on Thursday night to sing the national anthem. Luckily I got this one picture before my camera died for the night. He was phenomenal! 

It is so hard to believe that Thursday night was Senior Night for the Hokies, and the last home game of the season. However, I would love to go to the ACC championship to see the Hokies play (at least) one more time for the year.

Now we are onto Thanksgiving break. I headed home last night (or early this morning really) to avoid the I-81 traffic disaster. So I got home around 2:30am, and it feels great to be home! Although I am not one to "relax", some family time and relaxation is desperately needed.

Today I went shopping at Fair Oaks with my Mom and Mike. Our mission was to redefine Mike's wardrobe. Now that football season is over, he has decided that he doesn't need to dress like a jock every day anymore. I don't hate it. So we got him some nice new jeans and sweaters, and it doesn't end there! My little brothers are growing up so fast.

As for right now, I am sitting on the couch in the family room. Waiting for my pound cake to come out of the oven, watching the UVA vs. FSU game, and blogging, of course. My parents are at some football parents party, Mike is out with his friends, and Danny is upstairs on the computer. I can't wait for the Fab4 and the rest of my friends to come home so I can have something to do! But until then, I will force myself to relax. 

Happy Thanksgiving Break everyone!

monday motivation

"We just have to go forth in faith sometimes even if it seems like everything is against us. You could have the whole world against you, but if you have God on your side, He'll take care of you and everything will work out."

-quoted from the wonderful Elder James C. Wheatley himself

if i had a billion dollars...

This weekend I had the opportunity to work at the closing of The Campaign for Virginia Tech: Invent the Future. This campaign has been going on since 2003 and finally ended this year surpassing its goal of raising 1 billion dollars with $1,112,703,977. All of this money is going to new scholarships, new buildings, and other major campus improvements.

As you can probably imagine, this event was HUGE! There were about 1,200 of the university's VIPs and high-profile alumni in attendance. Some friends and I, along with hundreds of other students, put on our black vests and maroon bowties and served the 5-course dinner in a temporary structure built just for the event.

It was an evening I will never forget, and I am so glad I gave up my Saturday night to work for the closing of this campaign. Now I can say I was a part of VT history on an entirely new level!

cheers to the seniors!

"It is inevitable that some defeat will enter even the most victorious life. 

The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated...it is finished when it surrenders."

-Ben Stein

Congrats on a very impressive and successful senior season, Michael. I am so proud of you and all that you have done in your 4 years with Oakton Football. I can't wait to see what is next in store for you. I love you bro.

a week full of surprises

There is honestly nothing I love more than surprising my friends and family. This week alone, I have successfully surprised two of my close friends!

On Monday, I mailed KZ a 21st birthday care package to JMU. Her birthday is on Saturday, and since I am not going to be able to be there with her I wanted to surprise her with a 21st themed birthday package. She called me on Wednesday saying she got it, and was SO surprised and excited!!

On Monday night, Alli, Lawlz and I surprised KJ! We went to Gumby's and got a large pokie sticks and went to studio to give her a break from working on her final project. To our surprise, she wasn't in studio but was actually at the library! We didn't want to ruin the surprise, so we went to the library and searched 2 floors until we found her. Such a good surprise, such a good study break!

"Only a life lived for others is worth living"

thankful and blessed

A year ago today, my Mom was in the hospital in Charlottesville, VA in the middle of her brain surgery. I remember sitting in my townhouse at school, anxiously awaiting updates from my Dad and Angel, and sending those updates over an email listserv of all of our family and friends.

I am continually amazed at not only how our family has grown since that time, but how much more grateful we are for every single day we are given.

We are truly blessed.

greeks for life

Yesterday afternoon my Greek Outreach Committee hosted our first event of the year, a Greek Relay Tailgate in the Fishbowl of Oak Lane. Since we are a new committee, our Execs and committee members are pretty much starting from scratch. It is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work!!

our wonderful execs

We lucked out to have such a beautiful fall day (especially for November in Blacksburg) and the event itself could not have run more smoothly. We had pizza, Campus Cookies, cornhole, music, and lots of Greeks! And we raised a good amount of money for the American Cancer Society. At this rate, Relay For Life is lookin' to have another successful year at Virginia Tech!

Until WE find a CURE.

food for thought

Tonight Julie reminded me (and KJ) that "good things take time". As she said that, it reminded me of this old desktop background I got from College Prep last year.

I decided to set this image as my background again, to serve as a reminder and motivator for me. Because even when it seems like the good things in life aren't worth waiting for, it is important to stay patient and work as hard as you can in the meantime. In the end, it will all be worth the wait.