Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge (rarely seen anchor picture!!!!)

Today I along with other members of the honors college went to part of the campus where they conserve artifacts, specifically for Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge. It was probably one of the most amazing things ever. We got to see the artifacts and that they brought up. Cups, pins, platters, gold, among many other things. We saw how they X-ray the things they bring up to see what they've found. we also saw the different stages and techniques they use to clean up the artifacts. We saw cannons in each of these stages. Some of these cannons were actually loaded so it causes some other steps.

The BEST thing we saw was the anchor they brought up over the summer! it was HUGEEEE. I attached a picture so you can see it! It was the most wonderful thing ever!!

I posted more pictures on Facebook, so look at the rest on there!

Enjoy!!

top ten favorite quotes

Here are 10 of my favorite quotes...some of them. I have a ton of favorites, but here are just a few.

10. “I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” --Audrey Hepburn

9. “Let's face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me.” --Audrey Hepburn

8. “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” --Dr. Seuss

7. It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. In this life we get nothing save by effort. -Theodore Roosevelt.

6. “Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow. ” --Fiyero

5. We're almost here and no where near it. All that matters is we're going. --Lorelai Gilmore

4. the only thing we have to fear is fear itself --FDR

3. “If I’m honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all.”

--Audrey Hepburn

2. A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others --Wizard of Oz

1. It's time to trust my instincts close my eyes and leap. --Elphaba

Hope you liked some of these!! Enjoy!

The Day the Earth Moved Haiti Interview!

Two of the authors of the book The Day The Earth Moved Haiti were interviewed on the radio here in Greenville. They talk about the book, their experiences and inspirations! They give details on other ways you can contribute without buying the book if you choose and details on how you can get the book!! All proceeds go to three wonderful organizations to help Haiti.

Every Single Penny Counts and Haiti still needs help two years after the earthquake.

Click here to hear the interview (click the sight then on the right hand side there is my podcasts and look for the Day the Earth Moved Haiti!)

http://1079wnct.com/dj/jeff-diamond

I have almost finished the book and I am proud of all 5 of these ladies and the other contributors. They did a wonderful job giving the readers a sense of what life was like in Haiti before and after the earthquake. They give insight in to what the mission workers did in Haiti and most importantly some stories and poems about the Haitian people. Just make sure to have some tissues handy while reading the book.

Congratulations to you ladies and I hope you are proud of yourselves and know that we are all proud of you!

Buy the book at Barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com, or tatepublishing.com

First Week of Classes

Today concludes the first week of classes. It was rough getting back into the swing of things, but overall not too bad.

My sociology class is amazing. She is not your ordinary professor yet she is brilliant. I love that it's not just read the book listen to her lecture. We discuss and she gets us to give her the answers which is better for us to learn.

I'm in spanish level 3 (have to take 4 levels). It's probably gonna be my hardest class because I'm not the best at it. We have a substitute professor until mid Feb. because his wife had a baby over the holidays.

My European History from 1815-1914 class is really good, although we are just going over some of the basic things we learned from an intro class. I'm really excited about it though because we should be able to have some interesting discussions.

I was supposed to have a foundations of philosophy and law class...but I went to that class and felt so out of place and lost. I just didn't want to put myself into the situation where i was overwhelmed and trying to keep up with the workload when I already have so many papers and books to read. I wanted to be able to focus on the history classes.

I have a world civilization to 1500 class which is alright. i just have to put up with it and deal although it is not my favorite subject.

I LOVE my North Carolina History class. The professor is very nice and really knows his stuff. I'm super excited to see how this class goes.

On a side note, i've been to the gym a ton and it feels great. We are already back in the swing of things with Lifeteen. This semester should be a tad rough, but overall a great semester.

Congrats to the high schoolers who have finished the semester, and I hope this semester is a good one for you. to my seniors, enjoy your last semester. To my college friends hope you have a good semester too!

What are your talents?

Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart;

then because of this the LORD your God will bless you

in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Deuteronomy 15:10

Yesterday in our life teen program, the authors of The Day the Earth Moved Haiti came and talked to the teens. They talked about the book, about the earthquake, and about how they could not go to Haiti for various reasons, but chose not to let those limitations stop them from doing service and helping Haiti. They used their talents as writers, to write this book where 100% of the profit goes to Haiti. Pretty amazing isn't it. Five ladies thought they would just put together a small book of their thoughts and emotions, and instead it turned into a book with 5 main authors about 19 other contributors, and is now being sold nationwide. Most importantly, they are helping Haiti. Takes a huge leap of faith to undertake such a task.

The teens were split into groups to see what they could do to help Haiti, or any country for that matter. It was about service and what they as teens could do if they could not get to the country to do mission work. It blew me away how thoughtful and generous these teens were. They came up with donating blood, having races to raise money, to have a canned food drive, and to collect change each week for the year and then donate that money to Haiti. Most importantly though, they were trying to think of ways like the authors to use their talents to help. One girl mentioned she loved playing the violin, so she thought maybe she could make a recording for them to listen to so they would be soothed, or maybe having a concert to raise money for supplies and rebuilding efforts. It honestly amazed me how attentive and caring the teens were (during the presentation you could hear a pin drop and with 75 or more high school kids that's hard to do). They responded with the want to help. It made me very proud to be part of the St. Peter's Life teen.

So I raise the question...What are your talents? What can you do each day to help someone in need? It can be a friend, someone who is having a bad day or week, a community after a disaster, or on a larger scale a country. Find your talent, use your talent, and do what you can. Do so generously, without feeling like you have to or with a grudge. Be all that you can be.

Christmas Vacation

This Christmas Vacation has been one heck of a Break. So much has happened it's hard to believe it was all crammed into one break. We celebrated birthdays, I watched my cousin many times, I interviewed and received a job, leased an apartment for next fall, celebrated Christmas and New Years, watch tons of football and basketball, and many other things.

However, one of the hardest things was seeing Danny's family get ready to sell their house. His dad got a wonderful job offer and his parents are moving to Georgia. I am super proud and happy for him, it's just really hard for someone who HATES change. Tonight I had to say bye to Mr. Maloney until they get settled in Georgia and we can find time to visit. That was super tough considering they are both like parents to me, and in many ways I feel we are very similar. Tears were shed, but in the end I am so happy for them and this new adventure. And this means that time with them is more valuable and more adventures for all of us.

Tomorrow we go back to ECU for the beginning of Spring semester. It will be a toughie for sure, but I am going to learn so much. Classes start Monday and I am so not ready for it to begin. So, I should start packing, and the next time I blog I will be back in Greenville, getting used to new classes professors and classmates.

I hope you all had a wonderful and maybe less hectic holiday.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!!!!!

I hope you all have a happy healthy and loving new year!!!

I hope good things happen to each and every one of you and that it is just as good as the last year if you had a great year or a better year if it wasn't so good for you!

I always have a hard time making resolutions and keeping them if i do think of one...so if you have one good luck!

I rung in the New Year with friends and family and it was a great time!

Have a great day and enjoy the time with family ringing in the New Year!!!