PRAYER REQUEST

As many of you have probably already heard about Jake Nicolopulos. He suffered a major stroke earlier today. It hit me really hard when I heard because I grew with him. And one of my best friends, Andrew, is best friends with Jake. So seeing Andrew devastated shook me too.

Through out the day I was thinking about all the memories I have of Jake. They are mostly from Elementary school

because they are my favorite. I remember sitting beside him and he'd quote lines from the popular Disney Channel shows

at the time(That's So Raven, Lizzie McGuire etc) Or how he would dance around the room singing Nelly's "Hot in Herre"

or "Air Force Ones."

Jake has been in my prayers all day, and will be until he is completely and fully recovered. The power of prayer is

stronger than most people realize.

…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16)

Thankfulness

    Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I thought i'd right a little list of what all I'm thankful for.

1) My family. I have some of the greatest people in my life that I'm able to call my family. My mom, dad, brother, and my grandmother are the absolute best! I love all of them so much. My mom I can talk about anything to, my dad is the one who taught me how great Brooks Brothers and J. Press are, my brother is the one who can always cheer me up when I'm having an off day, and my grandmother, well I can depend on her for everything. All of us have been through so much together as a family. Every moment with them is so very special to me.

2) My friendship with Jordan White. Jordan and I have been neighbors for almost 15 years now. Jordan had a family tragedy a few years back. Her mother passed away when she was in 8th grade, and that brought us so much closer. We try and hang out as much as we can now because with me starting college next year, things just won't be the same.

3) My second family. My school family. Since my school is so small, I'm very close with all my teachers and faculty members. My teachers and principle know me so well. Every single one of them plays such a big role in my life. They all give me such great advice. A lot of people have a fear of starting college, but I'm afraid because they've taught me everything I need to know. I mean they have been preparing me for college since 8th grade.

"If it aint swayin', we aint playin'."--Joe Morrison

"We Hail Thee Carolina"

We hail thee, Carolina, and sing thy high praise

With loyal devotion, remembering the days

When proudly we sought thee, thy children to be:

Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! 

Since pilgrims of learning, we entered thy walls

And found dearest comrades in thy classic halls

We've honored and loved thee as sons faithfully;

Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! 

Generations of sons have rejoiced to proclaim

Thy watchword of service, thy beauty and fame;

For ages to come shall their rallying cry be:

Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! 

Fair shrine of high honor and truth, thou shalt still

Blaze forth as a beacon, thy mission fulfill,

And crowned by all hearts in a new jubilee:

Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee! 

My amazing GAMECOCKS beat the #4 team in the nation last night. I was there, and it was one of the best nights of my life. I had not seen it that crazy at Gamecock Nation since the Gamecocks beat Florida 30-22 back in 2005 in Spurrier's first year at Carolina. This win was the biggest win at Williams-Brice Stadium history. One of my favorite parts of the game was seeing how ecstatic the student section was, and hopefully I'll be one of them next year. I love my Gamecocks and always will.

GO COCKS 16-10

I guess a Gamecock is too fast for a Rebel to catch.

Here are some pictures below:

George Rogers and Me

BAHAHA. My fave!

The Mighty Sound of the Southeast about to take the field!

Oh yes

Post-game celebration

    

Senior Portraits!

Yesterday afternoon I headed about to Falls Park over in G-Vegas with the fabulous Rebecca Perkins. Rebecca is the 6th grade teacher at my school, my mentor for college, and we're pretty much like sisters. She's started up her own photography business, and she's absolutely amazing. Here are just a few of the pics that she took.

One of my favorites

Rebecca is a graduate from Clemson, and a huge Clemson fan. She told me I was the only person she loved enough to take pictures of me in my Gamecock outfit :)

We loved this gate

My absolute favorite!

Victory in Jesus

    We sang my grandfather's favorite hymn in church this morning...and tho it's been almost 5 years since he passed away it still feels like it was yesterday. My grandfather was the most important person in my life and my best friend. Everything about him was amazing. The lyrics to his favorite hymn are amazing...so i'd thought I would post them.

I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and bro't
To me the victory.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory.

Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

     6 AMAZING things have already happened to me at school, and it's not even the 3rd week of senior year yet.

     1) I was elected Student Body President

     2) I passed my A.P Bio test today

     3) I'm preaching the Sermon at my church in about 3 weeks

     4) I led student chapel at school yesterday for the entire school

     5) Andrew and I have already made more progress on our Senior Project with in the past 2 weeks than the seniors last year made

     6) I'm officially Valedictorian this year :)

I'm so excited to see what else is going to happen this year

Senior Year has only just begun...

     Today was the first day of senior year, and my last, first day of high school. It's the weirdest feeling because most of my best friends graduated last year :'( I'm just so ready for this year to be over, when the summer first started I wasn't. I've been at my school for 7 years now, and it's time for a change. I love all my teachers and friends there, but it's time for me to not be so sheltered anymore and grow and conquer on my own. I'm entering the lovely world of college applications, and my parents are so scared about me leaving. But my relationship will get stronger with them once I'm on my own.

     I'll keep some updated comin' about the rest of senior year :)

A Night On The Town: Formal 2009

     This year I was one of the planners for the Spring Formal at my school. The theme was A Night On The Town, and we had the room set up like Vegas, Hollywood, London, Paris, and NYC.

me

Will and Me

Date! 

Ben and Me 

JuJu and Me

3 of my favorite girls ever, Julianna, Bethany, Becca and Me

Slow dancin'

Ty Ty Da Shiz...he was the D.J

yeah...i don't know.

For the Hollywood theme our seniors made handprints like at Graumen's Chinese

Spring Retreat!

    Twice a year the high school tries to take a weekend trip away. This year we only had the chance to do 1, and we held it down at Julianna's farm and it was amazing.

The awesome barn

Tyler and me

"I can't put my arm around you, Carole, I'm holding my shoes." Tyler's such a jerk :)

Besties

Julianna and baby Lillian

The Thames girls

Nik and Me

Malcolm, Nate and Me

Haha. Nate's expression. I guess he found some weird music on my iPod. Lol

Music issue is fixed :)