Merry Christmas Eve!

It's 12:06am on Christmas Eve, and I already can't sleep. Dad and I are up watching the football highlights on ESPN. I hate ESPN just for the record, but I love spending time with my daddy:) We had our Fab 5 Christmas party tonight, and it was a blast. We ate lots of pizza, lots of cheesecake, and made a gingerbread house. Got awesome presents from awesome girls, and we just had a blast being together. Enjoy some pictures...more will come later!

A few thoughts...

It's 4:45 on the day before Christmas Eve, and the excitement is building here in the Noland household. Ashleigh and I even managed to sneak a Christmas present out from under the tree last night. See mom started a tradition last year called the surprise gift. There is no name on it, and we don't know who it is for until Christmas morning. So in hopes of figuring it out, we attempted to look in the package, but it didn't work. I'm really excited to see who's present it is, I'm hoping it's mine.
The whole Noland clan has been together today for a day of church, lunch at Subway, and we've just been watching movies all day. We're having a Fab 5 reunion tonight, and I am so excited. We get to hang out with each other, un-interrupted for as long as we want. Well, we of course have to be back home before Christmas Day.
I guess this is just a blog to say, Merry Christmas. I hope you enjoy the time with your family, but that you don't forget the true reason for the season, sweet baby Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

A prayer...

"Heal my heart and make it clean, Open up my eyes to the things unseen, Show me how to love like you have loved me, Break my heart for what is yours, Everything I am for your kingdom's cause, As I walk from earth into eternity" -Hillsong

It's 1:45am and I am unable to sleep. It's cold in my apartment (and I mean cold...I think it may snow in here) I am tired, but I am again, unable to sleep for unknown reason, so I figured I would blog a little.
I ran across the lyrics to this song, and they speak so much to my heart right now. My friends and I have done exactly this for each other all semester long. Though distance separates us, we are closer than ever. My dad and I were talking the other night, and as he always has wise things to say that just make me think and anyway, we were talking about life, and my friends, and he stopped me mid sentence and said, Brittany, you could not be blessed with better friends than the Lord has blessed you with. How true! I am so fortunate to have the friends I do. Some are very close to me in terms of location, and some are very far away, but we are so close in each others hearts, and I am so ready to spend some time with them over the break, so excuse me if I take a break from blogging (mom) Anyway, I found the lyrics to this song. Maybe the will provide some inspiration to someone.

You Know Where to Find Me

Matthew West

I saw your sky fall down today
Suddenly turn from blue to gray
Till one by one the raindrops
Turned to tears upon your face
Wish there was something I could do
Wish I could ease the pain for you
But I've never felt so helpless

It's like you're drowning right in front of me
And I'm reaching out but you can't see
There's something holding on to you so tight
So I guess this is all I'll say to you tonight

Chorus:
If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I will be waiting where I've always been
If you ever need me
You know where to find me
I have never left you, I'm where I've always been
Right by your side
Right by your side

If the whole wide world is on your back
If the strength you need is the strength you lack
If you're in a crowd but all alone
If you can't stay here but you can't go home
If you can't answer all the why's
'Cause you're too tired to reach that high
I want you to remember

If the whole wide world is on your back
If the strength you need is the strength you lack
If you're in a crowd but all alone
If you can't stay here but you can't go home
If you can't answer all the why's
'Cause you're too tired to reach that high
I want you to, I need you to remember

I know...twice in one week

I found this, and did it. I don't usually do things like this, but I think it turned out pretty true. Enjoy!

You Are Cream Pie

You're the perfect combo of simplicity and divinity. You are a secret hedonist. No one knows how indulgent you can be. You don't indulge often, but when you do, you go for the best. You have expensive taste - even if you aren't rich. Those who like you life for understated pleasures. You're not flashy or trendy, but you have a depth that most people lack. Interacting with you makes most people feel incredibly satisfied. You are gentle, super sweet, and in harmony with those around you.

What Kind of Pie Are You?

It's Christmas time....in the Queen City

I am so sorry that it has been so long since the last post, but a lot has happened since my last post.


I don't work at Bath and Body Works anymore. I now work at my apartment complex, which saves money in all kinds of ways. It is just a better opportunity all around.

I am almost done with my first semester, and I am excited.

It was Christmas with the roomies last night, and it was a great time had by all. Enjoy the pictures!

I have an "A" in College English...that is all

Praise the Lord for loving Parents and Urgent Care:)

Excuse me for a random blog again, but I am a little under the weather, ok a lot under the weather, and well, I'm on some heavy drugs, so I reserve the right to be a little loopy:) The past couple of days have made me very grateful for the fact that I am not living very far away from home. I've developed some kind of upper resportory infection, so it's been new territory for me being sick without my mommy and daddy there to give my medicine to me, and make sure I'm drinking enough water, but I think I'm surviving. Needless to say, I'm on a lot of drugs, and I've been sleeping a lot:) I'm on some kind of medicine with hydrocodone in it, and man, that stuff makes you feel good. So I took a trip to Urgent Care last night over by Eastland Mall, and it was an experience in itself. Luckily, they were still open when we got there, and it didn't take long for them to see us. After filling out like a novel worth of paper work, they took me back to a room that was smaller than my bathroom, no lie. So there we were cramped in this little room, I'm burning up and freezing at the same time, hacking up a lung, only wanting to go to sleep, but of course there wasn't a pillow on the little exam table. So no sleep, burning up, and freezing, and my parents trying to make me laugh...it was interesting. So the bottom line of this blog: 1) Parents are great, especially when they drive to Charlotte to take you to the doctor, 2) Legal drugs are a good thing 3) Urgent Care is a gift from the Lord, I firmly believe it.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

It's Thanksgiving day here at the Noland house, and we are stuffed!

I've been home since Tuesday, and it's been an amazing break. I have had time to work on school work without interruptions, and just spend time with friends and family. I've gotten to spend some great time with my parents and sister, including our trip to Garden Ridge last night. I now have Christmas ornaments and a lot more beautiful stuff for my apartment for the Christmas season.

Thanksgiving has been amazing this year. My mom decided to take Thanksgiving over this year, so that my grandmother could relax, and that she has been able to do. My mom turned into Martha Stewart, and lunch was a feast. My sister and I now have enough leftovers to last us until Christmas.

Speaking of my sister, she has joined the blog world! She has joined also so that my mother can keep up her goings as well. So check her out! http://ashleighn85.blogspot.com/ Check it out when you have some time...she's my sister, so of course she's funny! Happy Turkey Day!

B

I am not good with following directions...

I had another adventure today...and it's the best one yet.

It's Christmas time, and the girls and I are really excited to get our Christmas tree up and decorated. All of our families (especially mine) set up their tree early, and Christmas is always a time we look forward to that. So in the spirit of giving a little early, my parents decided they were going to buy our Christmas tree. So tonight they came to Charlotte and we headed to Home Depot by the University. We had already picked out the tree, so we were just going to purchase it tonight. So we arrived, only to find out that they don't have stock of the tree that we wanted, but that they were getting five in on the truck coming in next week. For the record, I work in retail, and I know what it's going to be like the weekend and week after of thanksgiving, there is no way I'm coming back next week to find a tree....it will be gone before I get there. So we ask them to check the store on Albemarle Road and see if they have any. Good news is, they have seven. So my parents go back home, and my friend Matt and I set out on 485 to go to the Albemarle Road store. So I apparently didn't listen to my father's directions well because I went a good 20 minutes past my exit. So by that time we were both starving, so we pulled over at an exit and ate some dinner, 30 mins later, we started heading back to the 24/27 exit. So we find it, and we find the store. No lie, we turn into the parking lot, and we both say, are they still open? We didn't even finish the statement, and they turned the light out on the sign. Talk about timing and luck. So I will wake up early in the morning to go to Home Depot on Albemarle Road to get the perfect Christmas Tree for the girls of 204. Pray I don't miss the exit this time:)
I am so ready for thanksgiving! My momma is cooking, and the grandparents are coming over to the house. My friends will all be together for some time, I'll be able to see some buddies whom I haven't seen since we moved away to go to school. Needless to say, I'm ready for Thanksgiving, so momma, you better start cooking a lot, because I'm ready to eat some good home cooking.

TGIF!

Thank the Lord it's the weekend. This weekend has been stressful and busy, but good. There is not enough room to explain my week, but it was good.

Pardon my post, because it will be random, because my ADD is kicking in, and I'm not making much sense today:)

So tonight me and Meghan are headed off to the Charlotte Checker's game downtown. Our other roommate Delia won the tickets from our apartment complex, and since she is home this weekend, me and Meghan jumped at the opportunity. We're pretty excited, even though we don't know much if anything about hockey. All I know is there are always a lot of fights.

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, which all my buddies are coming home, and yes, you guessed it, a Fab 5 reunion. This time, we're getting together for Marianna's birthday, and I'm even more excited to see my buddies!

Work is still going good, it's getting super busy because of the holidays, but it's good because it means more hours which means more money which means a happy father because he doesn't have to float me any loans.

I found a quote...enjoy...

"In life, God does not give you the people you want- He gives you the people you need; to teach you, to hurt you, to love you, to make you laugh...to make you exactly the person you should be."

I love November!

I love the month of November! Fall is here, the leaves are changing, the weather is getting colder (which I am estatic about) and it's one month closer to Christmas!!!! One thing that is good about working at Bath and Body Works, is that we have already transitioned into our holiday season, so our store is completely decorated for the holidays now...we have upside down Christmas trees in the windows..I'm not even joking!
Anyway, we got to celebrate Kristen's birthday last week, and it was SO MUCH FUN. It was good to hang out with my girls again, and just have an amazing time.
Pray for me, as I have many important decisions coming up that I have to make soon. Pray for the Lord to lead me in the right direction, and that He would make His plan clear.

Enjoy the quote for today!
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." -Audrey Hepburn

And some pictures!

I am so excited to see my friends this weekend! It's gonna be a fabulous 5 reunion for Kristen's birthday and it could not have come at a perfect time. As much as I am enjoying this new chapter of my life, I miss my friends dearly, and I just miss seeing them and talking to them on a regular basis. We are spread out across the state, and it's always a great time when we can get together when we are all home. We're also plannin on restocking another bathroom, but more on that later:) These girls are my lifeline. They encourage me, they build me up, they hold me accountable, they are my Entourage. I love them dearly. I couldn't be more blessed!!!
This week has been incredibly busy. I've had papers, tests, and work, but I love it...today at least:) You know, it's a day to day change if I'm liking college. I like it some days, and others I could really be happier somewhere else:)
Hasn't this rain been amazing? As much as it kind of puts a damper on things, such as walking to class while remaining dry, I realized while walking back from class tonight how much I have missed it raining. I missed getting wet, and I missed walking and jumping in the puddles. It's the little things like this I have come to appreciate since being at college. So on the way home from class, I took my hood off, and just allowed the rain to clense me. I took advantage of the walk, and just enjoyed the rain. Man...it was good to feel the rain again.

Mom-Since I know you read this-- I love you, and I'm so glad your having a great week...I promise I'll call again when I have more to talk about. Until then, enjoy the blogs! Hope to see you Friday!

B

I have amazing friends

So I was informed by my loving mother that she actually reads this thing every day, and then when I don't post, she gets a little sad. So in an effort to make her day a little better...I am going to attempt to post on a more regular basis. So this will probally be another random post.

“Many people fail because they do not anticipate the battle.”

~Dr. Gutierrez, Professor, Liberty University

How many times does this happen to us? Take college for example. Many students graduate from high school being told that college will be the best time of your life, that it will be hard, but that anyone can make it. Wrong! Because we are told that our whole school careers, we enter college expecting little to no problems. We expect for the work and classes to be hard, but no one prepares for adjusting to live with new people, the school work, and adjusting to being out in the world on your own without mommy and daddy to hold our hand. We don't expect it to be a BATTLE. Because we don't expect a battle, we aren't prepared, and because we aren't prepared, we fail. And lets face it, not many of us are used to failing. We're used to either our teachers or our parents saving us before it's too late.
Thankfully, I have an awesome support system behind me, for who I will be forever thankful.

I love my buddies...

Another week...

Hello from the Queen City!

It was fall break this past Monday and Tuesday, which was a welcomed break for me. I needed a break just to relax, and also get caught up on some school work. I spent some time with friends from back home, which was great.
I had the opportunity to go home last friday and visit the middle school where I interned last year, and visit the team I worked with, and man have I missed them! I miss seeing them everyday, but they are continuing to do a great job with the kids...I just miss my students terribly!
School continues to go well, just staying very busy, and doing a lot of work, but I'm surviving! Classes are still good, and the professors are good as well.
I am still loving my job at Bath and Body Works. I am continuing to learn new things daily, and grow to love it more there each day! I'm getting a lot of hours right now, which is great! My dad thinks it's good too! :)

Tonight is the homecoming game at Albemarle, and lots of my friends are home on fall break, so I'm excited to see them!

My thought for the day:
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
- Leo Buscaglia
I have especially grown to love this quote when it comes to my customers at Bath and Body Works. I may never know how much my smile or kind hello means to them that day...

Blessings!

Sorry, no funny pictures to post this week!

Brittany

A few updates

A few updates since the last post

--I've had my first test in all my classes, and I've done well. I've definitly learned how to study now that I came to college.

--I love my job. It's going great. I have amazing co-workers, amazing managers, it's just amazing.

--I got to see some friends from home this past weekend, and it was a great time to spend with them. It was definitly good to see some familiar faces.

--The picture below made me laugh. On a recent trip to the mall with the roommates, we got behind this truck. Enlarge the picture so you can see the people in the back. You'll laugh...I promise. Enjoy!

I'm a big girl now...

That's right...I have offically registered to vote, thus making me an adult. How wild is that. I'm old enough to vote?!? Anyway, lots of good news to share. I had the great opportunity to travel up to Camp Shenandoah Springs in VA. I have the opportunity of working there every summer, but this trip was different. Back at the end of July, Hunter and Bethany got married, and so we all got together this past weekend to celebrate them. It was a wonderful weekend, full of celebrations. The Farmer's youngest son Jeff, came home from Iraq this weekend for good. It was a great surprise to see him show up at church on Sunday morning.
And....big announcement #2....I am offically an employee of Bath and Body Works at Northlake Mall in Charlotte. Isn't it great? I'm a working girl! It's a great feeling. Not much other then that going on. Going to school, starting to work, and all the other things that come with life. Keep praying for me, and enjoy some of the pictures from this weekend

Today marks the year anniversary of 9/11. It's weird to think that 6 years ago today, I was sitting in a 7th grade classroom watching the news coverage on TV. My, how much has changed in 6 years. Today, we remember the hero's that went down with the planes, the hero's that were in the towers and the pentagon, and the field in PA. We pay tribute to the hero's who went into the twin towers, who went in to the pentagon, and who spent many days and nights trying to find the survivors. As I sit and remember, I am reminded of how crazy blessed I am to live in a free country. How blessed I am to live in a country that fights for their freedom, and doesn't let any other country get away with something like this. Some of my dear friends are in the armed forces, and have been or are in Iraq fighting the war on terror, and I am so greatful that they answered the call to defend you and I. Weather someone agrees with the war or not, point blank, we ONE nation, UNITED and together we stand, or together we'll fall. But I remember thinking 6 years ago, that I take too much for granted, I take for granted that I will see my family/friends again. Take the time today to tell someone you love them...and remember those who lost someone on 9/11

A brand new week

Whew! What a weekend. Did I learn a lot. A lot of lessons that they never teach you in high school. I am still adjusting here at good ole UNCC. It is getting easier, but also in the same way it's getting harder. I've met a lot more people, including the people in the apartment across from us. They are nice guys, who were willing to let us use their plunger a couple of weeks ago. I haven't gotten stuck in anymore rainstorms, although it did start to rain during my English class again this week.
Speaking of English, we played a game at the beginning of class that really made me think. It was called "True North" You have 25 sheets of paper. On 5 of them, you write the 5 family members that you are closest too. Then, on 5 more sheets of paper you write the name of the 5 closest friends that you are closest too. On 5 different sheets of paper, you write 5 material things that are the hold the most value to you. On 5 more, you write 5 goals (long term and short term) that you want to achieve in life. On the last 5, you write 5 memories, good and bad that you remember. Now comes the fun part. First off you take 5 away. You can take from any category, then you take 5 more away 5 more away, 5 more, and then you take the last 3 away, and you are left with two, and these two things define where your heart is, who/what defines you. This really made me think when I saw the results. It makes you put things into perspective. Just thought I would share that with you.
Anyway, I'm still working on loving it here. It's an adjustment, but I'm making it. I have class early in the morning, it's 1:30am, and friends just left. Man I'm gonna hate myself in the morning for staying up so late:) Blessings and Love

B

Thoughts and such

I have completed my first week of classes, and my third week of being in an apartment with my roommates. To say the least, classes were interesting. I can't complain, I have a great schedule. I have professors who are so funny, and super smart. The funniest thing happened this past Thursday. Well, it wasn't funny at the time, but it is right funny now that I think about it and tell the story. So my English class is from 6:30-9:15. We meet once a week, so it was our first class and all that good stuff. On the way to class, it was beautiful. No clouds, hot as crap, but it was a pleasant walk. After getting lost, I finally made it to class with about 5 minutes to spare. About 15 minutes into the class, it begins to thunder and lighten, and then it starts to rain. After about 5 more minutes of that, it begins to hail. Our professor had already said we were going to get out before 8, so at this point we were just waiting for the hail to stop. So the hail stopped, and she let us out. Yes, it was still storming. So we go out to the front of the building, and the rain tapers off, and the thunder and lightening stop, so I take off. I grab my flip flops and I start speed walking (I don't like to run) so I am so turned around, I have no idea where I am. So I run to a building I think is the right way, only to find, it's not. So by then, it's storming pretty hard, but I'm under the medal part of the building, so I take off running again. After I got where I was going, I made it to the parking deck. Being the good steward of money that I am, I didn't register my car, so I walk to EVERY class from my apartment, which is across the highway from the school. Which means, if I wanted to make it home before the storm got even worse, I had to run in the rain. So I took off from under the parking deck, only to get caught in the median. As I'm standing in the median, soaking wet, and cold, I think to myself, "Man, I hope no one from Albemarle drives by and sees me" Well I get back to the apartment, only to find out that our building, got struck by lightening. Talk about luck. The fire trucks came, and did our building alarm ever go off in our apartment? Nope. Talk about feeling safe:) Anyway, after that fun time, I check my e-mail later that night, only to find out that a friend of mine's parent did in fact see me standing in the median soaking wet. So I say all this because #1, it's storming outside, and #2, I'm putting off all the reading I have to do before class tommorow. Please keep praying for me during this transition, as it is going smoothly, but it gets rocky at times. More to come, as more happens.

Moving In...and Starting Over

Well, I am offically moved in as of today. I moved my last bunch of clothes today. I have to say, it has been an adjustment to say the least. This is so much different, but God is good. I have great roommates, and we have one more on the way. So far the 3 of us have bonded and gotten to be good friends. Classes start Monday, and I'm halfway nervous and excited...keep me in your prayers...that's all for now. I'm very tired, and tommorow is going to be another long day.

B

Starting Out

So this is my first post. I've been reading different blogs for awhile now, so I figured I would start one. A little about me. I'm getting ready to move off to start college at UNCC. I super excited, but yet I'm a little nervous. I have a great support system behind me, and the Lord has been so faithful through this whole journey of picking a college, finding money to go to school, finding a place to live,etc. He has provided every step for the way. God has definitly revealed my major to me as well. I always thought I was going to be a teacher (mom's an assistant principal, dad was on the school board, it's kind of in my blood) anyway for the longest time that was my dream until God revealed becoming a social worker to me. So, I prayed about it, and really felt God leading me towards that. Turns out UNCC has a 5 year program where I can graduate in 5 years with my Master's degree, which is pretty awesome. Not to mention they have one of the best programs. I'm a little nervous about moving out, starting school and meeting new people. I'm not shy, but I have a tendency to be shy around new people and get really shy when I try to impress new people (i know that doesn't make sense) but I am excited to meet all the new people I am going to meet at school. So I move out Saturday, and I have an amazing amount of packing to do. Since I'll be living in an apartment, I am packing everything, and I mean everything (except for the bathroom sink) My living room floor currently looks like a Target has exploded. I am super excited, but I don't want to leave my amazing friends. I have been crazy blessed to have some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. I'll post some pictures here in a bit. My hope is that people back home can read this blog and keep up with me and what's going on. I also hope to shed a little bit of light on my life, and what God is teaching me, and maybe just vent a little bit:) Anyway for now, enjoy some pictures, I have some packing to do.












a dear friend since 4 years old










Some of the best friends I could ever ask for



Fun on the teacups at Disney World