Johnny has definitely gotten me hooked on 24. For those of you who don’t know what 24 is, you’re missing out. I’m working on the fifth season right now… and trying desperately to catch up! I think the seventh season is the current one that is being shown on tv. Jack Bauer – toughest guy on the planet.

I just finished a 3 page paper (single-spaced, 11 point font, and REALLY small margins) for my Marketing class, so I think I’m going to go reward myself with an episode or three of 24.

Since the beginning of this past fall semester, I’ve been learning more and more about the stock market and how it works. There is still a LOT that I don’t know, but it’s been interesting to learn more about it. It helps having a roommate who’s been following the stock market every day for the last two years and who also owns stock of his own. He’s taught me a lot…

I recently found this website called updown.com that basically starts you off at $1,000,000 in “virtual cash.” Essentially, you invest in various stock and markets with imaginary money. It works the same as the stock market, and all the values at which you buy, sell, and trade stock are the exact same as the current stock market prices… you’re just not using real money. I’ve started doing that just to learn more about it. For those of you who might be interested, check it out – updown.com.

Today is the last day of Scholarship Weekend at Covenant. There were probably about 75-100 students on campus competing for some of the bigger name scholarships. My younger sister Marianna came up with my mom to compete for the Donaldson Science Scholarship, as well as to audition for a piano scholarship. It was fun having her on campus!

It’s a beautiful day on the mountain. It’s sunny, and probably about the warmest it’s been in a while. I’m definitely enjoying the change. I got up around 9:30 this morning, and I met with a few other people in my Principles of Marketing class to start a team case study paper on Coca Cola. It’s an interesting case study – we have a 3 page paper single spaced due on Friday for the case study, so we just met to discuss and write some notes down. I’ll probably be working on writing that later today.

I had lunch with a good friend, and now I’m working in one of the computer labs on FAFSA and also reading for my tax and business law classes. I’m hoping to get in a few good hours of studying and productivity!

My younger brother Johnny (15) just got his first deer/buck on the last day of the hunting season this year. He was pretty excited.. I wish I had the whole story to tell on here, but I have yet to get the unabridged version of how he got it. He sent me a picture though, so I thought I would put it up here for people to see. It would have been a pretty big 10-pointer, except three of the points broke off on the left side. It was big.

My apology for not writing in so long. The website was being updated and worked on, so I was told to take a little break from writing. But don’t worry, i’m back :)

School is going well.. considering we’ve had a total of four days of classes so far. I’m enjoying my classes a lot. I don’t think there is even one that I don’t like. It’s definitely going to be busy, and starting tomorrow I’ll be putting my head to the grind and getting this spring semester rolling.

Scholarship Weekend is coming up this next weekend! My sister Marianna is coming up to interview and compete for the Donaldson Science Scholarship. I’m excited to see her and some of my family.

I’m back at school for orientation, there are 17 new students, and classes start on Tuesday. Bring on another semester. I’m not looking forward to Tueday… I have two 1 hour and 15 minute long accounting classes during the day and then a 3 hour business law class that night. It’s going to be a long and tedious day of classes. All that to say, i’m glad to see people and I’m ready for this semester to get rolling!

It’s Tuesday, January 6th. I’m nearing the end of my Christmas break. I am heading back to school early this Friday to get ready for the new students coming in for orientation. I’m excited about it! It’s always fun to be back on campus for a few days before classes start… it’s nice to have time to prepare for classes, buy books (I recommend amazon.com, half.com, abebooks.com, fetchbook.info), see people, and just get mentally prepared. I am definitely going to have to get mentally prepared… it’s going to be a tough semester. I’m taking intermediate accounting 2, principles of taxation, principles of marketing, business law, the family (a sociology class), global trends, and singing in chorale.

It’s been relaxing being home. I’ve been trying to find work, but it’s been hard to find anything. I catered for a new year’s eve party for Providence Catering Company in Franklin, but aside from that I’ve just been at home with the family. I went up to Charlotte, NC this past weekend to visit a friend and her family. That was definitely a lot of fun!

Prayer for my Opa would be great. Thankfully, God has allowed him to live through the Christmas season one last time and spend some good time with the family… but he won’t be able to make it much longer. He sleeps a lot and hasn’t been eating. Prayer for my family with that would be great.

Prayer also for finances would be much appreciated. I’m uncertain as to how I will find the money to stay in school. My parents are unable to help me with any money because their support as missionaries has gone down a lot due to the economy. Please pray. I’m trusting that God will provide.. one way or another.

It’s January 1st, 2009… hard to believe. Today was the day for my whole family to celebrate Christmas. We weren’t able to all be together on Christmas day, so we opted to spend today together. It was wonderful! It’s so good to be home with the whole family. There’s nothing quite like having a house with thirteen (fourteen, if you count Libby’s baby due in May!) people in it… all immediate family. I love it.

Break has been relaxing for the most part. I worked for a catering company in Franklin last night and catered for a New Years Eve party. It was fun, and it was good to earn a little bit of money for school. It’s been hard finding work to do, so I’ve been glad to get anything I can. I’m a little worried about paying for school in the spring semester. But I know God will provide… one way or another.

I’m taking a roadtrip with Bets up to North Carolina tomorrow to see some friends for the weekend. It’ll be nice to have a little bit of a change in scenery. We’re both excited for the drive through the mountains!