just call me aunt anna

My nephew, Griffin, was born early Sunday morning! Hank and I were able to hang out with the new little guy and family Sunday... he's so cute!

St. John

We were blessed to be able to go down to St. John during Christmas break to visit Hank's uncle and aunt. Nelson and Vicky are some of the most gracious hosts I've ever been around. Their house is beautiful and it was fun to be able to see their life in paradise.

We started our mornings like this...



And then a couple of hours later...









One afternoon, Hank and his Uncle Nelson went out scuba diving and brought back dinner!





Watching the sunset was a perfect way to end a perfect day...



This trip was probably one of our last before the baby comes, so I tried to enjoy the peace, quiet, and rest! We find out the sex January 6th!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Uzzell's! We're currently in South Carolina with my family but we've also been to Raleigh and St. John this holiday season (I'll post more on our tropical visit later). We've had a great time with our families. Oh how I love being home!

"But the angel said to them,"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2: 10-11

isn't the same

Unfortunately, we aren't decorating for Christmas this year . Before all of you gasp in horror (as my husband did when I told him the plan), let me explain. Most of our time off is before Christmas because of us working at Christmas conference. If we had decorated Dec. 1st, it would have been up for less than two weeks. Call me crazy, practical, or just plain cheap, but it just wasn't worth it to me. I did pull out my "Spruce Tree" candle so that at least our house would smell like Christmas. But it just isn't the same! Small price to pay to spend the holiday with our families!

its been too long

Hank informed me today that it had been a month since our last post. I confess that I've been putting off posts until I could announce that we are pregnant! I'm 10 weeks today and feeling very blessed. Please pray with us for the safety of our child due June 9, 2010.

It has been such an incredible fall. I am constantly encouraged by the wonderful girls that I meet with. To watch God work in their hearts and lives makes my job feel so purposeful. I met with a girl today that is the President of one of the wildest sororities on campus. She has a heart for the Lord and for the girls in her sorority. She is reaching out to some of the girls that have been called to standards and inviting them to our Crusade meetings. We talked today about trying to start a bible study with some of them next semester. She is in an area on campus that I could never get to! Praise the Lord that she is willing to reach out to these girls.

I'm ready for Thanksgiving break! We have a staff conference in Birmingham and then we'll be headed to North Carolina for the week of Thanksgiving. Bring on sleeping in, good food (that I don't have to cook) and relaxing time with family!

Braves Game

We went to a braves game a couple of weeks ago, but I just retrieved the pictures yesterday! We lost by two runs (pretty disappointing) but we still had a great time with our wonderful staff friends, Robert and Katherine Cunningham! Always good to get away for a date night!

Chattanooga Fall Retreat

We had a wonderful weekend up in Chattanooga for our fall retreat! There were 40 students and 8 staff that packed into Northshore's youth building with blow-up mattresses, sleeping bags,etc. for a weekend of service and fun! Saturday, we split up into three service groups. My group helped put on a fire safety program with local children. A few of them were refugees from Tanzania...

Encouragment

It's always encouraging in our job when we get to see life change in students. Hank and I were both surprised and encouraged when he received the following text a few days ago...

"Hank, just wanted to let you know that I just told my girlfriend that I wanted to stop having sex. I tell you this not because I want you to feel good about you knowing it, but so that you can see the effect you have on other people's lives. You are an amazing individual and I thank God for bringing you into my life. It's exactly what I needed and I hope you never give up on preaching the gospel."

I've been thinking lately, how this is the most rewarding job I've ever had. It's such a privilege to get to see firsthand the ways that God is moving in Auburn students. Please be praying that the Lord would continue to put people in our lives that are open to the gospel!

Fall

Yes, it is almost 90 degrees outside, but it is still officially fall! I was looking at Sara Boney's blog the other day, and she mentioned that she had made her own wreath for 10 dollars. Being artistic is not one of my strong points, and Sara wrote that it wasn't hers either, so it made me think that maybe I could pull it off. Hank got the joy of going with me to Hobby Lobby (he hates that store), and $9.15 later, I had my supplies for the wreath. I think that it turned out fairly well, but notice that I didn't include a close up shot (for good reason)!

Prayer

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will hear their land." 11 Chronicles 7: 14

We are going through the book of Acts in our weekly meeting and have been reminded of the importance of prayer in our ministry. As a result, their have been groups of people meeting at different times throughout the week to pray and ask God to move across Auburn's campus. There are different landmarks that is unique to Auburn that give us specific things to pray for....

Jordan-Hare Stadium-Pray that Auburn would be known for the spread of the Gospel more than the football program



Samford Hall-Pray for our University Leadership



Haley Center: Pray for the Auburn faculty



Upper Quad-Pray for the Freshmen class



Student Union-Pray for SGA, IFC, Panhelenic,BSU, ISO, NPHC

Auburn game

We went to our first Auburn game of the season, and loved it! Our good friends, Mikelyn and Marshall gave us two tickets and we had a great time cheering on Auburn towards victory. Because it was a night game, we were able to see several more friends tailgating that afternoon. Now all we need for next week is that fall weather...

Elizabeth H., Katherine C., and me (girls on staff and great friends!)


Mikelyn B. (childhood friend, freshmen roomate, bridesmaid = really good friend )



Toomer's Corner!

New addition to the Hamiter family!

Our dearest friends, Cassie and Trace (how Hank and I met) had Gray last week and we had the privilege of getting to see him on his birthday! He is perfect in every way!

Homecoming!

If any of you have been to our house or talked to me about our house, more than likely you have heard me complain about our couch drama. The movers ripped our couch in the process of moving, and then took our couch to fix it...two months ago. Hank and I have spent the time since then calling the moving company and the upholsterer trying to convince them that two months to fix a small tear is ridiculous. So, you can imagine my surprise when they called me the other day to tell me that they were bringing our couch home that very day. Oh happy day!

Sorority Presidents

Last night, Elizabeth and I went to a bible study that the Panhellenic president (a student in our ministry) started for sorority presidents. It was such a great example of a student taking the position where God has put her and starting a small group study. She gets our vision! Each of these presidents have influence over at least 200+ girls in their respective sororities. Because of their position, their influence in girl's lives in incredible! We were given a chance to talk and to offer different ways that we could help start spiritual movements in their sororities.

Campus Crusade is praying that this fall, we will get into every fraternity and sorority pledge class and share the gospel. We do this by giving a talk on time management and sharing our testimonies, talking on womanhood, myths about freshmen year, etc. Basically getting them to think about their spiritual life now instead of a waiting until years down the road. A lot of times the habits that freshmen have and the people that they are now is who they will be in ten years. Many freshmen believe that they can do whatever they want and it won't affect them in future years to come. Please pray with us as we are talking to so many freshmen in the following months!

Happy Birthday to Hank!

Hank's 29th birthday was yesterday! I found a great ice cream cake recipe online and had fun trying it out.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/OREO-and-Fudge-Ice-Cream-Cake/Detail.aspx






We went to dinner, then had some great staff friends over to celebrate!

What a busy week!!

The first week of school was crazy and fun! Our first weekly meeting was encouraging as we had a wonderful time being together in worship through singing and listening to the word. Bill Boldt, our director, talked from Acts 1:8 in our new series called "The Essence of Christianity."

One of my favorite things about our job is when students truly get the vision to have a personal ministry with wherever God has placed them. Friday, we took 41 student leaders who are committed to taking the gospel to the unreached places on campus on an overnight retreat. We had a wonderful time of vision casting, praying for Auburn University, and hanging out together. These students truly are the cream of the crop, and it is a blessing to get to work along side of them.



Ambiance for the weekly meeting needed a boost, so Elizabeth and I stayed up one night (along with Hank and Andrew) to work our magic!





our first weekly meeting

First day of school

We had a wonderful day today! This morning, our team handed out cups on the concourse to let people know when and where we hold our meetings. I thought that it was a great idea that we got from the Campus Crusade at Ole Miss. The back of the cup had the football schedule on it, so it was appealing for the students to pick one up. We handed out 1, 000 in about 45 minutes! Then, this afternoon, we had a leadership meeting for students who are interested in having a personal ministry wherever God has placed them (sorority, fraternity, classes, etc.) Most of them will do this by leading community groups (bible studies). We are praying that we would have 100 community groups started this semester.

A work in progress

I had to fight my urge to only put up pictures when the house was done.. but i'm realizing that this house is going to be a work in progress for many months to come! In fact, if you have any suggestions on what we can put on the walls, etc. please let me know.





downstairs living room. there will be another couch down there (the movers ripped a hole in it and haven't brought it back yet)



hank's office downstairs



our room

2nd Anniversary

Today is our second anniversary! I've been reminiscing about that weekend (the rehearsal dinner, bridesmaids luncheon, how it was the hottest day of the year). I count it a blessing that the Lord has allowed me to be married to Hank for two years. This is why..

* Hank is perfect for me! He really balances me out well.
* He is a follower of Christ. Our marriage is based on our relationship with the Lord.
* I'm thankful that we both have a desire to be in ministry full time. I can't wait to have his guys over for dinner and experience his ministry in our home.
* Hank is a ton of fun! He makes me laugh when I really need to.
* He doesn't take life as seriously as I do (which is a good thing).
* Hank is a great provider. I'm so thankful that he sees that as his job in support raising.

There are so many marriages that we look up to, and one of those is my parents whom share the same anniversary! Happy Anniversary, Dad and Mom!