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!