Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Morrell

Lindsay and Andrew got married last Saturday 8/13/2011. They have been together 4 & 1/2 years and their relationship has stood the test of time. They are both so well grounded in their walk with Christ and their wedding was such a testament to their love for each other, but more importantly, their love for Christ. Before they recited their vows, they candidly spoke to each other unscripted on stage and this is something I never will forget. When it was Lindsays turn to speak, she looked at Andrew and said "I have always loved you, before I knew you, I loved you. When I was younger, I began writing love letters to my future husband, I never told you about them, but there are twenty four of them and tonight, you will get them all." I thought this was by far the sweetest thing I had ever heard and it brought tears to my eyes. There's is truly a storybook romance. Congratulations Lindsay and Andrew!!

Felicia and I at the reception

knee deep in the water somewhere

As of 5:30 tonight, Brandy and I are beach bound. I'm so thankful that the Diekman's let us use their beach house whenever we want and that they trust us to be responsible. The Point is truly our home away from home, we have grown up in that beach house and have countless memories there. Brandy and I both have been so stressed lately and it's going to be so nice to get away and escape for the weekend. I thank  God for a best friend like Brandy, we have been best friends since the first day of first grade and we have been through everything together, the good and the bad and we except each other for who we are. I know I can always go to her no matter what and I have really learned the value of friendship. It's so important to have a best friend to go through life with and share all of your problems. Let the weekend begin.

a rainy, curly hair, rain boots, cars 2 kind of day

For the past 2 days, it has been pouring in Tally which is totally fine with me seeming as how I love rain, and more importantly, I love rain boots!!! There's just something about the rain that makes me smile. I love how cozy it is, the sound of the rain drops hitting the roof while you drift off to sleep, or watching the drops fall as you daydream about anything and everything imaginable, and I love how the rain purifies the air and makes everything crisp and alive. and if you know me, you know I'm a rain boot fanatic! I have a zebra pair and a rainbow polka dot pair, I adore jumping into puddles with them on! I also have a hot pink and white rain coat and I'm working on getting a monogrammed umbrella. If you know me, you also know that I am the monogram queen....seriously. :)  I also did not feel like doing my hair this morning which means I scrunched it and that actually turned out great because there is no humidity in the air therefore, my hair has stayed curly all day. SCORE!  and to top it all off, Brandy just texted me and wants to go see Cars 2 tonight EVEN BIGGER SCORE! (we really are such dorks). All in all what we've learned today is that rain + curly hair + rain boots and rain coat + Cars 2 + best friend date = EPIC SUCCESS!!



these are my zebra rain boots :)



these are my polka dot rain boots :)

this is my rain coat :)

and this is the movie that's going to make our night :)

yes, we know we're in college, and yes, we know we're dorks 

the mission field of Tallahassee

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

I have often spoken about the heart and desire God has given me for His people. The more I long for Him, the more He is showing me that I don't have to go outside of the country or even Tallahassee to show His love. I now try and see people the way Christ would have me to see them. Tallahassee is such a huge mission field, we have 3 major college campuses. What an awesome ministry God has placed right in front of me! I am reminded over and over of the verse which states, they will know who you follow by your fruit. Our countenance and attitude can make or break the relationships we form with people and first impressions do matter. Can someone see Jesus in you? At my high school graduation, a song was performed and it repeatedly said over and over you may be the only Jesus some will ever see. That has stuck with me and constantly makes me think of the impressions I have made thus far on the people God has allowed me to come into contact with. When people remember me, I want them to remember the love of Christ.

how great is our God

My life has been changing a lot lately. I can honestly say I never thought I would be at the point in my life that I am now, I just thought things would be well... different. I am learning God's precious and perfect timing and I have developed an even greater love for the needs of His people. In the past few weeks I was put on notice with my job of 5 years with the Leon County Property Appraisers Office. Due to county budget cuts, all OPS in our office will be losing their jobs by the end of our fiscal year of September 30th. In essence, it goes a little something like this.... find a new job and get out because DOR could re-review the budget and could come back at any given time and kick us out sooner than September. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a planner. The practical side of me was thinking "seriously, in this economy how in the world am I going to find a new job, college graduates with legit degrees cannot find jobs and people are losing their jobs left and right. yea right, I will not find a new job" but then the Holy Spirit grabbed hold of my heart and when I was given the news, I had a peace. I know that it was the peace of the Holy Spirit telling me "it's all going to be ok."

 I was given notice 3 weeks ago today and in 3 weeks time, my God has truly made himself know. Last Sunday night, my mom was talking to our cousin on the phone who is a paralegal and she mentioned to my mom about this firm she knows that loves to hire college students. She said, "Brooks and LeBoeuf is an awesome Christian law firm, they gather together as a firm each morning and pray as a staff and they truly care about peoples eternity with Christ and I think it would be a great fit for Haley." I emailed Brooks and LeBoeuf last Sunday night at 7:30, Monday morning at 9:30 they called me and wanted me to come in for an interview, Monday at 11:00 I go in for my interview, they asked me how much money I wanted to make per hour, how much I wanted to work with my school schedule, and hired me as their receptionist on the spot!!!! Even though we have all been let go from LCPA, I still felt as though the respectable thing to do was give my 2 weeks notice. I gave my notice last Monday after my interview and my last day with LCPA is this Friday, May 13th. I have started training at the law firm and I love it. My family is going to Destin the 14-17th so my official start date with the firm is Monday, May 23rd. In today's economy, going straight from one job to the next is unheard of, all I can say is it's a God thing. How great is our God?!

Philippians 4:6
Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.

Easter on the Moon!

Yes people, it's happening. church at the club! At the Well, we are all about reaching the community of Tallahassee and exemplifying the love of Christ, what better way to do it than hosting our Easter service at the Moon? It is such an awesome way to reach people and it can house so many at one time! There will be two services Easter Sunday at 11:15 am and 6:00 pm both at the Moon so come check us out!

all because of the Ramsey cheer

I have started attending a church in Tallahassee called The Well. I absolutely love it and it is truly a blessing! Sunday night I got the pleasure of meeting James Ramsey. James plays right field for Florida State and is good friends with my friend Derek and we all attend The Well together. I have mentioned in past posts that my family and I have season tickets for FSU baseball, well the friends that I sit on the front row love James and we have fondly adopted a cheer that we yell for him at every game. It simply goes as follows .... RAMSEYYYYY.... simple as that. Last night was the FSU vs. Florida baseball game and the stands were sold out, the adrenaline was infectious! As I was sitting in the front row, I noticed a little boy and little girl screaming James's name every time he ran out onto the field, they obviously were huge fans, James would turn around and smile and wave when he saw them and they were so excited! I finally decided that since these kids loved James so much that I needed to get them in on the action and teach them the Ramsey cheer. I got up from my seat during the 7th inning stretch and went and sat on the stairs beside these kids and asked if they wanted to learn James's cheer. They were elated and so of course I was thrilled to teach it to them. The next time James ran out onto the field, I took Trent and Chloe over to the fence and we screamed the Ramsey cheer, they loved it! I took them back over to their mom and she began telling me why they loved James so much. She said about a year ago, Trent had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his nasal cavity and that the FSU Baseball team had kind of taken Trent under their wing and "adopted" him. She said James had really taken to Trent and that they absolutely loved James and that was why the kids were screaming for him. I told her that I could relate with being sick that I as a child had undergone 2 open heart surgeries and angioplasty at 12 and that I would eventually have to have more surgery. I began telling her about Camp Boggy Creek and that it was a camp for critically ill children, that I had attended as a camper during heart week and that I was now a counselor during the summer for sickle cell week and cancer week. She gave me a huge smile and told me they were going to the cancer family weekend for the first time this upcoming November. She said that Trent was a little nervous about going and asked me to talk with Trent about it from a camper and counselor prospective. I sat Trent down on the steps beside me, and in the middle of the FSU vs. Florida game, God presented me with the beautiful opportunity to tell Trent all about Camp Boggy Creek and all the fun he was going to have and that for one week. he would get the chance to play with 200 other kids that had cancer just like he did and that for one week, he could just be a normal kid. Trent informed me that he was a professional at playing :) Camp Boggy Creek changed my life forever because at an early age, I learned that I wasn't alone fighting my disease, there were other children just like me. Last night I got to share that joy and form an unspoken bond with Trent  all because of the Ramsey cheer. When I got home from the game, tears began streaming down my face as I was in such awe at the opportunity God had just allowed me to be a part of, and I am still tearing up typing this now, all because of the Ramsey cheer.

Elyse Sophia Anderson

Monday March 21st, 2011 at 10:06 am weighing in at 6lbs. 10 ounces and 19 inches long. Elyse Sophia Anderson(Elly) entered the world. For those of you who don't know, Elly is practically my niece. Kristin and Jenny are the children of my parent's best friends but we all consider each other family. Because of the age gap there is between Kristin, Jenny and myself, they have always been 'big sisters' and mentors to me. At a young age, I began referring to them as my big sisters and it just sort of stuck and has been a hard habit to break so I don't even try anymore.
Kristin is married to Jeff and on Monday March 21st, they welcomed their beautiful baby girl Elly into the world. We were getting constant updates and finally pictures from the family ALL day long. My mom and I went to the hospital yesterday and met Elly for the first time and our hearts were immediately filled with love for our precious baby girl. My mom and I kept saying over and over "we have a baby!" It is so surreal to see my big sister have her own daughter and I cannot wait to see the amazing mom Kristin will become. I also cannot wait for Elly to grow so I can teach her things and give her advice the same way Kristin and Jenny did for me. Welcome to the world Elly!

we laughed until we cried

This past week, was college spring break, and I have to say, I have the best friends in the world! My best friend Brandy has a beach house in Alligator Point and Brandy, Taylor, Hannah, Hunter, Josh, Nick, and myself spent 3 wonderful days at the beach house making memories that will last a lifetime! The first night, we made tacos and dessert, and then the second night, we bought 4lbs. of shrimp from My Way seafood in Panacea and made garlic and butter potatoes and the guys grilled all of it on the grill. We topped it off with a side salad and the 7 of us all sat around the table and ate dinner together. We had spent the day in Apalachicola shopping and it was the perfect ending to our day. It's in moments like these where you learn to treasure time spent with those you love. The older we're getting, the busier our lives our becoming and that's less time we get to spend together. It's important to make time to laugh and make memories, so this trip, we laughed until we cried.

take me out to the ball game

If you really knew me you would know that my family and I are HUGE baseball fans!! We have FSU baseball season tickets and the season kicked off last Friday which officially puts me in a great mood!! We have such a talented team this year and we are also a fairly young team which means we will only get better!! One of the reasons I love FSU baseball so much is because the games are such a family atmosphere whereas the football games, completely different story.... I suppose my love of the game comes from me playing softball for 10 years. Even though I don't play anymore, pulling up to the FSU stadium still gives me that adrenaline high and increases my love for the game that much more. The weather has been incredible as well. During the season you can always find me out at the ball field with my family. Every week I can't wait for the weekend to come around to head out and watch the boys play! Let's hope they can keep the undefeated record they have so far....

Valentine's Day

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I'm just going to be honest and say that I really do not like Valentine's Day. I personally think it is way overrated and a lot of unnecessary pressure. I have spent a good portion of the day feeling sorry for myself because I'm single and alone. And let me tell you, watching all the rest of my friends so in love, while I'm incredibly happy for them, can at times be very depressing because I want that loving relationship as well. It wasn't in my plan to be single this Valentine's Day. This was my year to finally be able to enjoy the day. I truly thought I had that forever, lasting relationship, God had other plans. So here I am yet again single on another Valentine's Day.
Late this afternoon, God has been pulling at my heart, convicting me, saying: "I love you", "I created you", "Rely on me, let me fill the void", "Wait on my timing, I will send you who I created for you in my perfect timing."
So that is what I have decided to do this Valentine's Day, to let go and let God. I am a planner by nature and I always want to plan things out and have them go perfectly according to my plan. However, it isn't about me and my plan, it's about God and His plan. His perfect plan for the life He has planned for me. I am reminded of Brandon Heath's song "Love Never Fails". God's love never fails and I need to be content with letting his plan unfold and have faith that He is going to send me someone in His timing. Until then, I can celebrate Valentine's Day having the unconditional love of my Heavenly Father and that is better than anything, any day.

rolling with the flow

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain ~ Philippians 1:21~

When Paul wrote Philippians, he was so in love with Christ that while he was living, every minute was devoted to the gospel of Christ, and he was excited about his earthly death because he would go to be with Christ. What if we as Christians lived our lives this way; how different our society would be.
I spoke with Perry Gaines last night and he informed me that Honduras might be a no go because airfare has jumped from $600 to $1500. We are looking at other avenues to try and decrease the airfare cost of Honduras however, that might be easier said than done. He told me not to worry though because regardless, we would still be going on a mission trip. We are also working with our connections in Costa Rica and Jamaica in order to determine which will be the most cost effective between the three. As excited as I was about going to Honduras(not to say it isn't completely out of the realm of possibility) I am just as excited at the prospect of going to Costa Rica or Jamaica! The way I see it, we just have to roll with the flow and believe that God will make a way and have us go where we are most needed. Wherever we end up, God's love is still going to be shown and His word still preached. Whether it be in: Honduras, Costa Rica, or Jamaica. I am praying for God's leadership and guidance for our team as we try to hear his voice in determining where we are supposed to go.

Love God Love People

I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one.' I will say to those called 'Not my people, ' 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.' "
Hosea 2:23

Ever since God called me to go on a mission trip to Honduras this June, he has been pulling at the strings of my heart and given me a passion for His people. I am getting my passport next week and as the gap of the trip is closing in, the more excited I am becoming. My heart is longing for the people of Honduras and the mighty work that He will do. I am so thankful that he has chosen to use our group as the tool. I have already began praying that God will prepare the hearts of the people we will come in contact with, as well as preparing our hearts for what He is going to do through us. Not only has God given me a heart for the people of Honduras, but a heart for His people as a whole and I am so grateful for the work he is doing in me.

putting my best foot forward

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Time has flown! I can't believe it has already been 9 months since I graduated from NFC and I am already in my second full semester of my college career. School has never really been my cup of tea. I went because I had to and because I thoroughly enjoyed being little miss social butterfly. College however is a totally different ball game, it's make it or break it. I am currently taking anatomy and physiology for my major and it is all consuming to say the least. I eat sleep and breathe school which is not something I am normally accustomed to. It has definitely been a huge adjustment. However, failing is not an option, I have to put my best foot forward. I want to be able to look people in the eye and say with confidence " I have done my best". The time for playing around is over, this is the rest of my life and that is not a game. There are hopes and dreams I have for myself and I plan on reaching them. God has started a good work in me and has promised to finish it out until completion.