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.