Happy Mother's Day!

> This week has been pretty swell! Somehow it seems all of our investigators
> had the plague this week though so we were struggling to fill our time.
> That's okay though, nothing a little chalk and a busy park can't fix. :)
> The pictures I sent will explain that... Haha being able to Skype the fam
> bam was great! I wish I could have seen everyone, but mom said everyone is
> doing great so I guess I can wait till Christmas/ till I get home to talk
> to y'all.
>
> Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's in my life! Mama Crouch, Toni, Sister
> Sly, and of course my own, absolutely amazing, Mama. I love each of you so
> much and I hope you had a great Mother's Day!
>
> SO this week I hit my 9 month mark! I have given up on this whole time
> thing... I don't even understand life and I can't explain it, but an hour
> can feel like an eternity yet a month seems like a second. It's so cliche
> to say that, but It is what it is ya know?
>
> I feel like I don't have anything to say because we talked last night...
> haha hmmmmmmm so I suppose I will tell you about a cool experience we had
> on Saturday. So as I said before, EVERYONE was sick or out of town this
> week, (including me and my comp) so Saturday came around and we literally
> had NO ONE to see. So we decided to spend the whole day street contacting
> and what not. Half way through the day we decided to go buy some chalk and
> do this....
>
>
 
>

> We wrote this out in a couple different places and then invited people to
> write/draw things that they had because of their moms. Then we left chalk
> there and came back to check it out at the end of the day. The website on
> there takes you to a really inspiring video about moms and our father in
> heaven.
>
> While we were doing this down by the boardwalk a man stopped and we started
> talking to him. He thought it was so cool. He wrote a few things down and
> then asked if he could take some pictures to post on his blog. He was out
> at the boardwalk that day just taking some pictures (he is a photographer)
> after talking to him a little bit he shared that his mom passed away when
> he was young. We had a really amazing conversation with him and were able
> to answer some questions he had about his mom and where she is.
>
> I loved it! I am so grateful that I have the faith, hope, and knowledge I
> do about God's plan for us. I love sharing it! It brings people so much
> peace!
>
> I know our father in heaven has a plan for each and everyone of us. He
> wants so badly for us to be happy and to be successful. I have no doubt
> that it is hard for him to watch us struggle, but he knows that he has to
> let us do it on our own. He knows it will make us stronger and better
> people, but he is still there to help bare those trials. I've seen it so
> many times out here and in my own life.
>
> I love you all so much! I hope you have a great week!
>
> -love always, Sister Upshaw




Birthday lunch with ladies from the area

For those who new Chelsea as a child, they will understand her obsession for trees.  

When her dad would try to trim the tree in the back yard, she would climb up in it 

and yell for her daddy to quit hurting her tree.

Random pictures

Skyping with her on Mother's Day

Florida is trying to kill me! 5-5-14

The wildlife here in Florida is against us! So first and foremost I think 
Shaylynn's irrational fear of ducks may have some validity. We pulled up to 
a house and I opened the car door and a giant duck was staring me down. I 
got out of the car and it starts waddling toward me! I run to the front 
door and duck inside the screened in porch. This daemon duck then goes 
after my companion! She's screaming and the thing is chasing her around the 
yard when the people we were visiting came out and just laughed and 
laughed! Finally we all get inside and close to an hour later as we were 
getting ready to leave we see the duck PACING IN FRONT OF THE DOOR! It was 
waiting for us! We named it Patoloco! Apparently that means crazy duck in 
Spanish? Idk... Then on Friday it was pouring rain and I am now the driver 
(Whoo!) so I can barely see as I'm driving due to the waterfall pouring 
down on my windshield! Finally it gets so bad we decide to pull over. 
It lightened up after about 30 minutes so we went on our way. That night we 
looked at the phone and saw we had a message from the mission that said, 

"extreme tornado alert! Seek shelter now." Oops.... 
 
The next day we were sitting outside messaging some people on FB when a 
huge black snake came out of NOWHERE and slithered about 6 inches away from 
my foot!  Meanwhile the past week or so has been pretty warm so every 
insect imaginable has come out to play. I am pretty convinced 
bugs can sense fear too because they seem to leave everyone else alone, but 
me! Then the icing on the cake.... Mom, remember that one time when I was 
like 10 and we were doing yard work and I was convinced I had gotten a 
sunburn on my palms, but you didn't believe me? Then we found out I was 
allergic to weeds? Well good news! I am 
still very much allergic to weeds! Haha we were doing yard work for this 
lady and after about an hour I notice my arms are covered in hives! I tried 
to take a picture, but it didn't do it justice... It was great! 
 
Even though I'm pretty sure I almost died 100 times, this week was still 
amazing! One experience we had was with this amazing lady who hasn't been 
to church in a long time. When I first met her she was pretty depressed. 
She didn't feel like she had any purpose. We met with her  this week and 
she has been coming to church a lot more lately and everything about her 
has changed! Anyway we are about to say the prayer and she says, I have 
something to tell you.... She looks up at us and said that she had decided 
to pay tithing, but she wasn't sure how. She can't even afford the bills 
she has now. We started to testify that it will all work out, but she 
motioned for us to stop talking. I was kind of taken back by it, but 
listened. She said , I came home last night and divided up my check. 
Tithing first and then slowly I payed everything. When I got to the end I 
just started to cry." My heart sank at this point because I knew she 
didn't have enough money to pay all her bills. She then said through tears, 
"I had money left over! How is that even possible?" I am so grateful for 
that sweet lady! Of course I don't really know what her budget looks like, 
but she had amazing faith. 
 
I know that whenever things seem to not be working out, whether it is with 
school, work, family, or whatever, we just need to see if we are putting 
God first. if we do that then everything that needs to work out will. 
(Malachi 3:10) <-- that is a sweet promise! 
 
I love you all so much! Have a great week! 
 
Love, Sister Upshaw 

Another year older and wiser too! ;) 4-28-14

 I'm sorry that I didn't post this last week.  I hope you enjoy the 

pictures and videos.

Thank you all for all the Birthday letters/emails/packages etc. I had 
a great birthday! My amazing companion made me a cake and took me to 
dinner at Applebee's! It's funny because last week I was telling her 
about our families birthday traditions and how every year we wake up 
to a box of doughnuts and at some point in the day my sweet daddy buys 
us flowers. I was kind of bummed because I wouldn't get that this 
year. Wednesday night I get a package from my dear mama with doughnuts 
in it! It took my a good five minutes to figure out why you sent 
doughnuts haha then it took me another ten minutes to stop smiling. 
You are one clever lady mama dear! Then I come home at the end of the 
day to beautiful flowers on my doorstep. Why do I have the greatest 
parents in the whole wide world? Seriously you guys are the best! 

This week I have been thinking a lot about all the blessings God has 
given me. I pretty much can fit every single blessing into two 
categories, family and the gospel. Families are the best! Especially 
my family. ;P I sure do love you guys! As I was reading all the 
different emails that my siblings and their kids sent me on Thursday I 
couldn't help but tear up. I wasn't crying because I was sad or 
because I missed you all (I do miss you by the way), but I was crying 
because I was overwhelmed with how absolutely lucky I felt to be apart 
of such a loving family. Believe me, I know we have our fair share of 
redneck family drama, but I sure do love you all more than I think I 
ever realized before. I don't really know how to put it into words, 
but I hope you feel it. When I look at our family I can't doubt the 
love that God has for us. I couldn't imagine my life without even one 
of my amazing siblings, I love you Bill, Jase, Sonnie (you've been a 
sibling since before I even have memories of life so I definitely feel 
like I can include you here!) Nannon, Kim, Christina, Shay, and Nae! 
Then you have two of the most amazing parents who love all 8 of us, 
plus in-laws, adopted kids, and anyone else that we bring into the 
house. (Including the "stray" animals we dognaped) Gosh! I can't wait 
to see you all again soon! :D 
 
Well that was sappy and estrogen filled... Anywhoo.. 
 
As if my incredible family wasn't enough, I have also been blessed to 
be apart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I've never really had to 
wonder what my purpose here is or what will happen after this life. I 
mean I had to search enough to gain my own testimony, but in the end, 
I have always had that direction and peace in my life that so many 
people are desperately seeking. I am amazed, and slightly confused, as 
to why I was so fortunate to have both an amazing family, and to know 
so firmly the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ when others 
have neither one. Which is why I want so badly to share both those 
blessings with everyone I love, including strangers in Florida. :) 

I love you all more than Floridians love gross sea food! (Seriously, 
does no one have taste buds? Sea food is horrid!) 
 
Let's pray I don't get fed fish this week! 
 
Love always, 
 
The Floridian Sista U <3 
 
Side note.... I saw a really hideous duck this week! The natives call 
it a Dino duck? I tried to pet it, but it got angry and I'm pretty 
sure it tried to kill me! Needless to say, I left it alone and have no 
plans of ever trying to touch it again... However we do have plans 
next week to go to a gator pit and take pictures with lots of 
alligators! Whoo! I live in a jungle right now! 
 
Oh and shout out to my birthday buddie Alexx and my lovely sister Shay 
who will be like a hardcore adult tomorrow! Happy birthday sis! I love 
you! 

These are pictures from a Color Run that Chelsea and Sis. Skeem participated in

Pictures on her lunch break on her birthday, she promises that she didn't 

touch the water

Chelsea and Sis. Calder were able to celebrate their birthdays before 

Sis. Calder was transferred

Pictures from a baptism they had he day before Easter

Easter on the beach (rough life)

Easter dinner at her Bishop's house

Random pictures because she had to get them off of the IPad

Pictures from Chelsea's birthday, her companion took her to Applebee's

 Flowers from her Daddy (he had to keep the tradition)

And then of course, we have a couple of crazy videos 

People are CRAZY! Letter from 4-21-14

Chelsea has been suffering from Allergies pretty bad.  She could really use some 
prayers in helping her to cope with them and for the medication the Mission 
Doctor gave her will work.  Right now it is just making her feel sick and 
drowsy.  
 
 
> This week was pretty great! There was an amazing video for Easter called 
> #Becauseofhim. (its on my FB page for anyone who hasn't seen it!) Anyway it 
> is awesome and everyone we showed it to just loved it! People were so open 
> to hearing a message about Christ and reflect on what they have because of 
> His sacrifice. Last week sister Calder and I were biking and that morning I 
> promised her and Heavenly Father that I would talk to everyone I saw! I did 
> just that. We both biked and handed out cards and shared messages, but 
> nothing had really come of it yet. I was biking ahead of sister Calder and 
> this lady intentionally moved away from us and gave us an annoyed look. I 
> biked passed offering a simple smile, but sister Calder stopped. I am SO 
> grateful she did! Her name is inita and she is amazing! Turns out she had 
> been praying to find direction and she decided to walk to the store instead 
> of driving and then she runs into missionaries! Crazy! We literally talked 
> to EVERYONE that day! I made the decision to pass ONE and look what we 
> would have missed. When we showed Inita the video the spirit was so strong. 
> She expressed that she didn't feel worthy of God's love or our savior's 
> sacrifice. Tears where in all our eyes as we testified of her Devine worth. 
> Definitely one of those moments when you realize how amazing being a 
> missionary is. 
> 
> Another one of those moments was at Terri Tadle's baptism on Saturday! That 
> is one amazing family. She is the sweetest lady and kept saying how she had 
> been given a clean slate, a second chance, a new beginning. I LOVE LOVE 
> LOVE her!!! She bore her testimony after the baptism and I was just 
> stunned! Mama, you HAVE to add her on Facebook! She and her husband Ken, 
> who are like my parents out here (they asked if they could adopt me... is 
> that cool with you?) are going out to Vegas in July and they want to meet 
> up with you and Daddy! It's a great day to be a missionary! 
> 
> Easter was great too! I spoke in Sacrament meeting and we went top an 
> easter Sunrise service at Siesta Keys with one of our investigators, which 
> was pretty cool and then we had dinner at the bishop's house with a million 
> and 10 other people! haha It was just like a crazy Purdy family party! The 
> only thing missing was a good ol' Upshaw wrestling match! ;) 
> 
> I hope you all had a fabulous Easter! If you didn't get a chance, go watch 
> that video. It is really beautiful and only 2 minutes long. :) I love you 
> all so much! 
> 
> -Sista Upshaw