By Faith

I have wanted to write a post for awhile but have not felt very inspired or motivated lately to do it.
 A lot is brewing in the Davis household.  First we have added 2 new members, Morgan and Jess.  These are two girls who are college age and have come to live with us.  They are both YL leaders and are neat girls.  It's fun to have them around for lots of reasons, having extra hands in the house is never a bad thing!  The other day Jess took Kate into her room, I think Kate was asking a lot of questions like "who's is this?" and so on.  It was fun to see what came out of that Jess must of told her how they share everything, Kate seemed to love this idea that they share everything and would be willing to share it with her.  Anytime they are home Kate and Lucy try their hardest to spend time with them, I am thankful for Godly young women to be a part of my daughter's lives! I look forward to life together with these girls.

Lately I feel like there have been several things that God has asked us "by faith" to do or start thinking about.  We recently started to attend Crossroads and feel like that took a lot of faith to move forward and to not be concerned about what some might think or others perceptions of Crossroads.  I can't say it enough this was tough since all I have ever known was the church we had been attending but God has been incredibly faithful and confirmed it in every way possible that this was the right decision for our family.  I think the switch has taught me that all believers are apart of the same "church" the body of Christ.  I have always had this constant weird tension that my closest family and friends who were believers that we all needed to share the same church in order to share community with them.  I'm finding out that it's nice if it works out that way but the bigger thing is that we share Christ and we are willing to spur one another on to love and good deeds.  We love where God has placed us right now, we are growing and changing daily and look forward to being challenged even more.

Well the other "by faith" things that are on the table, homeschooling and adoption.  Homeschooling is something since my kids were school age people have asked will you home school and I always gave a very quick "no way".  I grew up in a family that home schooled, I was only home schooled for 1 1/2 years because my mom and I were at each others throats most days.  Now why would I want to go through that same misery I always thought.  But now that I am a little older I can see how incredible my brothers relationships are with each other and the positive benefits it can have on a family.  My kids are in a wonderful school that we are more than pleased with so it's difficult to even picture them not attending there in the future.  This is something we are going to the Lord in prayer about and asking for that direction and strength if this should be where He is directing our family.

Adoption is subject you might hear about often if you are around our family.  We often talk about it, we love the picture of God adopting us as his children knowing how incredibly unlovable we are.  The thought and picture is so moving to me I sit here now with chills, every time my heart dwells on this subject my heart stirs and I feel like I could cry.  As I spend time in the word I can't help but see God's heart through Old and New testament for orphans and widows and try to picture what does this look like to have a heart for these people.  We know that we want to adopt it's all the details that can be so difficult sometimes.  This is sometime that we will continue to work through as a family and with the Lord.  On a side note we asked the kids last night what they thought of adopting and what that would mean for them since they would have to help out more.  Jack's response was great he said "it's not a big deal I've done this 3 times before what's a fourth".  I love my kids excitement over the subject of adding to our family, I look at that as a gift from God.






http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2011/11/reckless-abandon.html

Good-bye Earthly Hello Heavenly

I have given myself exactly 10 minutes to write my thoughts...here we go.

This morning was hard and I am not sure really why.  Nothing has really changed lately.  Ben is definitely busier at work and the kids have their normal school routine.  But I felt sad and kinda sad for myself and I know that is never a good place to be.  But God did not let me stay there this morning, I knew deep in my heart that without going to the feet of his throne with a desperate cry I would have a day that could feel unbearable.  At the same time knowing that truth I still fight it, I guess that's natural to not want to give up what you hold onto.  In my case it was self (self pity, selfishness, bad attitude...).  This morning I read Colossians 3:12-15, I was quickly reminded what I was clothed in and it wasn't tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  I was not willing to make any allowance for Ben or any of his faults or to truly forgive him as God has forgiven me!  Then to continue I most definitely had not clothed myself with love.  I know that this is the only real thing that will hold a marriage and family together so why do I run from it?  I am so selfish at the root of it!  I decided I needed to read the chapter from the beginning since I was reading this out of context, so I went to 3:1 and started and there it was the reminder of why I aim to do anything in my life.  "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven"...I have been out of focus I had been setting my sights on earth and not the things of heaven.  I'd like to think, good you read some nice scripture this morning now I have it and I will have a great day, but I know that this is a battle of the mind and will.  I am ready and I know with prayer and reminding myself of truth I can live my day very differently than I have for the last month.  Lord you are the only thing that gives life, I aim to have a thankful heart today!

Wrapping up the summer

School has started and we have finally gotten used to the schedule and change.  I am really enjoying my time home with Lucy and Sam, it's easy for them to be neglected when the older ones are home.  It's funny after four kids and 9 years of marriage.  I feel like God is still teaching me so much about my role as a wife and mother. I think this next year will be a year of growth and time to reflect on what's next for our family.  Since I have taken very little time to document our summer I thought as always I will try to play catch up.

In June we celebrated Jack's 8th birthday.  His birthday marked a really sweet time full of great memories.  We watched a video Joel made of Jack's 1st year, it touched Jack to the point of tears to know that people love and care for him. It is one of our sweetest moments with Jack.

Ben created a surprise birthday scavenger hunt.  We had a outdoor movie and a fire, it was a great night.

After Jack's birthday Ben and I went to Bermuda together,  I really wanted to take time to write about that trip and some fun memories later.

On the 4th of July we attended the Forth Mitchell parade and celebrated my 31st birthday!

A soldier stop to give Jack one of his badges it was so touching.

Lucy covered her ears most of the time, those darn firetrucks.

Sam enjoyed all the candy thrown to him.

We ended the night at my parents house with fireworks.

Lemonade stands are usually the highlight of the summer but this year we only had one.  Lucy quickly got tired of the heat but Kate stayed out there for a long time.  Kate looked so darn cute. At one point she had a umbrella she was holding and a fan blowing on her, it was quite the setup. 

Sam and Jack became a tight little duo this summer, it's sweet to see the love they have for each other.

In August we went camping with Ben's side of the family, it was a wet night :)

 

August 21st 1st day of school!

Jack in 3rd grade.

Kate in 1st grade.

August 31st we celebrated our 9 year anniversary.  Ben came home with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, which he got a total deal on at the Secret Garden (I love that place).

We had a nice night out, we did pizza at Via Vite on the square, a wine tasting at Party source (very fun) and ended the night with Starbucks.  It was great to be together and just talk.

We ended our summer with a trip to Chicago over Labor Day weekend.  We attended a wedding for my cousin and stayed with my friend Nicole and her husband.  They babysat our kids, this was from their time with them.

Some other summer highlights include Joel and Kerry receiving their referral for a little girl from Ethiopia who is around Sam's age.  We are all looking forward to her coming home in the next year!

Dave and Meg having their second child Gordon.  He is so precious.

Micah and Andrea had their forth baby Paul.  Paul is currently still in Nicu.  We have spent a lot of time as a family praying for Paul, he is one very special guy and a true blessing to the family.

I look forward to this next year with so much anticipation to see God work in our lives and those around us!!

Smiles

Last week was a very difficult week due to several outside stresses and I know that had an effect on my children in the way I have chosen to interact with them.  Frankly I would not have wanted me for a mom last week if I were them. I knew this week had to be different!

 The Lord help me notice something today as I have was interacting with my children, the more I smiled as I spoke or gave direction the better they responded.  As I drove home today and I smiled at Sam in the rear view mirror and he smiled back I was thinking how a smile communicates so much about the way you care for someone.  I wonder sometimes what does my face look like to my kids as I get frustrated and angry with them or outside circumstances.  Do I look like I love them or enjoy them?  Do I show them Christ in my eyes and smile?  I think the Lord is all so graciously reminding me of my purpose and role as a mother and how I will be naturally one of their prime examples of Christ lived out in someones life.  This week I will be consciously purposing to love my family with smiles and loving eyes.  Thank you Lord for your gentle reminders in my life!

My morning with Sam

Sam is the subject today...all morning he has made me smile.

Sam starts his day with a warm bottle of milk that either Ben, Jack or I usually feed him.  Today was no different I warmed a bottle and gave it to Jack to feed Sam it, well Sam was not having it.  He then decided to walk around and cry to protest his bottle.  I was wrapped up in my morning reading routine, I've gotten pretty good at ignoring silly requests during that time.  This morning that included Sam.  Everything seemed to be upsetting Sam he walked around the house just ticked off about everything.  Sometimes when you know your kids are being ridiculous it all becomes laughable.  Several times while I was reading he brought me a bag of candy and when I told him "no" he went and put his hands against the wall, leaned his head on them and cried it was one of the cutest and funniest things I've seen in awhile.  When I would look at him he would just laugh, I think he knew he was being dramatic.  He non-stop kept coming over to me and want on my lap and then back off, I finally got the clue when I stopped and really watched his cues.  He wanted me to feed him the bottle.  I found his blanket which he calls "baby" we sat on the couch and he very contently drank his bottle.  I spent the next 10 minutes looking into his eyes sweetly  as he touched my face and sometimes hit my face but I'm pretty sure that was just the boy coming out in him.  It struck me that he misses the time we use to spend together breast feeding, it was one on one and it made him feel loved.  I often think I probably try encourage my kids to just grow up.  I wonder how many sweet moments like this morning I have missed out on because I felt they were maybe too old for a bottle or whatever it was I was trying to move them pass.  It's funny that it's taken four kids to finally see some things in my parenting that I would've done different to do over again. 

On another note we have bought a new trash can with a lock because Sam threw everything away.  I have found my cell phone, remote controls, lots of toys and I think Kate's new croc is gone forever.

He has become very frustrated with the lock system so he has decided today that he going to start just tipping the can over and look at me like victory is his.

This is Sam eating breakfast, each morning something always ends up in his food.  Today it was his toy car.  One more thing to make me laugh.

21 people, one house and lots of fun!

Every year we take a family vacation with my parents and most of my siblings, their wives and children.  Each year we have gone some place different.  This year we went to the Outer Banks N.C. . My mom is such a champ she spends far to many hours searching for just the right house for 21 people to fit comfortably.  This year she landed on a 7 bedroom, 4 story house with a pool and hot tub.  The time with everyone is invaluable.  We spent most of our days by the pool and relaxing while kids took naps.  The days were filled with laughs and meaningful conversations.  We didn't spend much time on the beach due to the giant dunes you had to cross to get there, not fun with kids.  Each night for dinner we took turns cooking meals so that the burden didn't fall on my mom alone.  Most of our evenings were filled with back deck talks and cigars, movies together in the theatre room or card games.  Being together for a week with so many people has it's moments but overall it's wonderful to be a part of a large family and be able to share our walks with Christ together.  

Random memories and highlights:

-family dinners, always full of chaos but entertaining

-Our entire family went to ice cream out, the things we ordered were not good the kids were a mess and Kate threw up in the car on the way home.  

-Ben, Sam and I took a walk one night along the road in search for a ice cream place that might be close.  We didn't find one so we bought frozen fruit bars from a camping convenient store.  We decided to walk home along the beach, it ended up being a long walk but a great evening together.

-Ben and I went jogging one day it was short but fun.

-Lots of time just lying on the air mattress with my sister in laws in the pool.

-Yummy margaritas by the pool, compliments of my mom :)

- HGTV in the mornings with Dave and Meg.

-Sweet time with the Lord.

-Kevin making orange juice using a funnel and a narrow mouth container, so entertaining.

 

We don't have many pictures, I think they are all from one day.  That's what happens with four kids.

Evening walk to the beach.

The camera work is terrible but this is a taste of a car ride with us.  This was such a long ride home.

By this time Sam has thrown up everywhere, it was terrible.  We have stopped 4 times in the first 2 hours, yikes!  We just finished breakfast and Lucy is now saying she has to throw up, which she says often but has never done in the car.

Florida Vacation

I am way behind in this blog thing.  When I started my goal and aim was to record memories and thoughts relating to my family.  I wanted a way to look back over all our family memories.  So were going to play catch up.

In April we went on our first vacation as a family since last summer.  We were all anticipating the beach and time as a family!  We went to Panama City beach with Ben's parents, sister, brother and his girlfriend Sarah.  We stayed in a 3 bedroom condo that was really nice and was a great reminder of the amount of space you really need in life.  The beach was very pretty, we had a balcony facing the ocean.  This ended up being a really wonderful trip, lots of good quality time with everyone.

Some quick highlights:

• A wonderful date with Ben we ate at Los Antojitos (which was AMAZING) and had a fun drive in Duane's convertible.  We had many laughs that night.
• We celebrated Lucy's 3rd birthday.

• Saw the condo that I grew up going in as a child with my family, this brought back very sweet memories.
• Took the kids for ice cream one afternoon.
• Jack loved flying the kite and he insisted on letting all the string out, it was flying higher than our 25 story condo.  He then let it go, after he wreaked havoc on the beach we caught the kite!!!
• The kids all took many turns pushing elevator buttons, Ben and I didn't touch one elevator button all week.
• Sam loved the beach for about 30 minutes then was done.
• We spent a lot of time in the pool, the favorite thing to do was to go in the pool then run to the hot tub and back in the pool.
• Lot's of great time with grandparents!
• Sam had some great backpack time with dad.

Kate and Joy

Sam and grandma

Ipad time in the morning.