iPad mini fundraiser October 26-November 9th!!!

ENDS AT NOON November 9th!!!



Today starts our second fundraiser for the Davis #5 adoption!

We are pre-ordering 2 iPad mini's to give away.  This will raise $2000.00 toward our adoption fees if all chances are sold!

iPad mini details

Both will be the 16GB Wi-Fi model.
 

 

 How it works:

 

-For every $10.00 donated through our paypal button (below or on the right side of the blog), you will receive 1 chance in the giveaway! 

-You can enter as much as you want.

$10.00= 1 chance

$20.00= 2 chances

$30.00= 3 chances

$40.00= 4 chances, etc.

 

-100 chances max will be offered for each iPad mini, there are 2 iPad mini's, therefore there will be 2 drawings (200 chances total for both minis).

 

-We will draw and announce a winner November 9th.

(If all chances sell before then we will draw earlier.)

 

-We will have a third party draw so that close friends and family can enter.

 

 

Click on the donate button below or on the right side bar:

Leave a comment if you have a question or prefer to mail a check!

October days

I'm sitting here with Sam this morning as he eats his cereal and entertains me with his comments.  I snuck in a little video, I look forward to watching 10 years from now.

Life at home is moving and often it feels fast and furious.  Just when I think I have a child figured out there is a whole new thing to learn about them.  We are well on our way in this home schooling adventure and it's hands down the hardest thing I have ever done.  I still think it's very worth it and beneficial to our family.  I am still learning how to regulate my emotions when our day doesn't go as imagined.




Home school room all set up (it's never looked the same again)



My time with each child is so different...Jack, well he loves individual attention with his studies and if I could hold his hand all day and guide him step by step he would be satisfied.  I am working on his independent learning, this is harder for him than any one subject.  Jack has been so sweet in so many ways.  He loves touch, so if we read aloud he likes to be right next to me and he even may rub my arm or back.  It's fun to have slow moments to see some of that come out.  I am learning that Jack deep down likes to feel challenged but on the surface rejects it.  Jack is very insightful and adds to our group learning in great ways if he allows himself to stay engaged. 

Kate, is a hard little worker when she has motivation.  She works well independently on her phonics and math.  Kate can get discouraged easily if she feels like she isn't grasping a concept fast enough.  I often struggle with wanting her to "just get it".  It's been good to slow down and remember I am her teacher now it's my job to explain things in a way she understands.  Kate started piano this fall and seems to be doing well.  Our time together is good because I need all these little learning opportunities to build a relationship with her.  Kate has an incredible imagination so she will play independently tucked away somewhere this in the past didn't create very many opportunities to connect outside of dinner and bedtime.  My desire for Kate is to see a relationship with her that deepens this year and has depth beyond what she's doing at the moment.

Lucy, oh Lu I wish I had more focused time with you!  Lucy wants to "do" school so bad.  I have a workbook for her and coloring pages but she often rejects those.  I think she would like my undivided attention and for me to be purposeful with her.  She knows when I am just handing her busy work and she rejects it.  I need to find a way to have a focused school time with her.  I know this would tell her that she is loved and thought of.  Often when we are doing school Lucy likes to write in her journal, this consists of squiggly lines across the page.  Lucy loves Starfall a online game that ends up teaching her far more than I can right now.  Lucy likes our history, we have a timeline we are memorizing from creation to present day.  Lucy has the events from creation till 1000 b.c. memorized.  I guess things like identifying letters and number will come eventually.  I have a lot of room to grow in my time with Lucy.

We call this our monkey platter it is often our mid morning snack for all to share.

And then there is Sam, he can be so wild some days or just play quietly others.  I try to pull him onto my lap to participate in what we're doing, he's not that kind of child.  He wants to be doing something constantly with his hands.  I had this little picture of what it might be like before we started schooling at home, so far that is a lost dream.  I hoped that Sam would quietly play with the game or toy I gave him beside me while I taught my other children, boy was I wrong.  I love having Sam around he adds so much entertainment.  If I have been in the basement for awhile with the older ones he will often come down with a snack he got for himself.  He definitely keeps me on my toes.


Sitting the way I pictured.

What really goes on.

                 

No explanation.

                                                                         

That's homeschooling with team Davis in a very small nutshell.

Other things happening in the Davis world...we have two young ladies living with us.  Morgan who has been with us for a year now and is getting married soon.  We are so sad to see her go.  We have already experienced having one girl, Jess, move out that was sad for us and our kids but life moves everyone on.  Last week Amanda moved in with us, she is from Seattle and is dating a friend of ours.  We are in the get to know you stages of life with her.  She will be here only until December.  Tuesday Amanda spent the day with the kids and I helping with schooling and care of the children, it was great to have a hand.  I think the Lord knew I needed a little help this season of life.

We got blood drawn for the adoption.

                                               

Adoption update!!  We are so close to completing paperwork!!!!  We have our last home study visit today.  My goal is to turn in the paperwork in December, from there it will be 4-6 weeks until we are officially on a wait list.  That will be the first time our agency can look at their existing children and consider our family as a match.  The excitement is building as we move forward.  I have a another fundraiser planned, it starts tomorrow.  I hope to order 2 ipad minis and raffle off both.  The Lord has been so amazing in the money department.  He continues to lay it on other people's hearts to donate to the adoption.  We have not sent out anything requesting monetary donation yet I receive checks in the mail and people that are not involved in our daily life saying they want to donate.  I feel at complete peace about the money aspect of the adoption.

Connecting

Oh so much lately...mostly good but sometimes hard.

 

I have to try to be quick, kids are still in bed.

 

*Quick note, garage sale went AWESOME!  $3000.00 raised, we still have a long way to go but that was such an encouraging start, Praise the Lord!

 

Homeschooling, wow am I challenged daily in so many things.  Organization, mentally and physically.  Four kids and so many books, I thought my house was a mess before, now there are not many words to describe it on some days.  We are working on how to incorporate them doing chores/helping out, it's a process like anything else.

Am I still glad we made this choice, Yes, hands down this is still the best decision we've made for our family.  We are all challenged in ways that I am not sure we would've had opportunity for.  I am with my kids a lot more about about 56 more hours in a week!  I am learning this can be a stressful time or a golden opportunity, let's just say I haven't taken advantage of the golden opportunity part as much :/ .

 

I had to refocus this week, why are we doing this?  To educate our kids, right?  Well yes,

but so, so much more than that.  We said we wanted a deep and genuine connection with our children that would allow discipleship, that is the part that is lose sometimes.  I am examining the way I have been keeping the "peace" in the house and how I have been correcting behaviors.  Often that was looking like being a strong disciplinarian, "follow my rules and expectations or else".  I could sense my frustrations mounting and me disliking my children often.  I constantly was thinking if they would just do the things I am asking them to do this wouldn't be a problem and I could remain calm, but guess what I would just come up with new expectations. 

 

This past week I was given a breath of fresh air and reminded of how the Lord relates to us, as I read scripture I see His desire for us to connect with Him, to remain in the vine.  Why am I tipping the scale and focusing on my children following my every command in perfect obedience? Am I scared I will lose control if not and they will become Hellions, well "yes"!  I mean how will they ever be able to obey the Lord if they can't obey me?  These things are all true but I am going about in a way that I don't see modeled in scripture.

 

My new question is, "How will my children learn what a healthy connection with the Lord looks like if it is not modeled for them and encouraged in them?"  Through this connection the desire to obey is present.  I am more willing to sin if I am not connected to the true vine, right?  I have spent this last week focusing on a connection with them.  What does this look like?  Here's some examples:

 

I tell Sam to pick up his toys, He says "no", I then say "let's try again" Sam pick up your toys, "yes mom" and he does it!  This  has been the response more times than not.  We have had expectations to this daily which then has consequences.  If my focus during asking him to do this was simply to pick up his toys, that accomplishes a clean room and a child that can follow directions, but I want so much more.  At the end of me asking and him picking up his toys, I believe that I showed him that I love him and he can trust me.  I took time to be gentle and care for his soul in a way I see the Lord do for us.  I clean with him and have more chances to engage.  Does the Lord just demand things of us and stand back and expect it perfect the first time or else he'll discipline us, no he gives us second chances and does life with us. 

 

I've noticed that I didn't want to ask Sam or my other children to do things because the answer was often "no"and than we would have take a discipline type action and the manner in which it was all happening made me frustrated always with my kids.

 

So I have spoke mostly of discipline but this has been only one way in which we are being more purposeful in connecting.

 

-I have been purposing to say "I love you" that is not based off anything positive they did.

-Looking into their eyes when I speak to them.

-Holding their hand when I ask the little ones to do things.

-Way more kisses and hugs.

-For Jack or Kate especially making sure I actually hear and look at them as they speak.

-Using the line "let's try it again", with the older ones also has given them the message that I care for them.

-I've been aiming to not say "no" as a knee jerk response and to take the 10 seconds to think about what they asked.  Often the answer can be "yes".

-I am focusing on a gentle tone in all the ways I interact with them.

 

If you know me, these things do not come naturally to me.  I often don't want to give unless I think you deserve it.  I am not naturally soft.  I don't love touch or eye contact.  

I think this can apply to most, I won't actually share my heart or go deep in a relationship if I don't feel secure and loved by the person because than I know I can trust them. 

 

This is all a journey but I felt compelled to share where we are.  Blessings in your day ahead!

 

Reflecting on 10+ years

Yesterday was Our 10 year anniversary,  10 married and 15 together!  I can only imagine the next 10 will get better.  I wanted to post a timeline of our life together, my memory is already failing me.

 

 

1997-Switched schools to Calvary Christian and met Ben.

1998-Ben asked me to our Jr./Sr. formal, we started dating that summer.

1999-graduate high school, Ben goes away to college.
 

2000-Still dating long distance :)
 

2001-Ben's 1st summer on the book field in NY, Ben proposed on my front porch (December 7).

Best moment of Ben's 1st summer selling books.

2002-Ben sold books in Maryland, we married August 31st!! Antigua for our honeymoon and Mexico in November for SW sizzler trip.

Honeymoon

 

Year 1 (02-03)- Ben's 3rd yr. selling books, from home. Jack was born in June.

 

One year anniversary 

Year 2 (03-04)-Ben graduates college, Get's a big boy job with GA, spend a 4th summer selling books from home, We become the head YL leaders at Ryle and we buy our 1st house! Joy, Ben's sister is born.

 

Year 3 (04-05)-Kate is born in March.

Year 4 (05-06)-We spent this year learning how to disciple well, how to be parents to 2 kiddos, this was a year that prepared for the things to come.

Year 5 (06-07)- We sold our 1st house and bought our 2nd house.  Ryle YL was rocking and rolling we wanted to be in the community that we ministered to. Ben was told that he was going to loose his job.  In turn this year was difficult, Ben fought hard to prove himself in his job and kept it after lot's of uncertainty.

Year 6 (07-08)-  Lucy was born in April, Started to phase out of Ryle YL. We took Lucy to Ireland at 9 wks old.  Jack started kindergarten.  Life started to feel more balanced.  We spent this year growing up a bit.

Year 7 (08-09)- Our heart is growing for adoption. We become foster parents and receive our 1st little boy.  He leaves after two months.

 

 Year 8 (09-10)-September we find out I'm pregnant and put foster care on hold.  Jack starts 1st grade.  We go to Hawaii for Christmas to visit Uncle Don.

 

 

Year 9 (10-11)-The kids start at a new school, Cornerstone.  Kate is in Kindergarten and Jack 2nd.  Over the summer we started College YL, this lasted only for a year.  Kate got her appendix out, 2 nights at Children's. We went to Florida and North Carolina with the kids and Bermuda just the two of us.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 10 (11-12)-We were approaching a year of change.  We switched churches, started volunteering and quickly felt at home.  God would not get adoption off our minds we knew that's what He wanted and felt led to start the process in May.  We submitted our application to AWAA.  Jess and Morgan moved in, in November, we experience a new level of discipleship.  God prompts us  to home school the next school year.  Currently we are 2 weeks in.  We go to the Bahamas just the two of us.

Participating in Our Thanksgiving challenge.

 

 

 

 We often look at each other and can't believe where the Lord has taken us.  It's so exciting to think of the next 10 years!

 



All kinds of Crazy

I have wanted to sit and write for the last week and a half!  I have experienced all kinds of crazy lately.

Crazy Awesome!

Crazy unbelievable.

Crazy discouraging :(

Crazy encouraging.

Crazy gratifying.

Crazy busy.

Many moments lately I can't imagine how I might be able to handle anymore crazy, and then I am reminded of the Lord and His sustaining power, so refreshing!
 

 

Last week we started home schooling, part of me still can't believe that just came out of my mouth!  If you know me I said I would never do that.  Little did I know the plan my heavenly father had for my family.  Schooling at home, Crazy right?  It's so awesome, the first week was great!  I would be so, so sad had I not chosen to do this with my kids.  It's nice to have day after day with purpose.  My relationship with my children has grown deeper and richer.  I ended the week, tired but feeling really grateful.

 

Week two, well this has been a little different, still really great but more teary moments from all parties involved.  This week does have some added stresses of trying to gather stuff for a garage sale Saturday and having more things on my too do list than I can count.  But this is where some of my crazy unbelievable comes from.  Can I just say that the Lord is so good, not because He cares for my every need but because He cares about details.  I want to share so I don't forget the ways I see the Lord's hand.

 

So as we move forward with adoption and fundraising to bring Davis#5 home it involves a lot, but that's OK.

We put out a request to all our friends, family, and they put a request out to their friends and family for garage sale donations and boy did they start rolling in! Crazy encouraging!  People started to donate large items and expensive items, I was shocked, some of these people don't even know us or our story.  But the Lord knows us and cares about the story we are a part of.  We started Craigslisting and praying that the Lord would bring people forward to buy and help fund this crazy adventure He has us on...It's happening...things are selling!

 

Along with all those Crazy good type moments we've also been experiencing the Crazy discouraging.  I had someone challenge us in not a very loving way of our choice of international adoption over domestic adoption.  That's a very personal choice and we have very clear reasons for us why Ethiopia, and love adoption from anywhere, they are all God's children, right?? 

 This week I have felt every ounce of stress that you might feel in the middle of being a new homeschool mom, fundraising and paper work that NEEDS to get done!  I feel like I have lost my cool with the kids more than once, I hate when my emotions aren't in check.  I'm so thankful that tomorrow is a new day! 

Today I was on the phone making the long needed doctor's appointment for myself, I get off and find Sam filling a cup at the fridge.  Most kids would stop when the water starts flowing over the cup, no not Sam!  He just kept filling the cup up, it was pouring out of the fridge!  There was water all over the kitchen floor it made it about a foot into my living room and pantry, I wipe it up and move on.  Five minutes later the kids let me know that water is pouring out of the ceiling in the basement, ugh SAM!  I guess I was on the phone longer than I thought because the water ran out of the ceiling for 20ish minutes slowing as time went on.  Before this happened I was already feeling like I had hit my breaking point for the day.  Do you ever turn circles trying to accomplish just one task?  That was me, dinner was started, in the middle of listing Craigslist stuff,  trying to read the last two chapters of a book that needed to be done tonight and then Sam happened.  What do you do?  How do you respond to the crazy discouraging?  Today wasn't my finest but I do know that it involves trusting the Lord's plan and that He has it totally under control, even when I don't. 

 

Thirty minutes after this water episode happens I walk to my neighbors to wash some veggies, we turned off our water just as a precaution in case a pipe busted.  On the way there another neighbor stops me, mind you they don't know were adopting yet or that we're having a garage sale, she asks if I would like a kid item she has brand new in the box $300 dollar value.  Ummm Yes, I was then able to share about the adoption and how we can sell it to raise adoption money, sweet!  I'm telling you this stuff has happened all week, something crazy discouraging happens and then it's outweighed by something that is way better!  So even though my neighbor had no idea of our need for stuff donated the Lord did!  He cares about the details.

The Lord is Good!

Picture update...

 

Sam and I each created a potato head version of ourselves.  Glasses were his thing :)

26 and counting.

Today was special, we got together with the families we grew up with.  I see most of these moms through normal life but rarely together.  I am so thankful that I got to see my parents make rich and deep friendships because it's given me a far better appreciation for keeping up with those I have history with.  We had fun we sat around and talked kids, life, ate and laughed.  Looking forward to the day I get to watch my children do this!

This a picture of all the kiddos...product of 10 moms.

        I count 26, but I think there will be many more to come.

Blessed

The Lord is so good and faithful!  

The Lord's spirit is actively working in my life, when I felt despairing and overwhelmed the Lord has shown Himself.  It's easy to feel alone in this adoption process and that is what I was experiencing, I think this was fault of my own of course.  Looking back I hadn't let many into our world yet,  the Lord has prompted us to share more about what is going on in our life.  He has shown up through others in many ways, and that is exciting!

My dear friend Cory is making a beautiful infinity scarf to help raise money for our adoption.  It was so refreshing and reassuring that the Lord plans on using others to partner with us in this crazy adventure!  Thanks Cory for following through on the whispers of the Lord to move on this idea. 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/107016674/mint-orange-floral-infinity-scarf-davis

I have countless encouragements from friends, family and neighbors who are excited and want to help. 

As I was thinking this morning a thought struck me.  I have been feeling burdened by the amount of paperwork that this process involves and honestly feeling sorry for myself, silly huh!  My thoughts often were..."why can't Ben take initiative and help more with this?".  Well this morning I was reminded that my dear husband is working on our adoption and very hard at that.  He is going to work everyday and bringing home a paycheck.  He is putting in extra time and aiming for his best fall ever to be able to move forward financially on this adoption.  Wow, I felt a sense of conviction that I clearly wasn't identifying this as helping and I wasn't showing him a thankful heart. 

Thank you all who are praying for us, helping and using their talents and gifts to bless God's kingdom and our family!