The Davis Dailies

Throwback Thursday: Junior Miss

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:53:00 +0000

Just recently, some of our students were in their high school production of "Smile," which is a Broadway musical that spoofs America's Junior Miss.

It was a very realistic rendition of the American Junior Miss program (the good and the bad!),

and made me think fondly of the year I was able to participate in Baldwin County's Junior Miss.

I didn't win the competition, but I did place in a few categories, and won a nice bit of scholarship money, which always helps.

Even better than the scholarships were the memories I made.

I can't help but wonder if Lana will participate in Escambia County's Junior Miss one day. And now I want to go find that old video of the competition to watch.....

Happy Valentine's Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:43:00 +0000

Special occasions are more fun with children, don't you think?

Valentine's Day can seem so high-pressure and built up, just ready to disappoint, when it's just about 2 adults...but when you throw a couple of kids in the mix who really truly have stolen your heart....well, it just makes it all a lot of fun!

My mama always had special treats out for us on Valentine's morning, and I love carrying this tradition on with my two. Lana got the fish she's been wanting for every so long, and Tucker got some after-Christmas clearance toys and chocolate. Shhh. Don't tell him - he thought they were awesome!

No, really, he did! He was so happy that sister opened his chocolate for him before he had even had breakfast.

Lana was absolutely enthralled with her first pet.

She immediately clarified that it's a girl fish, her name is "Blue-da," and she would live in her room.

A special breakfast is also in order...

my intentions were to make heart shaped cinnamon rolls, but I totally flaked out. Daddy saved the day with these hearts in a basket! (There's a fried egg under that heart.)

After breakfast, we dressed the kids in their special V-Day clothes

and took them to school.

Perfect timing for Mommy & Daddy to sneak in a lunch date!

Nothing says "I love you" like a big slab of meat.

After lunch, I dashed to Lana's classroom, just in time for her Valentine's Day party! She didn't know I was coming, and was thrilled to see me walk in the door.

Don't you just love elementary school parties?

The sugar high, the craziness....I'm so thankful that Lana's teacher is making sure she gets the full kindergarten experience. That's rare these days, take my word for it.

The room mom had a couple of really cute crafts for them,

and for one of them, they were supposed to choose someone special to give it to.

It warmed my heart to see her addressing it to Riley, Dan's cousin's daughter. They don't even get to see each other that often, but Lana just loves her.

After crafts came time for opening the valentines they had exchanged earlier!

Can't you just hear the madness?!

Precious story:

Do you see the little boy in the left of this picture, wearing the "Thing 1" shirt?

He & Lana are good buddies....which I love, because he really is a darling little boy.

Case in point: he leaned over to Lana during this opening of cards and said, "Hey, make sure you look at the card I got you. It's the really big one." (pause) "The small cards were for all my friends, and the big ones are for my best friends."

I sat for a moment and looked around that classroom and wondered how many of these kids will go to school together for their whole lives. I'm so thankful that the Lord planted us in a community before Lana started school!

Love this special card she made for us with her handprint and fingerprints.

We came home from school, and she spent a while going through her goodies.

After she settled down, while Tucker was napping, we sat at the table and had a cup of tea together. We're going to do this more often....it was a sweet, soothing time for both of us.

And then naptime was over, and I got to spend the afternoon with these two loves:

doing things like making cupcakes and licking beaters and playing with stuffed animals and swinging

Lana heard the mail lady come by in her truck,

and rushed out to check the mail.

"Mommy, it's Valentine's Day! I just know there's going to be something good in the mail!"

And of course there was,

from beloved Sue Sue and Baloo,

who never fail to make special days extra-special.

a special card for each of them, with $5 inside. You would have thought it was $500!

You really did make their day, Mom & Billy!

Click here to see just how thrilled they were.

Daddy came home, and they couldn't wait to tell him about their special mail.

He brought some books from the library,

and we didn't even make it inside the house before reading them.

Then Mommy frosted cupcakes and Daddy grilled.

It was a dinner of favorites!

Daddy's secret recipe white bbq chicken, grilled corn, and the best broccoli of your life.

I could not have asked for anything better on this day.

Every day, every single day, our home is filled with love.

Today we just made sure to celebrate it an extra bit, to focus on it a little more.

And that's always a good thing.

Write about someone you love.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:29:00 +0000

Keeping in step.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:04:00 +0000

Disclaimer: Lana goes to public school. I have many dear friends who homeschool their children, and I admire them greatly; they are making wonderful choices for their children. I believe the schooling of our children is an issue of freedom, and there is not a right or wrong; rather, each family must hear from God for themselves about what is best for their family.

This blog post is in no way intended to speak to the issue of public schooling vs. homeschooling. Rather, I am simply documenting what is going on in our hearts and our home as the Lord allows us the great privilege of parenting Allana Marie Davis.

Last night we put our sweet girl to bed much later than usual because we saw a heart issue come up while she was interacting with her brother, which she then tried to cover up by being untruthful. It took us quite a while to get to the root of it, to help her see her sin, to confess to it, to repent from it, to see what she needs to put off and put on. It was a long and mentally exhausting process, but it was worth it - we literally saw her understand what was happening in her heart, and it grieved her. We prayed together, and what a joy to see her with a clear conscience! Dan and Lana and I each walked away from that conversation knowing that something good had happened in our home tonight.

And then I kind of fell apart because I wonder HOW MANY of these moments do I miss during her school day....how many of these heart issues are slipping by me because she's at school and not under my watchful eye? Even just Friday when we went to have lunch with her, I was standing near her when I heard her handle a situation in a way that I *think* is completely uncharacteristic of her....it certainly is when she's at home with me. I was agonized over the thought that her character is being formed outside of my influence.

So then, of course, my immediate temptation is to blame her behavior ON school. My precious girl doesn't do those things when she's with ME, when I'M discipling her through those moments, so it must be that terrible public school environment, those terrible public school kids, those "outside influences," right?
God reminded me tonight, as He does so often, that she is a SINNER....that her sin is not caused by something (or someone) outside of her. That she was born that way. That's it's a problem for which only one solution exists....the Cross. And every single time we are given an opportunity to point her toward that cross, just like we did tonight....that's by His grace. It's good. It glorifies Him.

But tonight, for a while, I bent my head over my sink and wept and worried over whether or not sending her to school is the right thing. Whether we've made some mistake, misheard God, are doing things the wrong way. Whether we're ruining her life.

By God's grace, I could recognize the voice of the Enemy in that line of thinking.
That same voice from the Garden. "Are you SURE God can be trusted? Did he really say THAT? That you're supposed to send her to school? Oh, no. He doesn't have your best interest at heart. He doesn't have Lana's best interest at heart."
And, just like my first mother Eve, I want to take control myself....I want to know all of the answers....I want to be like God. I want to BE GOD, don't I? I want to be on the throne of Lana's life.

God, in His great kindness, is ever so surely prying my hands off the throne of my daughter's life. He is insisting that I trust Him. That I listen to Him. Reminding me hat I am utterly dependent on Him in parenting my daughter.

What I'd like to do is snatch her back home and keep her safe and controlled and protected and loved.
What God is asking me to do is
pray.
listen to His voice.
trust His Spirit in me.
believe with my whole heart that He is the one responsible for Lana....that it is His Spirit who will work in her. Not mine.

Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Here's what I know tonight: sending my daughter out of my home every day requires me to walk in close step with the Spirit who is alive in me. Daily listening to that Counselor.

I went in to her bedroom again after she fell asleep, and I knelt over her, and I asked God to show me favor with her, that He would reveal the areas in her life that I need to disciple. I asked Him to let her get caught every single time she sins, for her good. I want her to taste the bitterness of the Law, so that she may truly know the sweetness of Grace. And then I asked Him to help me trust Him. To help me come back to the Cross for more and more grace as I mother this precious Lana He's given to me.

I'm learning more and more every day that parenting is far less about me raising my children, and much more about God raising me.

How can we tell whether our efforts at parenting are motivated by reliance on God's grace or on self-trust? How can we know whether we're trying to obligate God or serve Him with gratitude? One way to judge is to consider your reaction when your children fail. If you are angry, frustrated, or despairing because you work so hard and they aren't responding, then you're working (at least in part) for the wrong reasons. Conversely, if you're proud when your children obey and you get those desired kudos - Oh! Your kids are so good! - you should suspect your motives. Both pride and despair grow in the self-reliant heart. (from Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick)

Chores.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:38:00 +0000

In our family, we talk about chores in terms of helping others.

We talk about how we all do jobs in our family to help each other and to keep our family running smoothly.

We haven't approached the allowance idea yet, and we don't even have a list of "chores" that Lana is required to do - we just all work together doing whatever needs to be done, whether it's cleaning up from dinner or washing the cars or straightening the playroom. Although I realize that system will probably need to be tweaked in the future, it's working for us now.

side note: one time Lana and Tucker were hanging out with some of our friends while we went on a date, and they asked all the kids to clean up. The dad was checking his email on his phone, and Lana said to him: "Hey Mr. ____, this will go faster if we all pitch in and work together. Oops.

The one thing that we do ask Lana to make sure she does every day is make her bed.

I was so happy when she did her homework the other night to read this:

She really is getting the idea that chores are just what we do to help each other.

I love my precious girl!

Throwback Thursday: post-college cruise

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:50:00 +0000

When my college roommate Melis and I graduated,

we took a cruise.

It was one of the best trips I've ever been on!

I wish we could go again tomorrow!

However, she is pregnant with multiples

and I've got my two....

I think it'll be a few years before we can take a trip like this again.

Hopefully we'll get to go again before our own kids graduate college!

Happy Birthday, Allan!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:33:00 +0000

Happy birthday, "little" brother!

You are so special....

so very, very different from I -

and I do believe that's what I love most about you.

I look at my precious Tucker,

and I see so much of you in him.

Just look at that first picture!

And I'm thankful for that.

Everyone on Team Davis loves you, very much.

Me most of all....

because I've loved you longest.

Tucker's 1st Day of Mother's Day Out

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:31:00 +0000

Today was Tucker's first day at Mother's Day Out at Olive Baptist Church!

He will go each Tuesday, from 9-1:30.

They group their students by birthday,

so he is in the "Kangaroos" class with children just his age.

Olive offers a true "Mother's Day Out" program -

it is only in session 1 day per week,

and it's priced very inexpensively,

designed to just give moms a little time to themselves.

Because we go to BSF on Wednesdays,

and church on Sundays and Wednesdays,

and because Tucker is so well-adjusted socially,

this 1 day per week is perfect for us!

He gets to play and have some organized social interaction,

and I get to have a glorious 5 hours to myself!

I snuck in and took a few pictures of my sweet boy -

by all accounts, he had a wonderful first day!

They said he got a little teary when they tried to get him to sit down to pee pee, and when they laid down to rest on their towels, but otherwise was happy!

I felt very comfortable leaving Tucker in his class,

and I have a hard time leaving my little buddy with almost anyone. :)

The teachers were sweet as sugar,

and he was happy. So I was happy!

And what did I do for those amazing 5 hours today?

Well...what I should have been doing was

laundry and tagging consignment sale clothes and cleaning up.

What I did instead was this:

browsed an antique store that I've been dying to visit...

and not nearly brave enough to venture in with Tucker.

I found a precious set of tea cups and saucers - perfect for my monthly Titus 2:4 Tea gathering!

And they sent me around the corner to another adorable antique shop,

where I scored this adorable thing for $5.

Perfect for holding jewelry or fruit or keys or anything.

Then I headed here....

for this!

followed by a quiet sushi lunch.

That left me just enough time to swing through Sonic and pick up treats for my kiddos and their teachers.

And then I spent the rest of my day with these cuties:

What a blessing!

I can't remember the last time I had 5 whole hours to be responsible for no one but me. Dan is good to give me breaks, but I don't like going off by myself and leaving them, because it steals from our family time. This is the perfect solution! By going out to eat 1 less time each month, we found the money for this!

I'm so thankful for a husband who knows that I need solitude to be the best mother and wife I can be. The fact that he knows it, and values it, and is willing to help make it happen is a gift. He was the one who even put his foot down about me going home to do housework - insisting that I just spend the hours doing things that bring me pleasure. *happy sigh*

Lipscomb Art Show

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:32:00 +0000

In so many counties and states, fine arts programs are being drastically reduced or cut out entirely. That's a tragedy for so many reasons, and it makes me especially grateful for the Fine Arts programs in Escambia County. Lana's school, in particular, has an amazing art program. They have not one, but TWO art teachers! Mrs. Miller is the art teacher she visits, and I cannot even begin to describe to you the magic that Lana creates in her class. There's a self-portrait she did with Mrs. Miller that I simply cannot wait to frame and hang!

Tonight was our school's annual Art Show.

I was prepared for some really cool things, because there always are when Lipscomb hosts an after-hour event, but I was well and truly blown away!

First stop was the Book Fair:

Lana checked out all by herself...

and they didn't even make it down the hall before they had to stop and look at/read their choices!

These are the ones they chose:

Lana picked a dragon book, and Tucker flipped over Power Rangers!

These are the ones I chose for them:

because Lana got her first loose tooth this morning,

and Tucker is going to preschool tomorrow for the first time here.

Love my precious readers!

Then we took some time to check out the amazing artwork displayed around the school. Each hall had a different geographical theme.

This was just outside of Lana's classroom.

So proud to find her work displayed!

I'm telling you - some of the work produced was just breathtaking. Here are a few things that Mrs. Miller did with some of the older students:

Amazing, right?

I know.

There was live music, in the hall and cafeteria, performed by students:

We made it to the cafeteria, where we found demonstrations, hands-on exhibits, food for sale to benefit Relay for Life, and more!

This raffle was Lana's favorite thing....although she was sorely disappointed that she didn't win. But CHECK OUT those paper mache animals they were raffling off!

Tucker's favorite:

Mine & Dan's favorite display was the principal's collection of wood carvings that he does himself!

Mr. Cooey is such a wonderful principal!

He's making it public knowledge that next year will be his last year. He's been in education for 35 years, and while we understand that all good things have to come to an end, we sure will miss him!
Lana tells us that he pats her head every morning on her way to class. :)

Surprise! Nana popped in to check out the festivities.

I will never take this for granted.

The kids spent a good long time at the painting table:

And the high school art club came to paint faces and hands!

The Japanese culture club was there with some of their beautiful creations,

and they would write your name in Japanese, using traditional tools.

Nana even treated Lana to "hair spray."

How precious is this?!

And then Nana had to leave, and Tucker fell apart....

so we left soon after.

We had a wonderful family night -

and are so thankful to be a part of the Lipscomb community!

Grateful.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:48:00 +0000

Some things,

like this card

and this facebook post:

Dakota Allender

Thursday near Pensacola

You know I don't think a lot of the Youth say it. But I know that I am absolutely in love with the Davis Family. Dan Davis & Rachael Armitt Davis every time I think about my time left with the Youth group I just smile & think about these memories we're all going to make. I'm SO excited about living my life with you guys in it. And I think I speak for the Entire Youth group when I say, we're glad your here and we love your whole family(: You guys are the best.

speak for themselves.

We're putting this here

in our blog book,

because some things just need to be kept forever.

We moved here,

to Cantonment, Florida,

7 months ago today.

Praise God for the great things He has done!

Throwback Thursday: the Ex factor.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:44:00 +0000

Because it's just fun.

Reading.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:33:00 +0000

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read.”

^{- Mark Twain}

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”

^{- Emilie Buchwald}

“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

^{- Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"}

A big day for Team Davis!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:31:00 +0000

Two big events today:

#1: Lana is 5 1/2!

Because Lana has a summer birthday, her school friends aren't always able to come to her birthday parties. From the time she started preschool, we have celebrated her "Half Birthday" at school so that she gets to have that classroom celebration experience. We don't give gifts, but we do let her choose a special treat to bring to school to share with her friends, and I cook a special dinner for her. We always celebrate on January 30.

This year, she wanted to bring Krispy Kreme donuts and juice boxes for her friends at school. Her special dinner request was mama's homemade spaghetti sauce, her favorite homemade bread, and strawberry cupcakes with vanilla icing.

The whole family got to go to her classroom for her birthday celebration - you can see Little Bro jumped right in like he was one of the big kids!

After a yummy spaghetti dinner and made-to-order cupcakes,

it was time for the 2nd big event:

#2: Tucker sleeps in his big boy bed!

This was a spur of the moment decision,

so Dan had to break down the crib really quickly as I was helping the kids brush their teeth.
(Thankfully his big boy bed was already set up in his room.)

Tucker hasn't slept well in several weeks: we think it's the fact that all four of his molars are coming in right now together. Regardless, that means Dan & I haven't slept well, either. We decided since no one is sleeping good anyway, we might as well tackle this transition.

Tucker was thrilled about our idea,

and kept saying "Dis so exciting!"

I was tucking him in when he said

"Mommy, you leave my room! Daddy, you leave my room!"

So we did, and he hasn't moved an inch.

We'll see how the night goes!

Maybe we're crazy, but we're hoping maybe the move will help him sleep??

Don't cry over ruined......sand.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:55:00 +0000

We have super fun green sand in our outdoor sand table. The kids love it.
So I was mildly (ahem) perturbed last week when someone (ahem) left the top off during a series of bad thunderstorms.
The sand was sitting in water. Ruined.

until........

I was proved wrong, yet again!

When I drained the water off the top, Tucker loved the damp sand.

and even big sister joined in when she got home from school -

they played in this until dark

and I had to MAKE them come inside!

Preparing for Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:29:00 +0000

A friend sent me a link to this pin,

and I knew I had to make it a part of our February.

14 Acts of Love

February 1-14

Simple things.

nothing that requires any preparation on my part.

made totally free, from things around our home.

small kindnesses that remind us to love others.

the 2nd greatest commandment.

We're looking forward to February the 1st.

Also from Ann Voskamp - a prayer for my daughter.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:36:00 +0000

original article here

Father who breathed into this daughter....

I pray for this girl being formed into eternity...

May the wind always be in her hair

May the sky always be wide with hope above her

And may all the hills be an exhilaration

the trials but a trail,

all the stones but stairs to God.

God, clothe this girl in a gown of grace

Grace, the only dress that makes beautiful,

the style of Your spirit.

Nourish her on the comfort food of the Word,

Word, that makes her crave more of Christ,

have hunger pangs for Him.

Enclose her in communion with You

You, Love who makes her love, who folds her heart into a roof,

that absorbs storms for souls,

that makes her tongue speak only the words that make souls stronger.

May her vocation in this world simply be translation

Translating every enemy into esteemed guest

Translating every countenance into the face of Christ

Translating every burden into blessing

When it's hard to be patient...make her willing to suffer

When it's ridiculous to be thankful....make her see all is grace

When it's radical to forgive...make her live the foundation of our faith

And when it's time to work...make her a holy wonder.

May she be bread and feed many with her life and her laughter

Maybe she be thread and mend brokenness and knit hearts

May she be dead to all ladders & never go higher, only lower, to the lonely, the least, and the longing

Her led of the Spirit to lead many to the Cross

that leads to the tomb wildly empty.

Oh, and raise me, Lord, from the deadness of my own sins to love this beautiful girl like You do....

In the name of Christ who rose

and appeared first

to one of His daughters....

Amen...

What a Parent Wants to Say Before a Child Leaves - by Ann Voskamp

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:14:00 +0000

Article in its original location

I want to be clear that not one word of this is mine.
I'm copying and pasting and pinning and printing and making sure I can come back to this.
Again and again.

Dear Son who is called to climb a thousand walls,

You have to know how your unfolding from me was a miracle.

That’s the miraculous thing about miracles – they really do happen.

How is it in this crazy, holy world does a girl-woman bear a boy-child?

How does she raise a squalling boy-child into a man? I’ve never been one of those.

And this the thing: there’s only so much time to go from point A to point B.

How did I waste so many days? How do I make you know everything you need to know before you go?

How to love a woman and when to say yes and when to wear black socks instead of white and when to ask for directions and when to say no.

That you’ll be radical about grace and relentless about truth and resolute about holiness and vows and the real hills worth dying on. That you know how to make a bed and how to make a child laugh and how to write a letter home.

Did you know, right when they laid you wrinkled in my arms, you had this curl of hair, this swirl of hair on your forehead? You got it from me. That turning, swirling cowlick that I got from my Dad. Who got it from his mother. This is how these things go, this turning around and passing torches on.

I turn around and you’re 16.

And you’re leaving for a jet plane at 3:30 am.

When the first time you ever get on a plane, you fly for the jungles of Indonesia, the farthest away from us on this spinning blue marble, your father says this farm won’t be big enough to keep you anymore. When he says it, he says it a bit like something hurts inside.

He’s made his life about showing you what real leadership is: not climbing higher towards power and status, but bending down in prayer and service. He’s been dead to all ladders and that’s what made him so alive — reaching down, to the lonely, the lost, and the least.

I roll all your shirts and stack them, one upon the other, like all the years, and know that this is just the beginning of the leavings. I bite my lip hard and try to be brave, like the day you were born. How could my mothering take so many u-turns and still get here so fast?

I remember when you were small enough to hold in my arms, warm against me, this sun bathed stone, us engraved into rock here. I hadn’t known how fast the wings would come and that you would fly into the dark, into the sun, and so soon. That when you became a man, I’d feel so empty – and so very fulfilled. I wish we had read even more books.

And I had said yes to every game of Scrabble.

The Bible’s true, son. Every infallible, sword-sharp, breathing word of it. Don’t let anyone ever rationalize one beautiful iota of it away. Love it because it’s your Life.
And the only life living is the scandalous one: scandalous love, offensive mercy, foolish faith.Kiss babies. Always have one friend that feels on the fringe, that you have to pray to love, that makes the neighbors scratch their heads. Stubbornly pray for your enemies till you see enemies are illusions and everyone is a friend and somehow grace. Believe in every woman’s God-sized dreams. And rub her feet at the end of the day.
Be the kind of person who apologizes first because that’s the only way happiness can last.
And never forget that happiness is when His Word and your walk are in harmony. Never stop keeping company with Christ– and all the sinners, tax-collectors and cast-offs. Be an evangelist and use your words with your hands because your part of a Body and never stop loving God with all your heart, mind and soul, and loving others as yourself. Make that your creed.
It’s true, son: Be different and know everything you do matters. It’s what the Christ followers know: One man with God can change a culture. God didn’t put people in your path mostly for your convenience; He put you there for theirs. Loving the poor will make you rich, I promise.
Only when you offer yourself as bread, broken and given, to a hungry world, will you ever be satisfied.
The only life worth living is the one lost.
And no matter how loud and crazy and broken the world is, child? Let joy live loud in your soul.
And believe that you are His beloved – it’s only when you trust He loves you that you really begin to live. Really, count a thousand blessings more, never stop. Why wouldn’t you want joy? Sing to no one and everyone on the front porch in the rain and laugh so much they question your sanity. Pet the dog long.
Because really, none of us knows how long we have. Remember that a pail with a pinhole loses as much as the pail pushed right over. A whole life can be lost in minutes wasted… in the small moments missed. None of this is forever grace. That’s why it’s amazing grace.
Do it often: grab a lifeline by stepping offline. You’ll see your true self when you look for your reflection in the eyes of souls not the glare of screens.
This is what you always need to know: You have nothing to prove to anyone – if you’re in Him, you are already approved.
Be okay with not being liked: life’s about altars not applause. And be okay with not being seen or heard. It’ll let you hear and see better.
It’s late when you lay your Bible on the last of the packed clothes and check off the last thing, thinking you’ve remembered everything.
I know I’ve forgotten something – many things.
This parenting gig’s an experiment in radical grace and the work of every parent is to fully give to the child. And it’s the work of every child to fully forgive the parents. This is how it turns, the torch passing from one to the next.
Remember that we made meals and beds and mistakes and memories – and look hard for the good ones.
You zip up the suitcase. I try to keep it in, what’s blurring and spilling. And I rummage about in the closet for that necklace I’ve been saving for someday and I think today’s the day. That necklace that maybe can call you to what your mother’s been stammering at.
And I go to hand it to you. No – put it around your neck.
Like a benediction.
A mantle.

That no matter the road or what paths you cross: Wear the call to His sacrificial, radical way.

You finger the steel in your hands.

You’ve taken hold and I’m letting go.

Maybe that’s what I am trying to say? I will never stop loving and letting you go. A mother and child live the first great love story and there is no love story without loss, and this is always gain.

Remember this no matter where you fly?

Love,

your mama…

who believes in the thousand-fold miracle that all’s grace.

Throwback Thursday: Witness

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:39:00 +0000

Some of my very favorite college memories involve Witness,

the traveling drama and ensemble group I got to be a part of.

We had weekly rehearsals

and lines to memorize

and we traveled every weekend

and did our homework on church vans

and ate spaghetti and pizza too often to talk about.

I would do it all again,

a thousand times over.

Do you guys remember the poem that Lea wrote about us at the end of the year?

I wish I had it on hand to put here.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:09:00 +0000

Lana's K report card - 2nd quarter

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:04:00 +0000

I'm very pleased with her marks in all academic areas,

but nothing makes my heart happier than to hear that she has

"become a wonderful citizen and leader, always willing to help..."

That's why we send her to school.

Not to learn academics, although surely she will.

But to learn how to love others better, every day.

By doing it.

By messing it up.

By talking it out with us.

By trying again.

Every day.

Laundry Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:08:00 +0000

The stomach bug hit our house around 5:00 a.m.,

and my washer and dryer have been going non-stop since.

In honor of the gazillion loads of laundry I've done today,

I'm posting the magic combo that makes me happy to do the wash!

It's Arm & Hammer Alpine Clean powder detergent,

and Suavitel Field Flowers liquid fabric softener.

This combination is the one that makes me bury my face in our laundry,

and smile when I put on a clean t-shirt.

Throwback Thursday: ski trip

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:31:00 +0000

I just had nearly 200 old pictures (ranging from the time we were babies through our wedding) scanned into digital copies. I must have them in our blog books, so I'm instituting "Throwback Thursday" to showcase some of these oldies and goodies.

Today's Throwback,

in honor of the ski trip we just took:

the ski trip that Dan & I went on as students in the youth group

nearly 15 years ago.

My friend Kim and I

We were fearless - totally skied those black diamonds.

Car Smash!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:16:00 +0000

Last night we had a CAR SMASH,

Ski Trip 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:31:00 +0000

It's nearly midnight.
I've had approximately 12 hours of sleep in 4 days.
I've spent 24 hours of the last 4 days
on a school bus or a 15 passenger van,
both of which smell like....well....you can imagine.
They were filled with 60 teenagers.
I skied for the first time in 15 years or so.
I've got bruises on my back like you wouldn't believe,
and I can barely turn my neck it's so sore.
I have piles and piles of laundry to wash and dry and fold.
I've missed my kids so much - I'm keeping Lana home from school tomorrow.

And.
I cannot wipe the smile off my face.
My heart is so full that it's overflowing.
I knew that I liked teenagers in general.
I knew that I particularly liked these teenagers,
because God has given them to us.
I knew that I wanted to go on this trip and
get to know them better and make memories with them.
But I had no idea that my heart had room for so much love.
I'm head over heels for them.
I didn't anticipate that.
I look at each of them, and my heart swells,
and I just want to squeeze them.
Even when they're being irritating and stinky and loud.
I just adore them.

What a blessing from the Lord!
This is a meager analogy, I think,
but the way I'm feeling right now
reminds me of how I've heard adoptive parents speak of feeling.
Before we moved here,
I knew that eventually I'd love these kids,
but I anticipated it taking a while.
A long while, maybe.
And sometimes I even wondered if I would ever
love them the way I love "our boys" from COTES.

And then, somehow, I just did. I have. I do.
All in a rush.
I love them like they're mine....
because they are.

I am so thankful for these 4 days with them.
I'm particularly thankful for Dan's parents who kept Lana & Tucker so that I could go.

We made piles and piles of memories together.
Some of my favorites:
*singing worship songs on the bus ride
*riding on the ski lift and just talking and talking
*listening to the van crew sing
*going onto the blue run with Bre and knowing that I was going to die
*hot tea and long talks with Jolene
*making Cyndi Aceto a melatonin convert
*big crowds at the front of the bus - Brian and Pudd and Cam were my riding buddies!
*hearing Brenden talk more in one day than I've ever heard him talk
*"You're at a 10, and I need you to be at a 4." -Lisa Joyner
*sitting in the lodge and listening to the stories as they trickled in to rest and eat and talk
*reading the Bible and praying every night with a room full of middle school girls
*Melissa Richardson doing my hair every morning
*watching Katelyn and Caleb Estill show more determination than most adults do.
*Learning this lesson: if you give a van full of teenagers your bag of sour gummy worms and then fall asleep, they will be gone when you wake up.
*having church at Cade's Cove
*to be continued

There are hundreds of pictures from the trip -

here are a few of my favorites.

They are in no particular order -

because I'm just too tired for that! :)

You can click on any picture to make it larger.

Dan did the most amazing job of organizing and preparing for this trip, and then actually making it happen. He handled it all with such kindness and decisiveness - I could not have been more proud of him.

Our children.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachael Davis) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Tucker loves to wear his jacket and hood and is thrilled with pockets. Lana thinks wearing a jacket or coat is torture.
We haven't used shampoo on Lana's hair in months. We are only "washing" it once a week, and then only with conditioner. It's healthier and softer than it's ever been.
Both of my children are very sensitive to my emotions, and changes in my voice. I was talking my mom on the phone while driving somewhere, and I was asking her some questions about some medicine she's taking. My voice must have been too serious, because 2 seconds later, his little voice piped up from the back seat "Mommy, you mad? You mad at Sue Sue?"
Lana is a voracious reader; I can barely keep up with how much she reads and how well she comprehends. She still loves to be read to, and I try to read her a chapter a night from a book that is beyond her reading level.
Tucker is probably ready to transition to sleeping in his twin bed. I just don't know if I'm ready.
Lana loves to snuggle under a blanket while she watches cartoons. Tucker freaks out if it even covers his toes.

Tucker is using big people expressions more often every day. He said something that I couldn't understand, and when I asked him what he just said, his response was "Oh, nuffin."
Lana says her favorite part of school is Music class. She loves Art class, too.
Tucker is waking up at least 1x in the middle of every night to potty. blech.
Lana is totally past napping. She napped for a while one Wednesday before going to church, and she was still awake at 10:30 p.m., crying and frustrated because "I can't make myself go to sleep!"
Both of my kids have "loveys" and blankets that they sleep with. They both call them "my guys."
Tucker has the most sensitive feet ever.

Lana's classroom has a high school student who comes in to work with the students and help the teacher 4 mornings a week. Last semester, her volunteer was Jackie Carter, and this semester it's Lindsey Mitchell! Both of these girls are in our student ministry, have babysat our kids, and are Lana's favorite teenagers. What a blessing!
Tucker loves to help me with laundry, and he loves his "shoot gun." I love having a well-rounded little boy!
We very rarely get in the car without Tucker asking for "gummy opicles." He's asking for gummies and popsicles at the same time. Every single time, I tell him no, that I don't have any in the car. He's totally fine with that answer, and doesn't ask again until the next car ride.
Lana says math is her least favorite thing at school "because we do the same things over and over."