I Am Thankful For.... My boys

I look at my life during this transition and see how hard it has been and I see the reason I can get up every morning and live day to day truly happy.  The main reason is my relationship with Christ but He has given me two more amazing reasons...

They make me so happy!

The greatest gift is "each other"

I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Whittaker Women, and I came across an amazing video.  Her husband, Carlos Whittaker, loves taking footage of their children and making great videos with it.  He made the best one so far in the video below.  He had taken random footage of the family playing around and then his 8 year old daughter came to him and said her heart was telling her something.  This is what she told her father...

The greatest gift
Cannot be unwrapped
It cannot be bought
It cannot be sold
Yet
It can be felt
It can be seen
It can be heard

Because the greatest gift
Is each other

Watch this powerful video

The Greatest Gift from Carlos Whittaker on Vimeo.


I am so Thankful for the "Each Other" in Noah, Davis and I. With this I always know things will be ok.! So REMEMBER to be thankful for your family this holiday season because they are the greatest gift!

Miami Zoo

My sister and Brother in-law took us to the zoo this weekend and we had an amazing time!

Having a blast together!

Taking a swim with the alligator!

Davis was so excited to meet Diego!

Me and my beautiful niece Graciela!

Water time!

My brave boy!

Living out of a suitcase

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to visit family before we leave for South Africa but I have to say living out of a suitcase is getting old.  You may think we are on vacation and in many ways it feels like it but most vacations I am not homesick for a home I can't go back to and worrying about a budget that needs to be raised.  Being with family has helped to soften the blow for us but at times I find myself hurting and mourning for...

• Our home
• Our kitchen to cook in  
• Our bed to sleep in
• Our family room to sit in
• Our dogs sitting on my lap
• Davis having his own room

I know God has called us and I know He will work it all out!  I know we will have a place to call our own again and that gives me peace and hope.

Not having a home all these months hasn't been all bad because we have been in wonderful homes with wonderful people.  So out of the other side of my mouth.... I Am Thankful For a bed to sleep in every night.  

I Am Thankful For.... CCF

I shared this on our last night at CCF but wanted to get it written down.  I was 24 years old when we came to CCF.  I was scared, lost, and had know idea what I could possible offer anyone at my age or life experience.  I quickly found out that I was surrounded by people who loved us where we were at and let us learn and grow as we went through the years.  That is what I did these last 7 years and I will be forever grateful!

CCF blessed me by....

• Letting me be me
• Calling me First Lady (it meant so much)
• Letting me lead your children...What a huge honor
• Loving us through our growing pains
• Trusting my husband to lead
• Being gracious for the many changes
• Loving our son
• Being behind our new vision and call

I am thankful for my church, Capital Christian Fellowship! This church will be forever dear to my heart

Ice Cream Cake Recipe

Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

Crust:
1 pkg (10oz) fudge-covered mint cookies (about 40 cookies), divided
2 tbsp butter, melted

Filling:
1 qt. mint chocolate chip ice cream
1 qt. chocolate ice cream
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp powdered sugar
1/8 peppermint extract

Prep time: 20 minutes                                       Total time: 7 hours, 20 minutes

1. For crust, place 25 of the cookies in resealable plastic bag; crush into fine crumbs.  Place crumbs in a batter bowl.  Add butter; mix well. Press crumb mixture into bottom of Springform pan.  Place pan in freezer until ready to fill.
2. Line inside collar of pan with remaining cookies. For filling, place mint chocolate chip ice cream in refrigerator 20 minutes to soften.  Scoop mint chocolate chip ice cream onto crust.  Carefully spread ice cream evenly over crust, cover and freeze 1 hour.  Place chocolate ice cream in refrigerator 20 minutes before removing cake from freezer; scoop chocolate ice cream over mint ice cream.  Carefully spread evenly and return to freezer.
3. Place cream in chilled mixing bowl; beat on high speed of electric hand mixer until soft peaks form. All powdered sugar and peppermint extract; continue beating just until stiff peaks form.  Spread cream over chocolate ice cream.  Freeze cake until firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.

This recipe comes from the Pampered Chef, "Festive Holiday Desserts"book and it was oh so yummy!

I Am Thankful For.... God's Provision

God has been showing me Amazing things these last several months.  When we decided to listen and follow HIM, we decided to trust Him completely.  He hasn't failed us yet!  He is showing up in so many different and awesome ways.  I would have to write a book to share. What is amazing me right now, is our fundraising journey.  When we left for our Southern trip we were only at 30%, and to "MAN" that seems very low.  I started to find myself fearing the impossible but had to pray against it.  I am so glad that I keep putting my trust in him because since we have been on our Southern trip we have gotten one or more pledges in each day.  GOD is AWESOME!!!

I am so very thankful for God's provision:

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

5 Little Pumpkins

Davis singing "5 Little Pumpkins" that his Grammy taught him.  My boy is getting so big!!!

Homeschooling a Preschooler!

I never thought in a million years that I would be homeschooling my kid.  It isn't because I'm against it but I never thought it was for me or my child.  Davis starts school in January 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa, and he and I are very excited about it.  January seems so far away for a kid who begs to do school work every day, so I decided to start homeschooling him in September when we left for China.  A friend of mine introduced me to this curriculum and I fell in love with it right away.  It is so easy to use and they have all the lesson plans written out for you.  I have loved every minute of teaching my Davis and having this time with him.  He is learning a lot and I am so very proud!

He is some of his school work....

He is recognizing and writing letter Aa - Jj.

He learned how to write his name in 1 week!

He can recognize up to 7.

I Am Thankful For.... The Davis Family

This month I want to take the time to blog about the things I am thankful for this year. The first one comes from our trip to Georgia this past weekend!

I am THANKFUL for the Davis Family!  Since 2002 we have been driving down to Columbus, GA to see Noah's Great Uncle and his family (this is our 8th trip).  Noah was very close to his Grandfather, James Davis, and his uncle Gordon is the closest thing to a Grandfather that he has now, and for that matter, Uncle Gordon and Aunt Elsie are the closest thing to grandparents that I have ever had.

We love coming down to see them and at the same time we get to spend time with the other cousins and their children.  Our son, Davis is named after this side of the family, and after this visit his name means even more to us.

Saying goodbye this visit was a lot harder than in the past for two reasons...

1.  We are moving overseas and it will be a few years until we see them again.
2. Uncle Gordon and Aunt Elsie are really sick and this may very well be the last time we ever see them.


There wasn't a dry eye in their house when we said our goodbyes.  My prayer and hope is that we get to see them again when we come home but God may have other plans. If that is so, I  know where I will be seeing them next and for that I am so thankful for!

In 2010 I am so very thankful for the Davis Family (all of them)!