Home Sweet Home

Although in a few months I may miss very different memories in the midst of culture shock, I still wanted to go ahead and brainstorm what I will miss about my family and home in Texas.

• My Mom's early morning happy go lucky attitude. I am not a morning person (in fact, I usually do not speak until after breakfast) but my Mom literally wakes up smiling I think. 
• My Dad calling me when there is a full moon to make me walk outside and look up at the same time as him, just to know we are looking at the same sky, and really are closer together than we think.
• My sister's broad depth of knowledge. She has the smart genes in the family for sure. I text her often asking random questions, usually about veterinary care for my child/puppy, Rex. But whatever I ask about, I always know she will either have the answer or the intellectual drive to find it for me.
• Sitting on the front porch swing with Mom watching Rex play with Gus and Spanky (Rex runs in circles around the yard, large fast circles) 
• Rex, in general of course. For the past three years he has been the source of so much delight.
• Walks with Cheree, Mrs. Peggy, and my Mom in the evening
• Checking cows with my Dad, even though I am not the reliable counter of the family. I don't have great eyes for one, and for two, they always move right when I am almost done.
• Movie nights. Love, love, love when we all go to the movies together. I get my coke-a-cola and peanut m&m's and I am set.

Although there will be many people and things I will miss while we are in Zambia I still cannot describe the overwhelming gratefulness Jason and I have for the opportunity to spend two years striving to live our lives in a way that spreads the Kingdom in a foreign place. The Lord opened this door for us so quickly that we could not ignore the tug at our hearts to follow Him, in faith, to a new life different from what we are accustomed to here in the States. Please be in prayer for us as we prepare these last couple of months for the big move.

Davis Family Vacation

Over fall break Jason's parents took us to their time share in Freeport. The Bahamas were beautiful. The water was crystal clear, skies were blue everyday, and we were in a quiet area equipped for walking straight into the water to snorkel anytime we pleased. It was a fun and memorable first official "Davis family vacation" for me. There were many games of shuffleboard (Whitney and I were quite the champs I must say), hours of reading while laying in the sun, and of course, multiple Texas Ranger game viewings. What a blessing it was to be able to spend time relaxing with family in an amazing setting when we are only a couple months from being across the pond from many of our loved ones. Here are a few highlights...

The view

Jason and the giant snapper

I love that my husband makes friends with a fisherman one day then spends the next two days learning the spear fishing trade while bringing back yummy fresh fish for everyone to eat.

The whole family

We have been married for 5 months now. Time flies when you are happy in love being married to your best friend.

Lobster...mmmm

Just the cutest and happiest sea creatures in the world. My own opinion of course. But when I see them I can't help but giggle with delight

Jamaica

Last week I got to go on a quick trip to Jamaica with a group from our church here in TN. East Brainerd supports a Jamaican preacher who ministers to a church in Lucea, a very impoverished town on the island. So, this group of women that I joined goes for a week to encourage and spend time with the women of Lucea Church of Christ each year. The church is mostly women because it is very difficult to get Jamaican men to attend either on their own or even with their wives and children. The idea this year was to offer a Ladies Conference. Twice a day we had singing, a lesson, and time to just get to know one another and have some "girl time."The conference was a great success, many women of a variety of ages attended and they seemed to really enjoy our time together and appreciate the lessons on faith,hope, and love. So...a few pictures from Jamaica...

Craft time (bookmarks)

The sunset views were so pretty, I had to show one

Less than three months until our departure for Zambia!

First Time

So, considering we are moving to Africa in a few months I thought it would be a great time to start up our blog. My hope is for this blog to be a chronicle/journal of our first two years on the mission field for Jason and I to look back on in the future and for our friends and family to be able to follow our life in Mumena.