The Davis Life

2010

2010-12-30T08:01:00.000-08:00

I realized this morning that another year has passed ... our family has enjoyed an eventful year and we treasured each minute!

Without a doubt, every child changes in a year's time. It seems to me that in some years they change more than others. This year was a "more" year for our Girlie. Our baby girl is a baby no longer and we are learning to encourage her to grow into a life that will, in many ways, be all her own someday. We are realizing that is an art to truly teach your children to fly while still being oh so afraid that someday, they will do just that. What will the teachers do when the student has flown away? We aren't sure yet. However, we are certain of one thing. We know that in the training years, we will be as present as we can while preparing our nest to launch a beautiful, intelligent, confident and Godly young woman.

Allie's journey this year included big milestones. She learned to snap her fingers and tie her shoes. She lost her first tooth and entered Kindergarten. She played on her first soccer team and transformed from a 100% tomboy to a little girl who loves her American Girl play-dates and pedicures with Mom but still gets excited about a Wii or science project date with her Daddy.

As for us, our most sacred moment this year was the celebration of 10th wedding anniversary! We managed to steal away to Maui in October and it was a lovely time together... just the two of us. As we walked the trail below each morning, we quietly renewed our promise to always love one another even when love means learning to walk hand in hand on unknown paths and through changing seasons.

Despite a demanding life at home and work, we found time to travel as a family. Some of our stops were Hershey, PA, Washington DC and San Francisco, CA. Of course, our most enjoyable journeys included the time that we spent in Arkansas and Texas with our precious family and friends. One of my favorite pictures during these trips is below... I loved how confidently Allie walked the halls of one our Country's most admired universities. She had no fear or concern that someone might tell her she shouldn't be there - she just enjoyed the beautiful California day. I pray she maintains this confidence in her life - no matter where her feet carry her!

(Allie - Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA - 2010)

As we conclude this year, our family is renewing the understanding that life is a journey we must all walk and if we do so together, it is much more effective, meaningful and full. We offer praise to our God for allowing us each breath that we took in 2010. We pray that He allows us many more days in 2011 and if He does, we vow to use them wisely and never take one moment for granted.

As for our house, we look forward to serving our God wholly and completely in 2011!

~ Joshua 24:15

Kindergarten = A New Beginning

2010-08-18T17:12:00.001-07:00

Today our baby girl entered a new season in her life... "school." Sure, she went to pre-school, but in my heart I always knew that this was an optional part of her life. I knew pre-school wasn't the "real thing." As long as she was in pre-school, she was still a baby and if she was still a baby, she wasn't "growing up" just yet. Alas, despite my wishes, we walked her down the halls of Elementary school this morning and realized that a new season has begun. We are embarking with her on a new stretch of her life's journey and, as her parents, we will commit to doing our job - we will begin preparing her to face this world on her own.

Be assured, while we have sentiment, we are so very happy for Allie. Jerit and I live in awe of this Girl we have been entrusted to raise and are honored to be her parents. As we walk alongside her, helping her prepare for this life God created her to live, our prayer is that, above all, she allows God to guide her decisions and guard her heart. She will learn much during this season in her life and years from now, God willing, Jerit & I will sit hand in hand and watch her grace a high school graduation stage. And, just like we were today, we will hold back our tears and CHEER HER ON!

A Few More... from last week's backyard fun!

2010-08-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

We purchased the pool last week... so, here are a few pictures from our fun last Sunday!!

Backyard Fun!

2010-08-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

If you live in Dallas, you can relate to the HOT temperatures we have been enduring! We do not have a pool at our home but we both have fond memories of the little plastic pools our parents provided when we were kids... so, we thought there could be nothing more fun than buying one from Wal-Mart and putting it at the bottom of Allie's slide! Have no fear, we took great safety precautions!!!

Allie's Last Day of Pre-School

2010-07-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Most of you know by now that a little school here in town has grown to be one of Allie's favorite places... Creme de la Creme preschool has exceeded our expectations as they provided our daughter with an exceptional preschool experience. Here are a few pictures of Allie a few days after she began the program and then a few pictures just before she left this morning for her last day. Most of today's pictures include some pretty "classic" Allie Bug faces! :)

Kindergarten, here we come!! :)

Haylee

Congrats Jenny!!

2010-05-06T20:18:00.001-07:00

My Sister, Jenny, graduated from dental hygiene school this past weekend and the entire side of my family traveled to Colorado to celebrate! It is rare that my Parents have all four of their children and two grandchildren together at the same time. It was difficult to get everyone looking the same direction and all eyes open simultaneously! We did our best, though, and it was certainly a blessing to have our entire family together!

"Nanna" (My Mom) and her two grand daughters (with one, the gal who belongs to me, acting very silly)!

"Nanna," Allie Bug, Maliah (my niece) and Kaleb (my "baby" brother)

"PaPa Dale" (My Dad) and Maliah (My ADORABLE Niece!!)

"Nanna" and all of her girls!

"Nanna" and all of her children... but, with a classic "look" aimed toward my lil' Brother! :)

Aunt Jenny, Allie Bug, Aunt Tabby and sweet Maliah Girl!

My Sister, Jenny, and her husband, Kole

My sweet Girlie!!

Easter Sunday

2010-04-05T20:11:00.001-07:00

Our family had such a nice Easter weekend! There are few moments in life when everyone slows down just for a bit - loved ones gather, churches fill with families and Believers offer specific honor to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We enjoyed a great weekend here at our home! Jerit's Dad, Gene, came for a visit on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Then, we had a wonderful Sunday morning together at church followed by lunch with great friends! Our day was wrapped by quiet afternoon naps and a phone visit with my Grandmother.

I hope that everyone enjoyed the weekend with your families but, primarily, we pray that each of you paused to offer thanksgiving for our Savior!

Christmas 2009

2010-03-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

I know, I know... it's MARCH! So, I've been a little bit busy - haven't you guys? :) Here are a few of my favorite pictures from this past Christmas season... although they're late, I still think they are worth sharing!

PaPa Houdmann, sporting around in PaPa Dale's "Crocodile Hat" :)

My Sister, Tabby, and her daughter... sweet Maliah! :)

My Dad (also known as PaPa Dale) and Jerit.... Jerit, of course, wearing that silly bow tie that turned out to be the hallmark of our Christmas Season 2009. And, as always, both men with coffee in hand! :)

Me & My Cousins (who were among our Christmas guests...), Taylor & Heather

Allie VERY surprised and already wearing one of her Christmas gifts (a very specifically requested Cowboys jersey...)

PaPa Dale and Maliah... very worn out from all the festivities!

Aunt Haylee and sweet Maliah Bug! Love this girl SO much!

Mommy & Allie Bug!

New Swing Set

2010-03-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Allie's birthday was three months ago! On December 1, 2009, our sweet girl turned 5 years old... and, on the same day, two parents joined the ranks of those who cannot believe that their child has grown so quickly! For her birthday, we bought a new swing-set for our backyard... our backyard is not very big so we actually had a swing-set made for her that fits - it has a slide, club house and one swing!

The set was a surprise and Jerit woke her up with a "treasure hunt" that led her to the backyard so she could discover her surprise (note the PJs and sweatshirt...)! I hope you enjoy these long overdue pictures! (BTW, these posted backwards... so you might want to look at them from the last to the first :))

Her Swing

A very cool club house!

Reading Her "Clues"

Discovering Each Clue...

Back to Blogging

2010-03-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

Hi World!

It has been a long time since I posted pictures on our family's blog! Many of our relatives have not allowed me to forget that a return was very necessary! :)

Recently, we had 12 inches of snow here in Dallas - here are some great pictures of Allie enjoying every moment of the snowy days!

Allie playing in the snow in our back yard... she got her new play set just before winter set in so she has learned to enjoy the slide winter style! :)

Our girlie is getting SO big!

I hope everyone enjoys the pictures... I promise to start "blogging" more regularly!

Pictures from our Life

2009-09-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed such a nice Labor Day Holiday this past weekend - I worked during the weekend, we enjoyed a visit from Jerit's family and on Monday we rested! Perfect! Below are some pictures from our weekend.

I also added in some photos from our family's week - Allie had her first day of "Pre-K" (not to be confused with Pre-School she's quick to add...) and we enjoyed a nice evening at church last night. A blessed life indeed!

Our Sweet Girl - What would we be like without her to inspire us?

Allie Bug before Church - Church is the Rare Occasion One Finds Allie in a Dress :-)

Allie before her First Day of "Pre-K" - Hmmm... I wonder which of her parents she most strongly resembles?

Allie & Jerit's Grandfather, PaPa Tharp

Thought of The Day

2009-09-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a few books about a very familiar topic (See side bar for book titles):Fear. Fear can engulf our hearts, bring us to our knees and has the ability to debilitate our effectiveness. Left unchecked, fear can single-handedly stop the amazing power of God working through our lives unless we accept Christ's hand and allow our lives to be driven by faith rather than fear (Lucado, Fearless).

In most families, fear goes back many generations and exists for a variety of reasons - my family is no exception. I read a blog today about Heritage and Inheritance. The author writes the following:

A few years ago, while flying to Alaska to do a conference, I was caught up in a conversation that I was having with myself on the plane. I had been pondering the whole thought of why kingdoms or empires fall. Why do we look into history and see a king build up his empire and then see it fall when the next generation takes over? Why do we see [freedom] explode in one generation and then die in the next?

As I was dwelling on these questions, I realized that it’s because the new generation didn’t make the transition from inheritance to responsibility.

I am finding that it is the responsibility of each generation to assume the torch of leadership so the newest generations may know even more peace than their predecessors. This concept may seem counter-intuitive as some believe the world becomes less peaceful for each new generation... My belief is that as each generation accepts the responsibility of finding the peace of God in a tumultuous world, Fear can be overcome... and right before the eyes of our little ones, we will find a way to impart an Inheritance of Faith rather than Fear! (Matthew 14:27, Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:32, John 14:1 - 3, Proverbs 13:22).

Proud of My Husband

2009-09-06T07:24:00.001-07:00

This month, a local magazine published an article about Jerit & His Practice. Jerit has worked so many years to get to this point in his career! Watching him express himself through Dentistry and give to the community around us has been such a blessing!

http://www.digital.turn-page.com/issue/2423/80

Allie @ The Dentist

2009-08-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

I know it's a bit easier when your Dad is the Dentist but this picture from Allie's dental visit today was just too cute to keep to ourselves! At her last checkup, she struggled a bit and was unsure of the X-Rays, etc. Today, however, she sat like a grown up girl and wasn't scared at all! What a big, big girl she is!

Briscoe Birthday Fun!

2009-08-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago we had the honor of sharing in the 1st Birthday Celebration for Addison Briscoe! Many of you prayed along-side us last year when this little one was born very early... Here is just a small glimpse of the answer to those prayers!

Sweet Birthday Girl!

She's not sure what to think of the Cake... but she's gorgeous! (I loved her little swim suit!)

Allie made friends with the guests... Of course :)

Holly did a wonderful job making Addison's Cake - Isn't it Cute!?!?

Mom & Allie

2009-08-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

We took this picture a few weeks ago before church and I loved it! My baby has grown into a beautiful little girl.

Sneek Peek

2009-08-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

I have been working to edit some photos I took for my dear friend, Jayme, and I'd like for everyone to see some of my favorites.

I took these photos over a year ago when her baby boy was born and we are just now getting them ordered. Jayme has been more than patient with me as I've tried to learn PhotoShop well so I can make them look "perfect." Then, I realized that I am not as talented in PhotoShop as I'd like to be and these aren't edited to "perfection" but we are going to order them as they are! Regardless, these shots are my gift to Niko and Jayme's joy over them has made me feel so honored.

There is nothing more precious than a Mother holding the hand of her newborn baby...

Sweet Yawns...

I love how his little features are shown here...

Doesn't this make You smile?

A Mother and Her Baby... How Beautiful...

We Love You Jayme, Pablo & Niko!

Contents of a Mother's Purse

2009-08-23T17:26:00.001-07:00

I cleaned out my purse today and this is what I found in the bottom. A pair of underwear for a Pre-Schooler, her hair bow, her most recent Happy Meal toy, old candy & root beer caps and of course, extra change!

I chuckled at how this collection of items describes my life perfectly... I am in love with the season of life these things represent!

Our Girl

2009-08-20T20:52:00.001-07:00

Oh, how I love this little face....

Hope in the Lord

2009-08-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Psalm 31:24 - Be Strong and Let Your Heart Take Courage, all those who TRUST in the Lord...

Have you ever had a moment in time where trust in God took every ounce of your being? Life brings us to our knees at times and without the beautiful gift of truly finding strength and courage in the Lord, how could we ever survive with purpose? When we're just simply tired from walking, where else in this world could we find dependable strength and courage?

Today has been one of "Those" days ~

My heart was broken for friends around me walking very difficult roads. I saw families hurting and seeking answers they were unable to find. I searched my own heart today only to wonder if I would be able to measure up to the needs of my growing daughter and offer my marriage the attention it deserves. My professional life felt overwhelming and I looked into the future concerned about wether I have saved enough money. I heard news reports of war torn countries where innocent lives have been affected and I was forced to wonder about the kind of life my daughter and her children will know. Today I found a deeper realization that there is no way around the desperate need for mercy and help from an Almighty God.

I looked around me in the minutes of this day and felt the deep reality of this world - I saw the truth that without the power and grace of God, I could never make it through this life and live with purpose and peace. I see the suffering that the sins of the world cause and find a deep thankfulness that I am ultimately saved from this suffering by placing my faith in God. I see that I will never be fully saved or shielded from hurting and suffering in this life but I can find refuge in the eternal arms of a Mighty God.

Listen carefully to the first two songs on my blog tonight and know that if you have placed your Hope in our God, you should take Hope and let your heart find courage. The first song has a line that says,

"I can count a million times, people asking me how I can praise You [God] with all that I've gone through. The question just amazes me, could circumstances possibly change who I forever am in You [God]...."

Eternity... If we can realize that we're not promised escape from every difficult moment today but rather are promised an eternal future - well, that realization is freedom within itself. This realization is my life's hope. I am certain that storms will continue blow around me but my hope in the Lord is the only promise of survival.

So, tonight, although my heart feels the effects of an imperfect life, I have courage and deep gratitude for the Hope that comes from the shelter of my Salvation through Christ (Psalm 31:24 & John 3:13 - 21).

Thankful...

2009-08-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

I have been an unfaithful blogger as of recent... our family has been so busy and have so many photos to post from our vacation and life in July! Have no doubt, I will catch up!

For now, I will simply post these few pictures of Allie on the beach in Maine... Jerit & I are celebrating our 9th Wedding Anniversary today and we're both feeling a deep sense of gratitude for every miracle our marriage has been a part of. Of course, Allie is the largest expression of our love for one another so it is only natural that we will post photos of one of the most amazing stamps of God's blessing on our life & marriage - our Daughter.

It was her first time to play on the beach and she was thrilled....

This face is our GIRL....

Life is SO good...

Baby Girl

2009-07-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

More fun at PaPa Dale & Nanna's House!

Allie doing Watercolors on Nanna's porch! Please note that after the watercolor Allie ended up soaking these cutie P.J.'s with the water hose!

This is Dad ... Looking for Wisdom!
Here's our sweet Maliah!

Our family is having such a wonderful time - we've been spending our days adoring the new baby and soaking up the great outdoors! The greatest news is that I have spent almost 5 days in the woods and have yet to see a snake or spider! Who Hoo!!!!!

One More Round!

2009-07-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

PaPa Dale & Maliah Nana & Maliah

Proud new Mamma Tabby!

Proud Mama Again!

Large Baby, Folks... But beautiful!

I will post more "after-hospital" photos tomorrow once everyone is home and rested... until then - here's what I have :)

More Pictures

2009-07-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

Mom & Dad Treasuring the first sights of their new grand-baby.

Cousins... and best buds!!!

Daddy & Daughter....

Maliah Clair Hess - 1 Minute Old :-)

Daddy & Daughter - Welcome to the World, Maliah

Hello Again!

Here are a few more photos requested by all! Maliah is beautiful and doing well. She had a bit of a fever upon birth and spent about 4/5 hours in the nursery which was hard for Tabby but is now with her parents and expected to go home this evening!

Jeremy

2009-07-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

Jeremy & I decided that the entire fam should see his face too.... :)

Tabby's Labor

2009-07-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

Tabby

Jeremy & Tabby....
Hello Friends & Family!

Tabby is in mid-labor and I thought I'd share (with her permission) a few photos so far... Maliah is well on her way and everyone is healthy. Tabby's husband, Jeremy, my Mom & I are waiting with Tabby for the arrival of our newest family addition!!!

Enjoy~

Father's Day

2009-06-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

On Father's Day, I'd like to take a moment to honor my Dad... I have lots of wonderful men in my life and they as also deserve honor and mention - my husband, my father-in-law, my PaPa Houdmann & PaPa Tharp... but tonight, I'm feeling like a young girl who wants the world to know just how much her Daddy means to me.

We all ponder the attributes, characteristics, dreams and values that our parents gave us and when I think of my Dad, I am certain of many things he blessed me with through the years. Above anything, I am thankful for the faith in God my Dad has displayed with his life. Over the years, I have seen Dad rely on God for his very breath (many times, very literally) and as I grow and face challenges, I always remember my Dad's deep, unwavering faith in God. "Give it to Jesus, Honey...." - Those words, spoken by my Dad, will always resonate in my heart.

My Dad, like many men, is not one to display affection without reason - when I received a hug from Dad, I knew it was from his heart. To this day, it brings tears to my eyes to think of my Dad hugging and praying for me when I was a child. His heart was always in that moment and he longed for nothing more than to see his children know Christ.

And now, I am all grown up but I need my Dad more than ever! When life gets hard and the world just seems too big, I always have peace knowing that I could go find my Dad - anytime, anywhere and he'd drop everything to sit down and share a cup of coffee. I've often felt protection in frightening times just knowing my Dad's prayers were around me...

Here are some pictures of My Dad, Me, My Baby Allie & My Mom - They are a few years old but I hope everyone enjoys them. They are among my favorites and each time I see them, I thank the Lord for my dear, dear family who has always loved me so very much....

Happy Father's Day, Daddy - I love you dearly...

Dad, Allie & Me - Dad & Allie are such "buds"

Mom, Dad & Allie - A Very Close Threesome! :-)

Me, My Parents & Allie - Oh, how I love my Family!

And one last one - Allie & HER Daddy.... Jerit is such a blessing to Allie & Me and we love him so much!

SUMMER TIME FUN @ PA-PA DALE & NANNA'S

2009-06-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

One of Allie's favorite summertime events is using the "water-slide" at my Parent's home in Arkansas. Mom & Dad purchased it for the grandkids (current and coming in the future...) a few years back. This year, Allie is in full-bloom to participate without the aid of her "Bubba" (otherwise known as Kaleb)...

Here are a few pictures of Allie and her cousin Mya enjoying summer fun in Arkansas!!

Full-View!

Allie & Mya Heading Down

Allie Heading UP!

Ready for The Ride DOWN!

What FUN!

Briscoe Family...

2009-05-12T20:14:00.001-07:00

Addison & Me

Again! :-)

Gorgeous Baby Girl!

Look at those Blue Eyes!

Beautiful Briscoe Family

I have searched my heart for the last several weeks to find the perfect words to "blog" about three people who are very dear to me - The Briscoe Family. At the end of my search, I decided to just share my heart although the words may not be perfect...

About 7 years ago, Jerit & I met another young “Harding” couple - Patrick & Holly Briscoe. (Well, Holly & I had a few accounting classes together back at Harding but never really knew each other in college.) Our first post-Harding meeting is quite comical, actually - Patrick & Holly were moving into an apartment in Kansas City in early July 2002. It was so hot outside and I had just had my wisdom teeth removed - let's just say that the first "Haylee" they saw looked like a hot, shorthaired chipmunk! I was high on pain meds, cheeks swollen and sweating but we were there to help them move in!

As the years in Kansas City moved on, our husbands attended (& completed) dental school while Holly & I became great friends. We loved each other's families, spent vacations together and Patrick & Holly were waiting as our sweet baby girl was introduced to the world. When I remember dental school, I'll always remember the gift God gave us in our friends, Patrick & Holly Briscoe.

After dental school, my family headed to Texas and the Briscoes stayed in Kansas City for two more years. The next two years were long ones! Jerit & I were consumed with settling our family into a new life in Texas while Patrick & Holly were wrapping up Orthodontic Residency back in Kansas City. Just as we were all getting excited to welcome the Briscoe's to Texas, Patrick & Holly discovered they were expecting a sweet new baby of their own – Addison Elizabeth Briscoe. I'll never forget the moment I found out that my friend who was so wonderful with my baby was going to have a baby of her own! I knew she would be an amazing mother!

As the Briscoes move to Texas grew closer everyone became excited! Holly's baby shower was a success and their move was coming along nicely... Then, on the afternoon of July 25th, we got a call from Patrick and the tone of his voice indicated an immediate need for prayer. Within a matter of hours, their world had gone from exciting to life threatening.

Addison Elizabeth Briscoe was born that night and to our honor, we were able to see her just moments after she was born. She weighed 1 lb 11 ounces and we all humbly bowed our knee in prayer, asking an almighty God to touch this tiny baby girl.

A few weeks after Addison was born, I had a dream. In that dream, Holly offered a beautiful, healthy Addison for me to hold. Last month, that dream became reality and we had the honor of seeing Addison for the first time outside of the hospital. This beautiful child is a miracle that brings an incredible reward into the lives of her family who sacrificed so much to see her from birth to health. I stand in awe of such a great God.

I cannot imagine thanking God for Addison without also offering praise for another baby who greeted her parents earlier than expected. Just a month after my daughter was born, another little girl entered the world – Kynlei Elizabeth Atkinson. Sweet Kynlei is now in the arms of Jesus but her life forever impacted mine. We will always be honored to have known this sweet child and the friendship of her parents is priceless. (http://robbyeatkinson.blogspot.com/ - Look toward the bottom to see pictures of Kynlei)

It’s amazing how many shapes a miracle can take, isn’t it. Sometimes, our miracles look just exactly how we imagined they would while other times they look completely different. I have learned that regardless of how it presents itself, each miracle is equally amazing and each of these beautiful girls is a miracle that eternally affected the heart of the Davis Family

My Baby

2009-05-10T19:28:00.001-07:00

Just for the sake of reminiscing, here are a few pictures of the beautiful little girl who made me a Mommy... These did not download in the correct order but they certainly make me smile.

Allie - Age 8 Months

Allie - Age 1 Year

Allie Renee Davis - Age 2

Welcome to this world ... Sweet Baby Girl

Our Family - November 2005

Happy Mother's Day...

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T18:50:00.001-07:00

Hello Family & Friends!

As Mother's Day draws to a close I'd like to take a moment to thank Jerit & Allie for making not just today but every day of my life special beyond words. I will never find the perfect language to express to my husband and daughter just how much they bring to my life. They are and will forever be my greatest gifts on earth.

I'd also like to mention the 4 Mothers who have touched my life the most...

My Mother-In-Law - Paula Davis (With Allie at about 8 Months & my father-in-law Gene)

Paula and I go back now about 12 years (well further than that if you count the years before I dated her son...) and I love her dearly. Gene & Paula raised an incredible son and I will be eternally grateful for the day that they entrusted me with Jerit's heart. It has truly been an honor to be married to the Godly man they raised.

My Grandmother-In- Law, Jerrie Tharp (With Allie at about 6 Months old)

"Me-Ma" has always been such an incredibly kind woman and I will never forget the compassion and generous heart she offers to each person she knows. She's a great example of the heart of Christ.

My amazing grandmother, Lois Houdmann

My "Me-Me" will always hold a very special place in my heart and until the day I pass to heaven, I will always remember the memories I have with her. Every child should know the love that I received from my MeMe (& PaPa) and I pray that I can offer this love to Allie's children.

My Mother (With my Sister Jenny at my Sister Tabby's wedding in 2007)

My mother and I have always been close but I certainly love her more each year that I am a mother myself. My Mom has walked many roads in her life that weren't always easy paths and now that I am a mother, I see how painstaking many of her roads must have been. I never saw her veer from the path God had placed before her and that unwavering faith in God is forever etched on my heart. My Mother's life has formed my character and her God has become my God.

I pray I have my Mother with me for many, many years but if God takes her home tomorrow, I will never be able to walk away from the deep faith in God her life has instilled in me. Mom once told me that her greatest gift each Mother's Day was to see each of her children walking with Christ. She explained further that if she saw Jesus in her babies' hearts, she would feel like a success. Well, on Mother's Day, I know my mother realizes that she is very successful and very loved by her children. On Mother's Day, we all would like to officially rise up and call our Mother blessed (Proverbs 31:28).

With Love to Each of My 4 "Mothers" ~

Haylee

Doctor Visit = Success AND 5 Batman Bandages!

2009-04-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Again!

I just wanted to thank everyone for the prayers for Allie today! Her 5 immunizations are so minor compared to many things children endure each day but for her, the fear was certainly real. She did super and is now NOT afraid of shots! They gave her all 5 and she never cried a tear or even batted an eye - no doubt that is thanks to all the loving prayers that went up for her from her family & friends. How blessed we are to have so many who love us so dearly...

Her visit was a success - she's immunized, growing, learning, etc. and all right on track for a four year old. Also, we got the super great news that she does NOT need her tonsils removed (her pediatrician suspected she might last year) and we thank the Lord for this news! Let me tell you that this Mommy was not looking forward to such an event.

She is sleeping now with 5 Batman Bandages covering her legs and a thankful set of parents who think she's awesome!

Thanks Again ~

Haylee

Allie & Her Doctor Visit

2009-04-28T20:18:00.001-07:00

Allie Bug & Her Very Expressive Face!

Sweet Allie Bug!

Hello Friends & Family,

I have so many wonderful photos to post about our friends, the Briscoes... but, for me that post has to be "perfect" as their sweet little one is so precious to me and I want her journey presented perfectly. :)

For now, here are some great photos we captured of Allie while we were visiting with Pat, Holly & Addison. Additionally, I have a prayer request that I would like to extend on Allie's behalf - Allie Bug has her 4 year old well child check up and immunizations tomorrow. I know, I know - every child in America has endured these things and so has my baby! For some reason, though, Allie is so worried about this appointment and is feeling scared. Perhaps it's just because she's older now and anticipating these things... So, I would love for her to feel the prayers of her friends and family as she makes it through the appointment. Jerit & I will both be taking her and we will love her through it and all will be fine - afterall, we've promised her a purchase of "Hi Ho Cherrio" as a reward.

We just wanted to request prayers for her tomorrow at 3:40! :)

And hopefully, my Briscoe post will be all ready tomorrow and please know that lots of cute photos of Ms. Addision will come along with the post!

Love to All,

Haylee

Sneak Peak...

2009-04-20T14:26:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Here is a sneak peak at a beautiful little girl named Addison Briscoe! Our friends Patrick & Holly Briscoe had Addison prematurely last summer and many of you joined us in prayer for this sweet life.

I have lots more photos to share and much more to say about this amazing little girl, her journey this past year and her parents. I snapped this photo of her today at our house and well, I just thought it should be immediately shared!

Love to All,

Haylee

Lincoln Logs

2009-04-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

Allie and I had a fun time recently playing with Lincoln Logs!

I love the moments that are reserved exclusively for Allie - when I make the time to just sit on the carpet and enjoy whatever it is that has her attention. I hope you enjoy seeing our creation as much as we enjoyed creating it together!

More Colorado Pictures

2009-04-07T21:22:00.001-07:00

HI Again! Here's a few more fun photos from our great trip to Colorado! Soon, I'm going to get some great pictures up of my other dear sister, Tabby. For those who don't know, she is expecting her first baby girl and I have some cute pictures to post of Tabby & Her Family. Until Then, here's a little more from Colorado. :-) Enjoy!

GORGEOUS GIRL!!!

Our family - I would like to point out the very cool boots I got to wear! Those boots were AWESOME but they would so not "go" in Texas!

Aunt Jenny & Allie Bug - So Sweet

Jerit & I - My, My our faces are changing...

Aunt Jen & Allie again - This was a nice breakfast!

Colorado

2009-04-07T20:49:00.001-07:00

ME, FOLKS! Trying to stay warm! (& noticing some unwelcome wrinkles around those temples. Isn't this cream I'm using supposed to help!?!?)

VERY BUNDLED ALLIE! Seeing her this "bundled" may well have been the best part of the trip

Jenny & Allie made cookies together - which one is Allie's & which one is Aunt Jen's? You might be surprised.... :-)

AUNT JEN & MS. ALLIE - Making Cookies

Allie camping out @ Aunt Jen's - Very Cozy Accomodations!

Since I posted deep thoughts that originated on our Colorado adventure, I'd like to add some of the fun pictures we captured on the trip! Such wonderful times were had on this trip - it was so refreshing to be together as a family. I love that feeling of taking out on open road and stopping wherever you like along the way, just forgetting about responsibilities for a moment and soaking in God's great earth!

My Sister Jenny hosted us so graciously ... In fact, it's just so amazing to feel the love a Sister offers in one's life. I am blessed to be the eldest of several sisters... and I love each and every one of them more deeply than they're likely to ever realize. I know they love me quite deeply as well but just so they all know, I love them more! :-)

Although I love each of my Sisters in an individual way, tonight's post will be about my Sis, Jenny. Sweet Jenny. I could search all my childhood memories and cannot imagine finding one that doesn't have Jen in there somewhere... she was my silly baby Sister and then years later my maid of honor.

I have such dear memories of Jenny .... she held on tight while we rode a "Rainbow Rider" together... she always seemed to follow me aimlessly and participated in all my strange ideas (Rock Shop, anyone?). For my lifetime, I will always remember Jenny & I sitting in front of our parent's home selling Rocks. Yes, you heard correctly, ROCKS. I had a full business plan for us - business hours and all (I know, no one is surprised!). I believe I had on a swimsuit that day but I can't fully recall what I was wearing. What I CAN recall is that Jenny was wearing her FAVORITE wool skirt! And, please note, it was the dead of summer!

Sweet Jenny... always my friend, always loves me so much, always there with her amazing little grin... and may I please note that when the time came for me to grow and marry, my sweet Sister was right there beside me holding the bouquet and kissing my cheek just before I walked down the isle.

Now, my Jen is grown and married to a wonderful guy named Kole. She is still my great friend and now she is wonderful Sister-In-Law & Aunt. Few people on this earth know me the way Jenny knows me... she hears my heart when I speak and with her amazing, pure heart would drop anything to be by my side if I needed her - without a doubt. In life, you find out who your true friends are - Jenny is on my "true friend" list. :-)

So, thanks Jen - I love you, Sis! And, I'm looking forward to more fun filled trips to Colorado!

God's Direction

2009-04-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

In early January, we visited my Sister, Jenny, In Colorado. Jenny always shows us such a wonderful time (& when Kole is home, he's always awesome as well!).

On one of our explorations, we visited the site of the Royal Gorge. Please realize that it was the dead of winter so we quickly realized this was not an optimal time to visit this tourist attraction. Regardless, we made the trec up the mountain to behold the site! It was great and the bridge towers over the water below in a very magnificent way!

However, for me, as I stared at the bridge, all I could think of was how overwhelming a task it must have been to design the structure and then attach it in such a way that millions of people could walk across, adoring God's beautiful creation. Who lead it's construction? How many struggles did they encounter along the way? My mind goes wild pondering the exhaustion, the feeling of overwhelming responsibility to see it to completion... all the things that went into this amazing bridge, now admired by millions...

And so, Tonight, as I feel that sense of exhaustion, overwhelmed by life and unsure of what the future holds - I thought about the Royal Gorge and all the many pieces that led to such a magnificent sight! I can only pray that my life and all its' little pieces will lead to a magnificent sight for God to behold!

In my heart I am at peace but in my body and mind, I am exhausted and wondering how I'll ever accomplish my list of tasks while being sure to not sacrifice anything of value along the way.

Today, I was having a conversation with my brother, Kaleb. I was telling him of how so many times we have to ask God for direction rather than a destination. And so tonight as I'm feeling the sentiments above, I look at myself and say those words - I need God's direction tonight and I need the strength it takes to follow his direction when the destination feels so very unclear. I need God's direction and then I need the faith it takes to trust God and follow him wholeheartedly, sometimes not knowing what the future holds or what my next step will be.

I'm feeling the need to just ask for God's presence in my life and feel the freedom that comes with a simple knowing that He is in control of my life and this world. I'll never find words that can adequately express my thankful heart toward God - my heart that rejoices in knowing that I don't have to face life alone. A heart that rejoices in knowing that all my pieces are already a beautiful, magnificent sight to God!

Now, the day that I get the courage to walk across the Royal Gorge - well, that will be for another post altogether! This post is just about me looking at the magnificent bridge in sheer amazement! :-)

Birthdays

2009-03-24T18:45:00.000-07:00

A Purple, Soccer Cake!

Hayride!

Horse Rides!

A Pinata (That Dad had to hold because there was nowhere to hang it!)

Purple, Boot Cupcakes!

Allie's 4th birthday was almost four months ago (December 1st) ... I didn't have this blog then so I decided to post the photos. :-)

I spend each day in awe over how much my "baby" is growing and becoming her own little person. She humbles me each day as I realize what an amazing little girl God has blessed Jerit & I with... we love being her parents and treasure each birthday we spend with her. For our entire lives, we will celebrate December 1st as the day that our lives changed forever - this beautiful, tenacious little girl has brought joy beyond our wildest imagination.

Her arrival wasn't necessarily planned by us but God knew exactly when we needed her ...

And We Dance...

2009-03-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

Allie's learning to DANCE!

The back of the ensemble!

Laughter!

"Position 4"...

And, Allie's "Face" :-)

Allie just started taking Dance/Ballet lessons at her preschool and she LOVES it! It's so funny to see my little "tom boy" darling all dressed up in her tu-tu... precious, simply precious!

Enjoy

Crazy HAT!

2009-03-06T19:51:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is Allie's selection (not at all influenced by her Daddy... :-) ) for Crazy Hat Day! She looked very cute in an old hat that used to belong to Jerit's grandfather. All the kids in her class thought her "Crazy Hat" was QUITE awesome as it varied greatly from the rest! Interesting, Allie tends to vary greatly from the rest - she must get that from Jerit!

Love to all, Haylee

Crazy HAIR!

2009-03-05T18:38:00.000-08:00

Allie had "Crazy Hair" day at school last week and she was QUITE proud of her "look." She insisted that she have FOUR ponytails and FOUR bows - makes sense, right? Afterall, she's FOUR years old!

The funniest part was running errands after school while everyone stared at Allie and Me as if we had really strange taste... :)

Tomorrow is "Crazy Hat" day... those photos should be good! Jerit & Allie are already searching the house for the best selection to cover her pretty little head... I'm thinking an old John Deere hat will likely be the winning choice!

Enjoy!

Pictures

2009-03-02T16:36:00.000-08:00

I tried SO hard to reverse the order of these photos but I was having a hard time posting them altogether! Sorry, folks!

This one was taken at the end of our visit - I think Niko was just completely exasperated by Allie's level of activity! It was so cute!

Niko - Growing and Oh, so Gorgeous!

Allie was trying to "lead" Niko but I think it turned into more dragging at times... poor Niko, he was such a good sport!

Allie had sweet moments too where the "leading" was more easy going... :-)

And, as always, Allie was chattering to everyone at all times!

A Trip South...

2009-03-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

True friends and loving family are possibly the most important things outside of one's relationship with Christ... life and business have high expectations and we all must give our all if we are to succeed. However, sometimes when we're just tired from those expectations, it is refreshing to be in the company of those who love us just because of who we are - in the presence of these folks, there are no agendas or expectations. These people just love us and want to spend time laughing, talking, and dreaming of the future. We were in need of this kind of company...

So, since our families (and many of our friends) are a minimum of 6/7 hours away, we took a day trip to Austin and spent some time with wonderful friends who always welcome us as "us" and allow us a day to just "be." We thank them for this... we left refreshed and feeling loved.

We see two sets of friends in Austin - The Gonzalez Family & The McCool Family. I didn't get any photos of the McCools this time around (babies were tired...) but I did get some fun photos of Allie & "baby Niko" playing in the yard which I posted above.

We'd like to thank our friends for being our friends and loving us when we just need to know we're loved. Pablo, one day Jerit & You will have an "idea" that just clicks... Jayme & I will be most happy about that because then, we can go to the spa!

I hope everyone enjoys the pictures!

P.S. Happy Birthday, Pablo!

Imperfect Hearts ... A Perfect Savior

2009-02-25T18:48:00.000-08:00

Tonight I have on my mind the reality of my imperfect heart and flawed nature...

So often in life and business I react out of exhaustion, frustration, anger or even fear. However, the quiet reflection of the evening sometimes introduces regret for actions that are not always Godly. I long to reflect Christ's nature each day - to always show a heart after His rather than one interested in my own personal satisfaction or instant relief of my personal concerns. I long to think of others before myself and react perfectly in hard situations... I want to put the best interest of my friends, family or colleagues before the benefit of myself. But, how will I ever reach this aspiration?

The answer is simple: I will never reach this perfect heart I long for... left to myself, I'll never be the "perfect" person I strive daily to become. My heart is flawed by human nature and (thankfully) God looks at the intent of my heart rather than seeking to find a servant that can offer Him complete perfection.

Does my heart trust in Christ (the perfect savior) to cover my imperfection? Do I strive daily to follow after Christ with all of who I am? The answer to these questions is a humble, "yes."

Praise be to God that Christ took the step to cover my mistakes and my imperfect heart... without His Grace, where would I be? I don't want to know... :-)

Haylee

Jayme

2009-02-24T18:25:00.001-08:00

Hello Again,

Since I posted the marketing work and mentioned Jayme, I thought I should post a few photos of my friend and her family so that everyone can put a face with her name. For those who don't know, Jayme is one of my dearest friends - we met when we were young teenagers and have been friends to each other through many seasons of life. I'll be forever grateful for her friendship - she's loved me despite myself many, many times and I'm so honored to have her in my life!

Although her friendship is one of my biggest blessings, I am also privileged to work with Jayme on marketing projects and maybe someday, children's design items. She's a very talented graphic designer and I'm so excited to work with her anytime I have the opportunity!

Here are some pictures of her, her precious baby boy and her hubby! Love you, Jay!

Haylee

Marketing Work

2009-02-24T18:15:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

My good friend Jayme and I just finished a really fun marketing project! The client was a local OBGYN and we did her entire package - logo design, business cards, note cards, brochure, website, etc. Here is a little sample of our work (of course, you have to picture the brochure in its' printed form)... We were quite pleased with the finished product!

Enjoy ~ Haylee

My Sweet Baby...

2009-02-22T18:12:00.000-08:00

My sweet baby girl, my only child, will turn 5 years old this year... I'm quickly becoming extremely aware of how fast she is growing - I'm realizing how soon the moment will come that she will kiss me, love me and walk away into a life all her own. Believe me, I'm praying that when this moment comes, I'll have the strength to release her to fly. For tonight, I'll just cherish each piece of time that I have with her - each second that I'm Mommy to this active, amazing little girl! This old picture of her is one of my favorites ... this photo represents how I'll always remember my Allie, no matter how fast she grows and how far away her life takes her - she'll always be this sweet baby in my eyes. Listen to the song, "Amazing" on my blog - this is my song to my girl. :-)

A pretty picture of Mom...

2009-02-21T19:04:00.000-08:00

Okay, to be sure that Mom is fairly represented, I would like to post this photo which accurately displays her amazing beauty!

I love you Mom!

My Mom's Look of Concern

2009-02-21T18:55:00.000-08:00

Tonight's post is to illustrate something that has been around for many, man years - my Mom's look of concern... when anyone does something that truly brings our dear Mom to deep thought, this is the face one receives! In this instance, I think my Sister said a word that sweet Mom just didn't think was appropriate... and to be fair, it probably wasn't! Now, please note, I NEVER say words that aren't appropriate... hmmm... :-)

Mom, we all appreciate your concern and think you're just too beautiful to not share with the world!

Enjoy!

9 Years Ago... We Said "Yes"

2009-02-19T20:32:00.000-08:00

... couldn't find photos to upload of our engagement or wedding... but here are a few from our blessed life together...

9 Years Ago (yesterday), I accepted one of the most important invitations of my life - Jerit's proposal for marriage. Outside of my decision to follow Christ, I have never made a commitment for which I am more thankful. My marriage is not only one of my most precious treasures but this commitment has blessed me with an incredible friend, my daughter and my daughter's daddy.

It was a cold Friday night - Feburary 18th, 2000. I was tired from working all day at a local bank as Jerit and I headed off for a date night in Little Rock, AR. (For those who don't know, we were in college in Searcy, Arkansas - a place that, offered few dining selections. Now, the choices have expanded significantly. :-))

Anyway, off to Little Rock - curiously, we made a stop at a local place where Jerit had played a piano piece for me on our first "date." We stopped there and as the place was quite crowded and it was evident he was not going to have an opportunity to replay the first date "moment," Jerit elected for a walk along the river - romantic but COLD! Of course, by this time I am beginning to think I know what's he's up to... in the end, he did get down on one knee and say words that I'll remember for my lifetime. I walked away with a beautiful ring, an elated heart and a friend that will last my lifetime.

Tonight's blog is my tribute to my husband - a man who I love and respect more than words can express. His integrity is beyond my words of admiration and I am honored to walk by his side until my last breath.

I love you Jerit

Haylee

I look like... PAULA!!

2009-02-19T16:58:00.001-08:00

Evening Folks,

I got this photo of Allie today from her school - my first thought was oh my goodness that's "PAULA!"

Enjoy,

Haylee

Feeling Tired... Hence the New Song...

2009-02-17T19:06:00.001-08:00

Evening Family & Friends,

I added some wonderful songs to my blog tonight - these are some of my favorite Christian lyrics! The first song is one of my favorites but may seem a little "deep" for the blog of a happy, blessed family!

However, I asked Jerit his opinion of the song and he agreed that these lyrics perfectly describe how we've felt the last few years. Jerit (I could probably say "we" because it sure felt like I was in dental school during those four years... not, of course to discredit my husband's incredible hard work!) graduated from dental school almost 3 years ago and wow, what a road! (Has it only been 3 years?) I remember that night - I had so many emotions... I was happy, sad, anxious and finally, frustrated because my sweet, adorable baby was not happy to be at a 3 hour long ceremony! :)

Many things have unfolded in our personal and professional lives since we walked away from a four year period that changed our lives forever. We have been so blessed and we are beyond thankful... regardless of those feelings of gratitude, the expectations of life and business often affect our hearts and bring us to a place where we simply feel tired. We find ourselves feeling that we've given all we have to give and it doesn't seem to be enough.

In these moments, I realize that life, no matter how blessed (or even heart-breaking), will always bring feelings of inadequacy. Why? Because we're imperfect humans... our minds can only comprehend so much and our hearts can only bear so many concerns. The beautiful part of our Christian life is knowing that when we feel the most worn from life, when we realize that when we've given all we have and have nothing left, Christ is there with us and He makes up for what we simply don't have to give... it's at this moment, we realize that Christ is indeed, Enough!

Night All,

Haylee

Valentine's Day - Again!

2009-02-16T19:57:00.000-08:00

Evening Family n' Friends,

Tonight I shall post a few pictures of Allie from this past Valentine weekend. On Friday, she had her first ever during-school Valentine Party. She had to make her own box, bring "Valentine's" and wear her favorite Valentine outfit (thanks, Briscoe Family for buying it for her!). Some of you have or will be receiving some of these Valentine's - she was quite proud! "Robots for the Boys, Monkeys for the Girls!" :-) If you got a Valentine, you'll understand!

Then, on Valentine's Day, she received lots of fun gifts from her Mom n' Daddy, her grandparents and great-grandparents... so many people who love her!

We pray you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoy spending these wonderful Holidays with our growing Allie Bug. How blessed we are... and thankful for each moment.

Love to all ~ Haylee

Great Day

2009-02-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

Evening Family,

It's 10:45 p.m. - Allie's tucked in bed, Jerit's reading and I'm looking around on Facebook to see what I've missed today. I love Facebook - it's such a great way for me to keep in touch despite my busy life. My MeMe even got a Facebook page - now how up to date is she!?!? :-)

While browsing Facebook, I came across my brother's Facebook page - for those of you who dont' know, my brother, Kaleb, is 15. I'm looking at his page and listening to some pretty amazing music he posted for readers to enjoy. Essentially, these songs reflect the heart of a young man who wants nothing more than to live a real life and serve an Almighty God.

Wow, I'm sure proud of this young man who was not too long ago a little boy. He's growing up and facing a tough world but choosing each day to resist peer pressure and live with a heart of integrity. No matter how difficult, I'm watching him make solid choices and invest in his future. Wow!

I just thought that this kind of young man deserved to be the focus of tonight's blog. I just want to let him know how proud Jerit & I are of the fine young man he's becoming. He's an example to Allie and I know she'll look up to him for her entire life... he'll always be, Allie's "Bubba"

I posted a recent picture of him above - so handsome! He's also a good sport with his nieces...

We love you, Kaleb!

Jerit & Haylee

Allie - Valentine's Party

2009-02-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

Alright folks, I can assure that most nights will not include three blog posts! However, Jerit recommended that I post these great photos from Allie's Valentine Party this past Friday night as it was simply priceless.

Anyone who knows my daughter knows that she beats to her own drum - and bless her for that! Well, for the party all the other girls wanted to dress in beautiful gowns and have their hair done up... my little girl wanted to wear her jeans & favorite purple shirt. So, we let her because ultimately she's her and we love HER. Jerit wore his dress clothes as all the other Dads did and here are a few photos of all of us enjoying the festivities. Enjoy!

You Tube Link Correction

2009-02-11T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hey!

The link on the last post for "Enough" was wrong - the correct link is:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHEm-b4IRYk

Also, the link for the other song is "All I Can Say." This song is an old one from the David Crowder Band - another incredible set of lyrics! I actually have this song on my desktop and listen to it every morning... sometimes, all I can say to God is that I've given Him everything and can only pray that it will be enough.

Night,

Haylee

Is Christ Enough?

2009-02-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone, :-)

Tonight's blog will be less about the happening of the Davis world and more about the world around the Davis'. Sorry for the deep topic but blogs are for expressing, right? :-)

This entire week I've had a topic that has been on my heart. I started reading a book recommended by our Pastor. The book, titled "Crucibles of Leadership" speaks of many hard, deep topics. One of the topics that is resonating with me is the idea that, if we are to become true leaders, we must first walk through the "crucible" experiences in our lives. In order to become "great," the author suggests that we must first go through fire (a.k.a. hard times or hard learning experiences). Through this fire, we gain experience and only tough experience and deep character bring true leadership.

The book, published by the Harvard Business School is very intellectual and while I certainly walk away with leadership challenges to integrate into my career, I also find myself searching my heart as a Christian. As I search my own integrity, I wonder if I truly have the depth of God that it would take to trust my God in the midst of a true crisis or a crucible experience.

I've truly pondered this topic this week and honestly struggled as I search my heart in wonder - Is God truly enough in my life? If I should I lose everything I hold dear, would I still turn to the heavens with a heart that trusts an Almighty God? Will I still have integrity if faced with a difficult business decision? My instant answer is "yes, I would walk away from anything to maintain my faith in Christ" - But would I? Join me, as I pray that the God of the Heavens would show me how to truly trust that all I have in Him is "more than enough." Join me, as I pray that although I must do all I know to do, I must ultimately trust in a God that is much great than I will ever be or become.

If you have never heard Chris Tomlin's song, "Enough," please follow this link and listen intently as you search your heart as I search mine. We, as a nation and world, are facing the most uncertain times known in many, many years. Is Christ enough? Will we maintain our character in these hard times? The hard reality is that Christ had better be enough because everything else could be gone tomorrow... My prayer is that God would please help us as we search our hearts and pray to find that He is enough.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmIZOd5AXmQ

Love 2 All ~ Haylee

Pictures

2009-02-10T20:31:00.001-08:00

Okay, I searched and searched to only discover the posting of photos is quite easy! :-) Here they are!

The BW photo is Allie in Colorado visiting Aunt Jenny... the other is her School Uniform. Sweet Allie!

One Month Later, an update...

2009-02-10T20:17:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

Well, my friend Holly will read this and laugh when she realizes that indeed, it took me almost a month to post on this blog! Better late than never, right? RIGHT! :-)

Our Life:

Allie is growing and really excited about her sweet life and her school. She was promoted as of February 1st to the transitional Kindergarten class at school and she is so proud of that! We're proud too - our little brain. :-) She's reading, writing and just plain smart (of course, we're a little partial...) I'm going to try to post a picture of her in her school uniform, it's so cute!

Jerit's practice is doing great! Growing, growing - we took the leap to hire a full time associate. Dr. Mark Jones begins work with us full-time on April 1st (yes, April fool's day). We're blessed but have Dr. Jones joining us but we have so many adjustments to make to prepare for his arrival. Our patients are excited and we are feeling blessed but nervous about all that has happened in this new business over the past year!

My life is truly a whirlwind these days. I am full-time Mommy (of course! :-)), office manager for Jerit, marketing partner to my friend Jayme (at least once in awhile... hint - look at www.catherineholtmd.com next Monday, Feb 16th to see our latest work!) and keeper of our home. What a challenge all those things seem to be sometimes! However, on the days when I am able to gather a few, quiet thoughts I do realize just how truly full and wonderful my life is!

Our goal for this year is to learn how to balance all of the above mentioned things! We feel that we've missed so much of our family & friends over the last nearly 3 years since dental school ended. We're looking forward to welcoming Dr. Jones in hopes to allow for some long awaited "free" time to spend with those we love.

For now, I'm going to try and post some photos - love to all!

Haylee

A Beginning ...

2009-01-09T22:08:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

My dear friend Holly will laugh upon reading this first post ... her husband will say, "I'm going to go ahead and call a bull..." :-)

Regardless, I am going to start the new year by committing to this blogging experience. Everyone else is doing it ... all my Mommy friends are sharing their lives and so shall I!

Here we go...

Haylee