They say it's your birthday...

HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY JOEY!!

Today is my brother's birthday, and it stinks not being around to celebrate it with him. I still remember the day he was born-boy have these 14 years flown by! Here's to you, dear brosef... have an awesome 14th year, filled with God's amazing blessings. Love you much!

Expert Marksman...

Dear future boy(friend)s of our future daughter (no, I'm not pregnant),

I just want you to know that the girl you are "interested" in, has an "expert marksman" of a father! You better treat her right, otherwise you're going to have to answer to this:

He shot all 45 rounds on target... 30 in the mid region.. and all 8 directly in the head region. He DOES NOT mess around.

Sincerely,

Mr. and Mrs. Davis

Thankful today, and always...

Happy Thanksgiving to my blog readers! Growing up, this was always my favorite holiday to celebrate. I love the combination of the fall weather, family get-togethers, games, delicious meals, and fellowship around the table. The last couple of years that we've been in Germany has made it difficult to celebrate this holiday (being that the Germans/Dutch don't celebrate). Jason has had to work every Thanksgiving that we've been here... This year, it was our final day with the household good movers, and they packaged up all of our stuff in the shipment crates to ship via a ship. I'm so grateful for the fact that this moved has been easy/breezy thus far. I've now moved twice with the military... and each time, I've been taking notes as to what seems to be the best way to do things (organizing, making piles, feeding the movers, etc.) hoping that for future moves, it can be even easier than the time before (if that's even possible). With the house all packed up, we were graciously invited for a Thanksgiving dinner at the Grismore's house... and this weekend we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving #2 at the Capra's. Pictures to come shortly. But, I do want to say thank you to everyone who has thought of us/prayed for us during this transition.

Cardboard Magicians...

So it's that time... we've been in Germany for 3.5 years (which seems to have flown by) and it's now our time to move along. Yesterday started our actual packing out process...and it was a success. All in all, it went way better than we even expected it to. We've been blessed with an amazing moving team (thank you Frank+ boys from the Hartman B.V moving company)... and they managed to pack EVERYTHING in our house in 2 days. Now, I consider these guys "cardboard magicians".... man, just when I think, "Oh, how are they going to wrap that", they completely amaze me. For instance, we have this wall unit/hutch in our dining room that just about weighs the amount of our entire housing allotment, and they created a cardboard cover and special crate JUST for that piece alone. The smell of boxes is a bit overwhelming, and the brown color of the boxes EVERYWHERE seems a bit drab. What completely blows my mind, is how relaxed our furry friend Runyan has been through this entire process....he's quite a champ, definitely was meant to be an Air Force kitty!

***Whoever guesses correctly what's in this box, wins a bag of German gummy bears..be quick people, it's anyone's game... ***

"Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong

Move along, move along like I know you do

And even when your hope is gone

Move along, move along just to make it through

Move along

Move along"

- Move Along, The All-American Rejects

Treats from my "Abi"...

"Abi Abi...let me sell you this..." "My friend, I give you my best price..." This is all Jason heard as he was invited into everyone's specialty "shop" while on TDY in Turkey. It's amazing how haggling is part of their culture... and how much fun it is for them... while it left Jason extremely exhausted from the whole experience. But look at these babies that my sweet, wonderful hubby brought back for me as my TDY present. They are old pots from a town pronounced "Cilia", unsure of the actual spelling. They were stashed away in someone's basement, covered in filth, and full of filth (trust me, you don't want to know what I found when I cleaned them out). Originally, he wanted 800 Turkish Lire for all of them, but after about 2 hours of persuasion (no exaggeration) Jason walked away with these beauties for only 300 Turkish Lire. What a STEAL!! They are my favorite green, and COMPLETELY eclectic. He also came back with 2 Turkish rugs for 300 dollars (pictures to be posted of those in the near future-once they are placed in our new home in Korea)! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you sweetheart!!

Sew, a needle pulling thread...

This is my first time making a needle case holder. Pretty excited as to how it turned out! I hand embroidered the front bee hive, inside is a felt material to hold the needles, and then used a quilting finishing technique to hold it all together. This lovely holder is going to my Mom for Christmas (I'm so happy she doesn't check my blog, yet)!

Come on baby, light my fire....

The typical German weather is back... and even though I'm not welcoming it, I won't be experiencing it much longer. The constant rain, haze that hovers over this area is however making it difficult to motivate myself to get things ready for this move. Too much to do, and no energy from the sun to get it done. I've also cut caffeine completely out of my system to help me sleep better...it was the one thing that used to give me a "jump start" and I'm trying to figure out different ways to get myself going. Out cat, Runyan, shares the same feelings about this weather... he was born in New Mexico and the sun is HIS thing.... so the closest thing we have to the sun right now, is our heat lamp, and boy does he LOVE it...we both LOVE it.

Owl City completes me...

So...I'm always up for some new music. I do have a habit of skipping through a cd until it's my favorite song...and not giving the other songs a chance. However you know you're a great band when I can listen through your entire music collection without my pointer finger never inching near the fast forward button. It's also really encouraging to listen to a band with clean, uplifting lyrics that's mainstream. So... I introduce to you, my "current" favorite band...OWL CITY. What a "whimsy, drive with your windows down and blast this music" kind of band. With the move coming up, I've been stressed out a bunch, but all I have to do is put on "Ocean Eyes"-Owl City's latest cd, and dance like I've never danced before. With them, it's real easy to throw away all the built up stress/frustration. So please, enjoy them as much as I have... I've added the lyrics for one of my favorite songs by them below. http://www.owlcitymusic.com

Fireflies-Owl City

You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep

'Cause they'd fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude
But I would just stand and stare

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems

'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance

A fox trot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball that's just hanging by a thread

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

Leave my door open just a crack
(Please take me away from here)
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
(Please take me away from here)
Why do I tire of counting sheep
(Please take me away from here)
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep

To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell

But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep

I'd like to make myself believe
That planet earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seems

SEW lately...

Sew lately... I have been sewing much! I was never really big on sewing. In fact in middle school I learned how to work a sewing machine for the first time and made a pillow... in 8th grade I made a dress for the "fashion" show (which I'm pretty sure my teacher sewed mostly...I just remember cutting out the fabric/pattern and doing all the pinning)... and haven't touched a sewing machine in all these years. But, as soon as I got married, I felt the need/urge to be "housewifely"(is that a word?) and started sewing again. I've picked up the craft of quilting...and if I can learn something so complicated, then ANYONE can do it! My quilts have progressively gotten better...sort of like aged cheese?! So my apologies to those that received a "present" when I first started, it probably is in need of some serious fixing after many washings. Sewwww.... enjoy my first blog of my most recent creations! Let me know what you think.

This one is a close up of a table runner I made last year for my sister for her home.

This cuddly quilted blanket now belongs to an adorable little fella... baby Aidan.

This blanket's owner is... cute baby Aaralynn.

This quilt has the same fabric as the above quilt... just a different pattern...for sweet baby Violet

This scrappy quilt I made was just sent away to adorable baby Harrell...