Happy 1st Isaiah

It is ridiculously unbelievable that the littlest Davis is already a year old.  How did that happen?! Where did the time go?  These are the questions I have been asking since Kate turned one, and I suppose I will be asking them for the rest of my life. We are so blessed to have this handsome happy little dude in our lives.  He is such a joy, a precious treasure, a gift we don't deserve.  He makes us laugh every day.  Makes us stop and enjoy some sweet cuddle time several times a day and makes us further understand the deep love that our Heavenly Father has for us.  

We decided to have a small version of the Macedonian style first birthday party (not as much like a wedding reception and more like a party for a child) with some of our closest friends here.  We had the party at a little play-place for kids.  So good for everyone.  I didn't have to have a clean house and had nothing to clean up after the party. Kate and Thomas along with the other kids at the party had slides and trampolines and other sweat-inducing play things to enjoy during the party.  The girls who worked at the play-place served everything so I could just visit with the guests and best yet, there was a start and a finish.  This introverted momma loves when there is an "end time" to a party.  Thank you, Lord, for that!!! I think Isaiah was grateful for that, too.

These were Isaiah's little cupcake toppers.  We just took some of our favorite pictures of him and printed them off, wallet size, on some card stock paper, cut out his head, glued a party hat (a paper triangle) to the top, and taped it to a skewer. So easy and so cute.  (Thank you pinterest for the idea.) The guests loved them. Several women went around trying to collect all the different Isaiah heads for their party souvenir. 

Hee. Hee. I love it.

Look at that handsome boy and his handsome daddy.

Little man. 

So big and so handsome in his little button down-collared shirt and slacks. 

Greeting his guests who were still arriving an hour after the party started. :) He was such a good little host.

Kate and Thomas enjoyed the play area at the party.

Isaiah and all his big friends.

The candle was a little scary. That's how they like it here in Macedonia. It's not a birthday until some child has almost singed his eyebrows off.

Our little family with a big 6 year old, 4 year old and ONE year old!

Isaiah and his birthday pancake. 

Whoo! I'm one!!!

 

His very first cupcake.  It took him forever to finally dig into it.

Once he figured out how yummy it was, he tried to stuff the whole thing in his mouth.

Yum! Sugar!

From his grand entry into this crazy Davis world last year, he has captured my heart completely.  He is a cuddly 23 lb. load of sugary sweetness. A thousand of his snuggles and cuddles and I would still want more.  His giggles and excitement every time we play peek-a-boo make it my favorite game, too. He loves music, bath time, and skyping with grandparents. He adores his big brother and sister and wants to be just like them.  His 8 teeth and constant drool make for one amazing smile. He loves to wave bye-bye accompanied by the most beautiful "Buh-Buh" you've ever heard.  He can walk like a chubby little champ if you just hold his hands. He is one loved little baby who is becoming less and less like a baby every day.

Isaiah Hunter, you are loved and honored in the eyes of your creator God. You are precious in his eyes. He sustains you and provides for you every day. He loves you with an everlasting love. He sings over you. You were created for Him, to love Him, to know Him, to worship Him with your whole life. I pray every day that you will know the one who died so that you won't have to fear death, so that you can live a full and abundant life. I pray that you will be found in Him and that you will live your life to know Him more and to make Him known among the nations.  I love you, my sweet sweet Isaiah Bug. You are my precious boy and I am so incredibly beyond grateful that I get to be your mommy.  Happy First Birthday!

The Littlest

A Little Ancient R and R

Friday we got back from a great trip down south to Greece.  It was time again for our annual meeting with some friends and colleagues. We were all meeting on a little island close to Athens. So Brian and I decided to head down to Athens a few days before the meeting to check out some "really old stuff" (according to Kate) in Athens and Ancient Corinth.

Thomas hanging out by the old Roman Odeum at Ancient Corinth.  He really couldn't have cared less. The poor child just wanted to go back to the modern day playground we passed on the way to the ruins.   

Greece is gorgeous in the spring. There were snow-capped mountains hovering on top of fields of yellow wild-flowers. So pretty.

Apollo's Temple--one of the only temples still semi-standing. I think this is a gorgeous picture--one I might even would have framed and hung on my wall--until I really thought about it. It was a place of worship to another god. A god that was made up by men. A god that cannot hear the cries of its worshippers. A god that cannot save.  Perhaps I should frame it as a reminder that I am no better than those wretched Corinthians.  I, too, put things before the One True God. BUT GOD!  He came to the Corinthians in their idolatry just as He came to me in mine.  While we were still in our sin, Christ died for us.  Whew!!!! Best news ever!

I was blown away by the amount of placards that we walked by that said "'Somebody's' Temple."  One such temple was a place that housed 26 prostitutes at all times.  When the apostle Paul moved in there, he was surrounded by immense paganism. Darkness. He did not waver in his faithfulness to the Lord. He made his tents. He boldly preached the word.  

Here is a picture from where it is believed to be the seat of the proconsul where Paul was brought and tried before Gallio.  Paul did not waver but remained faithful to the truth and power of the gospel.  

And just as God promised, many believed and were baptized and the church at Corinth was started.  

Our family standing on a "really old sidewalk" in Corinth. Seriously, the kids just wanted to play on the playground.... 

The next day we headed into downtown Athens to see the Acropolis. This is our family on top of the Areopagus or "Mar's Hill" (Acts 17).   Again, so many thoughts on all that Paul did to advance the gospel of our Lord. So humbling!!!

This is how Isaiah and I enjoyed the Acropolis--in the grass, under a tree, shoes and socks off (yes, it was that warm and SO wonderful). If you look really close, you can see the Parthenon over his head.

Rockin' Athens from the stroller.

Brian took the two oldest up to see the Parthenon and all that "old stuff." They don't appreciate it now, but one day...

So pretty (Kate took this picture)

Just keeping it real, y'all. 

And we found Starbucks! Holla! I spent a painful amount of euros on two cups of creamy, caramelly coffee and I don't regret it one bit. Magically Delicious!!! This is evidently my name in Greek!

The next day we headed to the island where we met up with our friends and colleagues and had a tremendous time!!!

Like in years past, a stellar team of child care workers came over from the states to take care of our babies.  They did a great VBS with them and at the end of the week, they kids got to do a little show. They had so much fun and are still singing all of their songs and saying their verses.  

I love it!!!  These annual meetings are always such a blessing for our family as we can worship and be taught in English, be trained in new ways of attacking the darkness and just fill-up.  SO. VERY. GOOD. My heart is full.  

Seed Project

Almost every single person we know still plants a garden full of a variety of different veggies.  It is pretty much a necessity here. A colleague had the great idea to use the spring sowing season to plant the seeds of the gospel.  Through the coordination of our teammates in Prilep and Baptist Global Response, along with the church in the capital city, Skopje, our group in Ohrid has over 300 packets with seeds and literature (tracts, New Testaments and a book) that we will be distributing to the villages surrounding our town.

Putting the 300 packets together was a family affair.  The kids had a good time helping us stuff bags full of seeds, Bibles and tracts.

Kate went with Brian to seven different villages yesterday to give out these packets.

             They had a blast meeting new people and showing love to every one they met. 

There are 52 villages in the Ohrid region.  We probably will not be able to reach all of them through this project, but we will be able to make a dent.  Please be praying for us in the next few days as we work to cast these seeds.

Women's Day

March 8th is Woman's Day all around the world.  It seems America may be the one of the only countries that doesn't celebrate it.  It is such a fun holiday when all women are celebrated. It is also the biggest day of the year for florists here. Every woman receives flowers and handmade cards from their kids.  My favorite part is that the women all go out for a big meal and dancing to celebrate the day.  I love it.  Like years past, I decided it would be a great idea to leverage this holiday for the gospel.  I got together with the ladies from our group, and worked with them to make a great event for our girlfriends and neighbors.

The night before 8mi Mart, we opened the doors of our new club (more on that later) and prayed that God would use the night for His glory. We had 23 ladies come.  I had hoped there would be more, but because of the holiday, there were ballet recitals, art exhibits and other things around town that were competing for attendees.  Plus a ton of women were sick or had sick kids.  Either way, I am confident that God brought in exactly those who needed to be there on that very night.  

We had a craft for the ladies to do as they were arriving, but it ended up lasting all night.  They really got into it. We painted washers with nail polish, added some beads and made pretty necklaces.  I was so impressed at some of the girls' artistic ability.  Everyone had such a good time making their necklaces and then showing off their creations to the others.  It was like the best art class ever!  

Along with one of the believers from our group, I was able to share about our hope in Jesus. It is common for women to say they are too busy to read the Bible, too busy to come to a Bible study or too busy to read a book we have given them.  I get it.  We women have our plates full--there is much to do in serving our families.  A story that always resonates with me and the story I chose to share with the ladies is the story of Mary and Martha. You know it. Jesus stops in for a visit. Martha is ticked cause her sister, Mary, is just hanging out with Jesus and not helping with all that needs to get done.  Martha tattles on her sister and tells Jesus to make her help.  His response cuts to the heart.  "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."  ONE thing is necessary.  Sure the house needs to be cleaned, dinner needs to be cooked, the kids need help with homework.  But what if we spend our whole lives on those things and forget the ONE thing that is necessary. The ONE thing that lasts forever--the good portion.  What if we gain the clean house (not even possible) and the good food and the intelligent, well-behaved, well-adjusted children but lose our souls.  I shared of hope in the ONE thing.  There is salvation in Jesus alone. I continued sharing about how we can know Jesus--really know Him, how we can live our lives enjoying him, sitting at His feet just to be near Him.  He came to be Emmanuel, God with us. He shed His blood so that we can enjoy him forever. He rose from the dead so we can have life that lasts forever.  Oh sweet peace in the only true necessity! 

 Several of the women had more questions.  A few went home with their first Bibles.  I kneeled at the feet of one lady and answered her questions about knowing Jesus.  With tears in her eyes, she said, "What if I repent and believe tonight and tomorrow I keep sinning."  I told her the best news ever, "He won't stop loving you!!! You will still be His child. He will still let you call Him Father. He will still embrace you with open arms. The blood of Christ will cover those sins, too.  He will patiently teach you to obey Him and walk in His ways. His grace is sufficient!!!"   She wiped her tears, pulled herself together and that was it. She was done talking about it. --Y'all, don't stop praying!!! God is pursuing so many here....

I am so thrilled with what God did that night. Thrilled that I got to be a part of it. Thrilled that even though there were moments last week when I whined about all I had to do to get ready for the event, He still called me His child and His love poured out on me and made obedience sweet--even fun.  I am thankful that He gives the increase and one day we will see it in its fullness. 

Favorite Things--Photo Bomb

Yeah, I know. It has been forever since I wrote an actual blog that doesn't involve family.  Well, people, family, these little people, this is what I do.  Day in. Day out.  Sure, there are lots of people in and out for coffee. There are lots of ministry things happening. LOTS! And one day, I will write a blog about those things. One day when I can organize my thoughts and gather some composure over all that God is doing in our midst and all that He is orchestrating around us, I will write it all down in an organized fashion.  But for now, here is a little glimpse into some of our favorite things and our little family that is living in the middle of it all...

Making cookies with these two and that beautiful piece of machinery in the background.  That, my friends, was an amazing gift from my MIL. Isn't it gorgeous?!  It makes cookie-making-chaos with the wee ones a little less chaotic.  And every time we make cookies we talk about that wonderful Grandma and how she blessed us with such a tremendous gift.

Here is Kate enjoying one of our favorite drinks, Salep.  It is actually Turkish (so many things here are--500 year occupation doesn't die out over night). It's milky, cinnamony and kind of like drinking a yummy pot of oatmeal.  Sound weird?  It's amazing!

That boy--teething, coughing and still happy as a horse. 

Making pancakes with Batman. My dream come true.

Rollerblading and...

 biking with this view.  

Climbing trees...

Kate excelling in school!!! She is blowing my mind reading and writing fluently in two languages. (There is a whole blog coming on this girl and school!)

This boy and his flair for the dramatic.

Daddy-daughter love.

Happy baby who sprouted 5 teeth practically overnight.  You never would have known he was teething. 

Belly laughs and brothers.

 

This man and those babies. He is the most amazing dad who has the adoration of these three little ones. He is also one year older and feeling it. :)

Girl time-showing off our newly painted nails.

Mommy date with this kiddo on a gorgeous day.  He is enjoying another one of our favorite drinks.  Hot chocolate Macedonian style (maybe Balkan style).  It is so thick (think pudding) that you have to eat it with a spoon. YUM!!!

This city!  We have so much love for this city and the people that live in all those homes on that beautiful hill!