Brussels Sprouts, Jazz, Cupcakes & Babies!

                  The Davis Gang!

        Christmas at Blowing Rock, NC

  

   Twitter asked me to build a profile; to basically define myself. This is what they got: "Grace Received; Married to Storm, Mom & Mimi, Baseball Wife, Love 2 Hear Life Stories, Love 2 Create, Like Thursday, Brussel Sprouts, Jazz, Cupcakes & Babies!"

     Publically viewed, it is accurate. Inwardly viewed, it would read more like:

"Grace forgotten everyday: performance driven; struggles with self image; selfish; in desperate need of a Savior!"

     This past weekend, Storm and I watched our firstborn and his wife celebrate the upcoming arrival of their firstborn!  Life sure does circle around quickly!! I was taken to my own sweet memories of having our first baby boy 29 years ago. The minute he was born a massive flood of love washed over me!   My Mothers Heart was born!  I knew from that point on I would always and forever love, protect, defend, and cherish this child...no matter his age or mine! He was perfect!  He was a gift from God! 

    

     Zach (2yrs) @San Diego Zoo while      Storm was with the Padres. 

   I remember the day when Zach was about 3 weeks old-- looking at his precious little face--so overwhelmed with joy-- it had taken us 2 years to get pregnant, then I had to be put on bed rest...and I thought,  "I would never give any of my children for the salvation of another person!" I began to cry as it hit me that He did..God did...His only Beloved Son...and I how sad that I lose sight of that treasure. 

     "So many of My children limp through their life starved for love because they haven't learned the art of receiving...Believing that I love you with boundless, everlasting love." (Jesus Calling)

     God not only gave His very best--but He did it on purpose!  That blows my mind!  Boogers, Pimples & All He wanted to adopt me into His family!

"One of the many beautiful things about adoption is that it is initiated by the parents... The child's security is assured by the efforts of a benevolent third-party, independent of anything he/she might bring to the table, good or bad. And this is precisely what happened when Jesus came into the world." (Mockingbird Ministry). Yet I walk around acting like an orphan instead of a Child! 

     I am convinced my Mothers Heart is a gift to remind me that if I, in my finite life, can love with my whole heart--no matter what---then I am safe and loved and wrapped up in the arms of a gentle God...no matter what!

    Zach & Emily- excited parents to be!

 

    It has always been about what He did!!! He doesn't require my "hoop jumping" ...no need to impress...He smiles when He looks at me!  "He sings over us with exceeding joy!" 

Amazing Grace--how sweet the sound!!

Because He Loves, 

Angie and Storm

Quotes:

Jesus Calling, Sarah Young

Mockingbird Ministry 

Sweet As A Peach!

     Storm & I are so excited about the upcoming arrival of our Grandbaby girl, Abigail! We had a wonderful time celebrating her amazing parents, Zach & Emily--and her precious life at a couples Baby Shower! Family and dear friends shared in our excitement!  Baby girl Abby is loved deeply by all!! We can't wait to meet her!!

     I had the honor of doing this shower with Amanda Davis. She is our other sweet daughter in law and sis in law of Zach and Emily!  It was a blast!!

     The colors were peach, green, and gold. The amazing oval monogram was done by my friend Lauren Atwaters of www.ten23designs.com. 

     The proud expectant parents! Zach and Emily Davis. Zach is our firstborn!!

     Sweet As A Peach banner made

       by Amanda Davis/ sis-in-law!

      Flowers!

More decor...

    Corn Tamale Cakes with Peach

        Salsa and fresh Cilantro

     Mini Mac N Cheese Cakes

 Tri Color Orzo Salad with Roasted Chicken, Basil, Pine Nuts, Arugula,

Dried Cherries & Feta

     Balsamic and Basil Berry Salad

  Burger Sliders & All the Toppings!

 A friendly game of corn hole!

      The Candy & Dessert Table! 

      Cupcakes by Amanda Davis!

Children are a blessing from The Lord!!

     Celebrating them and loving them is one of the greatest gifts in life!

"Jesus loves the little children; All the children of the world; Red and Yellow, Black and White; they're all precious in His sight! Jesus loves the little children of the world!!"

Eating Healthy on The Go!

     This season Storm and I made a effort to eat more healthy. One of the ways we tried to help ourselves was to travel on road trips with easy and ready to eat foods. I'd like to share some of the favorites that worked for us!  

1• One of them was a family favorite!  It's an Orzo Power Salad. I would make it ahead and store it in a plastic container or Ziploc bag. I would also cook chicken; chop it up and bring it along!  

       Cooked Orzo; Craisins; Feta;         Chopped Basil and Arugula; Toasted Pinenuts; Olive Oil; S&P

2• Another family favorite is our Quinoa Tabouli!  I could also make it ahead and bring a chopped rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breasts. 

3• Bringing some arugula and/or spinach adds another burst of freshness and fiber! (Whatever your favorite greens are!)

4• Hummus is the new mayo!  It comes in so many flavors for every preference possible!  I use it for that creamy texture and it helps keep the wraps together!  Its a beautiful dip for fresh veggies too!

5• I found the best flat out flatbread wraps that travel well and hold a wonderful amount of yummy goodness!! 

    

  ~~ Take a wrap; spread on some of your favorite hummus; put on some arugula/spinach; chicken; tabouli or orzo; grated cheese/feta and roll up wrap tight- cut in half and enjoy!~~

6• Variations for wrap can be: adding grated cheese; avocado; salad dressing; and/or your favorite lunch meats. 

7• Of course, we always travel with Peanut/orAlmond Butter and Jelly(simply fruit) and Multi Grain Bread!!! Yum!!

8• Fruit Salad is an easy make ahead treat too!  A small container of your favorite yogurt can be fun to use with the fruit salad to make a parfait!!  If you're feeling fancy, a crushed up graham cracker cookie or granola adds some lovely texture and flavor!  On the trips I was feeling simple, we would just cut up apples and dip them in peanut butter!! Divine!

9• Paper plates & cups; paper towels; plastic utensils; knife; Clorox wipes. All work well for a mini picnic world!  

10• Believe it or not, all if the cold items will pack nicely in a medium sized cooler with some ice cool packs!  I've found the "dollar stores" can be a helpful source for coolers, plastic containers, ziplocs, etc!

            Meal Variations:

Chicken Tabouli Mediterranean Wrap

Veggie Wrap

Roasted Chicken with a side of Orzo Salad

Spinach Salad with Chicken and Orzo/Hummus

Roasted Chicken & Cheese Wrap

Fruit Salad on a Mixed Greens Salad with Chicken

Yogurt Parfait Dessert

I'm sure each of you have some wonderful ideas of what you've done too!  Id love to hear about them!! 

Have a wonderful week!

God bless!

Angie

http://www.flatoutbread.com/products/flatout-wraps/

I Wish...

I wish for you hands that gently guide you when you're too sad to think..

Hands that massage your head when you can't sleep...

Hands that reach over to pat you during the night to make sure you're ok...

Hands that play catch after pitching a game...

Hands that protect you...

Hands that work hard everyday...

I wish for you eyes that find you in the crowd every night...

Eyes that smile when your baby laughs...

Eyes that think you're beautiful at the kitchen table in the morning in your bathrobe and your hair everywhere...

Eyes that see past you into your very being and know what you need. 

I wish for you lips that tell you everyday how beautiful you are...

Lips that laugh at your silly stories...

Lips that kiss you just because...

Lips that kiss your grown kids and the babes...

Lips that tell you how much you are loved and needed.....

I wish for you ears that truly hear you...

Ears that know your voice anywhere...

Ears that long for your conversation...

I wish for you a heart that flutters when you walk into a room...

A heart that loves to be with you most...

A heart that shares with you their fears and dreams and returns the favor...

A heart that can be trusted! 

               I wish this for you!

Every good and perfect gift is from above! Our loving Heavenly Dad loves us with a fierce and relentless love, beyond our wildest imagination. It is by this gift alone that we can love each other. 

      Us- 34 years later! God is good! 

It's My Crown!

We are home! I'm so excited to see the family!! I'm not too thrilled that it is still way too hot in FL!  

Then the same "stuck in first gear" "can't shift my brain into drive" feelings start to show up. When the kids were younger I would almost panic when this part of the process would start!  I would look at the vehicle filled with our stuff and feel totally overwhelmed!

  I knew what was coming--several days of putting stuff away-- and then my frenzied clean out spree would begin!  Now I just laugh at myself and the "busy bee" mentality. But with little kids it was almost counter-productive! The kids loved playing in the packing boxes for weeks!! If I had just taken a deep breath and said, "Whoa Angie!, One thing at a time!"--I know I would've been more pleasant to be around!  

I also struggled with taking off My Crown and sharing it with Storm. I had been CEO during the season and now he was around everyday--all the time!!  It was a process we had to sit down and talk about several times over the years. We are neither one big proponents of "roles" in a marriage. We have found in our marriage that we each have our strengths and those are the things we focus on doing. Storm is far better at keeping the laundry going and long term plans than I am. I am better at spontaneous parties and kids schedules! Lol!  

For us, we found our strength patterns for the off season and went from there.  It wasn't smooth everyday, but it was a start! I am slightly..ok, big time bossy! Needless to say, it took some time for me to "share My Crown" with Storm. As the kids got older, we re-assessed and kept moving forward. 

Even at this stage of our lives, I still have a tendency to want to have a Frenzied Clean Out Party when we get home after the season!  I'm still learning to take a moment to breathe-- to hug all those precious people, knowing all that stuff in the van can wait. 

Yes I'm still bossy, but definitely teachable!  We cannot read each other's mind!  Communication is the key!  

Some of the "bumps of off season" just take time to smooth out. As we begin to get into a rhythm it begins to flow! Change is a major stress in life whether it's a good one or bad one.  Our bodies don't know the difference. Our little guys feel it too! Take care of yourselves! Breathe deep! Hug each other often!  Find the humor in the everyday mess! Take your foot off the accelerator! Look forward to the holiday season ahead!

~~~~~*****~~~~~*****~~~~~*****~~~~~

Side Note:

One of the things I've always done that helps me shift gears is to pull out my Fall decor!  Giving the house a Minii Makeover offers me a visual change of a "new season"! 

Happy Fall Y'all!

Angie & Storm

Bittersweet & Beautiful

The end of a season is always bittersweet. At the core of our beings we are all ready to go home..to see our families...to unwind...to put our clothes in drawers...to make our own schedules...to sleep in our own beds!! 

On the flip side of that, it's hard to say "see you later" to the friends we've connected with over road trips and frozen lemonade! 

The Multi City Hotel Hopping Crew

     

These ladies understand the nuances and workings of your life and emotions because they live it too!  It's so strangely special!!  It is a perk of this gypsy life we live. 

I have been so blessed this season being surrounded by such loving and fun ladies!  My heart is full of memories and I will miss them!  

 Tennessee Smokies 2014

Gingers Rule!! Trainer/Coach! We got this! LoL

      The Villone's--Ciaches Family too!

The CEO Loves his popcorn and everyone else's too!

Better Half looking gorgeous and she knows her stuff!! So sweet!

Toting CJ-- Making bottles-- always smiling Christine!

Baseball Friends! 

Fiancé traveling back and forth!!

Better Half and her glorious face!

These kids have been to more games than most adults!

Fiancé at every game!! She's adorable!

Mom cheering on her son!!

The cutest boys in baseball!!

Fiancé sleeping during the National Anthem! Lol! 

High school friend! 

     

YOU ARE AMAZING!!

 Every one of you!!! Everyday! 

See you in AZ! 

#GypsyLife #WeLiveOutOfSuitcases #HashtagsbyLaura

Stillness

Gifts are something we don't ask for...they are a surprise..a treat! The best gifts come from those who know us best!  My heavenly Dad has given me a gift this summer. He placed us in a very small town, where in a day...I am entertained by the yard wildlife and going to the local laundromat to meet folks and hear their stories... Making some cupcakes… And catching the last few innings of a ball game! I have had the time to Be Still and Know that He is God! I am truly thankful for this much-needed and timely gift!

Having time to reflect and be thankful… To think through issues… To relax… To pray… Has taken some getting used to. Isn't that pitiful? I've seen my "busyness" has oftentimes been nothing more than my desire for acceptance and "atta girls" spinning my life way too fast. 

I've spent too much time "chasing my tail" for what Jesus has already given me---His Love & Grace. I am "accepted in the Beloved."

My precious husband told me when this season started and my "antsy side " arose, "Angie, it's okay to do nothing! " I had never allow myself to consider that option. I am a doer, a worker bee, mom, Mimi, a baseball wife, creative, planning person! But the process of this season has given me glimpses of serenity in the small and simple things, peace in the scaled back, & joy in the purposeful! 

I've had the pleasure of meeting some younger versions of myself, who like me, have chosen to be fully engaged in the game of baseball… Little kids and all! Every five days we are living out of suitcases… In a new hotel... In a new town… Sweating as we cheer for our guys!  I have also gotten to meet some sweet TN native who have some wonderful stories! 

My life-all life -is an adventure! When I try to do it without the gift of being still and knowing Whose I am...my life can quickly accumulate empty static and chaos. My challenge today is: "Be Still and Know That I Am God!"

 I am loved. You are loved. We are safe in the arms of Gentle Jesus!  

Practicing Being Still & Knowing He Is God, is a daily privilege described beautifully in this song---HERE, by Kari Jobe. 

http://m.godtube.com/watch/?v=FMM2C1NU

Thank you Emily Davis @EmilyGorin for sharing this with me! xoxo

Artwork by TrueCottonArt/ Arin Guthe

http://true-cotton.wix.com/truecotton

Coin Laundry Completed!

Today is farewell to the Coin Laundry in Small Town USA!  I am doing my last four loads of sheets, towels, and comforters!  

All season I've come to the Coin Laundry and done our clothes and met a new person every time!  One thing we all have in common is that we really don't want to be here!  LOL!  However, it isn't all bad when you are done with ALL your laundry in an hour VS an all day project! 

My trips to the laundromat have been snapshots of many different faces of society. I've been entertained by small children and the elderly. The flirty older gentlemen are quite the characters!! The local gossip keepers are the best source of information. Eye rolling teenage girls stuck helping their moms do cause me to giggle!!  The little cuties who like to put dollars in the change machine are so inquisitive!  The ever present History Channel on the television has taught me much on everything, and Sonic has the best Slushy!!

I've been blessed to listen to a lot of life stories. Some are quite entertaining...and some are just sad. It seems talking to a complete stranger in the laundromat brings a relief to some folks --puts a small smile on their tired faces. It has reaffirmed to me that listening to someone's Story is one of the best acts of kindness we can give!

Unfortunately, I was unable to go out with the 75 year old man who asked so politely... But by God's Grace I hope a smile did cross his precocious face!