What's up girl?!

it's been over a year since i last posted here. nearly 14 months to be exact. so here is a brief overview of some of the "big events" that the last 14 months have held...

i am in my second year of teaching... and i can't imagine doing anything else at this moment in my life. there are challenges daily, joys and successes often, love letters given frequently, and a whole lot of hope and life spoken over these littles i get to spend my days with!

i live with one of the sweetest families i have ever known... a set of parents, 4 kids and 1 on the way. they strive to represent Christ well in their lives and train up their children in the way they should go... i love experiencing and learning more about real family life with them, especially before i become a wife and mama!

i was a part of a church plant that just launched last weekend! over 300 people came to our first service. it's been an amazing experience to watch the Lord lead and bless the efforts of a group of people who are simply seeking to grow in their relationship with Him and to help lead and connect others to Him and to their community... i am excited to see what is in store for Connect Church!

i'm 24. and this year... 24... i declared it to be one of transFORmation. so far, 5 months into 24, i've lost 20 pounds and have shed 18.5 inches! i don't have a goal weight or size, i just ultimately want to be fit, healthy, and strong. i eat a mostly clean and organic diet... minimal processed foods, very little meat (mostly because what i'd be consciously ok with eating is too expensive for my budget), lots of fruits and veggies, and very little carbs. there's been a shift in my lifestyle and i LOVE it. i will never go back to eating how i used to. know this, i LOVE ice cream and know i always will but i have learned and realized from experience that food is good, yes... and i have all the freedom in the world to eat something, but do i WANT to eat it?! ice cream? i will rarely turn that down. when examining other foods i'm not so in love with? no, i probably don't want to eat it. i'll admit i was addicted to sugar, as are most Americans... and going just a short time without a sugary treat gave me a headache. now, i get a headache if i eat too much sugar! my body and cravings and habits are transforming and i am excited... i can feel muscle in my biceps, i can run 6 miles without having to walk... 5 months ago, i could barely run a mile without feeling like i was about to die. i will also be the first to tell you that i have had to take 1 day at a time in this get-fit journey. some days are hard and i find eating clean/organic/consciously is challenging! but most others, i feel that it is the easiest and most sensible thing in the world to do!

lastly, as i grow older... ha, a whopping TWENTY-FOUR! i cherish my friendships more and more. whether i get 10 minutes or 10 hours with a close friend, i am grateful. whether i will need to drive 3 miles or 3 hours to spend that time with them, i don't mind. my closest friends inspire me. they know me. they care for me so well. and they bless my heart each moment we're together. they teach me. they pray for me. and they make me laugh to the point of tears, sometimes after just a few minutes in each other's presence. i am so grateful to the lord for blessing me with the most genuine friendships i have ever known with the loveliest girls i've ever met. my only wish would be that we could be together all days, always. but i trust that the lord has us where we are for reasons beyond our understanding and that His plans for us are GOOD.

so there you have, that's what's up!

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, 

brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."

1 Peter 3:8

fun, full & refreshing

on saturday, took a day trip to st. louis with aunt jill, madee & ben.
enjoyed chik-fil-a for lunch and spent a few hot hours at a cardinals game.
listened to the fudgery crew break it down & got back home 'round 11.

on sunday, a day of reading in the living room, turtleman's call resounding from the TV.
a family dinner of ribs and potatoes & a good few hours with ingrid out and about.

on monday, an interview at a school just 10 minutes from my house.
celebrated lucy's birthday a day late, birthday hat and all.
a family+katie dinner of tacos and enjoying the beep of the microwave.
a relaxing night of practicing wedding hair & watching now&then.

on tuesday, a day out with katie + accepting a 2nd grade teaching position @ Franklin!
watch searching, tiara testing, and gold searching at charming charlie's.
lunch at lou's and a stop at hobby lobby.
out to eat for dinner with my parents at buck's fish & bowl to celebrate employment!
late night of planning & reviewing pinterest for classroom ideas.

on wednesday, a day with the bruers.
manicures on the patio, hammock resting & a little soccer practice with micah.
watched my 1st episode of craft wars then had fun at ce's roller skating party!
ended the night cuddling with lucy.

on thursday, slept in & then went to lunch @ monical's with my mama.
ran a few errands & magazine shopped in lakeshore learning & oriental trading co.
stayed up way too late planning, pinning, and dreaming.

on friday, stopped @ dunkin donuts for a quick breakfast w/ my mom.
found some great deals at garage sales, i.e a vintage cart & kid books for 10 cents!
spent over 8 hours with the dakins, celebrating foster's 6th birthday!
ended the night by releasing paper lanterns and reading a bit of mockingjay.

on saturday, slept in & didn't eat breakfast til 11:30.
labeled, organized, and leveled nearly 150 books for my classroom library.
took a late night-few hour stroll through target.

on sunday, enjoyed a pancake breakfast with our southwestern sweetheart, kate.
shopped at walmart for some school supplies.
added 30 more books to my library & had a relaxing night at home.

on monday, slept til 9 then spent most of the day in thrift stores & at hobbylobby.
started the classroom crafting process, cut maps, made planes, & painted.
loved catching up and laughing with my leah friend.
made chocolate cookies at 11pm, trying to live up the last 7 hours at home.

so after 9 full days at home + 1 in STL, i head back to bloomington in the morning.
i loved spending this past week and a half with family & friends who are like family.
i've been reminded of how much the littlest things matter...
and i feel so grateful for where i am & who i get to live life with.
i feel so blessed.

a mid-July staycation

this week, i have the opportunity to spend 7 days somewhere. i could have chosen bloomington, the place where my community of friends is strong in this season. i could have chosen some beach, planned some simple getaway by myself or with friends. i could have chosen some adventure. i could have chosen to relinquish my free days to watching children in the homes of working parents. but instead of all of this, i chose a staycation. a vacation for a WEEK at my home. in Peoria.

it seems that in the past few years of living in B-N, i have come to Peoria often. some months, most weekends. fall of 2010, several times for days at a time. spring 2011, the same. last summer, often. this past school year, frequently. any of my friends in bloomington could tell you that i love Peoria. i enjoy coming to Peoria because of what it holds... because of who it holds. Peoria is home. although several of the people dearest to my heart live 45 minutes away from Peoria, i feel that a large part of my heart is still in Peoria. i feel refreshed in Peoria, i feel encouraged, i feel empowered... because this is the place where i began so many journeys... its air holds prayers, memories, and stories of nearly 21 years of my life, and that to me is a wonderful place to soak in.

two days in and i am thoroughly enjoying this mid-july staycation!

same sky

imagine all that is happening under this great and beautiful sky...

on dancing

i woke up friday morning from a very vivid dream (a frequent occurrance)...  this particular dream included my grandma, who passed away almost exactly 5 years ago.

in the dream, i heard of suspicious and dangerous behavior in my grandma's neighborhood and because i knew of it, i had to do something about it - i had to get my grandma out of her neighborhood so that she would be safe.

what made this dream unique in my opinion was the fact that it was so relevant to my life right now.  sometimes what i dream reveals something good or meaningful to me that just gets planted somewhere in my heart or mind for future reference.  sometimes a dream reminds me something i've learned or experienced in the past, and that's good too.  but THIS DREAM spoke clearly to me in regards to my present circumstance.

when i went to pick up my grandma, i mentioned nothing of danger but i'm sure i seemed concerned.  this was our conversation:

me: "grandma, we need to go.  i'm going to take you to my house."
grandma: "i want to go dancing."

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~

when my grandma was alive, i never knew her to be the "dancing type"... to me she was simply this caring and loving woman who liked to do puzzles and could make awesome french toast.  but in this moment, in my dream, when i was captivated by fear, she wanted to go dancing.  i believe that through this dream, the Lord revealed to me that i cannot allow myself to be griped by fear of the unknown or of what i "hear about".  i have to dance.  i have to live in the moments.  i have to BE PRESENT in the part of my life that is happening right now.  there is joy to be found and lived in, and i must choose to live in that instead of any sort of fear.

life can be scary... and this world is certainly a dangerous place.  i realize that JOY needs to be my choice.  sadness has easily overcome me in the past few weeks and fear could very well hold me back in the weeks and months to come, but i need to DANCE... let go, be free, and hear the music... the glorious sounds of life that surround me.

SO, tonight i danced.  literally.  with an almost 1 year old, tutu-wearing little girl on my right hip, her right hand held in and extended forward with my left.  a performance of LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem was on TV and i bounced her and spun her and dipped her in the front living room... and she laughed and i laughed and in those few minutes i felt so carefree.  i was captivated with joy.  willow brought it in her laughter and i felt it in this wonderful presence in the dakin home.

i'm sure that's the kind of dancing my grandma was seeking to experience in my dream.  carefree, heartfelt, spontaneous, fun, and full of joy dancing.

i pray that my life reflects my heartfelt intention to live in the present, choosing joy... and dancing.  how ironic it is that i made a promise to myself a month ago that as a 23 year old, i would dance more...

(last semester of college) favorites!

most common saying: "oh dear"

least favorite saying: "goodbye"

church experience: Easter @ Riverside

treat: twist cone w/ crunch, put upside down in a cup, add extra crunch

restaurant: subway

study place: fusion brew

vacation: simply being at home

inspiring moment(s): all the times spent with my closest friends

way to spend alone time: falling more in love with worship music

way to give: 23 RAOK

verse: matthew 6:25-33

message: Klunke's words around the EOTY bonfire - "Where's your light coming from?"

song: "Give Me Faith" - Elevation Worship

fruit: banana

find/win: a vintage-looking map for less than $5

book: 7 by Jen Hatmaker

new thing: wearing color

craft: fabric coasters for O + C... and a Proverbs 31 scarf for Aly

movie: the miracle worker

show: new girl

drink: cherry berry chiller from McDonald's

website: pinterest

snack: anything chocolate

adventure: 23 RAOK

day trip(s): weekday engagements of two of my dearest friends

first: co-leading a home group

book of the Bible: matthew

breakfast: egg, cheese, and bacon wrap

new hobby: applying for jobs

cookie: sugar

accomplishment: getting my Bachelors Degree

financial investment: a grater... and new grey cozy sheets

reminded: His grace is enough

a sweet exchange

 i gave them limitless hugs, they gave me the widest smiles.

i gave them meaningful high fives, they gave me contagious laughter.

i poked their sides, they squeezed my face.

i taught them about pronouns and contractions, they taught me about patience.

i listened to their stories, they gave me respect.

i gave them choices, they made me proud.

i recognized their successes, they gave me heartfelt compliments.

i encouraged them, they cared for me.

i gave them advice about being a good friend, they gave me hope.

i showed them kindness and love, they boosted my confidence.

i taught them and they taught me.

they opened up my eyes a bit more to some realities of life that i often forget.

they demonstrated boldness in their beliefs.
they reminded me how precious each and every day is.

what a year.

twenty-two third graders touched my life.

and there's evidence that i've touched theirs.

i'm not just "miss davis" to them anymore.
they refer to me as "miss davie" or "miss davio".
i have a relationship with each one of them.
we've made connections, we've reached goals, and we've made memories.

i walked into the classroom in august as a student teacher.

today, i will walk out as a teacher.
ECE is no longer simply a major that labels my academic journey.
this is my passion and these kids have been my life.

i'm now a teacher who is prepared to fulfill the calling to many roles:  

friend. nurse. counselor. parent. biggest fan.

after nearly 170 days of school, this chapter of sweet exchanges has come to a close. 

yet the tale continues...

faithful, friends, and the number 4

for the Lord is faithful... in all things.

genuine friendships present the best and hardest experiences in life. because we take risks in friendships and allow our true selves to show, being vulnerable and sharing dreams and fears, hard times can arise between friends. and then there's the good - the laughter, the spontaneity, the sharing of big dreams and planning of the future, the presence of another person by your side, knowing that you're loved and that someone would notice you were missing if you didn't show up to a party or gathering of lots of people...

almost 2 years ago, i wondered about the friends i would have at ISU/in Bloomington-Normal. i wondered if, one, i would even make any. not like meet people, but honestly and truly make friends. friends that would be there for me. friends i could live life with in the most natural way. friends i could laugh so carelessly with and cry so vulnerably with. friends that would listen to me and teach me and inspire me, and friends who i could do the same for.

i trusted in the Lord to provide these friendships that i believe did exist and await me.

and just like with everything else, the Lord was faithful in this.

just a few months after moving to Bloomington, i met katie... and chelsey... and katie... and tabitha. in the last 20 months, it has been confirmed to me that each of them are true and honest blessings from the Lord. not just because they're great and lovely and have big hearts and beautiful spirits, but because they have been the greatest friends to me.



with them, i have traveled across the world. i have cried. i have gone on adventures. i have watched the sun rise. i have drank too many cups of coffee. i have become a quicker speller due to our games of bananagrams. i have laughed so much. i have walked miles just chatting. i have made dinners and desserts and breakfasts. i have done early mornings of yoga. i have shopped. i have watched movies and seasons of shows. i have dreamed bigger. i have prayed longer. i have hoped for more. i have loved deeper.

with them, i have truly LIVED these few years at ISU.

the summer is quickly approaching, 4 of the 5 of us will graduate (1 with a masters and 3 with bachelors). 1 of them will celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary... and another will soon be married. some of us will spend our days nannying children and others of us will serve the community in our work. it's difficult to say but this may be our last summer where we all are together... the last few months that we do get to genuinely and in the most natural and best way, live life together.

they are my best friends... they are the blessings that God overwhelmed me with. as hard as it is to imagine life without all of them just a mile, room, or couch cushion away, i believe that the Lord brought us all together for this season (if not more) for specific reasons. these girls have taught me so much and as long as i live i will never forget the imprint of their life and words and actions on my heart and life. we're forever friends and we're committed to following the Lord's leading of our lives... maybe to another country, maybe to another city, maybe apart, or maybe we'll be together... but wherever we go, i will always consider each of these girls to be one of the greatest blessings i've received in this life.

thank you Lord for being so faithful. thank you for bringing us all to Bloomington-Normal for THIS part of our lives. thank you that you have never left us, you never will, and that you desire to bless us more each and every day. You are good and i am forever grateful. lead us Lord, i pray... to follow You and never let the strings of our hearts that tie us together be loosened.

dear 23 year old me

 dear 23 year old me,

you are growing up so fast!

you are only going to be called miss davie and miss davio for 4 more weeks so enjoy it.

you are moving into a home in 3 weeks and i hope your heart finds so much contentment there.  i think this home is going to be a great place of growth for you.  create a simple space where you can think and pray and be in peace... you will need it this year.

my prayer for you is that you allow the Lord to move in your life.  that you won't be afraid and that you'll just trust him.  i pray that your heart desires to know him more than ever before and that you would let go of all that is hindering you from pursuing a sold-out relationship with your creator.  he wants to spend time with you and i hope you take him up on that offer. 

i pray that you are brave and bold and wise with your money.

i hope you really do brush your teeth every night.

i want you to remember how nice it is to receive compliments but don't forget to give them to others.

seek first the kindgom of god, dear sarah, and all things will be added.

i pray that you are equipped with divine discernment for all situations and that you are rightly faithful to all that you commit to. remember 2 timothy 2:2.

in your self-conscious moments, remember your victories... remember the love you've been shown.

never forget how faithful the Lord is.

remember "7"... and don't let excess creep into your life.  i hope you are strong enough to get rid of some of the current excess.

please create something every month!

and write something every day!

oh hey and maybe, lil re, you learn how to play the djembe a bit this year?

start preparing for the 5k... it'll be here before you know it!

i pray that you're able to accomplish genesis-revelation before 2012 is finished. dive in little fish!

remember others before yourself. and remember that above them, seek Him.

have a fun summer because you have fun beloved friends and you MUST cherish this time that you have together!

i think you should ride your bike more and drive less. try it, it might be fun!

don't forget the promises you made to your students when you get a teaching job.

do something spontaneous at least 4 times while you're 23... not illegal or dangerous, just fun and out of the ordinary!

be humble and let the Lord find great delight in you.

i am excited for you and this year!

with much love,

22 year old me