The Few, The Proud--The Aunt!

Last week I was blessed with the opportunity to pack my bags & head to Cali with my mom, sis, BIL & niece to watch my nephew graduate from Marine Boot camp. I never thought I could be more proud of that boy, but that changed when he decided to join the Marine Corps. His selfless act made me more proud than a big bag of Peanut M&M's (which I love so much & I don't like to share!), more proud to be his Aunt. :)

There have been countless hours of time spent in prayer for him & the rest of Hotel Company. I have prayed on my knees, holding a toddler, driving in the car, crying in Walmart--I have PRAYED! 13 long weeks slowly creeped by and on November 20th, 2014 we ran to find Christian and in the midst of the chaos, that boy grabbed all 5 of us & gave us a bear hug...one hug that I will always remember. The one hug that we all longed for!! That day was the 3rd best day of my life (first marrying my best friend, my love! Second being when my sweet little chunkers was born!)!!!! For about 10 of those 13 weeks Christian had asked us to write to his friend, so we did. What was really cool is that we included him into our family on Family Day & Graduation. There was no need for him to spend time alone. He is apart of our family now. He's also a good kid, keep praying for him too! Too much excitement for 1 blog post, so here are some pictures!

Proud mom!

I just love this picture!! Their faces say it all!

Proud sis & grandma!

Best Friends for life: Salinas & Rodriguez

Private Christian Salinas

Private Gustavo Rodriguez

Airport Selfie

Team Spirit! Sported our red on family day!!

The Countdown Begins

Good morning!!

November will be quite a busy month for us & it starts on Saturday! I'm excited to tackle these adventures, especially with the loving support of my Husband!!

Saturday beings Christmas shopping. I'm starting later than I usually do...because I'm married now. lol Brady is taking Jayden while I enjoy brunch with one of my favorite friends ever & then while I go around doing a little Christmas shopping!! Hopefully more than a little, and hoping to tackle most or all of it!

In 9 days I turn 30. In 9 days I have a girls day celebrating turning 30. In 9 days Brady will be a groomsmen in a wedding, Mia will be keeping Jayden and Brady & I get to enjoy a date night on my Birthday!!

In 18 days my dad will be celebrating his 2nd birthday in Heaven. Gosh how my heart misses him. Every day I miss him. I've noticed that if I don't put much thought into the day, or if my day has already been planned, I don't cry (except for today, my day has already been planned, BUT I'm writing my blog & I'm up before anyone else). But for the days that I'm not busy or I'm writing on my blog, those are the days that I don't hesitate to cry. My daddy was proud of his girls & I know that if either my sister or I updated our blogs, my dad was sure to know because of my mom....no matter the subject, he was still proud.

In 19 days I have a Jamberry House Parry--my second since August! This should be fun because it's right before I leave to Cali!

In 20 days I leave for Cali. A trip I have been thinking about since this summer. Something I never thought I would get to do because of finances. But I promise you, when you're not looking, God opens a door and blesses you more than you can imagine!! Happy 30th Birthday to me! Why is this so special? Because I get to see this little boy who has miraculously turned into a man in just 3 months. The same little boy who I rocked to sleep on his first Valentine's Day, the same little boy who would come to Grandma & Grandpa's house asking "Are youuuuuu talkin' 'bout me?" The same little boy who gave a confused look on his face on picture day & his Grandpa loved that picture! The same little boy who stole my heart the day he was born and proudly calls me "Aunt". Excuse me while I go cry in a corner! The proudness I have in my heart is so hard to describe! In 3 weeks we will have another Marine on our hands! I have always supported the military, but when it's family, especially ones that you've grown up with, it's a bit of a tear jerker & prideful moment!

Don't expect me to take pictures of that special reunion, I might be a big 'ol mess...I'm not sure who we'll appoint to that position, because I think my mom, niece, sis & bro-in-love will be in the same boat!!



Love & Blessings as we near this Holiday Season!


Oh & Oorah! ;)

Letter writing soothes the soul

This is the second day in a row to write a letter to my nephew and his friend. This big for me. I usually only mail one a week, but Jayden insisted on painting pictures last night, so I had to share the beautiful artwork from a 2 year old's perspective... Life is messy, but we gotta keep living.

I have always found that writing letters soothes my soul, makes me feel better about myself after I've written the things that were on my heart. I just hope my letters bring a sense of calming and a smile to my nephews face.

 

{Please don't judge the mess around the letter. I do my crafting & Jamberry on the same table. LOL}

My nephew's friend will also be getting a letter & a painting. I hope it brings a smile to him as well, and I hope that he understands how he has been adopted into our family! 

Daddy's Celebration of Life Service

I'm currently listening to my daddy's funeral. I remember being there, but all in all, it was a complete blur & in GriefShare we have been talking about listening to the funeral...I finally got enough courage to listen... {I am writing after each thing that I hear}

I want to personally thank Bro. Mickey Moriarty for being such a wonderful pastor to our family & especially to my daddy. You have no idea how much he loved you as a fellow brother in Christ and as a friend.

To Lud, you have such a tender & kind heart. My daddy loved your music. He loved you & Kellee. Thank you for your support during this past year. We love you dearly. Thank you for your willing heart to want to serve in the music ministry at CBC.

John Brooks, your part of the sermon was so sweet. I love having you as my family. Thank you for your sincere words and scriptures.

Kathy--your voice is so beautiful. Thank you for singing my daddy's favorite song. You captured the beauty of the service with that song & with your voice.

Deanna--all I have to say is thank you for your special & kind words. Our family will always love you. Tears are falling as I listen to the things you say. :)

Rickey-- my daddy loved you so & I will always know why. You have such a giving heart. Both you & Phyllis are tremendous blessings in my life, my daddy's life and my family's life. Just listening to you talk about my daddy, makes me miss him so much. The words you used to describe my daddy were spot on!!!

Mama C--First of all, I just miss you..period. Second of all, my daddy LOVED you. Loved you!!! He was so thankful for the friendship y'all had.

To everyone that came and showed your love for my daddy & for my family, thank you. 

To Mickey, Deanna & Rickey...we never knew that he had talked to y'all. NEVER knew it until y'all got up to the podium to speak. God knew what he was doing bringing each of you into our lives.


As tears fill up in my eyes, listening to this has not only made my heart smile, but it has made me really miss him. I enjoyed listening to these stories all over again.

God Bless

Transportation Party

Well today is the day I have been planning for a little over 6 months now!!! We're having a transportation party!!! Anything having to do with planes, cars, boats & trains! Jayden has been loving all of the decorations I have been putting up. He keeps telling me what everything is!!! Love it!!
Below are just some of the decorations! I'll add more later! 

I found this banner for FREE on: http://www.creativekristi.com/transportation-party-banner/

Soon the canister will be filled with green juice!! Green Hawaiian punch & Ginger Ale, to be exact!

No big deal, our son is just growing up!

I love going with a theme and then picking a few colors to work with as the main part. It makes it nicer on the budget. :) This year I went with Red, Yellow & Green--the colors on a stop light! I think when you don't over do it with themed decorations (Superman, Spiderman, etc) your finished product ends up looking way better! Best part about this is, I got to use his toys as decorations!!

The swing set

Yesterday afternoon Brady & I put together Jayden's new swing set from Mia & Papa. My mom agreed to watch Jayden, which made the building process easier, plus the look on Jayden's face when he saw it for the first time was priceless and definitely worth the heat, sunburn and ant bites we got yesterday. I have a feeling that today when he wakes up the first thing he'll say is "swing" or "outside". 

I decided to take progression pictures yesterday and send them to my mom & the in-loves. :)

I know he will enjoy this swing for years to come!! Thank y'all so much!!! 

MOPs & Daddy go hand in hand...

Well, it's that time of year again, when school starts and the rushing out the door begins. When people become too busy to take a break. When people become consumed in after school activities.

This isn't you? Oh you stay home with your children? Oh, so you homeschool? Well then maybe just getting a break is what YOU need as a MOM!

DFC MOPs is starting back up for us! We will be starting back on September 12th at 9:30. You're welcome to come earlier to drop your kids off (earliest drop off time is 9:15am)! We have lots of great things in store for this new year & we're so excited to share it with you!!


Most of you know how much I talk about my daddy and how much I miss him, but what you don't know is just how happy he was that I had found something that both Jayden & I can enjoy. He was even more thrilled when I became part of the "Steering Team". He always said that he knew I was meant to do this. This year will be my first year without my daddy's words of encouragement. Last year I made it through the morning just praying for his healing, praying that if God wanted him to go, then to take him because we didn't want to see him suffer (which he didn't).

This past May I struggled with the fact that I didn't think I could do MOPs this year...then I prayed about it, dreamed about it & my daddy came to me and said that he wanted me to continue MOPs, because I needed to show others the love of feeling loved.

So with that being said, this year, I give it all to God and I'm doing MOPs in memory of my daddy!


God Bless y'all!

Dachena's Homecoming!

Tonight I witnessed a very special moment as some dear family friends of ours when they brought their daughter home from Haiti!!! Welcome Home sweet Dachena, we can't wait to get to know you!!! 

Photo courtesy of Jessica Adaway

Photo courtesy of Jessica Adaway

Sweet Bay & Nater Tater (Big Bro & Big Sis of Dachena)

Jayden had a blast hanging with the girls ;)

Waiting & watching for Lori, Brandon & Dachena to come walking by us!!!

She's home!!!!! God Bless this patient & amazing family!!!

She clung to her mommy, but she never once cried. She just took it in like a big girl would :)

Baylee & Dachena reuniting for the first time in a year!!

I adore this picture!

Tears filled my eyes, the closer Dachena came to us. She even let me give her a kiss & Jayden said "Hi" :)

Forever Family!!!

This was by far the best thing I have witnessed in a long time! I needed that moment. I know my daddy would have loved to hear that she was home!!!!

Summer Samples

Summer 2014 Sample

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EXCITING NEWS!!

Good Afternoon!

I am pleased to tell you that I am now a Jamberry Independent Consultant! I am beyond thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to do this! I owe many thanks to my husband for allowing me to do this.

What is Jamberry? Glad you're wanting to know more! Heat activated nail wraps that last up to 2 weeks on finger nails & up to 6 weeks on toes! One sheet includes 2 manis & 2 pedis for $15 or Buy 3 get 1 FREE! With over 300 designs to choose from, plus the new line of lacquers, you could never run out of options!

Here's a few of my favorites!

Icy Rose Polka--these are currently on my nails!

Kiss Me Ombre

 

 

Lotus

 

 

If you're new & want a FREE sample, I will be happy to show you how to apply these wraps to your nails if you're ever interested. If you're a Jammin' Queen, just hop on over to my website Sweet & Sassy Jams By Kim to get your order in! Contact me for more info sweetandsassyjamsbykim@gmail.com

Happy 3rd Anniversary to us!

Sitting at dinner last night, I made a "toast" to Brady & I. In the middle of it, I started crying. (Days almost seem to be getting harder, rather than easier with missing my dad.) Brady knew exactly why I was crying. I cried because 1. Brady is my forever, my amazing man. He's MINE! 2. We've celebrated another important date without my dad (I mean in the sense of him not being on the other end of the phone congratulating us). 3. We've made it to 3 years, every year that we make it to another year, clearly shows that we're doing better than society these days!

I am completely in love with this man in the picture above. Some days may not seem like it, but when I think back on everything that has happened in the last 3 years, he's the one who has been by my side lifting me up, encouraging me and loving me. I couldn't imagine going through life without him. We have our differences, but we love each other still. At some point, I think that we stop looking for the imperfections and focus on the love that's clearly being poured out. And I think I've almost reached that point. I have learned that I'm never going to like some things that he does, but that doesn't change the fact that I still love him with all of my being.

With this being said, I am beyond blessed and very thankful that God chose this man to be my "Hubbers". To be the father of our child, who loves his Daddy! Life just doesn't seem to be as much fun, unless I'm with you! I love you Brady Kent Davidson. And I will love you to the day that I die. Always & forever! Happy Anniversary my love!

Mother's Day

{Good morning/night :) I have a perfectly good reason for why I am up and writing on my blog at this hour....because my cough medicine wore off and now I am waiting for the new dose to kick in...}

I went to a Mother's Banquet/Dinner tonight at my mom's church. I was doing good emotionally until my sister got up to do her part in the special event.(She was our "special speaker"). She was talking about having gratitude in everything. From waking up in a grumpy mood to falling asleep overjoyed. That we need to give thanks to God for allowing any of that to happen. She shared 2 special stories with us tonight. 

One of the stories she explained how she leaned into God when she lost her son Jaron. She said she gave thanks because she knew God would take great care of her son. My emotions and memories from that life event suddenly rushed to the front of my mind. I too, was pregnant at the time. We both mourned in different ways, and believe me, any time I mention my angel baby nephew's name, Jaron, I have to hold the tears back. While she gave thanks, I questioned God. I realize now that I shouldn't have, but to me, it wasn't fair.

The second story she shared is also very near & dear to my heart. The morning our daddy passed away. As my dad took his last few breaths, we (mom, Christine, me & the very sweet nurse that was on call that night) began to sing all of the verses of my daddy's favorite hymnal "It is well". At the end, my mother looked up to heaven and said "Thank you!" As hard and trying as the time of mourning for my dad has been, and for the last 2 months of his life of suffering, we were so beyond thankful that the Lord took him when he did. I am still thankful that my dad is no longer in pain & is celebrating with our other family that has gone before us right now, in heaven; but it is only human for me to miss my earthly father and wish for him to be back more often than not.

I share those 2 stories because today is Mother's Day (yes, technically at 1:15 am--when most people are sleeping). It is my 3rd year to celebrate this special day devoted to us mothers (I count being a mom even when I was pregnant). It is also my 1st year without my daddy. This is hard on so many levels. Not only was he a loving father who loved his girls, but that man loved my mom, the best mom a girl...er 2 girls could ask for. Today I will give thanks for the many blessings I have in my life and will thoroughly enjoy my day spending it with ALL of my family (Brady, Jayden, mom, Christine, Pete, all 8 kids & my in-loves)!!

Today I give thanks, as well as all the time to my mom. The best mom I could ask for. Seriously, she is--end of story. She has such a giving heart, and no matter the mood you're in, she is always right there to pick you up, brush the dirt off your knees and tell you "It's going to be ok, just give it to the Lord,"  She has a heart of gold and she is always in the giving mood. I'm sure I have given her lots of trouble growing up, but she stuck it out and was still the best mom ever. She deserves so much more than this blog post. She deserves the world.

I also give thanks for another special mom in my life, my sister. I have seen her parent for the last 18 years, through good and bad times, through times of joy, through times of joy & I have to say, she's done a wonderful job. Growing up, I never thought I wanted to be a "stay at home mom like Christine". I was for sure that I wanted to "work and be a mom." First of all, what was I thinking? I wasn't! Ha! Second of all, God had other plans. Psh, that sure changed the bigger I got and the later in my pregnancy. So I owe a lot of the whole SAHM wants to my sister. Because that changed very, very soon after I became pregnant. She is also a 2nd mom to me...well she sure thought so when I was in college (lol). I totally respect her for that & I just know she felt the need to help a sista out ;).

And last, but certainly not least, my Mom-in-love, Angela. It's crazy to think that we are actually very similar (I get reminded a lot from the Hubbers). These past 4 years have been incredible and being apart of a family who loves me as if I were one of their own, is better than anything I could ever ask for. My sweet mom-in-love is caring, outspoken, beautiful, doesn't look her age AT ALL, loving & probably the best Mia that my son could have. I love the fact that if I have a question, all I have to do is text her, it's not awkward and I especially love the fact that when my married friends talk about their in-laws, it's usually not nice...I don't have that issue. Unlike some, I love my in-loves. I'm very blessed.

Thank you to all the beautiful moms in my life. You make life more fun, loving, crazy, never boring & definitely REAL!

Happy Mother's Day.

God Bless,
Kim

Bluebonnet Adventures

I had taken Jayden out earlier this month for Bluebonnet pics, but there weren't many around. While coming home one day I noticed a patch of bluebonnets right across the street from our neighborhood. Let's just say we had way more fun this time around!

The first few pictures are from the first adventure!

The next ones are from our 2nd adventure!

My boys!

Showing daddy the Bluebonnet he picked :)

Mommy & Jayden

I hope you've enjoyed the preview! Have a blessed Wednesday!