Recent Happenings

Well, I know, I've been MIA, but the past two months have been quite crazy, but in such a great way! We've had Christmas, New Year's, baby showers and weddings and all the fun things in between.

To kick off this post, I'll be a little delayed in wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! I hope you each had an amazing holiday and more importantly were able to spend it with the ones you love!

Cody and I had a great time in Ohio, for our first white Christmas together! His family is so sweet and we had such a fun time! We also got to spend a couple of days with Cody's brother, Travis, and his wife, Vanessa. They recently moved to Columbus to plant a church and we got to see their new house--love it! (Shopping in a big city wasn't too shabby, either!!...Sur la Table is my new favorite place on earth!)

Anywho--we had a great Christmas in Ohio, then headed down to the cabin in Boone for Christmas with my parents! We had a blast spending time with my aunt, uncle and their two boys! We enjoyed the tremendous amounts of snow, laughed at the newbies learning to ski/snowboard and even built a really crappy snowman!

Well, I know that leaves much to be desired, but I have to run...will post much more later! To make up for it, I leave you with a video of our new niece, Estella...I think you'll fall in love like we already have..thanks Travis for the 'looks who's talking' rendition :)

Love & Blessings,

LaRae

Ten years in the making...

So, I'm starting off the new year right by ripping off my husbands idea on his blog and making a "ten year in review" post! I have a horrible memory, so this should be fun....here we go!

2000- The middle of my sophomore year in high school and the pinnacle of the Y2K scare! This was my first year at Fort Myers High, as I had just switched from ECS. I loved it! I had just gotten my license in October and my parents got me a new silver VW Beetle! I'll never forget that day :) This was also the summer we went to New York City as a family and had dinner at Windows of the World, the restaurant on the top level of the World Trade Center towers. A dinner we didn’t know would be as special as it truly was.

2001- Junior year. The start of everything. Met Lyndsey Martin in Art 101 and we got into way too much trouble! She introduced me to a great group of friends...Paul, Clint, Ryan *Butcher*, Matt, BJ, Tara, Ammi and the list goes on! They made my junior and senior years amazing :) This was also the year I had my first serious boyfriend, Cristos (yes, he was greek). Also, the year of September 11^th and the moment I felt true love for being an American…and a lover of George W. Bush J This year we also got two additions to the family, my sister.in.law Brooke and later in the year, my niece Jordan.

2002- Senior Year/Freshman year of college. How life had changed over the past year. I started the “college search” and we went on an eastern-seaboard road trip to find my dream school! Senior year I had my heart set on Vanderbilt, but (long story short) ended up at University of Miami. Miami in one word was FUN. My random freshman roommate ended up being my best friend, Ali D’Andrea…we had an amazing time! Also, joined a sorority and enlarged my circle of friends to include my besties Amy & Amanda. It was a great freshman year of college, and wouldn’t have asked for anything better!

2003- A year of changes, the second semester of freshman year in college and a summer that changed my life. Spring semester was rough at Miami, but it also brought the renewal of a high school friendship with Emily Millage (who, to this day is still my best friend!) I digress, that summer my friend Melissa asked me to spend those three months with her working at a camp in Michigan. I said yes and my life was never the same! God used that summer to grab my attention and get me serious about Him and ONLY Him. At the end of the summer, I knew I needed to change schools, but didn't know what to do...so, I finished out the semester and made the change in January.

2004-The year of the unknown. This year started off with me finally getting the courage to leave Miami and take a semester off of college (much to my parents dismay), but I knew it was what the Lord wanted. I spent that semester and summer really searching for what God wanted (and getting into a little trouble with Melissa, Colin, Wade and Brad!) In August, I packed up and headed to Liberty University. I knew probably 3 people, but had that peace I hadn’t had in years and knew this is where God wanted me. That first semester was rough, but the Lord brought me my best friend, Danielle McCarthy and later in the semester, Cody.

2005- This year started off with such excitement, as Cody and I had just gone on our first date and had talked the ENTIRE break on the phone. The rest of the year was confusing. Those first few months were, simply put, BLISS. The kind of love story I thought would never happen to me, but I was living and couldn’t believe it! Then the fear set in and we broke up….then the drama really began. The rest of that year can be summed up in one word, too….TEARS! A rough start in the fall, but also the beginning of God’s call to ministry in my life. I spent the rest of that year on True Identity, a traveling ministry team for girls 6-12^th grade. This is when I began to fall in love with Jesus, and be filled with HIM and not a boyfriend.

2006- This year is kind of a blur, Cody and I had gotten back together in January and were together until November. This year was full of incredible ministry opportunities and great friendships. I met such incredible women, like Sarah Wetherington and started living with Ashley Cherilla, a friendship that grew into a sisterhood. But, I’d say the best part of 2006 was the plane trip back to Virginia over Thanksgiving break. I met a friend I’ll love forever, Abigail Reighard. We hit it off over cute shoes and Paige premium jeans…and crazy boys. The rest of 2006 was my favorite part of college. Hanging out in 734 and laughing until it hurts with Ashley Cherilla and Lindsey Crosby...otherwise known as P.O.G.

2007- Probably the craziest year of my life! Cody and I were Lord knows what in the relationship department, I went to Haiti on a missions trip with True ID and learned to cling to Jesus in a way I never had before. In the summer, we decided to end the ‘on-again, off-again’ drama and call it quits. I was sad, but also knew that the Lord was going to do great things because we finally stopped trying to control our lives and gave it over to Him. Ironically, I never thought it would be us getting back together and getting engaged at the end of that year, in December, but God has a different plan....and I couldn't have been happier!

2008-An amazing year of new beginnings. That year started with us apart, as Cody took a worship pastor position an hour and a half away in Blacksburg, Virginia and I was continuing my Masters at Liberty and being the Director of True Identity. June 21, 2008 was the day that changed it all, our wedding! Also, the day I gave my life away for ministry and tried not to look back! It was a rough transition being a 'pastor's wife', but it helped us grow in our marriage and learn to trust in the Lord so much for fulfillment and friendship. Also, the year I had my first 'grown-up' job at Virginia Tech..not my favorite, but still a blessing to help pay the bills :)

2009- We celebrated our ONE YEAR anniversary! It was a year of weddings and babies (our newest niece, Estella Ruth)! So many friends got married, we were able to be a part of it all! This past year has been an incredible one. We've finally gotten into a groove and have been able to learn the balance of jobs, ministry, marriage and family! But, God's still growing us and helping us to love Him more! We've also been blessed with a new pastor at Northstar and great new friendships with the Carver's, Fickes', Card's, Rancourt's and the list goes on and on! God has truly blessed our obedience and I'm so grateful!

2010- I can't believe it's been ten years and the start of a new decade! I can't even fathom what the next ten years will hold, but I can't wait!

Christmas giveaway winner!!

The Christmas giveaway has come to a close and I'm happy to announce that our first-ever blog giveaway winner is..........(drum roll please)............

Amy Perry! This was Amy's entry: 

"My favorite tradition is having hot chocolate and cookies on Christmas eve and reading the Christmas story all together as a family. This is really special to our family because it gets our hearts in the right spirit the night before to remember what Christmas is really about! And since my mom always wants good pictures on Christmas day we open one gift which are always pajamas for us to wear Christmas day!"

Amy, let me know if you accept and I'll get your goodies right out to you!! Thanks everyone for participating--can't wait for the next one....I'm thinking some New Year's goodies???? We will have to see! 

Since a few have asked, we have a huge number of traditions in the Lee/Davenport household. Before I was married, my family would always go to the candlelit service on Christmas Eve and then over to our family friends house, the Propp's, for a big Christmas Eve dinner party. 

Cody said his favorite Christmas tradition is going to his grandparents house on Christmas Eve, his family all sitting around and each person goes around and opens up a present, eat orange rolls, sausage balls and the elusive "Elvis" white elephant gift! 

Now that Cody and I are married, we're starting our own new traditions. The past two years, we have picked a day to go get our tree (real, of course...no fake trees for us!) We spend the evening decorating it and putting up the ornaments and talking about the new ones we bought that year (this year we got one in Maine for our One Year Anniversary-it's a cute little red lobster, one at the P.Graham Dunn store and two at Disney). I'm sure we will come up with some more as the years continue, but until then those are our fun Christmas traditions!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!!

It's finally here--my favorite time of the year...CHRISTMAS!! Aside from the obvious good things regarding the holiday, I love that it's a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Regardless of our life situation and circumstances, we are all so terribly blessed! So, in the light of this charitable season, a giveaway is in order!!!

Giveaway Details:

Here's what you get if you win...
1. Rocky Road Brownie Mix
2. Christmas cookie cutters
3. Mini-red spatula
4. Peppermint sprinkles
5. a few more surprise goodies!!


*Sorry clarity is bad--took it with my phone!

HOW TO WIN...

1. For a chance to win, please comment on this post with an answer to the following question:

"What is your favorite holiday tradition?" OR "What do you want to start to be a holiday tradition for Christmastime?"

RULES:

-One winner will be chosen on Saturday, December 5th and notified that day.
-The winner has until Sunday, the 6th to accept the giveaway or another winner will be chosen
-Please make sure I have a means to contact you (either leaving your email address or blogsite with your comment)
-Only one entry per person to win!

GOOD LUCK!! Can't wait to hear about all the great traditions!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Possible Christmas Giveaway??

This past weekend, Cody and I perused many great stores! So, in light of the uber-early display of Christmas items (come on, it's not even Thanksgiving)! I digress, I want to have a giveaway!! I keep visiting all these fun blogs and they seem to have one thing in common--GIVEAWAYS!! So, I'm thinking of doing one---BUT, I want it to be worthwhile, sooooo WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED?!?! It would have tons of great Christmas things for decorating, baking, etc!! So, leave me a comment and let me know if you'd participate! I hope so, because I want to buy some of this stuff SO BADLY! :)

*Even if you aren't a blogger, leaving a comment is super easy!! Scroll to the bottom of this post, click the # of comments, and just leave your name and the comment :) 

**If you are reading this in an email, visit our website at www.thenewdavenports.blogspot.com 

to leave the comment!

***Even if you don't live close, I'm planning on mailing the giveaway goodies!

HOPE YOU WANT TO JOIN!

Meeting Estella Ruth!

A few Sundays ago, Cody and I quickly said our goodbyes and packed up our things from church and headed north, to Ohio! We were so excited for our quick trip and getting to see family! The reasons for the trip were two-fold, 1) Cody's Brother, Travis and his wife, Vanessa, just welcomed a second child (the first GIRL) to our family. 2) Since we're heading to Florida this year, for Thanksgiving, we won't get to see the Davenport side of the fam until a few days before CHRISTMAS! So, we headed up and we had a great trip!! The pictures are basically of little Estella, but we had a great time with everyone else, too!

The October girls--holding little E for the first time (and getting baby fever!)

Cody holding Estella for the first time and getting FREAKED OUT!!

Getting warmed up to the idea :)

Robin, Cody's mom, falling in love with her new granddaughter

The great-grandparents loving on little Estella


Proud daddy!

The next day, we headed around Wooster to some amish towns and landed at this great homemade cheese store (I hadn't had carbs for over a month, so I was so excited to find something I could finally eat!!!)

My honey :)

Happy grammie, dreaming of ways to spoil her!

Her favorites: green paci and big bows :)

The Big 2-6 (slightly late)

So, ever since my 21st, I've been going to the mountain house in Boone to celebrate my birthdays! This year was no different! With Cody leaving me a bachelorette for the majority of the week as he was at the Catalyst Conference, I packed up Thursday afternoon and headed to the land of coziness and beauty! This birthday was probably one of my favorites--rivals my 16th when my parents surprised me with a car and a cake with a picture of me picking my nose on it (thanks mom!), I digress! Nothing was too special about the weekend except that it was spent with my parents and the food over the course of those 4 days was indescribably scrumptious!!

The first night we just hung out and snuggled up by the fire...boy was that needed!

The next day, Mom and I headed into town and she surprised me with a trip to the Spa!! After the week I had, had it was heaven sent! Mani/Pedi & Facial was just what the doctor ordered for this 26 year old! :) Mom and I had such a great time together!

Friday night, they told me to pick a restaurant with the only stipulation being that it had to be new, a place none of us had ever been! I knew exactly where I wanted to go- The Osceola Lodge. My parent's friends had raved about this place for months, so I thought it'd be the perfect way to ring in 'official adulthood'! So, we cleaned up and headed over (the boys even have to wear coats--FANCY and my kind of place!!)

On the way to the Lodge, mom and I thought the leaves were too gorgeous to not get out and take some pictures! So a photo shoot ensued (these are only 2 of the 20 we took!!)

My parents are the cutest!




In front of the Lodge-pre.dinner!





Mid.Dinner (such great conversation and I have never laughed so hard in such a long time!!)


My momma!

A little fuzzy, I knew I should've had the desk clerk take two!! :)



2nd mini-photo shoot :)


Mom and Dad letting our huge meals settle in the Library


Saturday was BIRTHDAY DAY!

*Opening some presents with my other 'sister', our dog Abby!



Before Dinner we headed to Fred Mercantile on Beech Mountain, i love getting pictures there for the fall!! Such great decorations

We went to Jacalope's for dinner--I had never been there, but since it'd been over 10 years, we thought it was "new" again! It was such a great dinner--the food was DELICIOUS!!

And of course, my birthday was complete with Bananas Foster (my favorite!!)

Mom and Dad, thanks for an awesome birthday!! I had such a wonderful time hanging out with you two!! You made the birthday without Cody so fun (even if I thought it wouldn't be) Love you both so much--thanks for all the great laughs!

Love your girl,
LaRae (keedar/sissy)