Tuesday, June 30, 2009

An Exciting Weekend

This past weekend, aside from me becoming an incubus of viral plague (my allergies are flaring up!), we had so many fun things happen!!

First, we had "date night IN"! We picked up two pizza dough balls from Sals, a local authentic Italian restaurant and made our own personal pizzas!! We had such a great time!!




Always a goof--but so proud of his pizza!


Of course, Cody said, mine had to be healthy!
*Spinach, Roma Tomatoes, Fresh Mushrooms & Basil!!



Cody gives his two ENTHUSIASTIC thumbs up!

I was pretty excited for mine, too!

Second, We bought a NEW couch!! Saturday afternoon, we were eating pizza leftovers and cleaning up for our #3 excitement when we just up and decided to go take a look!! We perused some websites of local stores and found Schewel's (they even had a $50 coupon on their website!!) We love it! I'm so glad we waited and got one that's amazing quality and all the specifications we were looking for :)



Third, We had VISITOR'S!! Josh Saefkow (Cody's best friend) and his girlfriend Kelsie Culpepper (such a cute name) came down from Liberty in Lynchburg to stay Sunday night and Monday with us! This was the second time we hung out with them, but the first I wasn't feeling too well (funny how I was sick this time, too!) I digress, but we had a great time and it was so nice to just sit and chat with them!



Thursday, June 25, 2009

One Year!!

Oh my goodness!! I can't believe it's already been one year! Honestly, I feel like we just got married a few weeks ago!!



This time last year, we were enjoying gorgeous Cabo san Lucas, Mexico!! Cody and I were just talking about how we think we need to make that an annual trip! :)



What a year it has been--it's been so fun/funny and has been such a year of growth, love, patience, compromise and learning...and much more laughter! Thanks everyone for ALL the prayers and love!! (...and for visiting us!!) We can't wait for another year and all the many more God may bless us with!!








We love you all so much,

The Davenport's

Monday, June 15, 2009

Chic & Cheap Appetizer-Caprese Kabobs

This past weekend we had a church Picnic at Claytor Lake. I wanted something easy, fun and most of all delicious!! These were such a big hit and they were so easy to make!





15-20 Kabob Skewers
1- large package of Cherry Tomatoes
1- "ball" of fresh Mozzarella
6-7 fresh basil leaves
4 tbsp. Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper


1. Rinse off the tomatoes & basil leaves. Pat dry with a paper towel
2. Cut the mozzarella into cubes.
3. Alternate between tomato and cheese cube
4. In food processor, combine basil and olive oil, mix until "frothy"
5. Pour basil and olive oil mixture over the finished skewers, top with salt and pepper, to taste.
6. Refrigerate (optional)
7. Eat and Enjoy!!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Memorial Day

This Memorial Day, Cody and I headed down to Boone to meet my parents and his parents for a long weekend vacation at my parents house in NC! Unfortunately, Cody couldn't come until after church on Sunday, so I spent some time with just the parents!

First night there we went into Banner Elk for dinner

The next day, the parents went on a boat trip with some other couples....i stayed home and just RELAXED!!



Sunday morning, Dad and Mark went on an early morning bike ride....

...while the girls hung out on the deck and just enjoyed the scenery!

mom and dad in our backyard

Enjoying a stroll and surveying the property

later that afternoon, we went SHOPPING!!

We, of course, made a stop at the Mast General Store candy shop in Blowing Rock--everyone got their favorite candies from "yesteryear"...haha. Mark with our bag o' candy!

cody feeling patriotic

Dinner at Psssgettii's

group shot outside of Pssegettii's!

Since we weren't going to be back in FL until November, we had my parents bring the cake topper Mason's made for our 1st anniversary.

A little less than a month early, but i think we'll make it until June 21st!

nicely feeding one another....

then I had to have a little fun, since we were so nice to each other at the wedding

he wasn't happy!!!

So, he got me back about 20 mins later when i wasn't paying attention!

We had a fun trip--can't wait until next time!!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Memorial Day

Cody and I headed down to the Mountain House in North Carolina to meet my parents and his parents this past weekend! We had a blast and enjoyed every minute of it! Pictures to come!!

-LaRae

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Perfect encouragement...

One of your favorite church's, Elevation Church, in Charlotte, North Carolina had a great Mother's Day service!! The senior pastor,Steven Furtick, told his wife, Holly to speak. She did an incredible job and it was SO great to hear another pastor's wife who doesn't have it all together, but God still chooses to use. Please check it out-she did an awesome job and it's such an encouragement...especially if you're the wife of someone in ministry!

Thanks Holly, so much, for your encouraging words!!


CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

mom.

It's Saturday night and my weekend is starting to wind down. I'm laying in our big bed and just relaxing, reading and now surfing the web. I have this feeling so strong, i miss my mom. I know it sounds somewhat silly coming from a 25 year old wife with a full time job and involved in more things than she can count, but it's in moments like these, when I start to unwind and clear away everything on my "to-do" list that this feeling comes back. 

My mom has become my best friend, well aside from Cody, but we have made the successful transition from parent child to two friends. A transition that didn't take too much work, and has become so sweet. Yes, of course she will still be my mom and I, her child, but our relationship has deepened. 

I guess it makes sense that I've been missing my mom lately, tomorrow, after all, is Mother's Day...so it fits. 

I'm lying in bed right now and just wishing she was with me, talking with me and probably giving me advice, talking about life and family, the future and our relationships with Christ, chatting about clothes and more importantly how to put outfits together. Just thinking about this makes my eyes all misty. 

I miss my best friend. 

I took all those Christmas and Summer and Spring vacations for granted when I HAD to come home. (Don't feel too sorry for me, "home" is in Florida, so my breaks were moments in paradise.) But, it's funny how you miss the small things when you can't just up and leave. I miss my mom and dad picking me up at the airport, mom and I going to great little cafe's for lunch, shopping for the PERFECT outfit (p.s. doesn't exist, but a great excuse to tell dad we have to keep shopping), sitting in the living room watching mindless TV, waking up early and finding my parents doing their Devo's by the fireplace and getting to hear them share what God's revealing to them. Oh just thinking of it fills my heart. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm so happily married it makes most people sick, but it's something about the beginning of a marriage, especially when you've come from a family like mine that a little piece of you seems to be missing when you aren't all together. It's as if I'm only 99% here, and the 1% is left in Florida, with her. 

To say I have a perfect mom, I would not. No one is perfect and though her and I both would like to think we are (we are much more similar than I ever though to realize), we both know the reality... that we're flawed. Her and I fight, get upset, vent and definitely annoy the junk out of each other, but instead of wishing it were different, it makes me so happy because those types of flaws come to relationships that are real, honest, genuine and transparent. That's us.....a couple of glass houses.

This woman has taught me more about sacrifice, love and nurturing than I will ever really know. She gave me my love for cooking and my love for hospitality. She showed me kindness to strangers and respect to everyone. She is the woman I admire and aspire to become. She is my mom. 


i love you mom and it pains my heart so much that I won't be with you tomorrow. I hope I can be half the mom you were to me and justin. hugs and many kisses.

-your baby girl, LaRae.