Nashville, Tennessee

I don't like that this is no longer in chronological order. Just saying.

But the weekend before Mark and I left for Burundi, we took a road trip to Nashville with our friends Mallory and Kyle (who you might have "met" on the blog here).

The four of us left on Thursday evening and made the 7 hour journey at night so we could have a full day on Friday. We had the best time!!

hello, nashville!!! it was BEAUTIFUL like this all. weekend. long.

afternoon at hoky tonk central :) don't know what i would do without this sweet friend of mine!!!

:)

the first of many future hoidal/houston family vacays

Mal and Kyle's friend (and ours now too!), Cole, was a wonderful Nashville host and took us on our own personal tour of Fontanel Mansion. Thanks, Cole!!!

Fontanel (You might recognize it from Country Strong!)

Fontanel

Fontanel is also the home of the Southern Living Idea House.
Yes, I was drooling the entire time.

as these friends of mine know...i have a thing for neutrals when it comes to decor. i adored every room in this home!!! sigh. and swoon.

the city from cole's balcony -- cannot do it justice!

In a nutshell:
- Nashville rocks. Home of amazing live music everywhere you go.
- Country music is the best. (Duh.)
- We are so thankful for our friends! There are not a lot of couples that you can spend 14 hours in the car with plus 2 nights in a hotel room without having some tension/getting on each other's nerves. Thanks for always putting up with us (especially me!!), Hoidals!

...i've been putting this off.

Really. I know that I cannot even begin to sufficiently or effectively describe our mission trip to Bujumbura this past June.

My recent thoughts have included:
Why write about it? I know I can't do it justice. 
No one will be able to feel what we felt or see what we saw.
And most people probably don't even care. 

Nonetheless, I feel compelled to share some [small] snippets from our [big and endlessly amazing] journey...our first mission trip together...to the capital city of one beautiful country, Burundi.

What makes Burundi so beautiful?
Its people. Particularly, the teachers, staff, and students of The Discovery School.
The way they live their lives...so faithfully, so undistracted, so full of God, so trusting, so JOYFUL.
It made me think that we, the visitors, full of ourselves and the so-called "American Dream"...we're missing the mark. By probably a million miles. Myself (very) included.

We busy ourselves with this and that and how "stressful" our lives are. I looked into the eyes of our Burundian friends and saw children of God that know Him in ways I've never known Him. From the eyes of a nation that is still healing from a long, brutal civil war (read more about it here)....these people have faith MUCH deeper and more tangible than mine. Not once do they blame God, ask why, or live their lives in self-pity or doubt. It was a blessing for me to learn from their example. Their hearts are blameless and indescribably full of Jesus.

To my friends at the Discovery School....I LOVE YOU! You have changed me forever and knowing you is nothing more than a joy, a privilege, a blessing, and a GIFT {James 1:17}. And the way you worship...I could have sat on the floor and bawled like a baby every time. Listening to you sing and pray in Kirundi is the closest I've ever gotten to knowing what heaven will sound like when I go. Thank you for that. :)

Fellow teammates...I LOVE YOU as well!!! Being together and getting to know each other so deeply and so quickly still reminds me of summer camp (only my favorite place on earth, as your know!). So obviously it was like the best thing everrrr! ;)

Family + friends who are family who supported us financially/emotionally/prayerfully before, during, and after this journey...thank you. And thank you, thank you, thank you some more! There is no way we could have experienced this without y'all. Glory to God!

Now (of course) some photo highlights!!

fellowship with the discovery school teachers at a lovely restaurant on lake tanganyika!

left: mark and i at the lake right: mary!!! my dear friend and sister forever in Christ. after she had me crying at the dinner table with her testimony! i love you!!!! this is only the tip of the iceberg with your dreams and how God will use you!

Discovery School :: teaching and loving on these kiddos! 

friends :) discovery school teachers -- you are amazing!! WE MISS YOU!

faces of burundi

our team + the discovery school staff 

the houstons <3 burundi

 In closing:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 

 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 

 If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, 

so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 

 To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. 

Amen.

  1 Peter 4:10-11

Thanks for reading :)

San Francisco

Our year of travel is officially in action! Since it's just the two of us and we happen to have semi-flexible jobs...we decided that in 2013, we are traveling as much as possible. Here goes nothing!

We just got back from our spring break trip to San Francisco to visit London and Julia, some of our favorite camp friends. They started dating at camp in 2008 (like us), and now we're all married!! :)

Day 1: While Jules was at work, Mike took us on a hike before we met her later on in the city.

Hiking at Claremont Canyon in Berekely
Unfortunately Londo didn't tell me a maxi skirt + cowgirl boots probably weren't suitable for this uphill climb... ;)

Steepness. Of course the boys had to race to the top!
They always pick up RIGHT where they left off...and I just listen and laugh.

Day 2: All day walking around San Fran

the "Painted Ladies" to most : THE PLACE OF THE FULL HOUSE THEME SONG (!!!!!) to me

We started walking down Steiner St all the way to Mrs. Doubtfire's house; however, when London realized we were passing Japantown, he insisted that we take a detour. It was well worth it because of PIKA PIKA! It's a store full of Japanese photo booths. And all of the instructions in Japanese. With London + Mark around, it created nothing but laughing the ENTIRE time.

Pika Pika...full of the most hilarious, detailed photo booths ever.

Some of our Pika Pika creations.
The boys spent a solid 20 minutes intensely decorating these pictures with stickers and sparkles :)
The employee even complimented them on their "creativity" with the toilet bowl scene. Ha! Props, London.

Since Mark wasn't giddy about the Full House rendezvous, we hit up Mrs. Doubtfire's house.
"Well, helloooooo!!!!!!"

One of my favorite parts of our trip was visiting London at work. For those of you lucky enough to know London, you know that he is one of the most effortlessly entertaining humans on the planet. He works here. 

The SF Maritime National Historical Park hosts overnight field trips. The students sleep on the ship and take a trip back in time learning San Francisco history and participating in teamwork activities (along with a bit of discipline and acquiring a new vernacular aboard the ship..."Aye aye, Captain!"). How cool is that?! Amazing.

Captain London in his office. He has the best views of SF!

Heading back to the BART station.
Singing The Fray's "Over My Head (Cable Car)" in my head the whole time, of course.

Day 3: Wine Country!

Jules works for Go West Tours, and she hooked us up with a surprise trip to Napa + Sonoma on her day off!!!! :) :) :) Thanks forever, Jules!!

The first winery we went to was in Sonoma. It was our favorite. We love Benziger Winery, where we learned lots about biodynamic farming. Who knew?! It was really fascinating.

With my honey at Benziger Winery!!

All 4 of us at Imagery (Sonoma)

Hess Collection (Napa)
I love that there is wisteria EVERYWHERE in San Fran!!

After visiting the wineries, we went to a late lunch in Napa. We immediately followed that with an early dinner stop at In-N-Out on the way back to Oakland. Talk about YUM.

We missed out on the secret menu...much to our disappointment. Until next time!

Day 4: This day was full of relaxation and catching up. We watched a movie, did some Kombucha "research" at Whole Foods, and went for a walk around a park. 

Waiting for our redeye back to Charlotte.

We miss you already, London + Jules!!! Y'all are the best hosts ever. THANK YOU! We had the best, best, best time! Love you both oh-so-much. xxxxxxxx

Easter

And if Christ has not been raised,

  your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

  1 Corinthians 15:17

 

Easter. A day so crucial to Christianity that our faith is "futile" without it. 

I was privileged to spend another Easter weekend at my church home with my church family. Our pastor preached an amazing message that addressed skeptics and dug deep into the Truth behind the Resurrection of Jesus. If you want to listen to it, it will be posted here sometime soon! :)

With each passing year, I feel more and more excited about this holiday; moreover, the closer and deeper I grow in my relationship with Jesus, the more I cling to the victory in His resurrection. Here are some photo highlights from this Easter weekend...the best one yet!! 

Empty sanctuary before the 5 services on our campus.

Saturday night worship in action! (Photo Credit: Bethany Carson :)) 

An early arrival to church on Sunday morning (Photo Credit: Allie Holroyd :))

these girls : leading worship with girlfriends is one big singsong/dance party...so. much. FUN.

My family attended the last service, and we headed to the club for an enormously fabulous lunch afterward. (Thanks, Dad!)

Our dear friends, Mallory + Kyle Hoidal, joined the Davis/Houston fam at lunch. Since their families aren't from Charlotte, we were so happy to have them celebrate with ours!!! And Mal brought her awesome/fancy camera, so we got to snap a few non-iPhone pics after our meal. :) 

family...

...and friends who are family!!

And of course...a "food coma" ensued after the meal. Complete with sweatpants and naps on the couch.

How come the one of us who didn't get up at 6 AM is asleep first...? :)

We ended the day by watching the finale to The Bible, which was a commitment considering Time Warner Cable didn't make it that easy. I want the boxed set because of all of the cable blips along the way!

I hope y'all had wonderful Easter weekends too! You are always in our hearts and prayers, English family! xx

The next stop for the Houstons...SAN FRANCISCO! Our year of travel has hit the ground running. We are blessed. Can't wait to see you Wednesday, London + Juls!!!! 

Disney + Grace

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 Romans 3:23-24

On President's Day weekend, Mark + I drove down to sunny (but not so warm) Florida to join his family on their annual Disney vacation. 

I knew this weekend was going to be nothing short of amazing for many reasons:

1) Mark had never been to Disney! (!!!)

2) And he was going to experience it through the little eyes of his cousins!!!

3) IT'S DISNEY.

There was something I did not expect though. Throughout the trip I was consistently overwhelmed by the complete abundance and presence of God's grace.

- I was surrounded by our English family.

- I looked at my overjoyed, silly cousins having the time of their life.

- At my husband (!!) beside me.

- At the beauty and innocence of everything around me.

- I thought about how I have felt sincerely accepted as part of Mark's family since they day I met them.

- Now I am (officially) in their family, and it feels almost too good to be true!

Grace. 

I was surrounded by grace.

It's a gift given freely to us that we've done nothing to deserve. 

More on that soon....now a recap of this fabulous weekend through pictures. :)

Rise and shine at 4:45. We rolled up to Disney circa 2 P.M. on Saturday afternoon!

...and walked straight from our hotel to the Magic Kingdom!!!!

: Mia keeping warm in my scarf :
: Mia + Evie taking advantage of Granddad's savvy trasportation :
: Mark + Evie on Buzz Lightyear :

The views from our hotel room. I could literally look to the right of our (sofa) bed and see both of these amazing sights out the window!!

Disney date night!!! The park was open 2 extra hours, so Mark and I ran around the near empty Magic Kingdom like little kids from 11 P.M. -1 A.M.
IT. WAS. SO. FUN!!!!

family : i love them so much!!!

these people.

the reason why our weekend was so perfect

: Mark + the (few days late) birthday girl :
: fireworks from our boat at Epcot :
: Mark and his Nana :

At the beginning of our drive home (circa 6 P.M. on Monday evening with my alarm for school going off a mere 12 hours later...), I told Mark how I could have burst into tears of joy time after time throughout the weekend. We are so blessed, so loved, so taken care of... I couldn't help but feel so humbled by the grace found in all of it. Thank you, Jesus!

And, of course, thank you Uncle Craig and Laura for taking such amazing care of us. To say you completely spoiled us rotten is an understatement. I only wish we could be around you and the girls more.

We love our English family so dearly, and we can't wait to see y'all in July!!! xxxx

To everyone reading (myself included!): As a result of what Jesus did for us on the cross, let us freely give and receive grace each day of our lives. :)