What I Bought....Maternity Style

I blogged over the weekend about missing my husband since he was on his guy trip, but I also mentioned that I had a busy day with my mom. I can't even remember the last time the two of us had some time together and it was soooo refreshing! We went to my cousin's bridal shower where we were able to catch up with some family! The shower was a blast and we had a lot of fun gabbing about babies, my cousin's upcoming nuptials, and other shenanigans. After the shower, mom and I decided why let the phone stop there and stopped by Valley View Mall in Roanoke. We hit up JCPenney (who apparently said they took down their maternity line last week but will have it up again next week??? Seriously, you're killing me smalls!) so we ended up doing some shopping at Motherhood Maternity. I'd been there before, but since their clothes are a little more expensive, I wanted to see if  I could get a better deal elsewhere first, however, this store truly had the better items for what I needed.

The reason for us stopping to shop is because with school fast approaching I needed to get some career appropriate maternity clothes. I have a lot of beautiful tops I've worn throughout the years, but I can't fit into most of them (sad face). So I found a few items I can add to my wardrobe without breaking the bank. Check out what I got! At the top are two tops of identical style, but different colors and next is a pair of gray dress pants, love them and they fit great! And to the right is another top I can either wear with the gray pants or other pants I'm still able to get my behind into! I'm currently awaiting a package that should hopefully have a cardigan from Old Navy, I love me some cardigans and its been well over 3-4 years since I bought one, but my white one has recently bit the dust so out with the old in with the new. I love to shop, but with a baby on the way, I've come to realize I really and truly only need to buy what I need instead of what I want, but with the gender reveal in just a few days, I'll have tons of fun registering and possibly shopping for a few baby items that are gonna be for little miss or mister! Oh, and I can't forget, a shout out to my parent's neighbor for finding a pair of maternity capris and skirt for a grand total of $3! She found them at Goodwill and in great condition! Do your thing Goodwill, I'm gonna have to stop by your store soon!

Mothers & Fathers

We are "family."
Chappelears & Davises.

So this may be a little late, but mothers and fathers can be appreciated all year, not just on a particular day, right? Right! If it weren't for the people  featured in the picture to the right, my parents (Mike & Berta) are on the left, while Adam's parents (Marty & Al) are on the right. Without our folks, neither of us would be here, and that would be very sad indeed. Our parents have also directed and guided us to the Lord. They each have set examples of what it means to follow Christ and have marriages that honor the Lord. Adam and I are very thankful that both our parents are still together; each couple has actually been married for 25+ years, an amount Adam I hope to reach one day as well!

Mike, Marie, and Berta.

I am so thankful for my parents and in-laws! They are some amazing adults! My parents are my best friends. There's not a thing I could not tell them, if you don't believe me just ask! My parents have always been there to support me and love me no matter what crazy ideas or dumb mistakes I made. I am thankful that have pushed me to always do my best and never, ever give up! Hard work always pays off, and the Lord never leads you astray. Thank you mom and dad for being there for me! You mean the world to me!

Al, Adam, and Marty.

Many people talk about how wonderful married life is, but don't mention too many of the extra things that come along, such as in-laws. I am very blessed to have such a close relationship with my in-laws, I enjoy the honesty and openness that we have with one another. Here's a tidbit for those who don't know the reason we're so close is because when I graduated from college I was looking for experience substitute teaching, and I figured I'd go back home and live with my parents, thus keeping mine and Adam's relationship long distance. Well Marty called my mother and the two of them got to talking and before I knew it, after I had visited before Christmas, I was asked to come move in with them to a) get that experience to help open a door somewhere and b) to be closer to my sweetheart and develop our relationship a bit further. I'm pretty sure we all know that (b) was the reason I went. Despite the case that those were some odd circumstances, I am so thankful for that experience. Marty & Al welcomed me into their house as if I were one of their own, and through that experience I learned a lot about the Davis family that I doubt I would have learned otherwise and vice versa! (Poor Marty & Al didn't know what to do with a loud overly excited girl in the house since they had only boys)! However, with that being said, I highly doubt Adam and I would have been engaged so soon or married had it not been for that experience.

Both of our parents have been extremely supportive of our relationship and each of us feel that the other's parents have done nothing but treat the other as they would their own son/daughter. We are so very blessed to have them in our lives and we hope to one day become the kind of parents they have been to us. It is our prayer that the Lord would bless them doubly even though we owe them more than money or words could ever express. So thank you mom and dad! We love you both! (And yes we hope to bring some grandchildren into this world before too long)!

Happy Momma's Day :-D

Mom at Roanoke Airport
12/30/10

Today I want the world to know how grateful and thankful I am for this woman ---->

Growing up she was the type of mother who gave up everything of herself to be there for her family. In recent years, I have noticed that there seems to be this notion among Christians that it is "unholy" or "ungodly" or even anti-Biblical that a woman who works outside the home is committing some kind of sin and not keeping her priorities in order (as it appears that she is putting work first over family). iMy mother was in fact a woman that did not stay home, she couldn't afford to, and for that I am thankful.Though she may have worked outside the home, she never compromised her responsibility and priority of putting her family first while at the same time maintaining a career, to help provide for her family.

Proverbs 31is often quoted on this day, and with good reason. In that passage the woman is using the time of day and her resources to provide for her family. Grant it the life of that woman was well over 2,000 years ago, and technology, medicine, and the like have changed, however it clearly resonates that a woman should provided for her family, which is EXACTLY what my mother has done. Adam and I have discussed the idea of me being a stay at home wife once we do choose to start a family, however, I do not think that I am anyless of a woman and I should not be any less praised on Mother's Day if I choose to work outside the home.

So as it is Mother's Day, I'd like to give a few accolades to my mother who has been a constant best friend of mine for the past decade. Mom, I'm sorry I didn't truly appreciate our friendship until I was about halfway into my teenager years. Once I did take advantage of that friendship I realized what a truly remarkable person you are. You're always there when I need to talk, you listen with open ears and an open heart, your humility is admirable, and you always put others first before yourself. You have a sweet, tender, compassionate, and humble spirit that pours out a love for Christ. Thank you for being a shining example of what it means to be a person who knows how to put others first. I love you more and more everyday and I have some big shoes to fill when it comes time for me to be a mother, too! Happy Mother's Day you deserve everything this day!

Mom's Lasagna

I am home today after feeling and being sick all week! At first I just thought I had a sinus infection, however, I decided that if I wasn't better by last night then I'd call in sick today and go to the doctor, which is exactly what I did. It turns out that NO we are not pregnant, NO I do not have strep and YES I have a GI (gastrointestinal infection), so yay, go me! My doctor was gracious enough to write a note for me today, and said if I needed to take tomorrow as well, then to do it. With SOLs right around the corner I need to be at school as much as possible, so I'm trying to make the most of my day at home, by propping my feet up and resting.

I am planning on taking a nap, but decided that before I do, I should update the blog. I am a much better blogger than I previously was, however, I still lack the dedication like some of the more avid bloggers I follow. I think that with summer fast approaching I'll do better! Anywho, one of my favorite recipes to fix for my  husband is my mom's lasagna--she received this recipe from a church cookbook when we lived in Broadway, VA and has altered it throughout the years, and believe me, it's the best around (even beats out some of those real Italian restaurants)!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1/2lb ground beef (Adam and I have switched to ground turkey -- you can use up to 1 lb. if you prefer more meat) 
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1 can tomato sauce (12oz or 14oz if you prefer for sauce)
• 2 tsp vinegar
• 1/2 box lasagna noodles 
• 1 large container of cottage cheese (Adam and I actually add about 1 1/2 large containers -- we LOVE cheese!)
• 3 packs of mozzarella cheese slices
• 1/2 cup water

Instructions:

1. In a frying pan, brown ground beef/turkey and drain.
2. In saucepan, add brown ground beef/turkey, tomato soup, 1/2 can water, tomato sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano--simmer on low heat for 30 minutes (be sure to stir every now and again) 
3. While your sauce is simmering, in a large pot, bring about 8-9 cups of water to a boil, add 9 lasagna strips (you can add more if you prefer) and sprinkle around about a teaspoon of salt. Be sure to pre-heat your oven during this time to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 
4. In a 13 x 9 pan, lightly grease bottom with oil or crisco to prevent sticking (I accidentally forgot to do this once and it turned out fine!) and add a layer of noodles (should be about 3), on top of that add a layer of cottage cheese, a layer of the meat sauce, and then mozzarella cheese slices--continue two more times!
5. Bake lasagna for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, when finished, let it stand and cool for at least 15-20 minutes. 
6. Enjoy with a salad and garlic bread!

Sewing Endeavor #2

The idea...

Instructions

I made this around the beginning of March, and have been meaning to blog about it for a  while. It seems that many couples I know are pregnant so needless to say "baby fever" has returned. As much as I'd love to get pregnant, now is not the time for us to be trying so instead I decided to throw myself into a project. I hadn't sewn since I made the Redskins pajama bottoms for my father-in-law so with this extra long weekend at my parents house I decided it'd be a great project for me and mom.

I honestly don't know where I'd be without the help of my mother in these projects. Though I manage to tackle and start the project on my own, I always need her help at some point or another in it, and without her I'd be lost! So thank you mom for your dedication and not giving up on me!

Follow-up of instructions

Final product, minus the snaps!

I've decided that if I could, and I am highly considering it, I'd like to start making more baby outfits, blankets, onesies, footies, etc. and of course give them as gifts as well as donate them to either a charity and/or hospital. Adam's grandma, Barbara Davis, knits baby hats and they are adorable, so I figured if she can do it then I could, too. I have completed two projects (baby blankets) since completing this little outfit and I plan to blog about them in the next few days, so be ready and thanks for following!