MOPS

Today was the last day of MOPS for the spring. I admit, when I first started going to MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) over three years ago I felt like I would be more comfortable going to a high school event. The first semester I just couldn’t find my place. I continued to come because the lessons each week were home/family centered and I knew that is what I needed. Once I joined leadership and made a couple friends I really started to look forward to the social part of MOPS.

My favorite thing about MOPS has been the unique group of girls that the Lord has brought together. Unlike most of the programs I have been a part of; at MOPS, if you go to FBC JAX you are in the minority. Although the meetings are held at FBC JAX and the leadership is set up out of FBC members, the membership for MOPS is open to all moms that have children under five. This means that there are several churches throughout Jacksonville represented and we all come together to become better Christian mothers/wives/ladies. I have also found MOPS to be a great program to invite other moms to. Women that I see at the grocery store, parks, restaurants, or mall with young ones like myself are always open to talk about MOPS more than their salvation/church home. Also, coming to MOPS as a first visit to our church is much less intimating than a Sunday morning.

The lessons each week have always been what keep me coming back to MOPS! Mrs. Carol Bacon is our Mentor Mom and she has been in MOPS for eight years. Other 'Moms Morning Out Programs' I have looked into are all about the mom having a good social time away from her kids and are fearful of offending their members by incorporated too much scripture. Well above the social I need the lessons each week and Mrs. Bacon has never disappointed! Each week I walk away with at least five powerful scriptures to memorize and bring into my daily walk as a mother/wife. Sadly, for personal reasons Mrs. Bacon has to step down as our mentor mom. However, in the same breath I know God has another Godly Woman already in line to bring His Word to us next fall. I am even now in prayer for this woman and God’s preparation on her heart.


Some pictures from our lunch today....





These were Nathan and Kaylee's Teachers this semester

The String Group

In February of this year the group of musicians/friends that I have played with for weddings and events finally made things official by becoming a business partnership. The core group is a string quartet that has been playing together for well over ten years. We decided to call ourselves, The String Group. The name came along almost as a default; that is what people would call us no matter what name we picked. ‘The String Group’ also seemed to be more professional and would pull some more corporate gigs our way!

Along with our instrumental services, we now offer and promote our music coordination service for events. The String Group has contract musicians for solo instruments; harp, trumpet, sax, flute, oboe, violin, viola, cello, clarinet and piano along with vocal soloist and Jazz Combos.
We are happy working with any client:
•a client that wants us to handle all the musical selections for their event

•a client that has a general idea of what they want but needs a little assistance pulling it all together

•a client that has made all the musical choices themselves and just needs us to hire the musicians.

The String Group serves Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia and can be visited on the web at www.thestringgroup.com or contacted via email at thestringgroup@aol.com






photos taken by Van-Wright Photography

Little Miss Kaylee

Kaylee Faith has turned into such a girly, girl (my mom is thrilled)! I couldn't have asked for a better baby; i think this was a combination of her being so laid back and me being more comfortable as a mom the second time around. Jesse Pickett was the first one to say who Kaylee looked like; Granny Dyal. Granny Dyal is daniel's grandmother on his mother's side. I have often thought so myself; the fair, petite features. She turned two last December and has to have a purse with her everywhere she goes. Seriously, I don't forget the purse nor did I encourage it to start. I am enjoying hearing her sweet voice talk and learn new words/phrases by the day!

MOM'S TENNIS PARTNER

DADDY'S GATOR GIRL

Nathan was a firefighter and Kaylee was a Dalmation for Halloween

FIRST FLOWERS FROM DADDY - 1st Birthday

A little about Nathan

Nathan will be four this August and can you believe it, going to Trinity for Preschool. I thought I would be getting excited about nathan starting school but the closer I get to that "first day", the more I covet the last days of having him all day, everyday with just me. I am grateful that preschool is just 3 hours, 5 days a week - getting our feet wet. I already can say, "it goes by fast!"

Most people say Nathan looks nothing like me and that he is all 'Davis.' That may be true, but as far as personality and character go, he is all me. This makes for an interesting relationship between he and I. Somedays this brings about the most fun, exciting times and others the most challenging. We are both very active, self driven, social, and playful/annoying *whatever you wanna call it*

Another Social Outlet

As if myspace and facebook aren’t enough, here I am setting up a blog. I have stayed away from blogs because they seem to be more writing intensive then the other sites. In college, I loved writing essays and research papers but I have been so far removed from that. It seems all I have been writing lately are three letter words, CAT/DOG/PIG – those are some important words to a 3 and 2 year old. You probably don't won't essays or research papers so a little of the pressure is off!

I would love to pull an all-nighter and get this blog up to date with what has been going on in my life for the last 5 years but I will hold off for now considering last night I pulled an all-nighter cleaning out and organizing my garage.