Breath of God

Today we were invited by friends to attend church with them at One Harbor in Morehead City, North Carolina. Both families decided to make a day of it.

The girls all were bathing suits under their church clothes. After church we stopped off for lunch and then headed to the beach.

There was much desire to boogie board on this day but alas there was very little surf. As flat as could be. Earlier in the day, however, there was a cool gentle breeze. This same Breeze would return later in the afternoon but there was still no surf.

I am certain of the breeze because I have noticed it every since the day that I parted ways with my long-time church and employer. Every day it seems that I have noticed the breeze. I have taken it as a reminder that God is with us. It could just be the beginning of the change of seasons or just a fluke of nature but it is most certainly there. I have felt it; and for me it is an assurance.

It is not the only reminder and it is not the most unmistakable one. These are the Mercer's, you've seen them several times in this blog. They are friends who have stayed close with us even as we have watched many other friends turn and walk away - never to return.  Our family has endured this pain only by God's faithfulness and the constant, tangible love, support, and help of our authentic community; of which the Mercer's and several other families are a part.

These are our friends and we are proud to be in community with them. On another day it will be other members of our our community and we stick together. The breeze can be a reminder but community is God's unmistakable presence. It is a tangible expression of his strength and his comfort. It is the breath of God.

The Birds of the Air

Today we went to Sylvan Heights Birdpark. Megan started work this week so the girls and I have time to occupy.

The park is a fair distance, it is in Scotland Neck, North Carolina. We went there because it was free with our aquarium membership.

The two older girls had been with grandparents but Emily Grace and myself had never been. It was a great experience. It was educational, and it was fun. All in all, we had a great day.

We missed Megan immensely, in every way. Emily Grace asked several times where mommy was. I assured her that she had to work and would be waiting for us when we returned and sure enough she was.

All that you see is of course under netting and in a bird aviary.

This is the traditional picture of Emily Grace sitting on a sculptured turtle.

O the flamingos.

Olivia would already take no chances but now she knew for sure.

This is the beaver blind, but I believe that the beavers have figured out that there's almost always someone watching. In any event – they were gone (One last vacation for them before beaver school starts I would imagine).

These are the bees. Now, you have to wonder why a Birdpark has to have bees. Let us not miss any opportunity to have children ask questions about the birds and the bees. Maybe I'm the only one who thought about it. 

This is the hands-on part of the park. This is the part that the girls remembered and could not wait to repeat.

For some reason, even the keeper could not seem to figure out; the birds were very attracted to My shoes. I think it must have to do with the salt water residue left from the weekend. Either that, or I have sweet feet.

We fed flamingos by hand!

No children's attraction is complete without a playground.

This is a peacock refusing to spread his feathers for the 705th time this day.

Truthfully, there were a lot more attractions after the playground but Emily Grace got tired, so I carried her. OK, count the hands, there was not one left for the camera so pictures got sparse during the rest of the tour.

We had a great time, we did miss mom and we recognize how incomplete we are without her, but the girls were great and so was this day.

I shall not soon forget the smiles on the faces and the laughter in the air as little girls felt the tickle of flamingo and parakeet beaks on their hands. I shall not forget the serenity I felt in the miles of driving across freshly harvested farmlands.  I shall not forget how careful you have to be with each step when your feet are parakeet ridden.

I shall not forget how blessed I am to have a wife that I miss even when I'm just going to be away from her for a couple of hours and children that miss he too.

We are a team, this Davis family. And, whatever we face tomorrow or in days to come, we will face it side-by-side. 

I love my family and the best is yet to come!

Community on the Cape

I have said in earlier posts that true friends are the ones that you encounter walking in while everyone else is walking out.

My family has had a tremendously bad week, related to my job. In the midst of this adversity we have encountered authentic community in ways that were only theoretical until now.

Friends have turned and walked away over these past two and a half years and it has been painful; others though came closer. They have encouraged us, and loved us, and believed in us, and supported us. To this moment they carry our load - we weap and they taste salt. 

Where would we be without Jesus and our friends who love Him too? Authentic community is rare AND it is one of the ways that God reminds us that he is here.

Friends have come close to us in so many ways this week and it has moved our spirit. Some of our friends, the Clubb's, whom you have encountered previously on this blog, asked us to camp with them - so we did. It was a blast!

We loaded the boat and launched our night.

David gives instructions for the track from ship to shore.

We set camp here:

The kids played

The sun began to set and David made fire

The tide came in fast so Megan and David successfully moved the fire. Johnathan built a burm to further protect the fire from the tide. All of these efforts were successful so we cooked dinner and then made s'mores.

As it does near ever day - the sun set. This day we appreciated it fully.

With the sun out of view the fire takes center stage flanked by a million stars and the sweeping of one old light.

The next morning we took the hike across the cape to the big waters of the Atlantic.

We had the beach nearly to ourselves for a while.

We made our way back to the lighthouse side of the cape and we had a few minutes to bid this island goodbye.

So, we headed back

We passed the site of the Queen Ann's Revenge salvage and research site. We stopped and had a delicious and leisurely lunch on the deck in Beaufort.

When I reflect back on this trip, I think that I shall never forget walking along the beach at night with my wife, lantern in hand, looking for her favorite flip-flops which were claimed by the rising tide (amazingly we found them). I will remember sitting and talking with my oldest daughter about Pompeii while she made a sand volcano. I will not forget the beauty of God's creation. I Will remember how clearly I was reminded of the strength of our family. I will remember our friends, how much we love them and the value and importance of authentic community.