Happy 20th Anniversary

 I am in love. After 20 years I am in love. We always say, "I love you more," but it really is true. It is not something you can quantify, love, but the love does continue to grow. Through the difficulties, through the ups and downs, through victories and disappointments, our love is more. Deeper and more mature. 

Megan is my rock and I love her more than any other human. I love her and I love our family. It is the greatest gift that God has ever given to me - the opportunity to be part of this family. 

Today we celebrate being a family for 20 years. We can never do anything that would express the way we feel about each other so we will just spend a weekend together. This is our time to celebrate God's greatest gift to us.

We decided we did not want to eat anywhere safe. We ate at places we have never heard of. This was breakfast at downtown Lynchburg, VA. 

The food was great and the atmosphere better.

We visited Natural Bridge.

Just down from Natural Bridge we found a drive through zoo. They told us it was their busiest day of the year. Most of the animals were more than full but a few came by to make an appearance.

We stopped off for dinner near our Air B&B. We were again very fortunate to find great food.

Breakfast the next morning again in downtown Lynchburg. This time it was only average food but a good atmosphere. 

We discovered Poplar Plantation. It is a home that was discovered to be built by Thomas Jefferson. Slowly over the past 14 years or so the house has been entirely restored.

The home was restored using the original building methods and tools from the period. One wing was left open so that you could see how the house was built. Yes, those are 4 X 8 ceiling joists.  

OK so dinner time showed up when we were near Red Lobster. Not local but we hadn't been to one in 7 or 8 years and I like it. So, in the cold rain we ate at Red Lobster.

What a great time! We slept - We took our time - We Napped - We laid around - We Saw Nature - We Saw History - And I was with my favorite person! Not Bad at ALL.

Addison's 16th Birthday Trip - Disney with Friends

 I am very proud of all of my girls. This trip is about Addison. Probably about 6 months out I talked to Addison about her birth birthday plans. This is her sweet 16 and we all wanted it to be special. She informed me that she wanted to go to Disney and that she wanted to take two of her friends who had never been to Disney before and that she would pay for them to go. She called her friends Bella and Lena and cleared things with their mother. The trip was on! I, Joe, would be the tour guide and driver. Other than that I wanted all of the decisions about where we would go and when to be up to them. More plans were made, dates were set and changed but finally it was time to shove off on our journey.

I am proud of Addison. She was given the opportunity to have time to herself at Disney but instead chose to give of herself and involve friends who have never had the opportunity to experience these beautiful parks.

Another new experience for our friends was Bucee's. They thought this was a gas station but they found that this was something more. I knew they were getting the idea when they asked me if they could get a shopping cart.

After getting to Orlando we quickly unloaded our gear and made our way to Disney Springs! Again, an overwhelming experience. With hundreds of places to eat we landed at Rain Forest Cafe. A long standing Davis family tradition for the first meal at Disney.

We perused the outside of the Lego Store (there was a lengthy line to get inside) and very little of the rest of Disney springs.

The next morning we got up bright and early to experience one or two rides at rope drop. Breakfast was at the Disney McDonalds.

We conquered tower of terror first!

Then Mini and Mickey's Runaway Railway

Rise of the Resistance

On an earlier Birthday Trip, Addison and I had an outstanding experience at 50's Prime Time Dine-in. Now, it too, has become a staple whenever we go to Disney Studios.

This

This is Aunt Elaine, Our Waitress

After lunch we "hopped" to Magic Kingdom

Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, and more before the big final-lie,