From Our Home To Yours

Christmas 2008

Dear family and friends,

We are especially excited about this Christmas for several reasons. The main one being that it is our year to have all our family home . That is always what makes Christmas so wonderful for us.

The sounds of our 8 growing grandchildren playing and catching up with the cousins, the sound of laughter and bantering and the “big kids” annual late night Monopoly games where “Christian charity” goes right out the door!

Family update!

In August, we were presented with an opportunity to purchase a home after living in a parsonage for 27 years. After climbing stairs for the last 23 you can see what I enjoy most about the home. God amazed us with miracle after miracle that made it possible to own a new home and enjoying instant equity at the same time. We could write a book! But let’s just say it was a GOD THING, and we are grateful.

In May, John received his Masters of Theological Studies from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield. Just a few months later John and Lynette , Breanna (almost 5) and Brant (2) made the move to Red Oak, Texas, a southern suburb of Dallas, where John is the Spiritual Formation Director for the Dallas Master’s Commission , training young men and women to be leaders in the church. He is a gifted teacher and enjoys this ministry very much.

Lisa, Allen, Tara (12), Emma (10), and Adam (8), live in Springfield and are the only ones not making a move this year. Allen is a realtor with Keller Williams in Springfield (if you need a house—give him a call) and Lisa is Academic Advisor, Professional Studies at Evangel University and is getting close to completing her Master’s in Organizational Leadership.

On November 10th, Kristi , Tim, Mason (12), Evan (9), and Jordan (8) received the call they have been waiting on for 2 years. Mia ShyAn Xin (19 months) is waiting for them in China! They will be traveling to pick her up by Spring (pray with us that it will be sooner). We are so excited about this beautiful little girl joining our family. When we moved out of the parsonage to our new home, they made the move into the “big house” in anticipation of her coming. God was taking care of every detail and arranged for them to be in a larger home with time to prepare for her coming. Tim serves as the Associate /Youth Pastor and both Tim and Kristi are substitute teachers in the Winfield Public Schools.

This year, in an effort to "go green" we chose to use electronic Christmas greetings and we invite you to do the same. In uncertain times, one thing remains certain—our faith and trust in the one who never changes—Jesus.

Our prayer for you and your family is that you will enjoy your time together and experience the joy of knowing Jesus at this special Christmas season.

Blessings to you and yours!
Ken and Linda Davidson

Mia's coming home!

Monday, November 10, was a regular day - well actually it was rainy and foggy and Ken and I made a quick trip to Wichita. Coming home we stopped at Dairy Queen in Augusta to grab an ice cream cone. That's where we were. Sitting in the drive thru. I heard the familiar ring tone of Kristi calling - "It Is Well With My Soul"! Customary small talk. Kristi: What are you doing? Me: Getting ice cream. What are you doing? Kristi: I was just thinking this would be a wonderful day to get my little girl. Silence. Nope. Not really. I remember screaming - maybe loudly shouting. KRISTI!! Are you serious? You have her? Quickly to speaker phone. Kristi is looking at pictures of her daughter. She is telling us about Mia. She has a daughter. We cry together. Grampy, Grammi and our daughter - the mother of Mia.

We are 30 minutes away. We cried, laughed and became Grampy and Grammi for the 9th time. We have a new granddaughter.
She is every much a part of our family as Mason, Tara, Emma, Evan, Jordan, Adam, Breanna and Brant - Mia. At 19 months, she is now our baby.

We arrived at the Singer home to joyful sounds and sat down to see our little Mia for the first time. She is beautiful. She looks like a happy baby. There is not the typical emptiness in her face that we have seen in so many orphans. She is joyful - smiling in every picture. Yep - she is her mother's daughter.

The emotions are on the surface. I weep when I look at her picture. She was never an unwanted child. She has always been loved, wanted and prayed for since the day she was born and before. Oh - has she been prayed for. God placed his hand on her as a 4lb premie abandoned somewhere in China. Found by workers and cared for and nursed to health at an orphanage. She is perfect. She is ours. Soon she will be home to stay. She will have that forever family. Set another place at the table. Mia is coming home. Thank you Jesus for another child to love.

New House!

Well - you never know what God is up to. Out of the blue a house we had been driving by and wishing was ours - is! We cannot begin to tell you all of the challenges and answers to prayer to arrive at where we are now.

We have a brand new house that is just the right size for the 2 of us. When everyone is home we will have plenty of room during the day but a little bit of a challenge at night. But we enjoy "camping out" on the floor. I am sure everyone will make the best of it.

Kristi, Tim and the boys moved into the home we moved out of - a 4 bedroom, very large home with room for a growing family, so this was a miracle for them as well.

John and Lynette and the little ones will be together again in about 2 hours and be together as a family once again. The long wait is over. They still need to sell their house in Grain Valley (please pray with us for this), but they will be on their way to Texas soon.

Changes are always happening. These are good ones. God is good!

Be blessed!

Prayer Needed

John and Lynette (our kids) are in the process of moving. John has accepted a position with the Master's Commission of Dallas and is there working and overseeing the completion of their new home. Lynette and the kids remain in Grain Valley, MO - overseeing the sale of their home there. This separation is now at 2 months. Would you help us pray that God would send a buyer NOW? We need a miracle and are believing God will provide it. He is a miracle working God!!! Thanks for standing with us in prayer.

These are the Days of Our Lives

The days are speeding by. I think they may even be breaking the sound barrier! Well, at least they are breaking the posted speed limit!

How does it happen that my small children now have small children of their own? It seems not so long ago when Lisa stayed home with John on a Sunday morning. John was sick. Lisa said she'd take care of him while Mom went to church with the rest of the family. She did a great job. Although, the house smelled a little like burnt chocolate when we returned. Could have been the chocolate chip cookies that got nuked a little too long. Ah, but what better medicine for a sick little boy than a couple of chocolate chip cookies?

Yesterday we returned 3 grandchildren to their rightful owner - Lisa. I found myself looking at her and asking, "what happened to my little girl?" She's not 7 anymore! She's 37! And, Kristi and John and their small children. Where has the time gone?

I'm so thankful for my children (not small anymore) who have given Grammi and Grampy some of life's greatest memories. Burnt chocolate, burnt-up water pumps, burnt carpet and the greatest grandkids anywhere!

These are the days of our lives. And I wouldn't trade one of them for all the money in the world!

These are the days "the Lord has made - let's be glad - and rejoice in" them!!

(Do a sleepover with your grandkids! Watch a movie - fix popcorn! They'll love it and you'll get over it...in a few days!)

PS: Thank you Grammi for the 'great' kids that produced these 'great' grandkids!

I love you all!

Grampy (Sometimes affectionately called 'grumpy'!)

This Child Shall Be Lent. . .

Hannah prayed for a son. Then when God answered her prayer - she gave that son back to God saying, "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord. " Then she said "my heart rejoices in the Lord." (1 Samuel 1:27,28; 2:1)

This week (as I did almost 29 years ago) I gave my son to the Lord once again. My heart is at the same time heavy and full. I am sad, yet I rejoice.

Yesterday, John moved to the Dallas area to begin a new ministry. It is only a couple hours farther away, but still farther away. It means that I won't get to see quite as often 4 people that I love dearly. But I reminded his dad yesterday that on the day of his dedication, the pastor's wife told me "I just feel that God has something very special for this child!" He did. And He does.

I rejoice in knowing that God chose my son, for whom I prayed, to use for His glory. His influence will be widely felt in this new area of ministry. Training young people to carry the MESSAGE.

All of our children were dedicated to the Lord to use as He chose. I rejoice in knowing that His calling rests on all my children in ways that bring glory to Him. I am blessed!!

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth". 3 John 4

What's With That?

Well - you never know what will happen from day to day! I spent a night in the hospital on Thursday - having shortness of breath and a rapid heartbeat. All the tests were ok. That's good to hear when they start asking if you have a history of heart disease in your family. Especially when it's my family! When they ruled that out - they started talking about, and treating me for, a possible pulmonary embolism. Now those are big words meaning blood clot in the lung. Not exactly what you want either. But I had a few "girl friends" come and lay hands on me and pray - not to mention my family who was praying also. They prayed that the tests would reveal that whatever it was - would be gone. It was. PTL. Kristi stayed with me and we had a slumber party. Well - didn't actually slumber much, but we tried. Thanks, Kris - (although you promised you wouldn't let them keep me when you talked me into going). She also spent alot of time on the phone with Ken, John and Lisa. Calling and answering. Thanks for being there, hon.

Mason was with us in the ER and provided all of us - nurses included -with the entertainment for the evening. It was a nice distraction. When he tripped on a cart and nearly turned it over my pulse went up and my oxygen down! What a clown.

The hard part was that Ken was in Missouri on a fishing trip and he wanted so badly to be here. But we were able to talk often. I love you baby!

Lisa happened to call when I was in the ER. By the way, Lisa, thanks for laughing at me when I told you where I was. She thought I had another kidney stone. She has a really weird sense of humor.

One good thing from this experience - I am sure I have now met my deductible for the year! And I have 9 months left! Guess I need to see what else I can take care of before I start over.

I figured I should finally post something...

So here I am blogging. Blogging blogging blogging.I guess I'm going to have to get used to it. I've been told we should start our own blog since we'll be moving. You know, kinda keep everyone updated on our transition and our life in Texas.

Since we're going to Winfield for the 4th, the house had to be cleaned in case the realtor needs to show it over the weekend. So I got the privilege of cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms floors. Have you ever moved the kitchen table and cleaned under it after a few days of kids eating there? Disgusting! Or as Breanna says, "Gisgusting!" Oh well, it has to be done and it'll be worth it if the house shows well.

Well, guess I better get back to cleaning so the boss doesn't get upset...she's packing for our trip. Gotta get to bed early and get my beauty sleep so I can go to the office and look pretty tomorrow. That's pretty much all I have to do in the office now that I'm a lame duck for the next week and a half. Now I know how George W. has felt for the last year...except he has Air Force One, lots of money and can go wherever he wants whenever he wants.

Have fun and good night.
John

From The Mouth of Babes!

Wow! Sometimes you have a conversation that blows your mind. I had such a one last week.

My eldest grandson dropped in and we had a theological discussion on heaven and hell. He had questions on the new heaven and the new earth. We read those verses in Revelation along with the commentary on those verses. He said "you know, the more I learn about heaven, the more I want to die and go there!" Gulp! He went on to say that he had lived a good long life (all 12 years of it) and he was ready to go. He knew where he was going. He said that some people become angry at God when loved ones die and that if he lost his family people would probably say to him "aren't you mad at God for taking your family?" He said he would tell them "why would I be mad at God? I know where they are and I am going there someday and then we will be together for eternity!" He said he sure didn't want to "go to the hot place."

I told him that everytime a loved one goes to heaven it makes us want to go all the more and I quoted the words from an old song, "I've got more to go to heaven for than I had yesterday".

I have loved ones there. I do have more to go to heaven for with each loved one who crosses over. I have grandparents, parents, brother, sister, 2 pre-born grandchildren and a host of other family and friends.

We just had a family reunion. Nothing here compares. Yep. Heaven's Sounding Sweeter Everyday.

The Stone Society

Ok - not exactly a club I wanted to be a part of. I mean - Ken has stones. Lisa has stones and Kristi has had a stone - but they got that from their dad, didn't they? That was the medical explanation. Then one day recently - I had in my possession my very own 5 mm kidney stone!

Now I have heard and been told that they are worse than labor and that most would rather give birth than have a kidney stone. Lisa tells me a 5 mm stone should cause excruciating pain and Ken says he would be rolling in the floor screaming. But - after 19 days of mild to moderate discomfort and nothing more than tylenol - it was over. Now, not to say I want another one - but don't compare it to childbirth. I've had both and I don't really think it compares. Maybe I'm just extra tough, or maybe I just had a "silent" one and the next won't be so easy. I say the next one because now I find out that I have multiple stones in both kidneys. And the wait begins. Nothing to do but let them do their thing when they are ready.

So, the only one left to experience our family pasttime is John. Yes, baby - you are next!!! Now it isn't that we would wish this malady on you - but your days are probably numbered. You know we have always enjoyed doing things together as a family. Your sister (I won't say which one) says she is going to laugh hysterically when you officially join this austere club of stoners! If and when that day comes - not to worry. We will all be right there to cheer you on and hold your hand. And maybe laugh hysterically.

Cell Phone Crazy!!!

So, Lisa emailed today that she was trying to "keep the cell phone at bay" at least a little while longer from her oldest child. (She set up an email account thinking this would help!) I immediately brought out my, "I have all the answers...I'm a Youth Pastor's Wife" book. (Not really!) Anyway, my oldest and I have been having this same discussion lately. He is 12...well, next week will be...and he REALLY feels that a cell phone is in his best interest. I'm just so sceptical!! First of all, when could he possibly need a cell phone? He goes to school and church events. If he needs to get ahold of me from school...he can use their phone. If he needs me at church, he can walk around and find me. But, he did bring up a very valid point when I asked him what on earth he thought he needed a cell phone for. He said, "Mom, I walk home from school! And in today's society, kids get kidnapped walking home from school! What if that happened to me and I needed a phone?" Whammo!! No mom wants to hear that...but he has a VERY valid point. Right off the bat, do I say, sure, I'll get you a phone? Nope...I say, I'm never letting you out of my sight again!! Second of all...how many other little tweens are going to want to use his phone...I guess if they all have their own, there is no need for this. And why pay for a phone that is only going to be used as he walks home from school "I.C.E.?" And how do teachers keep them from using them during the day? And if I do get him a phone for safety reasons, is it somehow robbing him of childhood? I want him to stay a kid so much that a friend reminded me today that I can no longer say that I "bought him the cutest outfit!" (I have to use much cooler lingo like, "really awesome get-up" or something!) But, knowing all he knows about the craziness that is out there...would that make him more comfortable? Probably so...but I'm with Lisa, only if it's a "Disney phone with GPS." (And I have a feeling, he won't think a Disney phone is all that great either! I can hear him now..."ummm, great...thanks, mom!") So, here's to all the parents that are trying to determine the right thing, in a society where the "right thing" is so hard to figure out!!

Mia

Visit the Singer's adoption website at http://www.miamakessix.com

John says that if we don't keep it interesting he's going to unsubscribe. : )

To Blog or Not To Blog....That is the Question

So, here we are. Who woulda thunk it...mom and dad have a blog site. I sit here tonight reading my e-text for my Information Systems class. Can I just say that it's difficult to read a book and not be able to hold it in my hands? I can highlight though. That's kinda weird. But I'm thinking to myself..."will my kids ever know what it is to write a letter with a writing utensil?" With our innovative technology today, writing is becoming a lost art. I see it every day with my students. No wonder they can't write - everything is "omg", "idk", "lol" and "bff". What is that, anyway??? I guess this is the next best thing to journaling, which I just cannot seem to make myself do. Many of my friends have ventured into this new territory with excitement. I, on the other hand, am not so eager to have my thoughts displayed for the world to see. I guess this thing is password protected so I'm safe, right??? I probably would not venture to contribute to blogs found on msn or some other sight. I've read them....I'm embarrassed for them. Do they realize how ridiculous they sound? Anyway, I guess we have finally arrived if the Davidsons are blogging. I look forward to hearing from other members of our family!! See you in cyberspace!

New Beginnings

Today, we enter the world of blogging.
We will do our best not to bore you with the mundane.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated.