Cherith

Yes, here's my beautiful older sister with her husband and daughter Elaina. Don't let her fool you...she's small, but there's a lot in there. She's responsible, quick-witted, organized, funny, confident and charming. She could run an army if she wanted to. She's been running our family since she was ten. She's a great homemaker. I have her on speed dial for cooking questions. Growing up, I wanted to be just like her. (Not that now I don't want to be like her)! I would wait until she chose what kind of ice cream she wanted at Braum's so that could be my choice too. That annoyed her. I pretty much asked her all my questions. When I was five, I thought it would be nice to marry dad. Why not? I told her and she said..."Uh, Natalie...You can't marry dad. He's already married." If mom and dad were arguing, I would run to her in tears and tell her I thought mom and dad were getting a divorce. She always seemed so under control and unaffected. She just said, "Natalie, stop crying. No they're not." Her words and tone weren't exactly soothing, but somehow I felt better when she said that.

I was really crushed when she went to public school and left me behind with Caitlin at home. She had all these new friends and a whole new life I wasn't a part of. Cherith's life seemed so important, the way she got up early, rode the bus, had homework, ect. The busyness of it all left me feeling that my homeschooling life was so mundane and boring. So, I made a schedule for myself, just as busy as Cherith's...I started waking up early, getting dressed for the day, and started organizing my school books that I kept in a milk carton crate. Cherith told me I could pack her lunch and so I did. I would leave little notes that said verses and "I love you." I was afraid she'd forget me. I wasn't always so innocent, though. She kept these notes in her drawer from girls at school that talked about her mysterious jr. high life. My curiosity got the better of me and I would open one delicious note per day...Until I couldn't fold them back the right way! She found out and got so mad at me. I pretty much ruined my chances for being included in her life.

Anyway, when I started high school, things got better. She was a senior and I was a sophomore. Sometimes she would take me to lunch with her friends. She would tell them that they had to wait for "the child." That was me, of course. I never thought she liked some things about me. When I would sit on the couch and play the guitar, she would often tell me. "Natalie, why don't you do something constructive!" It surprised me when she wanted me to make her cd and sing at her wedding.

We coached a swim team together, which was really fun. Sometimes we would give the kids a workout on the board and then enjoy "sister-talk." Most of our discussions were about Danny, a boy from Arkansas that she had fallen really bad for. Nothing was ever spoken about love between them, but it was very understood. They emailed each other these flirty emails and Cherith would tell me about the one she got that day, and we would talk about what exactly Danny meant by this or that. I always ended with, "Cherith, he totally likes you." It was like music to her ears. When she was about to move away to Arkansas, I was asked to throw her a little goodbye party. Those types of things totally overwhelm me. I only had to order pizza and make a salad, but I felt so sad that she was moving away I couldn't concentrate. When everyone arrived and Cherith was there with her fiance Danny, I felt sick. In the middle of the party I snuck outside and hid behind the garage and cried my eyes out. Cherith found me, of course, and asked me what was wrong. I told her that I didn't do a good job at getting everything ready, but mainly I was upset that she was totally forgetting about me. She told me how great my salad was (like that was hard...) and that I wasn't going to be ignored. I finally went back with puffy swollen eyes.

She has always been an awesome wife and mother...She did everything first, so I still always ask her opinion, and she gives it. She's like super-woman to me. So many times when I'm stressed out, she just says, "Natalie, this is what you need to do..." And she tells me. If there's anything that needs to be planned or prepared, it's nice to have Cherith around so I don't have to make any decisions and I can just do what I'm told like old times. :)

Johnny

This is Johnathan, who belongs to Caity. He grew up around all of us and then one day it just "clicked" for them. I love both of my brothers-in-law and you must know, we girls set high standards for each others' husbands. Yes, Johnny is very stable, predictable, punctual, and patient. He's one of those people who could eat the same breakfast every day and would not mind a bit. He's a resourceful person, who's pretty much interested in learning about something all the time. He's a thinker so games, riddles, puzzles, and anything that uses your noodle...he likes.
We used to play guitar in the meetings together. I felt sorry for him because most of the time, I wouldn't go by the chords in the book but I would just play the songs by ear and improvise. He just had to watch me and follow what I would do. Poor thing. He kept up pretty well.
I get a hoot out of watching Caity ask him to do things. The only way you'd ever know he's not too keen on doing something is when he quietly pities himself so only Caity can hear and feel the guilt-trip. Caity just usually giggles. If you sit next to him long enough, you'll hear his subtle humor. Here he's shown in a t-shirt, but normally he likes to dress up nice, especially in a business suit. At the trade shows this summer, he really looked like he belonged in a fancy office, but I knew he's just a sweet guy that takes care of my beloved sister. He gets along well with Ryan, too. They play games, golf, discuss finance and business together while Caity and I go to the health food store, exercise, and just hang out. He's on his way to law school and Ryan and I are rootin' for OU. :)

Caity

This is my little sista Caitlin. Being the caboose of the Davis family, she's always shown a lot of spunk, a much needed virtue in a family of 7. Cherith and I would scoff at how much she got away with, and that we were never allowed to do or say that! She was known as "Naughty Caughty." I kinda felt bad though, because Cherith would tease Caity and I would join in, not because I really wanted to, but because I wanted Cherith to recognize me as her equal, which never happened anyway. Being quite a few years older than Caity, Cherith would boss her around, and Caity would not have any of it. I remember in our homeschooling days, mom said that it was time to get started with our math and Caity popped up from the couch and said, "Mom, I'm not doing my math. I'm going to watch a movie." Again, Caity always surprised us. She started the swim team at age 8 and she had this bright red little bathing suit. Her little belly stuck out and she would come with a pop and sometimes even a sonic flurry and set it on the deck next to everyone's gatorade and water bottles! I thought she was so cute. She's always been up for any kind of tea party!
She went to public school in the seventh grade and I remember feeling worried about her. I guess I wanted to protect her. She quickly made a lot of friends and I felt like I had lost my chance to be her close friend. It wasn't until she got into high school that we started to really get close. I got a scholarship to go to France my junior year of college and I had such a hard time leaving her. She got to visit halfway through and we had so much fun together. I went to class and accidentally locked her in my french dormitory room until noon. She needed to use the restroom all morning. She was not happy with me. Both of my sisters know I can be a little...umm....scatterbrained at times. They know I'm sensitive, so they usually just say, "It's okay, it's not a big deal."
The day of my wedding, Caity told Cherith, full of nostalgic sentiment, "Look at our little Natalie, all grown up and gettin' married." It's like now I'm the little one. Well, that's okay. Caitlin is going to be a nurse and shows a lot of responsibility. When Ryan had his surgery, I began to pass out and told the nurse to get my little sister...Caity came to the rescue and took care of the patient and his wife. She signed the release forms and wheeled him out and I just tagged along, sipping my sprite. I think I should belong very well in the "Jane Austen" era. It seems more acceptable for women to have fainting spells. :)
There are so many things I love about her...She always looks pretty, smells good, and seems very put together. She loves to clean, so her kitchen is pretty much spotless at all times. We both have celiac disease so I love for her to come over and I can make her all kinds of good gluten-free stuff. Some of the sweetest times are when I call her and we can just pray together. Anyway, that's little Caity.

Zanny

At my rehearsal dinner, Zanny said that she loved me before she loved Joel. (Joel had this I-don't-know-if-I-should-be-offended look on his face). But, alas, it's true. Zanny and I were close way before Joel came on the scene. Zanny and I met at a conference when we were 10 or 11 years old. We both had short hair. She lived in Kansas, so we just talked every so often. I remember one time when she spent the night with me and we prayed together for our brothers and sisters. She's the kind of person that loves in a very strong quiet way. I could tell she deeply loved her sisters and brothers. (Even though her brothers were so mean to her...) They definitely toughened her up. But, as a result, she was a great basketball player. We would get in wrestling matches sometimes and she would pin me down in no time! (Although there was this one time I did a push-up with her on my back! Those were my swimming days!) We never lived in the same city, so we called each other to pray together in high school and the summer of our senior year, we spent lots of time together. I would drive up to her house and we would sleep in the same bed and she would go to her Spanish class. Now, Joel enters the scene. At this time, they were secretly in love, and no one knew about it and Joel was out in California for the summer. I got suspicious when Joel called all the time just wanting to talk. I was like, "what's wrong with him?" He was love-sick. I would tell him what I was doing and sometimes I'd mention my times with Zanny. He'd start asking questions about her, and I thought, "She's fine. Why do you care?" Well, eventually he told me and I was pretty thrilled. It was a little weird seeing my brother with my close friend, but it was fine because our relationship didn't change much. Zanny just finished law school this summer AND had a baby. She's pretty amazing. She's a quick thinker and she's really smart. She has a great memory and when we were in summer school of truth, I'd always want her on my team. She knew all the Old Testament answers. I love her laugh. You hardly know she's laughing until you hear her gasping for air. Anyway, she takes good care of Joel and loves him so much and even when we don't keep up with each other, it's pretty much always the same between us.

Joel

This here is Joel the Mole. He's married to Susanna, whom everyone calls Zanny. He has a very serious side and a very silly side. Unfortunately growing up, we all absorbed the silliness and it drove us nuts and now poor Zanny's the only one. But, he's very smart, steady, and enduring. He's doing his residency in orthopedic surgery--it's kind of like a mix between carpentry and medicine. (I guess he really enjoyed building with my dad). They just had a little baby named Luke Daniel. Joel and Daniel were best friends and partners in crime. Starting about 8th grade I began to look up to him in many ways, but especially in his relationship with the Lord and he would take care of me. Our laughs our similar in nature--like a machine gun going off in your throat. He was never afraid of being different. In high school he would wear his socks pulled way up high to his knees and neon colored umbro shorts. We were all like, "Joel, you look stupid." He just didn't care. He drove an old orange truck we called pumpkin. He's very responsible and serious, so people often respect him, but when you're with him, he's very down-to-earth and displays an immaturity that is so disarming.:) When someone would tell us how highly they thought of him, the girls in the fam would just be like, "well yeah, you don't know him. He's gross." He loves blue bell ice cream and cereal. He had this tall orange bowl growing up he'd fill all the way to the top with milk and cereal. I'd get mad cause he'd take all the milk, and what's worse, he'd drive us nuts with his slurping. Ewww. Nowadays, we all are callin' him with our every medical complaint and question and he bears it quite well. We were at the pharmacy and Dad just had to point out to the clerk that the doctor who filled out his prescription was his son. ;)

Allison

This is Allison with her first girl, Zoe Ella. I like this picture of Allison. How did my brother get a girl like her?!!! Allison is a very sweet sensitive person with a keen sense of understanding. She was a swimmer, just like me, in highschool. We swam the same event, 100 backstroke, and her time is faster by a second! I've always enjoyed spending time with her, especially between breaks in California. Our days were quite busy...we watched old movies, drank hot tea, coffee, ate cookies, and went on walks. Ahh that was the life! She was actually the first person I told about Ryan. We were sleeping in the same room together and I was so excited, I just couldn't hold it in. She was so exhausted from taking care of Zoe but when I told her I might like someone, she perked right up and giggled with me! She keeps Daniel in line, along with 2 kids. She's a photographer, so we've all benefited from that. She's faithful and caring, and I've always felt like I, or anyone, could talk so easily with her. She makes Daniel like 100 times cooler. :)

Daniel

This is my brother Daniel. Who doesn't like him? Seriously. He's one of those people you can never stay mad at cause he's so innocently bad and sweet at the same time. He's charming and delightful. Ever since I was little, I secretly enjoyed seeing him irritated, because he was just so cute. He also has this air of self-confidence that makes it easy to roll your eyes when he's struttin' around. I went running with him once and he told me, "Whoa Natalie, I think you're becoming an elite athletic speciman like myself!" Whatever Daniel. Only he can make someone feel good while at the same time complimenting himself! He's been an army guy ever since he was little, and I can't even explain what his skills are. He's my big brother to me. He has a wife, Allison and two little sweet girls, of whom I'll talk about soon. He like gadgets and figuring out stuff. He knows how to explain things to you without making you feel stupid. He has a tender heart that is easily touched. You can see his love for the Lord in his love for the saints. He makes everyone feel comfortable. I remember one time when I was in highschool, he went out and bought me a bright red dress! He gave me a really nice necklace when I graduated from highschool. It's an antique and I still have it. If you want to buy something, you should get Daniel to do it, because somehow he finds the best of everything!

Mom

This is my mom. I got my brown eyes from her, which was what apparently wooed my dad to her. Just like her, I love singing and all kinds of music! She experiences the Lord in the words of songs and hymns. Me too. She taught most of all of us until highschool. She's the ultimate multi-tasker. That was a big job. Those stories could make an entire novel. (Mostly because of my bad older brothers. Controlling them was like tryin' to keep monkies in a cage) :). She always pulled strings to take us on these field trips. We did the weirdest science projects...When I smashed my finger in the garage door, she said it was just perfect timing for a science project to show how your nails heal themselves. I remember the looks on people's faces as they saw my board and walked by. ugh. Anyway, my mom was never lacking in creativity and ideas. She's always reading some sort of informational book. I like this picture because it shows that she loves to have fun. She loves putting on "tea parties" and getting together. We never lacked affection. We practically were rolling in it.

My Hubby

I like this picture of Ryan. Since I'm a middle child, I've always had trouble making decisions. Ryan knows what he wants! It's so refreshing. He pretty much asked me to marry him the first date! (It was very much implied!) There he is, with his brothers Josh, Jon, and Jason. He's done so well, entering into a girl's world, having grown up with all boys! He's such a great listener, waiting on me to talk things out, especially when I'm still figuring out what I mean...I love his dimples and his spirit is so tender. Anyway, Friday nights are my favorite night...date night! I sometimes make dinner and we watch I Love Lucy and hang out. Or, we go to a couple restaurants where I can eat a gluten-free meal! I like to make him stuffed zuchinni, french toast, and fresh apple-carrot-lime juice (but not altogether!). I also like it when he sings with me and I play the guitar. He's really good at computer stuff, so thanks to him, I'm able to write this blog! He's my best friend and I thank the Lord for him. This is enough for now...:)

My Big Family

Dogs barking, phones ringing, babies crying, guitars strumming, loud laughing, yelling... It goes on and on. When we come home to mom and dad's, it's quite a circus. I love my family. There are 7 of us, but now 12 plus 4 grand kids! Our family hobbies are telling stories, eating, playing games, laughing, and oddly enough, napping. It's hilarious...We get together after having not seen each other for a while, and eventually someone says, "I'm tired. I'm gonna take a nap." And we usually agree. I think some kind of bonding occurs subconsiously.

Dad

I'll start with my dad. I inherited his fat cheeks and crinkly eyes. He's pretty much one of the funniest people ever. He doesn't care what people think, he's steady, faithful, hard working, and generous. He's pretty ornery, though. He loves to tease my mom and push all her buttons! He's hard of hearing, so you'll have to speak up. He likes to fly airplanes and ride his motorcycle. He likes to "kick back and relax," after a hard days work. Growing up, I always took naps with him. I once heard that he had high cholesterol. So, privately I looked up in a book what that meant, and it stated that high cholesterol could cause heart problems. I felt so anxious inside. When I would take a nap with dad after work, I would lay my head on his chest to make sure his heart was beating and pray that he wouldn't die. :) I eventually would fall asleep and he was always there when I woke up. Whew! Anyway, that's a bit about my dad. He's a hoot.

Our House

Ryan and I lived in a little apartment on Dewey Avenue. Although our little place holds sentimental value in our memory, we gladly embraced the opportunity to move into a real CASA! We enjoy a living room, the garage, big kitchen, and 2 bathrooms! Ryan has a favorite recliner, and I like how the rain sounds when it falls on the skylight in our bathroom...great for sleeping! We're so thankful to the Lord!