Our annual update on the life and happenings in the Davis family!

12.12.12
I chose that as the title to this section because that is when Im finally beginning the process of putting our annual letter together! It is hard to believe that 2012 is almost over! Where has the time gone! I find myself admitting to all those things that I said I would never admit to when younger...but as we progress through the aging process each year...we realize time seems to only go faster! This year has been, like the ones previous to this, a year of excitement, fun, new experiences and challenges making it unique. As a family we travelled to Florida for A picture from when we were able to visit our a visit to Grammy & Pa. Dawn & I were able to take a family in Pittsburgh for a few hours this August! group of Bible Institute Athletes to Honduras for 10 days; using sports to communicate the truth of Gods Word to people who hadnt heard that message before! We spent our summer working & serving together at the Word of Life Ranch & Ranger campa summer of wonderful experiences that we are able to enjoy together as a family yet be challenged and stretched with the daily demands. We took some time after camp to go to Ohio to visit family & friends and just relax after a crazy summer! We went to the Creation Museum and Cedar Point among other fun activities. Then Homeschooling & my job at the Bible Institute started right back up again and we were off and running. This was Butchs 20th reunion from his graduation at Cedarville College/University...so we made the quick weekend trek out to Southwest Ohio to be a part of that celebration! He ended up MCing the event and did a wonderful job.

Davis dispatch

Dawns Annual Recipe HAPPY PUNCH!

Yield is 1/2 Batch - which equals about 20 cups (based on cup sizes). It is easily doubled, tripled, etc. May serve individually or in a punch bowl. It is a coffee punch that truly makes people happy! Make 2 C. of brewed coffee (using 6 scoops of coffee...you want it strong). Add 1 C. Sugar and let it cool. Using a blender of sorts mix the cooled coffee/sugar with: 1 Gallon of Vanilla Ice Cream.1/2 Gallon of Milk...2/3 bottle of caramel syrup. B lend until smooth and creamy. Serve as desired with Whipped Topping & Caramel Syrup drizzled on top. This drink has become a fan favorite of people everywhere...EVEN non-coffee drinkers!

We are leaving the Country...AGAIN!

Dawn and I have been asked to help lead a group of Bible Institute students on an overseas trip again this March 2013. We will be taking a group of approximately 40 students to the country of El Salvador. We will be taking both athletes as well as students and preaching the Good News of Gods Word around the capital city of San Salvador! We will be doing outdoor meetings, dramas as well as using sports to share the Gospel with the people of El Salvador. Dawn & I are going while the children will be staying here in the states. We are in the process of raising the $1,495 necessary for us to go on the trip! We are confident God will provide for us financially. We are looking for prayer support as well. Pray for safety while traveling; good health for all involved; our children as we leave them.

Liams Lines... This has been a great year. I moved up to Little League this year and had a great time! I played several different positions and I really LOVE all of them. Baseball is my favorite sport. I really enjoyed being at the Ranch and hanging out with my buddies. We had such a great time! I played Fall soccer again this year and had a great time on the 5-6 grade team. We played on the big field and it was A LOT of running. I also help my dad with the womens basketball team getting them water and such.

Emmas Edicts...
I officially became a High School student this fall! Im in 9th grade and am enjoying the level of school work that comes with it! My favorite subject is Biology. I was just sharing with my dad about earthworms and the variety of things Im learning about them. It is very fascinating. I still REALLY LOVE reading and am reading as much and as often as mom and dad will let me. I have recently started reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo because we watched some of the music on PBS the other night and it got me interested in reading more about it. We had a busy summer at the Ranch, which I LOVE being a part of. I am now close to the age of the staff that works all summer to help make the Ranch happen, so it is neat to be able to hang with a bunch of students my age. I enjoyed helping with face painting during Rodeo nights as well as helping Mom in anyway that she needed. I am now helping with the statistics for daddys womens basketball team from the Bible Institute. It is a lot of fun being a part of that awesome group of young ladies. I really enjoy traveling around and seeing other schools and helping Dad in anyway possible. I just got done singing in a Cantata with Grammy & Pa at their church. I really enjoy singing and it was fun singing with my grandparents.

Chloes Corner...
Well...I continue to enjoy life to the fullest. With all the different things my mom & dad are involved with...I love to come alongside of them and just be with them doing whatever they are doing. I love to make people smile and I like to make them feel good! I had so much fun on our trip to Florida to see my Grammy & Pa. We always do so many fun things...but I really enjoy the days when we just stay at their park and swim and ride bikes and just enjoy what is available to do. We had a busy spring...going to watch Liam and his Little League games. I LOVED being at the Ranch this past summer as well! It is just so much fun being a part of camp and meeting new campers each week and getting to know the staff so well! We are busy all the time but it is so worth it because we have so much fun together. I was able to compete against Liam each Friday night during our Rodeo at the Ranch for the goat dressing contest. This year they asked Liam and me to be involved with that and it was A LOT of fun. I think we tied each other with the times we won each week. It was still fun to race against my brother. We also bought season passes to Great Escape this year (a local amusement park) and that was a lot of fun. Im now tall enough to ride all the big rides and I love EVERY ONE OF THEM! I was able to play fall soccer again this year and I really enjoyed it. I was able to make a lot of new friends and I also scored a few goals too which is always a lot of fun. I also go to all the womens basketball games with the family as the Cheerleader for the team. It is fun to shake the girls hands and talk to different people. This year I handed out candy canes to the other girls as a way to tell them about Jesus. It is so much fun.

Visiting pumpkin patch this October when we stopped to see Grammy Carol & Poppa Ronnie Causey!

From our family to yours...we wish you a Marvelous Merry Christmas to finish out this 2012 year! We LOVE this time of year as we celebrate the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ who came as a baby to grow up and become the Savior of the World. It is this Gift that is the real reason we are excited about this time of year! God is Good. We are blessed beyond measure. We are thankful for you...special people that GOD saw fit to bring into our lives. Thank You. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year - Butch, Dawn, Emma (14), Liam (10) & Chloe (7)