Refugee Center

A bunch of us from church went to the refugee center again yesterday - this is where we went to help with the Christmas program that gave a bunch of toys to the kids there. There are refugees from all over - Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Kosovo, Sri Lanka, just to name a few. Yesterday we split up into 2 groups - a bunch of ladies brought yarn and knitting supplies to hang out with and knit with the moms, and the rest of us (including Lucy, Clark, and their friend Martha) played games with the kids. It was a beautiful day and fun to see the kids running around laughing and having fun. It also featured the longest version of Hokey-Pokey that I've ever seen.

Piper's Room

Our upstairs toilet room aka "Piper's Room" is fitted with a sound machine and this amazing car seat that doubles as crib! Actually she has a really cute and sweet lime green and hot pink room downstairs but it seems so far away at the moment, so she spends many nights and nap times in our upstairs toilet room sleeping in her car seat. And when you ask Lucy and Clark to take something to Piper's room they ask, "Which one?"

you had better run....

When not playing Uno we spend the rest of the day playing Zoo.. I am a tiger about to eat someone up!

uno

Our new game of choice is Uno and we play an average of 20 games a day (this is not a joke or exaggeration), we play individuals, girls against the boys, big kids against the grown ups and mixed doubles. We take our Uno very seriously and we start the game playing very young in our house. As you can see Piper is playing and it looks like she just shouted "Uno" as she only has one card left.

still sweet on her

Here is the little lady, she is still sweet, still smiling and still laughing and we are still in love with her. We are constantly amazed that God would entrust us with her and "the big kids" as they call themselves. We are all doing amazing with the transition, we still have moments, we are all finding the balance, we are all learning what it looks like to live and move as a family of 5 and as individuals, but the process has been fun and amazing. Lucky are we!

hanging out

The weather warmed up for a few days and Lucy and Clark rediscovered the garden. They LOVE playing outside and they both are monkey's at heart, so they climb on everything and our apple tree has been favorite lately, along with all door frames, tables, counters and one small boy has even been know to shimmy up Phil.

Mimi is 95!

Phil's grandmother "Mimi" turned 95 on the same day that Faith Community turned 1 (also the same day that taxes are due, which helps me remember). Tonight my whole family (Mimi's children, grandchildren, and one stateside great-grandchild) are having a party for her, and we really wish we could be there!

What do you get a 95-year-old woman for her birthday? My aunt came up with the idea that we present her with similes that describe her - e.g. "Grandma is like a pencil because she's sharp," and then give her a pencil.

We emailed a picture of Prague with the caption "Grandma is like Prague buildings because she's older than most people and slightly unstable, yet lovely, beautiful, and charming."

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Cutie Pie

These are a couple of weeks old but still appropriately cute...

Missing the Charlotte team

The Charlotte team left last week after a successful trip. Jake and Jessica also worked their musical magic at church on Sunday and at worship night on Monday. They visited the Communist Museum, the boys came to our Men's Bible study, and the girls had a special brunch just for them (because boys don't voluntarily do brunch by themselves).

Lucy and Clark loved getting to know Baby Sam, and we can't wait for him (and Jake and Melissa too) to return to Prague one day, hopefully soon!

Faith Community is One!

We celebrated one year of Faith Community Church on Sunday! Yay! Here's a 4-minute video that we showed...

Uptown Team is here!

We've been blessed to have six (and a half) people visiting us from Uptown Church in Charlotte, our home church. They arrived EARLY on Friday and are here until Wednesday morning. The fearless team leaders are Jake and Melissa Hunt, and their awesome little boy Sam. They're currently in process to move here and join the team (hence their link to the right under "Team"). Also in the team is Jeremiah, Jessica, Jessica, and Lauren. Friday we walked around the city and had a fun cookout at our place with the rest of the Prague team. Saturday we helped a couple in our church move their stuff to a new flat via metro, and then did a prayer walk around the city. And that night was a great gig in the Czech Inn cafe with Jake and one of the Jessicas.

Today they'll be helping us with worship at church and tomorrow more music with a worship night, celebrating Faith Community Church's one-year anniversary! We're glad they're here!

Here's Sam testing out our slide in the garden:

The team on the Charles bridge:

Jake and Jessica getting ready for the gig:

Jake and I trying to look theologically important:

Sport-Doing Men

A couple of years ago I had to go see a Czech allergologist (yes, that's what they're called here) for some help with seasonal allergies. She asked how often I exercised, to which I snickered, then replied "These days, about once every 3 months." She looked surprised and said, "Oh, I thought you were... (long pause) sport-doing man." I think she was trying to say "sportsman" or "athletic," but I have since adopted "sport-doing man" as my alter-ego, like if I were a super-hero.

I've actually started to be sport-doing man in real life again and play squash once a week with some guys who work for monster.com here - I FINALLY won my first game yesterday after about 2 months of huffing around the court, recklessly throwing my body into the walls. I'm still not "in shape" but never fear, Sport-Doing Man is waiting for his moment to pounce onto unsuspecting flabby missionaries.

Our church has several real bona-fide sport-doing men, including Tall Tim, about whom we've blogged, but also Eric - another basketball guy. Clark and I went to go watch one of his games last weekend. He plays in the 3rd division here, but his team will move up to the 2nd division after the stellar year they've had. Eric also teaches at Riverside School. Here's Clark in awe of Eric's mad skills:

Zach (link on the right) plays American football here with Atheltes in Action. His season with the Prague Lions started up last weekend, and they won their opener. He's got a big game in Dresden, Germany, this weekend. One of my favorite things about American football here is that Zach has to wear an "A" on his helmet, which stands for American - a team is only allowed a certain number of A's on the field at once, because these guys theoertically really know what they're doing. The Scarlet Letter of sports.

And Pete, a teacher at the International School of Prague, is a true Canadian - quite the hockey player, he's probably the best one on his club team - a few of us went to see his game on Monday at the nearby ice rink. Pete scored a goal and racked up an assist.

It's been great to cheer these guys on. If I can just surround myself with athletic guys, I can at least act like I'm one of them.

9 weeks

Piper is 9 weeks old and as you can tell she is the Queen Bee around here. She is lots of fun and really has each of us wrapped around her tiny little fingers. She laughs a lot and smiles and loves being held. She also lights up when people are around, you can tell she is a Davis.

Dot's B-Day

Last year Laura and I gave Dot a Thai foot massage for her birthday and as her birthday was yet approaching again we realized that we had not gone for our hour of relaxation. So at 364 days into her year we decided that the time had come. It was very fun, and funny relaxing and a bit painful as we were stretched and kneaded. Here is Laura sporting the attire and a picture of Dot and I fully enjoying ourselves!
Then on Saturday we had a fun birthday dinner to celebrate Dot! We love you Dot and are so glad that you are a part of our lives, thank you for the ways you bless and encourage us.

8 weeks

so this is a bit late but here is Piper at 8 weeks with her two biggest fans!

Ice queens

Our friends Chelsa, Sara. and Jackie (referred to as "the Canadians") have been here playing ice hockey with Athletes in Action. Saturday was their last game, so we all went to go cheer them on. These are the nicest girls ever, but after watching them skate around, throw some elbows, and crush other girls into the walls, I've decided to always tell them nice happy things they want to hear. Wow - they were amazing, and their team won the championship title this year! Way to go, girls!

Prague, meet Sun

What a difference a week makes - from snow and wind a week ago to SUN this week!!! We celebrated its return with some laying out on our patio - notice Piper got in on the action too (under the blankets). Lucy was nice enough to give Shanna a makeover while we were out there.