3 Years and Couting!

Today's post is dedicated to my one and only: Happy Anniversary, Love!

Want to know what seems to operate out of all space and time? How about marriage? Today marks three years from the day when I said "I Do" to the boy I knew was meant for me when he was placed in my life seven years earlier.

Three years seems to have flown by and so much has happened, yet at the same time I'm prettttty sure we just go married yesterday! I remember very clearly getting up early that morning and going to Joe's grandparents home where our reception would be held that evening with my dad and sister. I needed to meet with the caterer and florist to make sure everyone knew where everything should be (not controling at all, right?!) It was a perfect day in May, and I had never felt so blessed and loved -- from the strangers in Merle Norman who wished me "congratulations" while someone was doing my makeup, to my MIL's precious friends who set up decorations at the reception while we were off taking pictures, to the abundance of family and friends showing up at the church to give Joe and I their love and support. God's blessings were truly apparent that day. The sun was shining, the flowers were gorgeous, and we were surrounded by love -- all things that surely only a LOVING God could create.

TL: Flower girl, Avery TR: Church door wreaths from Fresh Cut Floral and Catering M: My then LITTLE brother cuttin' a rug BL: One of the many perfect photos from the talented Lovely Union Photographers BR: Capturing our reaction at seeing the reception space for the first time

 

It's true what they say though; after a wedding all to do with you and a honeymoon away from all the worries of the world, things get real... but man, isn't real the best part?! Yes, you have to work and fight and TRY, and most of marriage is not particularly glamorous, but through strife God is able to work and shine and now the love I have for Joe can only be exceeded by the love I have for my God. We could not love each other and care for each other the way we TRY to do if it weren't for the example Christ set and His love encompassing both of our hearts.

I love this sentiment from The Five Love Languages: "The object of love is not getting something you want but doing something for the well-being of the one you love." That seems obvious enough, but if there's one thing I've learned in three years, it's that this is not so obvious to the heart. I'm very grateful for a husband who takes care of me through thick and thin, through law school exams and clerkship applications, from right at home or 800 miles away.

And as I sit here reminiscing, I'm also reminded of the amazing music provided by my college choir for our ceremony. My favorite hymn they sang was "Love Diving All Loves Excelling." It is such a perfect retelling of Christ's love and wonderful wedding-day prayer for how we should strive to love each other.

But since I apparently have noooo idea how to slice up my wedding video to show you the clip, here's a Mormon Tabernacle Choir rendition that is ALMOST as good as it when it was sung by several sweet members Mississippi State Choir and directed by one of my very favorite people, Bruce Lesley. You should definitely take a listen; it's as beautiful as a hymn gets.

 

 

Happy Anniversary, Joe! I'm so grateful for these first three years, and excited I get to be Mrs. Davis for the rest of our lives!

 

Love,

DD



25 and some the wiser

Well boys and girls, I have reached my quarter of a century year of life. It has been quite a journey getting here, but I am reveling in being 25. I'd like to think I've made some decent accomplishments in my lifetime thus far, and perhaps am even a little bit wiser than I was a year ago.

A few of the lessons I've learned:

Family is by far the most reliable and loving thing I've got going in

my life, and I am so very thankful. Never take them for granted.

Having a husband is the very best. Love him.

Stress really does give you wrinkles. It's not worth it -- which is why I'm still

working on being a worry-free kind of gal.

Keeping your own house is not easy.  I thought I was a clean freak until I had my

own home.. now I've decided it's OKAY if people come over and

I only vacuumed two days ago.

J Crew Factory is one of the best resources a wardrobe could ask for.

Second on that list is probably Target.

It is okay if your first few jobs aren't perfect, or even ideal. I don't think anyone lands

a dream job in their 20's these days.. and if you do CONGRATULATIONS! You are

 ahead of the curb. I am thankful to be where I am now, but I can't wait to see where else

 my career journey will take me. Just make sure to take advantage of every resource to

learn and continue learning and growing it whatever you are doing now.

 It can only make you more desirable later!

Finally, making new friends is a MUST if you are 800 miles away from the old

ones. Staying in touch with friends is certainly worth it, but they aren't going to be

the ones to hang out with you when your hubby's out of town or you need some game-night

therapy. Whether it's through church, community programs like the Junior League

or you know, law school classmates of your husband... find a way to meet people.

 Unless you are in your hometown, chances are you are surrounded by

 tons of other 20somethings looking to make friends as well.

 

Sooo while I wasn't pondering my deep-seeded 25-year-old-wisdom, I was celebrating this new year of life with new friends! My precious husband went above and beyond his normal planning capabilities to surprise me with a great day of friends, wine tastings, limo riding, fabulous fruit and chocolate cake from my fav bakery, and a bike (in a very appropriate champagne with pink and leather details)!

 




 

 



Have a wonderful rest of your week. It's almost Friday!

Love,
DD



Amazing, MARVELOUS.. Anniversary!

As you most likely could have guessed, today's Monday highlight is all about my husband and greatest joy, because today we celebrate our 1 year anniversary!

It so so strange to me that we have been married for an entire year! Our wedding day is still so vivid in my mind... the super early morning that was a little chilly and dewy.. much like today.. having 20 people congratulate and try to give me day-of and marriage advice while getting my makeup done at Merle Norman, seeing my handsome groom for the first time on our wedding day, doing my best to be cool, calm and collected when my bridesmaids tried to very nonchalantly let me know that we were short a bouquet BUT IT WAS GOING TO BE FINE! NBD!... they handled it very well.. crying as as I watched our bridal party march to the alter to the most beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" I've ever heard... thank you Dr. Lesley, choir, and bagpiper!.. trying to figure out what it felt like to be MARRIED as my new husband drove us to OUR wedding reception.. there are just so many details and feelings that are still so prominent from that day... I don't believe 365 have passed since then!

But then again, I think back on what this past year has been and it seems too many memories have been made for it to only be 1 year!

I very honestly know that a year ago today I married my best friend and the one person in this world that I was meant to spend the rest of my life with.  He has brought me more happiness, laughter, and comfort than I could ever try to recount.  Aside from my Salvation, he is kind of the best thing that has ever happened to me!

I knew I loved this guy a whole lot when I agreed to share the rest of my life with him a year ago, but I had no idea that in a year's time I could love him even more! And so much more that it blows me away! How is it possible to care this much about any one person? I suppose there is only one answer to that, and it is the very powerful, loving God that has enabled Joe and I to grow in love and continue loving each other more and more each day.

Now, for fear of sounding like an ingenuine greeting card, I will confess that there have been of course many struggles as The Davises. Afterall, moving to a new home 12+ hours away from everyone we knew merely weeks after our honeymoon with one of us starting our first post-college job and the other trying to make it through the first year of law school is not an ideal situation for young newlyweds. And yes, hearts got broken, toes stepped on, feelings hurt, but when looking back on the year it is really easy to forget all those things, because we are learning why they happened. We are growing from them. And we are more in love today than the past 7 years of our relationship!

Happy Anniversary, love! And to all the upcoming summer anniversaries, Happy Marriage to you as well! I hope your love continues to grow and flourish as I am so thankful ours has!

XOXO,
Mrs. Dianna Davis!


A few favs from our very special day..

All photo credits belong to The Lovely Union.

Summer Change-Up

Happy Friday blog friends!

I come to you with a new idea and a request for input and favors. 

As a new season is hurrying closer, I deicded it was time to shake things up a bit via le blog du Davises to kick off the summer.  Sooo I'm proposing a series of blog posts based on all the promised posts of aparment renovations, crafts, and recipes that I still haven't gotten around to uploading.

Here's where I could use your expert advice.  I have set aside some blog pages for recipes and the like, but I wonder if it wouldn't just be better to post each on my home page then later reference them within each of the categorized tabs.... hmm... If any of you lovlies have achieved separating out your blog, I would love to hear how you did it! Also, do you think it's aesthically pleasing and more accessible to post this way?

Finally, I have a favor to ask.  I love blogging and I don't think I just post for the sake of attention, but, let's be real, it is nice to know that there are friends in cyberspace enjoying your joys and gaining inspiration as I KNOW I've gained lots of inspiration, ideas, recipes, perspectives, etc. from fellow bloggers such as yourselves.  SO, if you do exist as a reader and are not currently a "follower" of Virginia is for Lovers, be a pal and let me know you are out there by subscribing to the Davises!

Thanks for the help friends, and as a reward, I leave you with a few snapshots of my summer roommate (he will probably be featured in plenty of posts over the next few months)

Thor-Dog of Thunder.

Have a Fantastic Weekend!

XOXO,

DD

Marvelous Monday!

So this morning I woke up struggling with the 3rd Marvelous Monday installment.  It was, afterall, another gray, cold, wet, blah morning that caused moans and groans and covers being pulled over my head when the alarm went off 3-4 times...

But, folks, I've got to say, I feel like the blogs gods were with me today when my inspirational post for the week was basically handed to me at 9:00 AM.

Want to know what could possibly be sooo marvelous that it is unquestionably blog worry?

How about this bundle of joy?!

Everyone, I'd like you to meet puppy (name still unknown).  Puppy will be my housemate this summer!
The photo of this little guy was sent to me along with a proposition from our friend Ian.  Wanting a dog himself, and knowing of my husband's not so friendly leanings towards dogs, he offered to share this precious guy with me for the summer while he was away then reclaim him when he (and husband) come back for school in the fall.  Could the situation be more perfect?! I think not.

Soooo, ever since finding out I would be foster parenting a pup for the next few months (hello dream come true!) I've been a bit distracted thinking about what to do to get ready for the little guy.  I've come up with a little puppy wishlist that I'm hoping my local PetCo will help me fulfill.

I think I've got some pretty great stuff on my list, but I PROMISE to try and avoid a marriage mishap and go TOO overboard like these guys did....

but Oh Man! Shopping for a dog is going to be so fun!

Any advice on good doggie products? I'd love to hear your suggestions for my shopping list!

I'll update with pictures of our new house guest soon!

Love,
DD

Growing Up?

One thing that is beginning to creep up on me (even though it is, yes, still 7 months away) is that 2012 is the year I turn 25.  I know I'm not supposed to feel old and this is the prime of life and all that greatness, but being out of college and a member of the "real world" is starting to make me a little skittish about the path my "growing up" is taking me on so far.  Making life decisions like what jobs will get me better jobs in the future, and daily discussing with my husband what OUR future will look like based on the law firms he gets work with early along dressing up like a mature woman to take my husband's arm as we try to charm potential employers has me realizing that things are starting to get serious around here!  And don't get me wrong, I'm happy with serious, but I think I've taken becoming an adult to mean I can no longer achieve anything new... and we all know that can't be true! Right?!

So, in lieu of this line of thinking, I have decided to make my New Year's Resolution (a few weeks late, but better than never right?)  I vow to spend my free time doing all the things I already love, as well as trying out some of the many things I've been saying I would for years.

This of course means turning OFF the computer to mindlessly serf as well as the TV (which shouldn't be as much of a problem since we decided to get rid of cable, best decision of 2012) and spend time keeping myself young and creative! (which I would like to think as an added bonus will make me very happy and keep my husband sane)

So, 2012,  heres to:

Really learning to knit and finally making use of my set aside drawer

Playing my piano more and possibly even learning some new songs from memory :)

Setting aside time for some really good outdoor runs

FINALLY finishing my wedding scrapbook

Possibly auditioning for some community theatre

Getting better at keeping up with old friends while staying active with new ones

And OF COURSE dancing in my living room.

If any of you are feeling the same way, I hope I'm not the only one, you are welcome to come over and join me for a sing-along knitting circle with dancing and crafts to follow.

Playing Catch Up

So I suppose as a newlywed with a blog, it was inevitable I would eventually fulfill the cliché of spending the first many months of marriage documenting every new and exciting adventure via blog only to settle in and neglect my creative and informative outlet.  But, as the story goes, after enough time I buckled down and am making my triumphant return (therefore fulfilling the cliché and even with a blog title to match)!

No Matter! 

As you can imagine lots has happened since my last blog post.  Approximately 4 law school finals, 1,900+ miles, 3 holidays, numerous get-togethers, and an Egg Bowl has happened.  

I am happy to report that Joe (and myself) made it through the first semester of UVA Law.  He of course is the brilliant, hard-working student, but I think there has to be some credit given to the spouse.  Let's just say the weeks of finals in bleak December were not all sunshine and daisies.  HOWEVER, we made it through and after a joyous yet busy Christmas season with family and friends, we came back to C'ville and finally "caught up" with one another.  I can't say we enjoyed the long days and (mostly for Joe) sleepless nights and somewhat pathetically relishing in the coincidence of just bumping into each other in the kitchen. But, after looking back, I now feel incredibly assured that, though surely law school will probably be minor of the course of our lives together, no matter what trials may come our way, we will be able to weather them together.

Now, since I am well-aware our life is not nearly interesting enough for a play-by-play of the last 2 months, I have taken the liberty of compiling a brief, but sweet if I say so myself, photo-montage of our winter so far.

**In the midst of travel and getting a new phone, I broke my camera's memory card and lost un-saved photos from my phone.  So, very much to my dismay, there are many missing photo-documented holiday events including the tree farm and my husband's first attempt at using an axe. My apologies.**

Back in Starkville! Lots of rainy fun at the Egg Bowl with old friends!

3 in a row!!!

Our Buddy.

He got to eat the cookies after he finished studying for his Torts final.

What blog post wouldn't be complete without either a sweet or somewhat demeaning picture of the 3rd Davis family member.  Here she poses in her winter sweater 2 sizes 2 small.  Possible video of her waddling in it coming soon to fb.

Cheesy, I know, but I made Joe an Advent calendar of sorts to countdown to Christmas break.  Each day he got to pull off a number and read his inspiring message for the day :) 

First Davis family Christmas tree.

Christmas morning gets a little crazy at the Majors'

Boys with their new toy.

Terrible quality, but it's from a very incredible, also dark, visit to the McCormick Observatory where we saw Jupiter!

First hiking trip back in VA to break in our new boots!

 

 

Gorgeous view of creation at the end of the hike.

Lots of love from the state for lovers,

Dianna and Joe

Quality time..

Once again I find myself writing a blog about how funny I've noticed God likes to work in our lives... just as I was complaining about not having enough hours in the day, I have found myself with all the time in the world!

My first job in c'ville and I parted ways this week.  It was an answered prayer and a burden lifted.  HOWEVER, now I'm finding myself with all the time I wanted to do all the extra things I wanted, and I have NO idea where to begin.  I've contacted a knitting instructor, re-taken up my letter writing, researched paint colors for the apartment, and decorated for fall...and that's just the the beginning of the list that I've accomplished in the past two days.

I think Joe is quickly loving my being at home more (you know the whole clean, decorated apartment and dinner waiting thing is not something he's really experienced much until now)... but we both know what we aren't saying and that is: as wonderful as this unclaimed time is, money must be made somehow. We are pretending not to panic about that yet. God granted my prayers of getting out of ill-fitting job and providing much desired time and I know when the time is right, He will provide for our monetary needs as always.

In other news, today I felt, for the first time, like I really am a Charlottesvillian.  While having lunch with a new friend (who happens to be a fellow MSU Delta G) I ran into someone familiar who called my name from the ordering line.  I almost didn't turn around thinking no one here would know me, but sure enough it was a friend from church choir who just recognized me and wanted to say hello.  I can't explain how refreshing that was! It was so natural, like I wasn't a visitor anymore, but a member of the community. It's a small and silly joy, but I had to share it.

I also want to share my newest fall finds that have made me oh so happy.  Fall is hands down my favorite season of the year.  It's a good thing Christmas isn't in fall or there would be nothing to look forward to for me once the thermometer reads below freezing.

Happy pumpkin season!!

First Separation

So the time has come that my newlywed husband and I must leave each other's sides for more than a day.
I know I know...we knew this day would come, but really it is very bittersweet.  I am leaving for 10 days to travel for work and leaving my sweet Joe and Eliza at home.  And yes, this is sappy and cheesy, but if you have ever been a newlywed I'd like to think you understand.

So in light of a future bonding between my husband and cat, I will leave you with these photos of our child (clearly we are still a little lonely in Charlottesville).  She is our greatest source of entertainment during our frequent mid-week nights in, and I hope she'll forgive me for the exploitation.

Enjoy!

She is very strange...

And very athletic!

This is "Da Bird"... we bought it at a very weird cat store, but it is the  best present we could have
ever gotten our cat and ourselves.. provides hours of entertainment.