new blog. new business.

It's been a very long time since I have posted. I actually won't be posting on Gather Together anymore. I very recently started a photography business. Sara Davis Photography. I would be so thriled if you would follow my brand new Sara Davis Photography blog. I am very thankful for the way God is already blessing me through this new and exciting adventure. :)

As a side note, check out this picture I took of my little friend, Carsyn, today. Those cheeks are the cutest I've seen.

i celebrate your life, carl...

happy birthday, carl...

3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy...6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.~Philippians 1

I remember so many times over the past 29 years that you have brought joy to my life (and to the lives of your family and friends). You are a thoughtful brother, son, husband, and friend. You make us laugh, and you make us know we are loved. For all of these things, I am so thankful. I celebrate you today, Carl, and I love you.

*Unfortunately, all of mine and Carl's baby pics together are in Greenville, but maybe I will post one later. :)

it's your birthday, becky bam...

happy birthday, sister...

14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.~Ephesians 6

Thank you for the truth and peace you bring to my life. For 27 years, my life would not have been nearly as fun and meaningful without you by my side. It's your birthday, Becky Bam, and I love you.

i miss summer...

a fun weekend in sc with amy and her sweet boys. a festival and catch up time with marianne p. celebrating many special birthdays. a couple of days at the beach with melanie and family. celebrating my dad. talks about faith, walking, and peddle boating with ashley. babysitting holt gaston. sleepovers with lauren. servant-hearted parents helping me paint my house. church and brunch with steph every chance we got. sleepovers with lauren. celebrating our country with my brother and his wife, my sister. serving my community with my bible study. celebrating my 30th. beach days with my dear family and friends that are family. having amy and the boys here with me for a few days. a play date with my best friends and their little ones. an insightful night with jenny before she left for bolvia. exploring shreveport with emily. experiencing waco with marianne and the rest of the cox fam. several quality convos with shannon. catching up over dinner with lauren and jennifer. shopping and fellowship with lisa, wes, and ag. a beautiful road trip with my sister. precious time with my grandparents. experiencing rebecca m's workplace. fun hang out times with my bible study. talks with ellie about living life for Jesus. a day of girlie fun with amy and eve. celebrating the soon-to-be arrival of precious taylor heritage.....and spending time with my Savior....especially that. learning and re-learning the importance of fellowship. thank You for this summer. i surely miss it, but i am very thankful.


i have many pictures to document this summer. but this post is long overdue, and i ran out of time to collage all those pictures...so i decided to include some family pics from our photo shoot on the beach. i love my family:

the perfect surprise

the beach. excited anticipation. giggles and beauty all around. smiles. precious faces. some that i had not seen for too long. hugs. sweet hugs and kisses. wise planning. unbelievable planning. the perfect cake. and my style at that. thoughtful gifts. beautiful gifts. delicious treats. the perfect hostess. the perfect beach house. thirteen amazing friends (and three patient husbands). thirteen fantastic kids. awesome shock. overwhelming joy i had never experienced. a unique love i had never felt. the biggest surprise. the perfect surprise. the most generous surprise. the most generous love. all for me. to celebrate me. i am loved. and loved very well....such thankful praise.

the thirteen amazing friends...

six fun "big" kids...

seven sweet little ones...

...such thankful praise.

goodness

i went to two different places looking for a mother's days card for mom. i didn't end up getting her one. none said what i would have wanted to say. how i felt. honestly, it is so hard to put into words my feelings about my mom. how much i love her. all the reasons why. there is so much goodness inside of her. and she shares that goodness in the most humble, selfless way. she is the most fair person i know. she loves me as much or more than anyone else i know. she is funny but if you don't look and listen closely, you will miss it. i admire her faith. and i admire her constant, giving spirit. she is certainly my biggest role model and absolutely my biggest fan. my words do not do her goodness justice. but she is my kind and gentle mother. and i could not be more thankful.

Doesn't she look great in her monogrammed polo?

(aka mother's day present from me)

and we talked...

we hiked around the lake...

we played on the paddle boats...

we explored God's mountain creation...

and we talked...

more important than anything else we did during our third annual friends weekend, we talked. in that moment...that saturday night in our mountain condo, there was no other place i would have rather been. answering questions and listening. hearing what the Lord has done, what He is doing, and what we long for Him to do in us...it's what that weekend was all about. and it's what our friendships are all about...consistent encouragement and constant faithfulness. the One that sustains our friendship gave us a sweet moment to remind us just that. sitting down together without the miles of distance, the craziness of phone tag, and the busyness of life to remember. to catch up. to celebrate our joys. to encourage each other in our struggles. to give perspective. and especially to point each other to the One that gave us this friendship so many years ago.

we talked. i needed it. and He knew that.