If you wanna know how we feel...

Please direct yourself to Donald Miller's blog entitled "From Reagan to Obama, a brief Political History" located here: http://donmilleris.com/

If you don't have time to read the blog...here are some highlights that really spoke to us and reflect why we supoorted Obama because of our faith, not inspite of it...

"a few days ago I did an interview with a writer for The Today Show, and after the interview she asked how it was evangelicals could come to believe the many lies being spread about Barack Obama. In answer I came back to the insular nature of the suburban church. “When we’ve never met people,” I said, “we are easily manipulated into demonizing them. We are easily made to fear.” And I’ll add there has been a great deal of fear in this campaign. I just received a letter, yesterday, from a prominent church leader in Georgia that accused Michelle Obama, who I have met and found to be a lovely and humble woman, of being be a racist. This was not a small-town backwards preacher, this was a best-selling Christian author, who, honestly, should be ashamed of himself."

"Last year I vowed I wouldn’t make decisions out of fear. And because of that I’ve had one of the greatest years of my life. I went to Uganda and got to meet with the man who helped write their constitution. I wrapped up an evangelism project I believe will introduce more than a million people to the gospel. I rode my bike across America. All of this stuff took some degree of risk. But when calculating those risks, I realized the only reason not to try was fear. What if I was wrong, what if I couldn’t make it, what if the project didn’t work? But none of my heroes are controlled by fear. The commandment most often repeated in scripture, in fact, is “do not fear.” Fear is often something unrighteous trying to keep you from doing something good."

"While in Denver I met people from the Obama Campaign. I met Joshua Dubois and Paul Monteiro, Obama’s faith-policy advisors. Paul, like me, had been a Republican until recently. He is a staunch pro-lifer who got tired of Republicans not making enough strides on the issue and was won over by the dramatic effect economic policy has on unwanted pregnancy and the bottom-up effects of economic stimulation as opposed to the conservative, supply-side policy. And Joshua spoke to me about Senator Obama’s personal faith, his commitment to close his events in prayer, his daily morning devotions and his twenty-year history of talking openly about Jesus. I didn’t need to be won over. I’d started a mentoring foundation in Portland two years before and was attracted to Obama’s message on responsible fatherhood (along with his backing of The Responsible Fatherhood Act.)"

"I voted for Barack Obama (we vote early in Oregon) because I think he is right on healthcare (his plan will allow 27 million more Americans, including young, pregnant mothers to be cared for) and he is right on responsible fatherhood. I voted for Barack Obama because he will keep George W. Bush’ Faith-based Partnerships Program in play, only increasing its funding. I voted for Barack Obama because he has the respect of world leaders, which will be necessary to deliberate an American agenda around the world, and I voted for Barack Obama because he had the judgment to oppose the war in Iraq. I’ve taken some blows from the conservative right on my stance, but, even in public debate against McCain representatives, have not been deterred. I will not be guilted, shamed or controlled. I am not going to vote for one candidate because I have been made to fear the other. I support Barack Obama because he has beat back the dark hour of cynicism and irrational fear, and provided hope to a country closing in on itself. I believe there are great days ahead."

We stand with our Christian brother in celebrating this historical day

I waited almost 33 years for you...

As my birthday nears, i am reminded of what milestone i'll really be celebrating this year...

dear hayvn,

i waited almost 33 years to hold your hand.



i waited almost 33 years to kiss your cheek and nuzzle the sweet top of your head.



my little man, i waited almost 33 years to fall in love with your blue eyes, your heart-melting smile and your sometimes impatient spirit.



...and i'd wait another 33 years to hear you call me 'mama' and to see you take your first steps.



i'd wait this long and more to see you stand on your own two feet one day, to hear you argue with me passionately about politics and love, to see how you deal with your blessings and your trials, to know what your favorite color will be or what kind of music you'll like, and to find out if you love the mountains like I think you will.


33 years will pass in the blink of an eye, i'm sure, as i watch you grow...as i get to know the man that God has knitted you together to one day become...



my lovely son, you were worth the wait. and every day i am reminded that you, after almost 33 years, are exactly who I prayed you would be. my hayvn.

[Pushes Husband off his soapbox]

We're getting fired up in the Davenport household...and not in a good way. In a way that wakes us up early in the morning and seems to stay with us as we try to fall asleep at night. I wish this could be a cute post about our most adorable boy (cause, honestly, he is the sweetest most adorable little man ever), but, alas, it is not.

This post is about lying. I hate lying. Lying, to me, is the worst form of disrespect. It's telling the person you're lying to that either 1) you don't care enough about them to be truthful, or 2) that you think they aren't bright enough to seek or understand the truth, or that 3) they're not strong enough to handle the truth. Whichever message you're trying to relay, let me assure you, none of them are acceptable.

Now, I'm about to venture into territory I always swore I'd stay away from in these types of public arenas...are you ready?...politics. Yuck. Having grown up in a very political home, my step-father having been a small time politician (County Supervisor), I know a bit about the game...on both sides of the aisle (as they say). My mother was/is a democrat and my ex-step-father (and father for that matter) was/is a republican. Let me just say this--watching 60 minutes during dinner sometimes led to some heated conversations which resulted in either the throwing of silverware or someone storming out of the room in disgust. Some might think that this would cause me to hate politics, and they'd be right about some aspects of politics. But what it also did for me, and what I appreciate to this day, was that it engaged me. It led me to believe that opinions matter. My opinion matters. It taught me that if you don't show up and participate in the debate, then you aren't worth the American soil you stand on. It also showed me how difficult it is to really reach across the aisle, cause, let's be honest, the two sides differ DRASTICALLY.

But, getting back to lying, what growing up in a political home taught me the most is that you gotta respect your opponent. You gotta believe that they have a right, a voice and an opinion that at least deserves your respectful engagement. So when a candidate lies to me it always prickles my 'hey, that's not fair' hair on the back of my neck. It causes me to take a second look at that person and ask, "why are you disrespecting me? Why are you assuming that I'm either too stupid or too lazy to find out the truth?"

As my little family and I engage in this historical election (gotta love that Hayvn's first presidential election will result in either an African American president or a female veep), we do so with an eager ear to the facts. And I gotta tell you, sometimes those facts get harder to hear among all the crap they're trying to sell us.

So, let me encourage all of you (all 3 of you who may stumble upon our blog from time to time), don't let some one or some group tell you who to vote for this November 4th. I'm getting really tired of the, "Well I always vote this way" or "That's who my [insert organization here] tells me to vote for" mentality. That's weak and lazy...and, honestly, irresponsible. This is too important, folks. This election calls--no it DEMANDS--that we all dig deeper. That we all click onto FactCheck.org and REALLY look at who's telling the truth and who's lying. Just as we all learned in Kindergarten--lying is bad.

**Post Disclaimer**

Below is a little story I wrote for our son, Hayvn. Now some of you might note the silliness of said post. I couldn't agree with you more. But I recently went on a blogging strike cause I was sure that my lack of wit and intelligent observations made me actually an anti-blogger. I mean, who cares about my adventures with my new little son? Not many people, I'm sure.

But, then a very sweet friend of mine freed me when she told me that you can now upload blogs to certain sites that will print them out book style for you to save for all of prosperity. What an idea! I love this... and knowing this, I came to the conclusion that maybe Hayvn would one day want to read all about his first year of life. So suddenly free from the pressure of having to impress you folks, I can now write knowing I only have to impress some future Hayvn...and being his mom, I hope he has some grace for me.

This all being said, I took the soap box away from my husband (periodically) and wrote a little story to Hayvn about how his nickname went from Little Bug to Little Bear on his first camping trip to the High Sierras. His new nickname is so appropriate, that his daddy felt inspired to get a new tattoo for his little man...



Anyway, this is just a warning that most of my posts from now on may be pretty silly, with sentiments that are mostly cheesy...with the exception of Jeremy's public rants. Gotta give the guy some sort of an outlet...

Little Bug Becomes Little Bear

This is the story of how our little Hayvn went from "Little Bug" to "Little Bear" in one short week...



It all started on an early morning in Fresno of all places. Little Bug woke up at the early hour of 5am and was just rearing to go. Go where? Camping! His dad had been filling his ears with wild stories of the High Sierras and Little Bug could barely contain himself when the big morning finally arrived. Today was the day they would drive through Yosemite Valley and up the big ol' Tioga Pass to finally arrive at Silver Lake.

Little Bug was so excited that he often would just fall asleep during his journey...



But as Little Bug and his family came down from Tioga Pass (which is over 11,000 feet up!) Little Bug started to get antsy. Four hours of being content in his car seat was over and it was time for him to get out. Now.

When his family finally pulled into the Silver Lake campground, Little Bug was greeted by new family members. He met his Aunt Sandi, and cousins Brandon and Teddy. He also was greeted by his gramma and pops too. But first things first. After a long drive, Little Bug demanded a meal and some rest before he started exploring the new territory.



After settling in, Little Bug started sight seeing...extensively. There was so much to see. There were trees he'd never met, flowers he'd never smelt and a lake shore he'd never come across in his whole life. He just couldn't believe it. Little Bug was so in love with all he saw, that he deemed blinking a completely useless past time. Who had time for blinking?! Certainly not Little Bug.









But as the time went on and his non-blinking continued through much of his days, Little Bug began to see the error of his ways. Each night, as the sun began to set, Little Bug began to cry and wiggle and just make himself miserable with his new non-blinking rule. But, bless his heart, he just couldn't stop himself from looking. Even while he took a meal, his favorite part of any day, Little Bug's little eyes darted in every direction. As his crying increased and his wiggling got the best of him, his mama and daddy pleaded with their Little Bug to please calm down. But he just couldn't. And his crying got so bad, that Little Bug was no longer a little bug. He grew into a little BEAR! Growling and snarling like he'd never growled or snarled before. Little Bear's parents had no choice but to try to tame the little beast. They reached for the first thing they could find--Little Bear's blanket--and quickly tethered him around his wiggling little head. Little Bear, finally forced to tear his eyes away from the outside, was calmed, and his tired eyes finally closed and his growling finally silenced. Poor Little Bear.



When Little Bear woke up each morning, his non-blinking continued, but his parents had finally mastered the art of blanket-diversion in order to calm Little Bear's growling and snarling. Ah, Little Bear. We're gonna miss our Little Bug, but we embraced our new Little Bear and his non-blinking ways...



Besides, we know that deep down inside of you our Little Bug lives on...

Land of orphan couches

Every year around this time San Luis becomes the home to thousands of orphans...Lost, displaced, and lonely. Couches and recliners left broken-hearted on the corners of this great city. You might ask yourself, "How is this happening in my town?" But there is no easy answer.

People who suck: don't stop for pedestrians

It is now common for me to approach cross-walks with apprehension, why? Because people suck. They think solely of themselves...not the family with a newborn trying to cross the road who's legal right it is to cross, that right which trumps the rights of the driver who clearly can't see said family or refuses to look in our direction as they very nearly plow through my brood...well wife and child. So I Herby declare that the next oblivious driver shall receive a b.o.b. stroller imprint on their passenger side door and hopefully a pant leg full of hidy-ho...of course Sarah will have to be holding Hayvn for this to work....on second thought I think I'll clap loudly and yell "Hey! Nice job! good one!" Whilst Higuera st. shoppers look on at me, hopefully shaking their heads at the crappy driver and not the chubby guy making an ass of himself by yelling at passing cars. The best part? If you don't look in our direction while you nearly drive though us, WE MUST NOT BE THERE! Can anyone help me think of a creative way to teach these drivers their lesson? For reals...I need real fun suggestions....