Easter Weekend!

I love Easter weekend!

I love the chocolate bunnies and the baskets of eggs..... the pretty dresses, the tulips, and the dogwoods in bloom.  It's such a beautiful weekend.

I'll admit that even the commercial part of Easter is darling to me.  The idea of a little boy running around in his linen suit (or smocked shortalls!)..... hunting eggs with his gingham lined basket....

.....it makes me giddy.

It's such a stylish holiday in the South!

But the reason behind why we dye the eggs.....wait for the bunny.... bake the ham, and polish our shoes, is what I love the most.

The message of hope.....of salvation....of a PROMISE.  A promise that defines not just my Easter Sunday....  but my every day.

I thought about this promise often last week.  The days leading up to Easter were such heavy ones for our community.  There was the news of the beautiful high school girl that took her life....   the innocent five year old baby that was killed by an intoxicated driver ....   and my Jennifer learned that her dear friend Brittany was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  She is in her early thirties with two small children.

It's during these times that you can't help but to question God's plans. I know I did.... I asked Him why many times last week.  But I was reminded of a promise of hope and eternal love from our Jesus. A promise that no man, no justice system, or no doctor can give.

How comforting to know that we have a hope and promise is our Jesus.  That even in the most darkest of days.....  He remains.  Always the same.  We may question His plan, His actions & His trials for us.....but because we believe in His promise......

......we buy the chocolate bunnies, dye our eggs, and dress in our Sunday best.

We celebrate and take hope in what He's done for us.

And I pray...... oh how I pray....  that this promise is the reason that Brittany can fight cancer, all while wondering if she'll see her daughter on her wedding day.......and the reason the family was able to bury their five year old baby.... and the other family their teenage daughter....

....and still be able to get out of bed the next day.

I hope they feel His promise and peace more than ever before.  And that as horrific as this past week must have been for them.....  that the promise of Easter brought them a reminder of His love.

Because the reason behind the bunny.....   is how we face tomorrow.

I hope your family had a wonderful Easter, full of His love and promise!


Here are a few photos from ours.....

My Easter weekend started on Friday with a trip to Keeneland with Jenn H!

Jenn's work team takes a trip to Keeneland twice a year.  Julie, her boss, was sweet enough to invite me, telling me that I was her "temp" for the day!  So nice.

We tailgated for awhile with lots of yummy food........ and a sweet baby Penny :)..

And speaking of food, Megan (who lives near Kenneland), showed up with my pregnancy craving....just for me!!!!

SO funny and so sweet!!!

(thank you Jenn H for knowing and informing her of my ridiculous craving!)....

Penny and Erin......

The beautiful sights of Kenneland...

A gorgeous day with wonderful people!


Julie- thank you for including me..... for treating me.... and for Walt's outfit!  It was a fun day and I truly felt spoiled to be a part of it.



And here are a few photos from our Easter Sunday.....

We enjoyed a beautiful Easter service......

Followed by time at Mom and Dad's....

And a delicious (and beautiful!) meal.......

And the Easter bunny still visits ......

And now even brings a basket for our Walt........

Thank you Mom and Dad for loving (and spoiling!) our Walt!



and us :)

We ended our day/weekend with three birthday celebrations....

Oh how I love Easter weekend :)



And because it seems a blog post can't escape a baby update (sorry!)......

I'm 29 weeks today!

Here's the newest photo!

Love to you all!


-Kristin

Another Memory Made

Such a beautiful weekend!

Here are a few photos from ours......


My handsome husband celebrated a birthday.....

We celebrated with his family on Friday evening with dinner....

And on Saturday, the two of us had a lunch and movie date of his choice....

Followed by some shopping for Walt.......

Lunch, a movie, and baby shopping with my husband..... makes for the perfect Saturday.



Today we went to a resident get-together/barbecue at the park.....

.....which turned out to be another special surprise!!


A baby shower for us!?!?

Troy's residents planned an afternoon of food, fun, and fellowship......  all for us and our baby boy!

They also presented us with a very generous gift!

I know first hand how difficult it is to plan and organize a party or get-together.  It's time consuming and tiring.  These friends are busy with residency, families, children....  I know their time is valuable.  To think that they took time out of their weekend to do something for us, is so special to me.

It's another perfect pregnancy memory created for us. Which is my favorite part!

We continue to feel so blessed.

I will miss this group of residents so very much!  Not because they surprised us with a baby celebration..... but because they are such good people, that I have loved spending time with over the last four years.  I know we have made lifelong friendships with many of them.

That was our weekend in photos!


Have a great week!

Love,

Kristin

We Have A Date!

Today we learned the date of our baby boy's arrival (assuming he doesn't have other plans!).  Due to a couple of surgeries that I had last summer, Walt will be delivered by scheduled cesarean section at 39 weeks.

July 2nd is all of a sudden the sweetest date there is!  The OB threw out the date as if it were any ole day.....  but to Troy and I, it sounded so glorious! ;-)

We normally spend that weekend hosting a big Fourth of July party.  But this year, The Dunaway/Davis 4th of July Picnic will be spent snuggling a 2 day old baby.  If you know my husband, you know that the Fourth of July holiday is his favorite.  He loves that Walt will be arriving so close to this day.

12 weeks and counting!

Here are some photos from the last couple of weeks.....


Mom celebrated a birthday....

Isn't she beautiful?

She felt Walt kick for the very first time on this day.

Isn't he so sweet?  Kicking for his Grandmother to help celebrate her birthday!  ;)

We love you Mom....  more than we could ever say or show!



Baby furniture arrived a couple of weeks ago.....

We've loved working on his nursery.  I'll have to post photos soon!



We spent a couple of evenings in prenatal classes......

I love the look on Troy's face..... so serious, which is so sweet!

Jenn H and I spent a day at the outlets.  I failed to take a photo of us, but did get some of our favorite stops of the day.  I was tickled to see that Edinburgh has added a Janie and Jack Outlet!

Medical schools and residency programs across the country celebrated "Match Day!"  Troy's department is proud to say that they matched all 3 candidates for next year.  Troy and his co-chief Silvia were thrilled, as they played a role in this happening!  We celebrated with a double date night with her and Martin.  Some of our very favorite people!

I was able to sneak in a few lunch dates last week.  Two days with my Cheryls, and a coffee and lunch date with my mother in law.......

I loved having my mother in law all to myself!!  I normally have to share her with the whole family.  Such a special time for me!

Here are a few photos from dinner out with friends.....

Baby Katherine (my future daughter-in-law) was in attendance too, but slept the entire time.  Such a good girl.

Love being with these girls ...  (thank you Mona for our socks!!).....

Troy's days as Chief Resident are nearing completion.  The department recently elected new chiefs.  This weekend, they visited our house for lunch and schedule making (creating the schedule for 12 residents!?).  It was a grueling job that they worked on all day!

I'm so proud of my chief!  Seeing his year of service come to an end is bittersweet.

I love all of the memories we made during his Chief year...

I love the dinners we attended, the parties we hosted, and spending time with the residents.

But that's not what I'm most proud of.  I'm proud of the way
Troy worried and fretted over each resident and how to be the best chief to them.  If one of them had a bad day, so did he.  He brought their stresses home with him each day.  I'm proud of the fact that he sat in his office with one of them while they sobbed for two hours due to stress (and then worried about them for days)..... the way he would spend many evenings on the phone helping one of them to solve a problem.... the way he handled conflict and strife.... and of the way he put others before himself.  We spent many nights worrying and talking about any problems within the department....and how he could best serve his residents.  His desire to do right...  to work hard..... to represent his department with honor... is what I'm most proud of.

Silvia:  Thank you for being such a remarkable co-chief to Troy.  He never doubted your intentions, your decisions, or your loyalty.  The fact that he was able to share this chief year with a person of such integrity and honesty.....    has been such a blessing.  We love you, and can't thank you enough for all you've done!  I will always cherish the memories and time we had with you this year.

I can't end this post without a couple of photos of what most evenings and weekends look like around our house these days.  Troy has been working SO hard to prepare for his boards that he will take this May.  You can find notes/books/lectures in just about every room.  Such a stressful, important (and expensive!) test to prepare for.....

And speaking of test.......

I passed my glucose test today!

Ha! ;)

Pregnancy continues to be so enjoyable :)

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Kristin