October Hodge Podge

Here is my latest hodge-podge of October events.
Abs being....well....Abs! Although this is not her halloween costume, it is true Abs! (Her dad found no humor in it but I think its hilarious!!!) Trick or Treating with friends was so much fun! I had never been trick or treating (I know I have led a deprived life...LOL) but let me tell you it is ALOT of work. Hauling the kids, keeping them out of the dark road, walking, walking, and more walking.....next year I say we hitch us up a hayride of sorts!! Here is me (dressed as Wade) & the tiger...aka..."Lily"!

Our first school party in Kindergarten! Mrs. Renz asked me to make the cupcakes and of course the Jones life is crazy so I barely got them finished....LOL...(special thanks to Marilyn for a helping hand!)

So this is the COLDEST pumpkin patch I have ever been to. It was freezing....literally....it was so cold that the poor children had to go back to school and eat their sack lunches. Even as bundled up as we are, my teeth were still chattering!

Abs is officialy a two wheel rider! She was so excited to have her training wheels removed. She begs to ride her bike but now it is not so easy at the new house. I will have to be a better mom and take her to the park more....but I have some time until spring!

Hope everyone else is having a great fall season! I can't believe it is almost time for Christmas trees and all things holiday!

Lily in the hospital

Many of you know that Lily has been sick some this past week. Jennifer took her again this morning to the doctor because she woke up this morning vomiting again. When she got to the doctor they weighed her and she had lost almost two pounds since last monday. Long story short... She is now in the hospital because she was beginning to become dehydrated. They have taken blood and have her on an IV. The blood work cam back and did not show any bacteria so they are still saying that it is viral. Keep her and us in your prayers. The doctor called this evening and said that she might come home tomorrow or could be there a few days. He would decide later.

Thanks for praying

Wade

Pumpkin Patch (The 2nd Visit)...

The Jones family is crazy about the mountains! We love to go and find an adventure. Last Saturday we got to make a whole day of adventures. It started at breakfast - Wade took us out! (Yeah - I didn't have to cook!) The girls look so excited! We made it to lunch at Poole's BBQ and a surprise awaited. Mr. Oscar was there! Abs was so excited. He even played the piano while we ate. If you haven't ate BBQ here - DO IT!!! It is awesome! PS - Get the mac & cheese too - it is homemade with a crunchy cheese crust on the top - YUMMY!
On to the pumpkin patch we went. There were lots more people this time so I am glad I got some good pics last time. The girls were a little overwhelmed at all the excitement! Here is a pic of Aunt Angie and Abs waiting in line for the hayride.

Uncle Erik found his country roots on the hayride!
This is one of my favorite pictures. I know it doesn't have the best light but Lily's face is hilarious! She was being a "lion" at the camera. The child has so much personality. (I don't have a clue where she gets it...LOL) So if you want to take an adventure to the mountains....call the Jones family!!

The Peanut Festival

On Saturday, Wade had the opportunity to take one of his students to Plains, GA because he won 3rd place in an art festival. He got to meet President Carter and march in the Peanut Festival Parade. We took Allen & his brother on Friday evening and spent the night before our big day of all things peanuts!
Here is a pic of Allen & President Carter! Here are my 2 two nuts (just kidding!) with the Nut-Mobile! Abs thought this was way too cool!
Here is Wade & Allen marching in the parade. The streets were full of people and President Carter and his wife were watching from the balcony across the street from us!
Wade had to be a teacher...LOL...so we took a "field trip" to President Carter's boyhood farm. This was Abs favorite part.....the outhouse! I think she thought it was so wierd to go to the bathroom in a hut outside. But she insisted that she have her picture made here!!
And finally, the worker at the farm let Abs go and pick some peanuts from the field. We took them home with us and I tried my hand at boiling them. But I think they turned out too salty. Oh well, I get an A for effort!

So after 8 hours in the van (4 hours one way) and peanuts to show for our travels, we had a great time. I hope each of you had a great weekend too!

Our Weekend...

We had a GREAT weekend! Saturday morning we loaded up with Nana and Papa and went to get apples and pumpkins. Some of my fondest memories as a little girl is going with Mom & Dad to get apples in the fall. I want my girls to have some great memories when they are older and we have so much fun!
Here we are at Hillside - Abs has an apple slushie and Lily is eating a carmel apple!The next part of our adventure took us to Burt's Pumpkin Farm. We love going to see the HUGE pumpkins and getting pics on top of them but since I can only show a few pics...I chose the one with Nana & Papa. Abs loved helping pick out the pumpkins to put in our wheelbarrow.
I had to share this pic. Lily decided she was going to pick out a pumpkin that was as big as she is. She couldn't pick it up and she was so frustrated....It was hilarious!
Church time! I just wanted to show off my matching girls...I know it's crazy but I love dressing them alike...LOL!
And finally - we decorated some small pumpkins last night. We drew on some and Abs got to paint one. I still have sharpie and paint on me but we had a great time!
I hope all of you had a great weekend too!

The WOW Writer

Well, I guess I too have been uninspired to blog. I really don't know why, but this is the right topic to get me back!!





ABS IS A WOW WRITER!!

I am so proud! Here is the "story" - They are encouraging the students to draw a picture and then use words as labels. This is still considered "pre-writing" but to Abs she wrote a novel!! Each of the kindergarten teachers chose 1 girl & 1 boy. Abs even prayed Monday night in her prayers that she would be the wow writer......(no pressure God!!) She was so excited to see her work in the main hall!



Here is Abs showin' off her work!

And of course, Lily wanted to be included too!

The Bus Stop...

I have to give props to God!! We now have a bus that drops off in front of my house. Who would have thought such a thing could be so difficult?

We are going to try the bus again today! Thanks to all of you for listening to me and for all your prayers! You are an awesome group of friends to be concerned with the Jones family's bus fiasco. I am so blessed to call you my friends!

Kindergarten Here We Come...

Abs was SSSOOO excited this morning! She went to bed early last night...which is a miracle! But she got up at 3:30 a.m. and wanted to know if it was time to get ready....Needless to say, Wade sent her back to bed.
Everyone in the Jones household now gets up much earlier than last year! 6:30 wake up time!! She ate breakfast, got dressed, and even let me flat iron her hair (without complaining....another small miracle!!)
This is the final results!!

Headin' out to the van....Little Miss Independent!!
The last pic before we left. We couldn't walk them to their rooms, only to the lunchroom. So I couldn't be the crazy parent documenting the entire morning...lol!! The only pic with Lily looking alive....She was NOT excited about getting up early!!

Hope everyone else has a great first day!!!

Kangaroos...

Fear the Roo(s).... Normally shopping for school shoes would never be the reason for a post, however, this is the Jones family!!

{Thanks to Barry for the Fear the Roo idea!}

So in true Jones fashion, we go shopping for the all important tennis shoes to begin Kindergarten. I look for the ones with the coolest colors and Wade goes for the tried and true faithfuls. He tries to get Abs to get some old school K-Swiss. Please note: There is nothing wrong with the K-Swiss but he gets all senitmental about having them when we was in school. So after we weren't sold, we go to eat dinner with the whole Jones clan. I merely make the statement about the K-Swiss and we all laugh...I then add "If Wade could find a pair of Kangaroos, that's what he would have Abs in!" (Do you remember the Kangaroos? The ones with the zippers on the sides to keep your ice cream money?) There was much laughter and Wade wasn't very happy with us!

Remember - paybacks are fun!!!

So off to the mall we go...still in hot pursuit of the school shoes. We end up in the Shoe Department and lo and behold we find.......KANGAROOS!!! They even have the zipper on side. So check out Abs new school shoes------

Wade got his payback on all of us!!!

And remember - "FEAR THE ROO(S)!!"

A Birthday Wish...

Yesterday was Wade's birthday.....(most of you already know!)

So I tend to become a sappy mess when it comes to holidays and such and yesterday was no exception. Since I didn't do a sappy post for our anniversary you all get to read it now. (You bunch of lucky peeps!!)

Wade,

There is no other person on earth who I love as much as I love you. You are so awesome in so many ways. You are an awesome husband, father, spiritual leader of our house, worship leader, teacher, and the best friend I could ever want. You totally get me (and that is not always an easy task....lol)! You keep me on track - I do try, it's just so hard with all my ADD!! I am so blessed that you are in my life.

I pray that we have many more holidays to share together. I love making memories with you!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

A Cool Thought...

I just had to post this for all of us who was able to attend/work this past weekend at Tres Dias!! Read it to see how awesome God is ---again!!!!


A Grace-Filled Woman

Jul 21st, 2008 by wofblog

I want to become the full-grown, fully mature, grace-filled woman that God envisioned before I was even born.
I want to be the full-size, grown-up version of that wonder-filled baby girl He knit together in my mother’s womb.
I want to be so in tune with Him and His thoughts and ideas for me that I can know and celebrate on a daily basis that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I want His dream for me to be a reality. . . .
This great God of ours works in us to make us all we can be. He does not just sit on the sidelines waiting for us to trip up while we try to be a bigger girl than we are. He just longs for us to grow and live each season of our lives to the max, and He empowers us to do it if we really want to.
That’s what being a Big Girl is all about: living life to the fullest in all ways, in all places, and in all situations.

Jan Silvious

Excerpted from Glimmers of Grace: Sparkling Reminders to Encourage You © 2008 Women of Faith, Inc. All rights reserved.

My Random Thoughts...

Ok so I have several things to say and you all know my brain works best in a numbered kinda way so......

1. The summer is going by WAY to fast!! I can't believe my little Abs is going to kindergarten in a couple of weeks. I am getting a little anxious about this but as Wade keeps telling me, "Everybody feels this way when their first one goes!"

2. I am completely overwhelmed by God! He is so awesome and I love seeing Him work out things. As most all of you know, I was honored (more than words) to work this past Tres Dias weekend and my sister, Angela attended. All I can say is - "WOW GOD!!"

3. We are in the middle of music camp this week at EMC and the kids are doing such a great job! They sound beautiful and I can't wait for you all to hear them on Sunday morning!

4. I have just faced one of my biggest fears....LOL....Most all of you know that I do not like to drive but today I went to pick up Brodie & Taylor for Brenda. I had to drive up Monteagle to Manchester (it's the 1/2 point!!) On the way home the entire trip was severe thunderstorms. Wind, pounding rain, lightening, the whole shabang.....But I made it!!! YEAH ME!!!!...LOL

5. Wade is out of town until Thursday night. He left this morning for a science teacher convention in Atlanta. I already miss him so much - I truly enjoy being with my hubby!! I feel like we have had no real time together in weeks - so next week (it's his b-day on Tuesday) I feel a date night coming on! And let me say it is much overdue!!

I hope all of you are having a great summer too!!
Lots of love!!!

The Driftwood Beach...

I have been trying for 2 days to post a video & pics so this is all I could do. (The internet connection in our condo hasn't been too great!!)

We miss you all and can't wait to see you this weekend!!!

4th of July....Jones Style!!

Girls Day Out...

On Monday Abs, Brenda, & I spent the afternoon getting all pampered! I realize I should do this more. Abs just loved it!!!


Brenda showin' off her new mani!!




At the end - Nana & Abs drying! (Sorry I got out of order...lol)

Abs cool toes! She picked out her own colors and designs. I think she did a good job!!

Abs getting painted! Our lady's name was Trang. She was pretty cool!!

The final result!!!

The Turley Wedding...

On Saturday, one of Wade's bff's got hitched - Alfred!! We were all so happy for him & Heidi. Wade was in the wedding. It was at the Wink and the reception was at the Farm. We had tons of fun as you can see!!

Wade lookin' good before he left the house!!!
Wade & Jenny G. dancin' the night away!! She said she wished she had a dance partner. I don't think Wade was what she had in mind....sorry Jenny....LOL!!

Abigail with her "boyfriend" Noah! They had the dance floor smokin' I think Abs was even doing some break-dancing and cartwheels. Now that is hard-core!!!!

Wade & Lily doing the 80's moves! I don't think Lily was that impressed.....LOL

Hope everyone else had a great weekend too!!!

Thank you shout out...

I just wanted to say a big "THANK YOU" to all of you!!!

Everyone has totally came together to give the children such a wonderful VBS this year. I truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication for our children as well as the friends & family visitors that are participating. Each one of you are special to me. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to be our children's minister. (I say "our" - because to me, we are one HUGMONGOUS family!)

I hope everyone is having a great week!
I love you all!!!!

Prayer Request for Mama...

I would like to ask you all to remember Wade's grandmother, Mama (pronounced Mawmaw...lol).
In a previous post Brenda spoke about her being baptized and getting saved. She was so happy. Happier than we had seen her in months and months.

But now she is having horrible back pain. She has already been to the doctors 3 times this week. She is really depressed as well as in alot of pain.

Would you pray for Mama?

The devil would like nothing better than to steal her new found joy and lead her to the path that God really doesn't care about her. However she just needs to be comforted to know that God loves her all the time, even in times of sickness!!

VBS 2009...

I know....I know.....We haven't even had VBS 2008 yet (but it is coming soon!!!)
All last week Group Publishing (the company we have been using) had been doing clues for VBS 2009 themes. Yesterday the announced the new ones!

I think this is such a neat idea because typically we don't study the underground church and what the first Christians were held to for their beliefs in Jesus. So I just wanted to share the news with you all!! Here is the link to the website if you want to see the details!

Lots of fun to come!!