"It's a great day for surfing" Isaiah Jones

Today is the perfect beach day.
The sun is out, the clouds are few and far between and the water's just right.
Tomorrow may be a different story if Fay comes in. (the expected hurricane).
Last night we took family pictures... enough said about that!!!

Today we rode down to the Blue Parrot restaraunt and had some grouper, scallops and shrimp. Chris and dad enjoyed a good anugs burger!

Tonight we're going on a "sunset cruise". It's a boat ride from 5-9 PM that will include sight seeing of the Apalachicola Forest with bears and alligators! Can't wait to get pics of this.
Then we'll stop and swim and be able to get great shells and sand dollars (from what we're told).
They'll take us around the island bay and beach side... I think this is gonna be fun!! The kiddos should really enjoy this trip!

"It's a great day at the beach!" Isaiah Jones

Jones, party of 10

The Jones family has made it safely to Florida.
We had a good, but long, trip.
We're supposed to get rain all week and a class/level 1 or 2 hurricane on Wednesday.
Sounds like an eventful week!! I think Chris is excited about this. He told me "I would like to live through a hurricane."

WHAT???

New Ride

I am so excited about the new vehicle we just got!
We've been so blessed by God!!
We were able to get a 2007 Ford Freestyle.
I had never seen one until yesterday when we got it.
Our friend Jim from church was able to find it for us. It's white with silver on the bottom.
It's a neat little ride. It's considered a cross-over so we don't know whether to call it a car, van, truck or SUV.
Maybe we should call it a cruck.
We drove it today for about 7 hours to Macon, GA. Tomorrow we'll make the rest of our trip to St. George Island, FL.
We had a good trip today. Isaiah was pretty whiney the 7 hours so tomorrow I think we'll put him in mamaw and papaw's SUV!!! HE HE!!

My Father's World

It's official...
I just finished ordering Gracie's Kindergarten curriculum. We will be using "My Father's World".
After much searching online and asking many questions, I feel this is going to be a good choice for her!!
I can't wait for it to all come in. I'm hoping that it will be here when we get back from vacation!!
She's excited and so am I!!

So busy

I've not posted in forever! You could say I've lost touch with the internet for awhile.
Now having internet while at home makes it really difficult to keep up with "Keepin' up with the Joneses!!
Our latest news is that we've moved again.
We were in the 1 bed 1 bath apartment just over a year.
We've now moved into a 3 bed 2 bath home with plenty of room to play, sit, homeschool and just have fun!!
We're so blessed and excited to begin "normal" again.
We leave for vacation on Friday for a week at St. George Island, FL with my parents and brother's family.
This is a much needed vacation!!
After that, Gracie will start school here at the house.
The Lord gives you what you want, as I wanted to be a teacher when I was younger!
Now that we have a home, we have internet. I just have to go into our storage building and find our desk top!!
Both our lap tops have bit the dust for some reason. I miss them!!!
So, I use Chris' work computer when he brings it home.
I'll gradually get back to posting more regularly!!
PEACE!

Day 5

MOVE

"GOD, IS THAT YOU??"

God speaks through:
the bible
gifted teachers
the impression of the Holy Spirit
PAIN

Ways to know if what you're hearing is God:
1. Does it agree with the bible
2. Does it make me more Christ-Like
3. Does my church/community affirm it
4. Is it consistent with How God has SHAPEd me
Spiritual gifts
Heart/passion
Abbilities
Personality
Experience
5. Does it concern my responsibilities
6. Is it convicting or condemning
7. Do I sense God' peace about it

A way to request guidance from God:
1. You must realize that God cares about the details of my life
2. You need to ask a specific question
3. You must believe he wants to answer

how to receive his guidance:
1Withdraw Luke 5:16, Hab 2:1-2
2. Wait
a. Relax your body/prepare your body Ps. 46:10
b. Wait in silence Ps. 62:5
3.Watch Eph 1:18
4. Write
5. Worship Hab. 3:2

Day 4

BOLDNESS

Boldness vs. Rudeness
Boldness vs. Arrogance
There is a big difference between getting people to notice you and getting people to notice God!
Boldness makes people see GOD!

What facing danger does to us:

Lacking courage makes us stubborn
Lacking courage makes us skeptical
Lacking courage makes us selfish
Lacking courage makes us short sighted

Of the four words above, which applies to you??

What type of person does God partner with?

1. People who are doing the right thing Acts 3:1
2. People who are willing to be interrupted Acts 3:2-3
3. People who pay attention to needs Acts 3:4
4.People who give and inspire hope in others Act 3:4
5. People who use what they have Acts 3:6
6 People who realize that they're source is God Acts 3:6
7. God uses those who are willing to try Acts 3:7
8. People who want God to receive the Glory! Acts 3:11

Boldness is not a technique, it's an attitude!!!

God can not draw out of you what you do not allow him to fill you up with!

Day 3

Community

True community in Christ requires certain things.....

1 You must be willing to pay the price Col. 1:24-25
2. You must be willing to have only one purpose/passion- God won't compete for your attention Col 1:26-28, Col 2:2-4
3. You must understand the purpose of ministry Col 1:28
4. You must depend upon his power and discipline Col 1:29, Col. 2:5
5. You will have to make an investment of effort Col 2:1
6. You will have to make a choice to respond Col. 2:6-7

What choices am I presented with?
1. I choose to be alone or I choose to be with others Ecc 4:12, Heb. 10:25
2. I choose to pretend or to be real Matt 23:27, Ro 12:9, Eph 4:25
3. I choose the easy way of the hard way Eph 4:2, 1Thes 5:14, 1 Cor. 13:7
4. I choose comfort or I choose change John 10:10, 2 Cor 7:9, Prov. 27:17, Heb 10:24

Day 2

Day 2
Holy Spirit (HS for short) Over View
for your reading pleasure....

The HS is not an emotional state or feeling
The HS is a person- he has individuality, will, intelligence, hearing, knowledge, sympathy,love,desire

The scriptures declare that the HS is GOD
He has power to create
He speaks commands
He is called Lord

He is Like Jesus
He responds to our faith in Jesus

He creates Joyful people
He creates a useful people
He creates an influential people

The spirit will fill for obedience (those "Get To" opportunities)
The HS will Fill for Humility


HOW TO BE FILLED
Present your entire being to be filled
You must ASK
You must be willingly obedient (ouch!)
You must have faith in God

Over View

CIY 2008~Move

So, I find myself back in Anderson, IN at another week of CIY MOVE!!
The last time I was here was 2 years ago with my BFF Amy and the New Life crew.
I'm here this week as the girls' sponser..... the only problem is there aren't any Community Christian girls here!!
We had 2 girls and 1 guy back out on us the day before we left.
Needless to say, I've been bored out of my head during time off.
I still have 3 full days of this to endure. God is truly testing me this week.
When I first got here I went into my room 224, unpacked, and made my bed.
I then was moved to 208 and had to move all my junk down the hall. I was willing to do it so girls from the same youth group could room together. But I was frustrated at the staff that was so disorganized!
Now I'm in a stinky dorm room with a lady I'd never met. Kinda awkard. She happens to be from Frankfort, KY's Capital City Christian Church.

The sessions have been good and of course worship time with the Aaron Pelsue band has ROCKED!!

I plan on getting their new cd this week for Chris for "Father's Day"!! It's gonna be a great cd with their new hit "Revoluiton"!!

More hair pictures

the rest of the cut....

chop chop!

Today was a big day for me!!

I got all my hair cut off that I've been growing out for 2 years.
I'm sending it away to locks of love, hoping someone there needs it more than I do!!

What a good feeling to help others out!!

Happy 5th, Big G!

Monday, June 2, 2008 was Gracie's 5th Birthday.
Time sure does fly by quickly.
We had a blast at her slumber party the previous Friday night.
There were 11 girls total plus Chris and I in the tiny apartment. But none of that mattered, it was just fun!!
As soon as I get some pictures (309) downloaded I'll upload them to my blog.
To get the party started we had some pizza hut pizza that was yummy. Then we went bowling for about an hour. The little ones didn't last long at all.
We then walked home for some delicious cake and then opened presents.
We watched 2 movies, Flushed Away and Shark Tail. We finally got to sleep about 12:45 (after 2 little girls had to be picked up due to missing mommy).
It was a fun night but not something I can do very often!! I told Gracie from here on out, she has to have her girl friends over one at a time!!

Initial Outfitters

Initial Outfitters... ever heard of this?
I hadn't either until a few weeks ago.
A girl I know here in London joined this company so I see her "ads" on myspace etc.
I thought I'd check out the website. It is really neat stuff.
You know me, I love jewelry and things that can be engraved etc.
If you have a minute, check out this web site.

Maya Angelou

As a Mother's Day gift, Chris brought me to Ashville, NC to a beautiful Bed and Breakfast yesterday. The name of it is White Gate Inn and Cottage.

We arrived yesterday evening at the 1889 home located in the heart of Ashville.
The place is so neat. All the old qualities are here yet very updated. In the sitting area was a huge player piano from 1905 that anyone was allowed to play. We were shown to our room, the newly built Maya Angelou Suite, and I was in awe.
It has a beautiful king size bed with 80 pillows, a flat screen tv hanging over a stone fire place and a view of nothing but gardens around us.
Chris' favorite part was the stand up shower with 6 shower heads. I think I liked the jacuzzi tub the best. We wanted to go to the infra-red sauna, but it was locked up by the time we got back from dinner... maybe next time.

This morning all the guests gathered in the dining room for a 3 course breakfast.
It started with a cup of fruits, next was some type of asparagus egg bake (like a quiche) and third was raspberry fluff with cool whip and chocolate sprinkles. It was good but very rich. Of course the coffee, tea and o.j. was yummo too!!! We talked with the 10 other guests and just chatted about where we're from and where we're going next on our trips. Of course, we're heading home, others where going to the Biltmore today.

We have to be out of here by 11AM. We're heading to the mall to meet up with Chris' parents to pick up our kiddos. They've been in NC since Sunday. What a treat!!!

If you ever need a getaway and can make the drive to Ashville, make a point to stay at the White Gate Inn and Cottage, you'll be glad you did.

I'll post pictures soon!!

On the Lake

For the remainder of this week The Jones family gets to stay in a beautiful log cabin over-looking a lake.
One of our families in church is out of town and allowing us to stay in their log home and get out of the apartment.
We're less than 10 miles out of city limits of London and it feels like we're in a whole other world out here.
It is absolutely beatufil and peaceful.
We get to lay in hammicks and see the lake outside and while inside we can look at huge moose heads, deer heads, geese, birds of some sort and fish.
What a gorgeaus place!!
Tonight we plan on firing up the grill and having some kind of yummy meat!

The kids have their own room (oh how I miss that) and Isaiah thinks it's "so cool and awesome!"

Right now, they're enjoying the big black bear foot rest. For some reason, Isaiah thinks he needs to wrestle this thing!

If Chris gets some time, I think he's going to take the kids fishing on the boat down on the lake. How fun!!!

Alvin, Simon, Theadore

You remember the song don't you?
Alvin, Simon, Theadore. Dut dut du-du-du dut. Du-du-du-du dute dute.

The kids and I watched Alvin and the "Chickmunks" 3 times in 2 days.
They LOVED this movie.
I thought it was pretty cute as well.
It took me back to my childhood days of when I would listen to the story on RECORD!!
Isn't that funny!!??

Today we're at the library and I'll be on the hunt for a good, free movie!
I'm sure we'll end up with cartoons like Charlie and Lola.

This weekend the kids and I are heading to Washington Co, IN. My sister-in-law asked me to sing at their church's mother-daughter banquet. So we'll make the drive there for that and to visit family for a little while.
Please pray that we have a safe trip there and back... we'll be going through KY Derby traffic! AHHHH!

Back in NC

The Jones family is back in North Carolina for an unexpected visit.
Chris' Grandmother Corene passed away on Wednesday at that age of 92. WOW!
What a long life she lived!!
We're here for the funeral and to spend time with family.
Please keep the Jones family in your prayers.

POW

Each week a different partner at Starbucks is voted "Partner of the Week".
This week was MY week!! I was so excited. The POW gets free drinks for the week.
Kinda not fair since you get free drinks while you work anyway.
I think you should get free pastries for the week!!! That would for sure be an extra 10 pounds gained!

Maybe next I'll be voted Partner of the Month!! How corny am I??