Here we are

Well, we've made it to North Carolina.
We are currently living with Chris' parents in Advance. A small town outside of Winston-Salem.
We are house hunting, in the market to buy.
We were going to move to Greensboro for the 18 months of our work, and rent.
But after talking with a realtor friend, he suggests since rates are low now is a great time to buy. And we'll get more house for our money. Always a plus!
We have houses lined up to look at and if we're not satisfied with any of those, we'll find more.
There's plenty in the Winston-Salem area!
Happy house hunting!

Wrapping things up in KY

Chris has deaned his last week of church camp, we had our last lock in last night, we will take a youth trip to the Creation Museum in Cincinnati tomorrow, in a week and a half we'll go on our last trip with CCC to CIY in TN and the week after that we'll have out last VBS ( I hope of our lives).
So many things going on before we pack up out stuff and move it all to Pop and Nor Nor's house the week 3rd week of July.
Once we leave KY on July 31 (my best friend Amy's Birthday) we'll go live with Chris parents and house hunt until we find something perfect for us.
There are things that I "worry" about with this move but none are as great as the wonder of our financial situation. I KNOW without a doubt that God will provide or he would not have put us into THIS situation.
I really look forward to how our finances, housing, church life etc will all unfold.
Lord, I know you have plans for our family and I look forward to you sharing them with us!

Day of firsts

Today Gracie had her first "sugar bug" removal and Isaiah had his first cleaning!
She did great and so did he. I think Isaiah was more nervous than she was.
Dr. Chip gave Gracie some silly gas to ease her tension and then put some numbing medicine on her lower gums.
A few minutes later he gave her a numbing shot and she didn't even move. She had no idea that he gave her a shot.
Afterwords, he left cheek was so numb and paralyzed. She couldn't smile or talk right for a few hours post "surgery" as she puts it.
Isaiah was tickled to get a goodie bag of toothpaste, toothbrush and his own floss, which he used up as soon as we got home making Spiderman webs!
Thanks Dr. Chip, you're awesome!!!

sugar bugs

Gracie goes to the dentist tomorrow to get 2 teeth filled due to cavities. Can you believe this?
She's only 5!!
I think I started to get them around age 10 or so. Now I have at least 1 a year.... she's got my soft teeth.
Isaiah will have his first cleaning tomorrow. He's very excited! Something tells me to be prepared to hear the word "cavity" with him too!
She will not be given a shot but will suck in a little laughy gas. I'm very anxious to see how this is going to go. I only hope it doesn't traumatize her and make her scared of the dentist for the rest of her life.

Long Day.... but recovering

Today was surgery day to remove the mass from behind Isaiah's ear drum in his left ear.
Our surgery was scheduled at 6 AM at UK hospital. With the weather and 1 1/2 hour drive we decided to go to Lexington last night and stay at the closest hotel we could find.
After a handful of hours of sleep we scooted from the hotel over to the dreaded parking garage to catch the shuttle bus that runs to the hospital. Let me tell you, when you've never done this, it's stressful at 5:50 AM in freezing weather with 2 children (and a husband) HA!
Once we got there things went fine.
We sat and talked in the pre-op room as each nurse, attending, doctor and anaesthesiologist came in.
They did a great job taking care of him. When nurse Katie came in to get Isaiah he had the option of riding back to the operating room in a red wagon, but he decided he wanted to walk. We said our "good-byes" and cried and then he took her hand, pushed the metal square button to open the operating doors and walked back with blankie. Oh, my heart broke

Once we were able to see him he was NOT HAPPY!! Between lack of sleep and major drugs he was so combative. We were told he had dressing on his ear and a velcro band around his head to hold it to his ear.
We had no idea he had a pirate ear patch on. He was fighting mad over it too!
For 30 minutes or so, all we heard was "Can you take this off?!!!??!!"
It came in forms or begging, pleading and screaming . Some of his words over this contraption were:
"I hate this thing!!"
"I DON'T like you" (to dad)
"I don't like these nurses!"
"I'm never going to the doctor again!!"
Finally, the morphine and Tylenol + codeine kicked in and he got a little nicer. He was in pain and it was making him so hateful!

Now we're home and he's really doing well. He confirmed with me earlier that "we can take "this thing" of tomorrow, right?" I assured him we would. He has no idea what it's going to feel like to take all the dressing off and have to change the cotton ball and all. He has stitches running down the back of his whole ear and he has packing deep down inside the ear that will be removed at his follow-up visit next week. I don't look forward to that one!

None the less, I'm thankful for the surgery team that took care of our baby today. Praise God this has been fixed and that he's well!!

sick of sickness

After being in NC and everyone passing around the funk I started the whole nausea thing again yesterday.
I came home from work, put on my jammies and got right into bed. The kids laid with me while I took a really long nap. I was dizzy and queezy almost all day.
I'm feeling better today but not perfect.
Good thing I'm better because Gracie has gotten sick again. She has laid in bed all day throwing up.
I can't keep phenergan in her little tummy for anything. I think I'll consider suppositories next time.
I feel so badly for her. She's laying there white as a sheet looking plum pitiful.
Say a prayer for her that she'll get over this soon and that no one else gets this again.

2009

Another year has passed. Can you believe it?
As I look back at a few things I did personally or as a family here is a small list.

Started homeschooling Gracie
Gracie lost her first tooth (or teeth)
Gracie turned 5
Isaiah turned 4
Isaiah had his first trip to the ER for nursemaids elbow (twice)
We moved into a 3 bedroom house!!
Made new friends
Started a job at Starbucks
Missed old friends!!
Got a new vehicle
Lost my Aunt Anne
Got a super rad tattoo
Got highly involved with our praise team
Donated my hair to locks of love
Had multiple cavities filled
Took a family trip to Nashville, TN

I look forward to what God has for our family in 2009.

We had a great Christmas this year. The kids opened presents here at the house and played for a few hours while I cooked, cleaned and packed to leave for NC.
While in NC everyone got sick except Chris, Kelly, and Isaiah! It was crazy!! The stomach virus ran through the Jones house like crazy!! By the way, David, that was NOT a nice Christmas gift!!
I love to shop after christmas clearances in NC. I have my favorite stops which include Hamricks (a discount clothing,shoe etc store) for kids and adults. This is where I get the kids' Christmas clothes for the coming year at like 75% off!! LOVE IT!!!
I also go to bath and body works for their major sale and I look at all the store in between.
Another must for us while in NC is Krispy Kreme!! I think we got 4 dozen this year!! Before you scream you must know there were 6 adults and 5 kids in the house, all whom love to eat!!

So long 2008, now I just have to start preparing my taxes!! YUCK!!

Merry Christmas From the Jones Family

We've sent you a Christmas card... please open it!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eFBTAU1QsU

Ethan the Snowman

The kids were able to make the second snowman of their life on Friday.
The first was a couple winters ago at our Flemingsburg house and they named her Katie-Rae. This one they decided to name Ethan. How cute... they keep it in the Carmichael family.

My baby is 4!

Today is Isaiah's 4th birthday. Can you believe it?
These 4 years have flown by. As I type this at 4:18 PM I would be 2 minutes away from him delivering at 4:20 PM. Translation: I was in a LOT of pain right now!!
We went to Indiana yesterday to have Christmas with my family and we celebrated Isaiah's birthday while there with a spiderman cake and everything else spiderman themed. Isaiah and his cousin Mason really enjoyed licking the icing all night! Boys!
I am so blessed to have the beautiful children that we have been given! I thank God today that Isaiah has seen his 4th birthday!

Point of Grace

Tuesday evening December 9th Sarah Polley and I met up in Lexington at Immanuel Baptist church to see Point of Grace and Robbie Freeman's Winter Wonderland concert.
It was a treat.
They are super talented ladies who sounded great live!
I had never heard of Robbie Freeman until that night. He has a nice voice as well, but a little too contemporary for me.
The best was talking to Sarah while both driving there and praying she wouldn't run out of gas on new circle in the cold and rain. We ate some Arby's and got waited on by Swingo.... had to be there.
And then headed to the church. We first sat in the lower back and then decided the view was better from the front row in the balcony. I was able to get some really good pictures from up there.
I had a horrible headache and soar throat that day and by time I left, my head was about to fall off with pain.
Some of which from laughing so hard at Sarah in front of the POG semi and her making fun of me for getting "star struck" at the photo and signing session. I can't help it that I think they're cool moms!
It was good to spend time with an old friend!
Check out all the pictures on myspace.com/jenljones

Tree

A little over a week ago I decided to get a tattoo of a tree.
I wanted to share with you the picture that Joe King (the tattoo artist) drew up for me.
It's an amazing drawing of my vision.
I simply explained to him that I wanted a tree that fell into a circular pattern. I also told him that a tree represents growth and that was the reason I was getting it.
He took it to the next level with the ideas of the seasons of change represented through the snowflake, flower, sun, and leaf. I am amazed at the work he did and even more amazed at the work God has done in my life!

Nashville Pics

Here are a few fun pictures from our Nashville trip

Day in Lexington

The Jones family hit Lexington today.
We first went to Bleed Blue tattoo and piercing so I could discuss the tree tattoo that I want.
Joe will be getting a sketch together for me. Hopefully it will be ready on Monday. I'm nervous that I wasn't able to get my vision across very well.
We then went to Circuit City and I finally got a Garmin GPS system. I've wanted one of these for years.
Chris finally broke down and said "yes, baby"!! I was so much fun playing with it the rest of our trip today.
After all this we went to Southland for their 5:30 service. It's always fun to go to other churches and take in their service. We went with David and Kelly and the kids were able to go to class together for the first time ever... I think. Gracie, Isaiah, Mia and Jackson had a blast together.
During service we witnessed 7 baptisms... praise the Lord!

After service we took Subway 'to go' and ate it at David's place of employment... Clark funeral home!
Might I add, this is a beautiful facility! The kiddos where able to run around and act crazy. They where loud enough to wake the dead!! HA HA HA!! It was killing me!!! HEE HEE HEE!!
side note: the place was empty.. not a body in sight!

Nashville TN

The Jones family had a wonderful 3 days in Nashville.
You will laugh at me for this, but I'll go ahead and admit this.
Chris and I had no idea that the CMA's were Thursday night. Once I found this out on Wednesday evening I was determined to spot a "STAR"!
We spent countless hours at the Opry Mills mall simply because it's huge and you just can't take a country girl to a mall that big. I was awe-struck. I had to go into every store that sold something that smelled good, tasted good or looked good on the kids! Needless to say, I drove Chris crazy. I loved this place.
Although I did not see anyone I knew we ate and shopped like never before.

The whole reason we went to Nashville was to take a tour of the Wyndham Vacation Resorts.
Yes, they suckered us into that. Over all, it was not bad. The dude that showed us around (Gene) was great.
His looks were a cross between Howie Mandell and Chris Daughtry.... not bad huh?
So we didn't purchase anything from them after 3 hours of talking but it really is a GREAT program that we now believe in.

We toured downtown Nashville and didn't see a person we knew. While there, we heard Miley Cirus performed a FREE concert the day before the CMA's. BUMMER. Wouldn't that have been cool to go to?
I think we may have seen all the people flooding out of the arena she performed in. Sometime Wednesday afternoon while driving down Broadway we saw a lot of people flocking around the arena. It looked important. Of course, at the time we had no idea all the starts where in town. Other wise I may have made a fool of myself.

We also went to the Aquarium Restaurant TWO TIMES because it was simply amazing. This place had a huge, floor to ceiling, salt water tank in the middle of the dining area. As you sat and ate you could watch huge fish, sharks, a guitar sharks, a nurse shark, and sting rays swim around. This place was too neat.
The kids where mesmerized by it and so were we. This place alone is worth a 3 1/2 hour drive.

We also saw Madagascar 2 at the IMAX. Now that was big, huge, large!! We sat in the back row and still felt like we were in the desert. I think we could have been in KY and saw it.

We hit build- a- bear today and Gracie made Miley who wears a "Nashville" t-shirt. I loved the Apple Barn in the Opry Mills mall. If you like apples,cookware, cook books, gifts, food and home-made candy this is your type of place too! I also had to hit the Yankee Candle Co store where I purchased their new Soy Holiday candle that is so cinnamon-y.
While downtown today we went to Fort Nashborough replica. We got awesome pics at this place.
After that, we headed to a disappointing Hard Rock Cafe. I've only been to a Hard Rock once and that was in Atlanta. Now Atlanta was rockin'.... Nashville, not so much.

After this we went to the Adventure Science Center.... this place ROCKED! We spend hours there and could have stayed longer. It was well worth the money and time. Gracie and Isaiah had a blast. Isaiah's favorite thing was a replica of a car with a clear hood to see inside. This was hands on. He was able to take off the back tires and rotate them and then get the car to start etc. He did this forever! I loved seeing him so excited about this object!

After this we headed home. Nashville is a special place that we look forward to going back to!

Tooth Two

Gracie lost her second tooth this morning.
Somehow daddy knocked it out when he picked her up to give her a hug.
He is always hurting the kids somehow!!
This tooth was so loose it was really only a matter of time before it fell out.
Isaiah managed to knock both loose a few weeks ago.
So far there is no sign of either hole getting a tooth in anytime soon.
She's going to be the lith-ping tooth-leth wonder!

Obama 08

Is anyone else bummed and a little depressed over the 2008 election outcome?
I really just don't know what to think of this whole scenario.
This has NOTHING to do with Barack Obama being bi-racial.
It has everything to do with what he does and does not believe in and what he has and has not done.

I'm concerned about this young voting generation that is so ready for the "Change". I'm concerned about what the "change" is and what the outcome will be. I think it shows the lack of Christianity in our young people. Do they truly KNOW God?? Do they know Jesus at all?

I ask myself what this election outcome really says about our country that was founded on Christian principles and truths.

All I can do right now is shake my head.

Meal Planning

Chris found a really neat website for us through Dave Ramsey called E-Mealz at www.e-mealz.com.
Check it out, you may find this weekly meal planning and grocery list very helpful for your family!!

KCU

Today was our big day at KCU.
Chris was invited to speak at chapel this morning.
He was very excited to have been asked to speak. He's was nervous the whole week leading up to today.
We went up last night and stayed in the "Presidential Apartment" and Gracie and Isaiah thought it was awesome. It was simply an outdated one bedroom apartment. They acted like we were in a 4 star spa hotel!
Don't misunderstand me, we were very appreciative to get the place for the night. We took with us 2 of our youth from CCC so that they could tour the campus and make some future college decisions.
They seemed pleased.

Chris did a great job preaching this morning on "Systems vs Saviour". He was flooded with comments from some of his previous professors. That's always encouraging.
Another very encouraging and unexpected thing was that 3 of our friends from New Life came to listen to him as well. I called Amy and invited her so I knew she was coming (so glad to squeeze her again) but James Watkins and AJ Mulllholland both came as well simply to hear Chris.
That's awesome! Thanks guys!

Chris and I are both coming down with some kind of cold. The kids and I got a flu shot this week so hopefully we won't get anything serious. I hate cold weather for all the illnesses that come along with it.

I took the kids trick or treating tonight around Tara Est. We meet neighbors we've never seen before.
It was quick and painless. I think we visited 6 houses in our little loop. Gracie was a fairy and Isaiah was his famous Julius Peppers football player.

The tooth

Here are a few pictures of the wiggly tooth and the missing tooth. It's hard to tell which tooth is missing with her gap at the top but it is her bottom right that was wiggly and now gone!