putting a dent in my day

I had an eventful day. I got up at 9:00 am, did 2 loads of laundry, had lunch with Chris, opened a checking account, went to walmart, cleaned house, took a small nap, and cooked our first dinner in the apartment. Thanks to Amy we had fresh squash and zucchini.
BUT in the midst of all this I managed to get side swiped by an old man in a big crown vic. I was pulling in the parking lot of the apartment on my way home from walmart when it all happened in slow motion. He began pulling out of his parking spot from the drug store right as I got behind him. I didn't have time to move, all I could do was watch as he slowly sunk into my passenger side door.
I watched him coming back and just said"OH KNOW!!" I LAYED on my lame horn, but he didn't seem to hear it. He had no idea I was there until his big blue car met mine.
He pulled forward, got out of the car and gave me his insurance information. I felt badly for the old man as he apologized.
I was sick at my stomach! I wanted to cry for the simple fact of crying but I didn't. I brought my groceries in and immediately called Chris and told him we needed to get an estimate on our car. He took it very well.

Settled in

All 4 of us are now settled into our apartment in London.
We don't have a whole lot here, just the essentials because it is a small place. I figure some part of my life could use simplicity!
We had a great week in NC with Nor Nor and Pop and are now looking forward to getting our lives started here in Laurel county.
There are several parks in the area and a public pool. There are also 2 families at church with pools, so we'll use those as well.
I think the kids and I will check out the library this week and get to know it better.
They have story hour on Tuesday so we'll probably go to that.
I've been told that the Knoxville, TN zoo is only about an hour 15 minutes away as well.
That's not bad at all.
Tomorrow I'll get some necessary moving things done such as finding a local bank and getting internet services at the apartment. So much to do and much time to do it!

House Hunters

I don't have a lot of details but the couple that looked out our Pecks Ridge house said they like it and want it.
They did not make an offer but we are hoping for one very soon.
The man (Mr. Sapp) grew up on Pecks Ridge and wants to live here again.
So this is the perfect house for them.
They want to get the house inspected and go from there. They sound like very serious potential buyers to me!
Please pray that the Sapp family buys our home.

Chris, the kids and I will be living in London in a small one bedroom apartment until the house is sold. God has been very good to us so far and we know he won't let us down now!

New Email address

I have to change my email address due to our fleming-mason serive being disconnected soon.
My new email address is
JenniferLJones77@yahoo.com
Please pass this on to people we collectivly know. There is a good chance that I will not be able to recover my address book before my service is disconnected tomorrow.
I'm hoping I will get back to Flemingsburg in time to recover all address, but if not hopefully you'll find me here!!
Love to all!!

Just another day

Nor Nor and I took the kids to the pool again for the 3rd day in a row. It has been so crowded and today was just flat out hot. It's 91 degrees here in Winston-Salem, NC.

After about an hour of swimming Isaiah decided he wanted to towel off and get a snack.

That's not like him AT ALL! While sitting there he started crying and saying he wanted to go home. He must had said "I wanna go home" 5o times. I told him to give Gracie a few more minutes to swim then we'd go. He got crying and couldn't get comfy on me so I told Gracie we needed to leave. Then she started crying. She didn't want to get out of the pool for nothing.

As we're packing up Isaiah started throwing up. It happened very quickly. One time then two and it was over. We packed everything up, got to the car and he fell asleep in no time.

He's been asleep for about an hour now, doesn't have a fever but has a rash all over his face.

It started yesterday about an hour after I applied some natural/organic sunscreen on him.

I broke out horribly on my face and neck from the lotion as well, so I'm assuming that's what did it to him. We must be allergic to something in the product.

So, he's got a face full of red bumps and a sick stomach. I'm thinking he probably has an ear infection, because we can't go anywhere without him getting one.

It looks like it could be a long night for me and a long next day or two until I can get him to the doctor. Oh, and where do I take him if we're in London??

If I come back to F-burg on Friday I'll take him to the usual pediatrician but if I come home to London, I have to find a new pediatrician. THIS IS NUTS!

good news

Cris called me today to let me know that we have a potential buyer coming this Thursday.
I am so thankful. We've not had any activity in about 4 weeks now.
They are wanting a house in the country and it so happens we have what they need......
smack dab right in the middle of it! (cows not included)

Please pray that this is the family to purchase our home.
Cris will be at Pecks Ridge on Thursday along with Jackie and Nina Pollitt to load up the essentials from the house to move into the apartment we will be living in in London.
I don't want to get excited or my hopes up simply because they've been shattered each time, but I also know these people are sent by God to look at our home and I just really want this to be the ones to buy!
I am seeking your prayers!!

Noth Carolina

The kids and I are in North Carolina for about 8 days.
We plan to go to the pool, mall, maybe a baseball game and who knows what else.
Tonight we had dinner at Speedy's BBQ in Lexington, NC and it was some goooood eatin'!
I have it all down my shirt to prove it!
The kids are loving playing with Nor Nor and Pop and I'm enjoying it as well.
I plan to get some much needed R and R!

Dustin

I'm excited for my best friend Amy because her 13 year old son Dustin was baptized tonight!

He went to camp this past Sunday and decided by Monday that he was finally ready to be baptized. We're so excited for him and I know he's put thought into it.

Cris has spent a lot of time with him over the matter and God obviously grew that seed that was planted!

Abba Father

The kids and I went to church this morning without Cris.
He had to spend the day away from us, but he did get a free steak dinner out of the deal!!
It was another hot day, topped out at high 90's, so the kids and I played in the sprinkler again for a little while then came in and napped.
After we woke up we headed to Dairy Queen for chicken and ice cream. YUM YUM!

On Father's day there's one word I think of that sums it all up for me ABBA!
I love the meaning of the word.... daddy.
Isn't it awesome that we have a heavenly daddy who can wrap his arms around us when we need it? A daddy who loves us unconditionally. A daddy who says "I'm yours and you're mine, and I love you!" How precious is that?!
I adore the song "Abba father" and have had it in my head all day. It's a goose bump song for me.
Take a listen.

Abba Father by Shaun Groves


Abba Father My Defender You are Holy And I surrender For in my weakness You protect me When my heart strays You Correct me
I cry Abba Father -I love you, Daddy Abba Father...I love you, I love you
I cry Abba Father -I love you, Daddy Abba Father..I love you I love you Daddy
Abba Father My Defender You are Holy And I surrender For in my weakness You protect me When my heart strays You Correct me
I cry Abba Father -I love you, Daddy Abba Father...I love you, I love you I cry Abba Father -I love you, Daddy Abba Father..I love you I love you...I love you Daddy Abba Father I love you I love you Abba Father I love you Daddy Abba Father I love you I love you I love you I love you......Daddy

Dog days of summer

Gracie got a new Dora sprinkler for her birthday so the Jones family decided to play in it today.

I'm not sure what the temperature is here in Flemingsburg but it's hot!

We ran over and through the sprinkler for about 2 hours today.

It was quite fun. I asked myself "When I'm 30 am I aloud to do this still?"

Oh Yeah....Absolutely!!

We're going to grill out tonight and Amy and Dustin Flora will be joining us for a relaxing evening of food, coffee, and of course, strawberry dessert!!

What day is it?

The kids and I came home this past Monday knowing that Cris would be in London all week.
I have found that the days are so so long when he's not here. Even though he didn't get home until about 6:00 or later most nights, it still feels different knowing he's not coming home today.
I've tried to keep the kids busy the past 2 days and it's hard.
We've played outside in the dora sprinkler, gone to walmart and the dollar general, made father's day cards and baked brownies.
When we woke up this morning the first thing I thought was "what can I do with the kids today?" I thought about the library, but they are so loud and disruptive, and then I thought about the park but it's so darn hot!! Guess we'll stay home and do laundry for awhile until I get it figured out.
Got any ideas for fun to pass the time?
They do a good job at not constantly asking where daddy is, so they must be staying busy enough.
As soon as our house sells all of this worry and stress will be over. We're just waiting on God to do that for us!

welcome to our world!

Eli Mason Jones, son of David and Kelly Jones made it into our world today, June 6, 2007 at 4:32 AM weighing 5 lbs 8 oz and 17 1/2 inches long!!!

We are so excited to have you here!!

seeking sympathy, I guess

It's late Sunday night and I'm home alone with the kids. Gracie is sound asleep and Isaiah is still awake "playing" drums..... it's 10:50 PM!!!

The past two weeks of traveling between London and Flemingsburg have felt more like 2 months.

I can't get out of my head the thought that this could potentially go on for much longer if the Lord does not sell our house.

Cris is at camp all week so the kids and I are here at home. We'll meet up with him on Friday and head to Louisville for Chad's wedding rehearsal and then attend he and Jennifer's wedding on Saturday. From there we will drive to London, stay the night with friends and head to church/work on Sunday. The kids and I will come back to F-burg while he stays the week for VBS.

What I'm not understanding right now is, why God would put such a strong desire in our hearts for a new ministry and yet cause us so much trouble, confusion, stress, headache and so on. If he wants us to be in London then please, Lord, send us there quickly! Is my prayer life lacking, is my faith not strong enough, do I not have enough patience and this is how he's teaching me??

So many questions run through my mind of why God wants us to continue to travel back and forth (w/ gas so high) and for Cris and I to be away from one another when if he'd just sell our house we could do HIS work much much more effectively!

I'm asking (begging) for your prayers on insight, strength and wisdom through this all.

I also plead for your prayers that our house will sell tomorrow!!

We just want to do His will!

Happy 4th Birthday!

Today is Gracie's 4th birthday! Boy, the years sure do fly by!

I can remember 4 years ago going to the hospital all so well.

She had her big party last night of about 40 people. We had a packed house and yard and LOTS of fun.

Gracie got so many presents she didn't even know what to do with all of them. A small list of some things she got is:

TONS of makeup

dresses/clothes

shoes

beach stuff (goggles, towel, bag)

barbie beauty hair

bracelets, necklaces, rings

roller skates

hair bows

sunglasses

As soon as she got up this morning the first thing she did was start putting on her makeup and nail polish.

Thanks to everyone who came. It was a great time... and sadly our last birthday party at Pecks Ridge.

home again

well the jones family is back in flemingsburg for a few days.
we got in late last night. on our way home we swung by the hamilton's memorial day celebration. we got there at about 9:30 pm and got home around 12:00. us girls just sat back and laughed while the guys played corn hole by porch light.
once home, we all hit the sack and didn't get up until very late this morning. as i type, my little ones are still in bed and it's 10:00 am!!
we have to make a trip to the store because we have no food, no milk and no juice. all i have is coffee!! that's just not enough to get us through the next couple of days!
it's good to be home again where we can all relax and run wild... even cris.

another day in corbin

Let me tell you about my past 24 hours.
Last night it was all we had in us to get the kids to sleep. They kept getting up and coming down stairs where Cris and I were at. We must have said "Go to bed!" a million times.
During one of those trips down and back up the stairs, Isaiah decided he was mad a pulled two large pieces of wallpaper off the stair way area. VERY noticeable. When we woke up this morning and discovered this, I thought I was gonna cry. I was picturing the conversation of us trying to tell the home owners that our son pulled there lovely wallpaper off the wall. There was not a good way to do this. I was sick to my stomach over the embarrassment of it.
Cris decided we'd glue it and go from there. So he did, and it looks great.
We will still tell the Short's that he pulled the paper off but it is not noticeable unless you know it happened. Shew!!!

Then Isaiah decided to break a piece of his cherry chap stick off onto the carpet and it got stepped on and smooshed into the beige carpet. As I was scrubbing it out I was wondering why this didn't happen on the hardwood area, but thankful that it wasn't on the cream carpet or the white furniture!!

Tomorrow is our first official Sunday at Community Christian Church and I'm feeling kinda weird. It feels like we're on vacation and we're going there to visit. But this is the real thing. I don't think it will feel real until we are moved and living here for good. Oh how we pray for our house to sell as soon as possible.

Family day out

The four Joneses went to see Shrek the Third today in Corbin, KY.
They have a new theator and it was really nice.
Isaiah fell asleep about 45 minutes into it, I was having trouble staying awake myself, Gracie got scared and woke Cris up towards the end. It was a great movie though!!!
It was short and sweet, very cute. Cris thought it was boring and Gracie said she didn't like it.
See if for yourself to decide.

house report

Isaiah only broke one thing today and that was a pencil from playing drums too hard!!!
We're hanging in there!!

Corbin, KY

The Jones family is in Corbin, KY for the week. Cris has officially started his new ministry at Community Christian Church and the kids and I are just hanging out.
We're staying in the minister's house (Keith and Aleta) while they are on vacation. How nice of them.
Let me tell you, from the moment I walked in I've been nervous.
They have antiques, china, breakables of all kinds everywhere. It appears Aleta collects these items. They don't have children in the house anymore and my kids are scaring me to death!!!
She has her dining table completely set with real china!! Now that's enough to make a mom pee her pants! I think we'll stay down stairs most of the time, it's a little more "relaxed" down there.
This is only the first day. I'm hoping by next Monday we've not broken a thing!!!!
I may blog each day simply saying "nothing broken so far!!"
This is my goal for the week!!
I'll keep you posted as I have plenty of time on my hands.
I don't have to clean house, do laundry, sew, slop the hogs, mend the fence or kneed the dough.
I think I'll kick back and watch Dr. Phil, read, and get in the hot tub!!! That is, when I've settled in to the change of scenery.
Over and out

What a day

Today was our last Sunday as employees of New Life Church of Christ. It was an emotional day.

During our evening services, kids of all ages made goodbye cards for our family.

They are very special.

After service we had food and all the kids presented us with the cards they had made and we all said our goodbyes through tears.

The church also gave us money that was collected at a love offering. It was a very generous LOVE!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! For the first time Cris and I were both speechless!!

We are so very thankful for all you've done for us over the past 3 1/2 years.

Even though we're no longer employeed there we've made some really great friends that we will never forget!!! We love you and cherish your friendship forever!

Some of us girls got together for some fun photos! (Jeni,Christy,Tab,Gina,Kim,Amy,Jen:missing are Deena and Sarah!!)