Category: love

Ideal Living…NaBloPoMo

On By mrsjmejonesIn Blogging, Charleston, family, home, Kiawah, kids, love, my heart, real estate, Sanford, travel, vacationLeave a comment

So I thought I’d participate in NaBloPoMo….and I’m using some prompts to get me going!

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

So, if I could have all my family with me…my current job…all my fave things…and pick them all up and plop them down somewhere?  I’d have a hard time choosing between some of the most awesome places on Earth that I’ve visited…from Charleston, SC…to Augusta, GA…to Monterey, CA…Newport Beach, CA..Cabo San Lucas, Mexico…Kauai, Hawaii…Guanacaste, Costa Rica..Nassau….Miami, FL…Orlando, FL..Long Beach, CA…Cinncinati, OH…St Louis, MO…Lexington, KY…Asheville, NC…Boone, NC…Dallas, TX…Pebble Beach, CA…Carolina Beach, NC…OBX, NC…Virginia Beach, VA…Washington, DC…

I think I’d probably be very content with living just outside of Charleston, SC.  Maybe Folly Beach or Johns Island or Kiawah.  I absolutely adore Charleston.  The charm, the history, the scenery, the food, the people…the feeling I get when I’m there is one of total LOVE for this place.  I don’t want to leave it when I’m there…I get SO excited about my next visit and as soon as I leave it I am planning the next time back.  If only all my family would go with me…and my job…and my entire life….I’d just never come back!!!

Countless Captions

On By mrsjmejonesIn captions, family, lists, love, my heart, Sanford4 Comments

So, many bloggers have a “Wordless” something post where they add a picture with no caption or explanation.  I thought I’d do something a little different since I am rarely never wordless and in fact have many, many words to share and do so quite often.

I decided to browse through my iPhoto album on my Mac which includes new and old photos…and stop on the one that evoked the most emotion.  What I stopped on was this sweet woman:

It is my great-grandmother, Myrtle.  She was my “Ma”.  She was everyone’s “Ma”, really.  Her picture reminds me of many things…

  • ear-bobs and ruffled shirts
  • exquisite clothing
  • frozen pizza with added toppings like ketchup and bacon
  • her art…capturing flowers or birds or fruit, in the most amazing of ways
  • Richard Petty
  • chicken pox
  • panty hose and black shoes
  • sugar
  • her poised demeanor
  • a formal “front room” where the Christmas tree was placed each year
  • low-pile carpet
  • her chair in the corner where she’d read or sew or talk
  • the gift of gab…she loved to talk (and I loved to listen)
  • her art supplies under the stairs
  • claw-foot tubs and the walk through between closets
  • attics full of treasure
  • my first Papa
  • thimbles
  • the stool beside her bed, the cause of many falls
  • Psalm 23 (on the wall beside her bed)
  • pies cooling on the porch
  • pecan trees and squirrels

Basically, it takes me back to being a child.  Of my mom letting me stay with her when I had the chicken pox.  She folded out the couch for me and took such good care of me.  She waited on me and enjoyed it.  So much.  And what she probably never knew was, having chicken pox was one of my favorite childhood memories.

Be kind…Love is.

On By mrsjmejonesIn love, worldLeave a comment

One of the things that bother me the most, of all that seems to be wrong with our world…is the general lack of kindness shown to others.  When my son tells me about things that happen at school…when I watch the news…when I read on Twitter – it is pretty obvious that many people in this world are just unkind.  Why people want to tear down others is just beyond me.  I might not be the most uplifting, inspiring, motivational person in the world but belittling people is certainly not on my resume either.  It hurts my heart to think of kids being bullied and adults too.  Many online outlets give more access than ever to allow the bullying of both..and it’s just not right.  More than being just “wrong” in my brain…it’s not Biblical.  If Love is “Kind”…and it is, according to 1 Corinthians 13:1…and we are called to love…then we are called to be kind, among other things.  I would think that the easiest would be kindness though…so why do so many find it so hard?

Guilty of a Happy Marriage

On By mrsjmejonesIn love, marriage, my heart, praise, trustLeave a comment

I feel bad from time to time about talking about how happy Mike and I are….and then, I stop.  Because I *am* happy and I don’t think I should feel guilty about that.  I am blessed and I know it.  I’m appreciative and I thank the Lord for it every day.  Is it perfect?  No.  Do we argue? Yes.  Does it last for days?  NO!

I don’t know how to explain it but we are both so very appreciative of one another that we just simply don’t let time pass without letting each other KNOW that.  We are very careful to not sweat the small stuff.  We are open, honest, and truly try to make each other happy every single day.

And if you have a similar relationship – good for you!  And if you don’t, I sincerely hope one day you do.

Either way, I won’t apologize about my happiness.  Ever again.

Family {Blog Challenge}

On By mrsjmejonesIn family, grateful, lists, loveLeave a comment

So, this blog challenge title doesn’t offer a lot of direction.   You could probably go one hundred different ways with this one but let’s go with a bulleted list, because they are my fave currently.  When I talk about my family below…I am talking about all of us.  My mom and dad, sister, brother in law, nieces, aunts, cousins, uncles, hubby, our children, in-laws, step-family, outlaws, and even friends who are family.  I truly believe all of them are considered family and I am so very blessed with a great one.  I probably don’t tell them often enough how fabulous they are…but I sincerely am amazed at the support, resilience, talent, generosity, consideration and pure love that members of my FAMILY possess.
So, in short…

My family:

is full of love
is mostly in Sanford
loves any reason to get together and EAT
is there for one another
has never let me down, when it really really mattered
just got a little bigger (new baby niece!!)
makes me happy
is not perfect
includes kids who are amazing and teach me so much
loves to laugh
is busy
loves to have down time
doesn’t see each other enough
values each other
has overcome trials
is blessed beyond measure
made me who I am and still shapes who I’m becoming
is amazing

I love you all….so very, very much.

A book I love {Blog Challenge}

On By mrsjmejonesIn Blogging, loveLeave a comment

I do love a good read.  Though I don’t have a ton of time to DO it, I do generally like to “get away” at the hands of another and take a little trip via great words.  It’s a great way to unwind at the end of the day, while you’re waiting for someone, or while soaking in the tub.  This is where it’s unfortunate that smart phones have taken over that “wait” time.  They make it easier to LOSE time…to waste time…to WORK…  Wait, book I love.  BACK ON TRACK, Jamie!!!

And there it is.  Many people love this movie.  It all started with the book though.  I don’t EVER read books more than once.  I think I’ve read this one four times.  A great story about love.  When I read it, I wished for this kind of love and I am so very blessed in my marriage.  (Great movie too…….ahhhhhh.)

Five ways to win my heart {Blog Challenge}

On By mrsjmejonesIn Blogging, love, my heart, trustLeave a comment

It’s funny that this would be the first blog subject…as it’s been a part of a recent conversation between myself and a coworker.  This is easy.

  1. Be nice to me.  Just nice.  Not overly kind or generous, just nice.  I really sincerely appreciate a smile in the morning or a “bless you” when I sneeze.  
  2. Compliment me.  Tell me I’m doing a good job or that my hair looks nice.  I am a sucker for it.  I have always thrived on this…but just recently really realized it.  I always try to do my best..but if I know you are going to TELL ME…..I’ll go the extra mile.
  3. Cook me something I love.  My Mama has this down pat.  She has my heart.  I can probably attribute my borderline diabetes and weight issues to this same line as well.  Hmm. 😉
  4. Be nice to my kids.  A waitress goes very far in my book (meaning: tip) if you speak to my kids. They are human beings and I appreciate when someone goes out of their way to make a big deal of my children.  Because, honestly, they ARE a big deal. 
  5. Be the kind of person to do the right thing.  That’s how Mike Jones did it.  He’s just “that guy”.  He’s the one that friends know they can count on, his Mama knows he loves her and his baby girl just can’t get enough of.  He just exudes this trustworthy personality…because you know he’s just going to always be the kind of guy to make a good choice.  
Reading back over that……………..wow, I am so easy…………..