Category: trust in Jesus

Election Affection

On By mrsjmejonesIn election, positive thinking, prayers, serious, trust in Jesus, USA, voting, worldLeave a comment

As I’m attempting to complete the NaBloPoMo blogging party…I’m using some prompts to keep things fresh around here and not just write about MONO!  🙂  Today’s is timely of course…and involves our fabulous election that will take place tomorrow!

What do I think about it?  I think it’s a wonderful thing.  I am so very proud to live in a country where we are given the right…the ability…the responsibility…the privilege of electing the official that will execute our federal laws.  I think it’s sad that some don’t use it…some don’t think it matters…some don’t agree with it.  I personally feel very obligated to educate myself on the nominees of local, state and federal offices.  I feel that I need to vote with my head AND heart.  I know that I need to use my own beliefs and hopes for our country, in order to vote with a strong understand of who and what I’m voting for.  It’s hard, with the negative ads from both sides…with the banter on social media sites coming from and at both sides…with the chaos that surrounds the nominees and sorting through it all.  When it comes down to it though, I pray.  I pray for each nominee and their families.  I can’t imagine what they go through, what they are up against.  I pray for our country and know that no matter what happens…who wins and who loses, that MY job is to pray.  I know who is in charge, in my Lord and Savior.  He makes no mistakes and He has His hands on our country, my house and my life…so I have peace in that.  Just remember….One nation…under God!!!!!  🙂

Mono-logues

On By mrsjmejonesIn Doctors, friendship, grateful, hubby, mono, prayers, sleep, trust in JesusLeave a comment

So I decided that my update yesterday could have been called vague….and that is surely not ever my goal.  I prefer to be clear, pointed and transparent.  So, let me seriously give you the lowdown.  

  • I am tracking along with this illness.  (If you’re just learning of my mono issues, you can see the old news here.)
  • I can expect another 2-3 weeks of feeling bad….but hopefully will make the turn soon and be able to join the living again.
  • For the next 6-9 weeks I will be especially susceptible to pneumonia, bronchitis, strep, colds and have the increased risk of hepatitis so my liver functions will be tested regularly.
  • I have an ear infection so he gave me antibiotics for that, which of course go great with anyone’s tummy right?  (Blah!!)
  • Since I have a “weakened immune system”, I am to limit exposure to known sick individuals and to go to the doctor if I have the teeny tiny beginning signs of a cold, sore throat or any fever.
  • I am normal.  Several symptoms made me wonder if I was…and I am.  Not sure if I’m happy or sad about that!!!  
  • The dizziness should get better over the next few weeks.  He is hopeful that it will not last the duration of this illness (which is about 12 weeks total).
  • I should not be taking anything for sleep.  I asked because I am so off on my sleep patterns.  He wants me to sleep when I am sleepy and not worry about when that is.  
That’s all, folks!  I seriously want to thank those of you who ask about me daily, who have called, emailed, texted to check on me, those who’ve sent things, those who have prayed.  I appreciate you all so much.  This has been more than I ever could have imagined so I truly am most grateful for one thing – PATIENCE.  I’m not really good at it….but I’ve learned more than ever who is…my husband has been so loving and patient through this, I can’t even express how much of a difference that makes.  My sweet  mother has been especially kind and helpful.  My kids have been totally understanding and have seemed to enjoy doing little things for me and I have to tell you that their handmade cards are the most treasured.  My boss has been amazing and easy on me.  My colleagues have been absolutely wonderful and have picked up where I left off in a big way.  My employees have been receptive to the changes that they have had to endure and have stepped up to make sure things didn’t fall through the cracks.  My friends and family have been sweet to check on me.  I have had cupcakes, spaghetti, lemon pound cake and flowers delivered….(ohhh thank you to my sweet cousin Diane Thomas for that spaghetti…it was timely and so so so so good!)…and I am so very humbled by the kindness of my loved ones and of strangers as well.  From people who have contacted me privately through my blog or people who have found other ways…I just can’t say enough how much it means to me.  This has been a hard thing for me  for which I’ve had no control.  (Possibly that’s the hardest part.)  Thanks to you guys for making it a little easier on me.  Love you all!!!

Grateful Post 9-27-12

On By mrsjmejonesIn family, grateful, mono, sleep, trust in JesusLeave a comment

I have been doing these for a while and started sharing them on IG.  It occurred to me that not everyone is there and that I want to be sure I have them in a safe place!  I love looking back on them…especially on a bad day!  

Slow Down

On By mrsjmejonesIn my heart, trust in Jesus2 Comments

Slow Down. 

So, I’ve never been really good at SEEING signs or UNDERSTANDING an answer from God.  Sure, I’d ask.  I’d pray.  I’d hope that I was doing the right thing and I’d eventually seem to get it right most of the time.  But, I wasn’t ever really sure.  Mostly, I’d lack the peace of feeling that my path was the right one.  I have also always tried to look at the good in every situation.  I’ve tried to pick things apart to feel like I could see why God would allow things to happen.  Even in a big picture kind of way, I’d feel like I had a vague understanding of a reason behind why a loving God would let bad things happen to good people.  It’s one thing to believe in God’s plan and another thing to trust it when it means that something bad has to happen to you or a loved one. 
I truly believe that I have been CHANGED lately.  I’m not sure if I am less stubborn or more faithful.  If I have more clarity or less ignorance.  One thing I know for sure….I asked for something.  God provided it.  Ever since I heard the news that I had mono, I have been a little down in the dumps.  I have had LOTS of rest and sleep and naps and laying around feeling terrible.  I have thought of good reasons as to why this happened now and not a month before or after.  I have also asked God why.  I have been patient to hear his answer.  I have been faithful in my prayer about it as well.  I believe I have my answer.  I almost feel like I’m breaking some confidence between He and I, because He spoke to me so privately, so personally.  But I have to share it.  I was talking about my issues with mono to a loved one and I said…”I don’t know if this was to tell me to slow down, but if so, I’ve done just that.”  At a later time, I wondered if that was it.  Could that have been the purpose of this hardship I’m enduring?  There are many times that I feel like I am running so fast but getting nowhere.  I feel like I’m trying to be the best mom, wife, daughter, aunt, employee, manager, friend – PERSON…that I fail at all of those things a little bit more over time because so many times one takes away from another.  Did I need to slow down?  Doesn’t that contradict getting more done, faster, in a shorter time, in order to please EVERYONE?   I should digress a bit and say that I also just started a new Beth Moore Bible study that focuses on living life to the fullest.  Hmm.  Related?  Maybe.  Okay, back to now.  So…I am questioning this in my mind, in my prayers.  And then, it happens.  I am working from home on Monday for a bit as to not totally lose touch.  I turn on my iTunes music to help me work (it helps me so much).  And a song that I don’t even remember downloading comes to life.  I actually look at the title because when it first comes on it says, “Alright, let’s rock it” and it’s unfamiliar.  The song title is “Slow Down”.  I decide to stop the email that I’m typing and do just that…slow down.  So I listen to Third Day belt out this tune.  The lyrics say:

 “Tell me to slow down, 
if You think that the road that I’m on is going nowhere, 
Tell me to slow down, 
if You know that I’m going too fast for my own good.”  

Tears stream down my face as I figure this out.  This is my answer.  It even says, 

“And, Oh, I don’t want to let go, 
of all the things that I know, 
are keeping me, 
away from my life.”  

Have I been so busy – too busy – to really fix things that are broken?  My faith?  My relationship with my Lord?  I have been reading all of my Beth Moore study even though I’ve not been able to attend and it’s working on my heart.  It is making me want to change and live a fuller life.  Is this one of the ways that I need to do it? To slow down?  Slow down in order to live a life more abundant?  I’ve been forced to do it.  I haven’t had a bit of a choice in the matter.  My Doctor tells me to “rest, rest, and when you feel a bit better, go back to bed!”  But, how am I supposed to take care of my family?  Let them take care of YOU.  How am I supposed to be there for my employees?  Let them take the reins.    How am I supposed to get everything done?  You won’t, and life will go on.  I can’t even express in words how liberating this is for me.  I don’t HAVE TO be everything or do it all or get it all done TODAY.  Because you know what?  There is a tomorrow.  And it will all be there then, unless someone else does it.  And if they do?  I’ll thank them.  And if there’s no tomorrow here on Earth.  I’ll thank Him.  🙂

Friday Note of Praise

On By mrsjmejonesIn mono, praise, sleep, trust in JesusLeave a comment

Guess what happened last night?  I went to sleep at 9:45 PM, EST.  I mean, BEFORE TEN PEEE EMMM.  WHAT?  I know, it doesn’t sound like that early.  But for me, that’s early for non-mono.  For mono, that’s basically a day ahead of time.  🙂  I was up at 5:30 which is a tad early but I will take it.  I can’t even express the feeling of hope that I have for today.  I still feel so silly for feeling so horrible with this thing.  When so many others are suffering from so much more.  I also know that this is my reality for right now.  The joint pain, the exhaustion, the sore throat, the brain-sluggishness – all those things are more than any symptoms to me.  They basically are abnormal.  They don’t make me feel like Jamie Jones.  I happen to like Jamie Jones.  🙂  That’s what I miss most.  Feeling like me.  I hope I find me again…really soon!

Mono y Mono

On By mrsjmejonesIn mono, sleep, trust in JesusLeave a comment

So in Spanish, that means “hand to hand” or denotes a fight between two people without weapons.  

I feel like that’s what my body is doing to me!  Fighting me.  However, I feel like it might have weapons.  Like:

  • fatigue
  • dizziness
  • joint pain
  • back pain
  • headache
  • loss of appetite
  • swollen spleen

I am just totally spent.  I feel like I’ve been run down.  Also?  It gets in the old noggin.  So, add depressed to all of that up there.  Thankfully, I’m smack dab in the throws of a Beth Moore Bible study and nothing makes you feel like a loved, treasured child of the King like the Bible.  So, I’m going to start on next week and try to ignore that bulleted list up there.  Night…err…mornin….


Putting the seat down (and trusting in Jesus!)

On By mrsjmejonesIn real estate, trust in JesusLeave a comment

So, as we were viewing potential houses for us, there were things that jumped out at me.  Things that I hoped I’d remember as I “staged” my home for the showings to interested realtors and buyers and for my realtor to take pictures that would grace local websites, Trulia, Realtor.com and more.  Small things such as to be sure the trash isn’t overflowing, the microwave is clean or the shoes under my bed didn’t look messy.  It’s funny how you start looking at all of your STUFF as a liability, something that a potential buyer could be turned off by or think negatively of.  I mean, if I saw that someone was a  Duke fan and I was interested in their home – would I let that stop me from purchasing?  Absolutely!  I’d like to think not.  I’ve never been on this end of the deal.  I’ve been in plenty of homes either sincerely looking, dreaming or slimming down choices.  I’ve been on the aforementioned websites countless times and tried my best to not let clutter or poor color choices (in MY opinion) stop me from looking at the true beauty of a home.  Walls can be painted, flowers can be planted and their clutter will disappear (replaced by MINE).  It is not the easiest thing in the world to pack up 85% of your 4 year old’s toys and tell her that she’ll see it again in the new house.  Especially since I know deep down that it could take months…years…we have NO way of knowing!  That’s the biggest issue here.  The unknowns.  I am a pretty smart cookie and can adapt to change fairly easily and when a process changes, I can roll with it.  But, when a situation is a big change and you have NO idea how long that change is going to occur?  THAT, my friend, is when I kinda tend to freak out majorly and feel like I have absolutely no control over anything!  And I don’t.  And I realized last night, during a heart to heart with my sweet hubby…that is OKAY.  I don’t have to know.  I trust in Jesus.  I know He will lead us where we should be and I will be fine until we GET there.  I have faith that this whole process is under His watch and I can rest assured that it will all be fine.  No matter how long it takes.  But, I can still HOPE that it is a really SHORT amount of time!  🙂

Must go now and make the bed and put the toilet seats AND LIDS down!!!  This is getting serious, y’all!!!!