Tag: family

My Business

On By mrsjmejonesIn about us, Blogging, grateful, home, hubby, marriage, MJ, positive thinking, praise, Sanford, workLeave a comment

No, not starting a business…not closing a business or minding my business….just I’m BUSY!

Moving, Disney, kids, summer, work, etc etc etc have kept me from stopping and trying to remember any of it…that makes me sad.  However it makes me MADcrazyHAPPY that I have been too busy to notice.  Lately the only thing I even WRITE is my prayer list (which seems to get longer by the day – sadly) so sitting down to type is unthinkable one some days!

Moving has definitely been the time suck of the year!  Hmm, I guess technically “moving” itself wasn’t the time consuming activity….that was over in a day.  Filling a house has been the thing….buying new things, repurposing old ones, shopping for bargains, creating new memories in a new space.  It’s been EXHAUSTING…but most of all…it’s been FUN!!!  It’s one of those things that makes it so apparent to me that crazy times bring out the MOST of what you have the most of.  If you have love and fun and happiness, you will get more of THAT.  My sweet husband has been so awesome throughout this transitional phase of having a new space to live in…..he’s dealt with my shopping habits, my chevron obsessions and my need to decorate every nook and cranny with some form of turquoise, aqua or gray!  My kids have totally enjoyed finding their own new things and old things alike and have been such troopers about keeping things clean and organized.  My Mom has been….an angel!  She has loved shopping for me and crafting and lending a hand or elbow or whatever was needed.  My niece helped unpack like a madwoman and it was a great time to have my entire family…inlaws, parents, niece and her boyfriend, sissy and her hubby and my baby niece….my kids…our friend Zoe…it was just awesome.  I have had more visitors in a month than I believe I had at my former house in the seven years we lived there!  It’s just fun getting opinions on decor and organization sometimes, right?  ((OH AND THERE IS THAT POOL PROJECT THAT I HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT!!!  SO MANY DECISIONS…….EEEEEK.)

Getting the kids ready for back to school…fun times.  My kids will all be at the same school and I’m thrilled about that.  MJ is starting K5 and I can’t even believe it.  The speed at which time has flown is amazing.  I’d like to say I’m dealing with my baby going to school very well but I’m not a liar.  She’s so ready and I want to show her how excited I am for her and I do…and then I fall apart alone!!  WHEW!  It will be all fine and well next Friday after it’s been a day and we’ve had “that” day and she did fine and was happy and didn’t hold onto my leg for dear life.  (Dear God, please don’t let that happen. Amen.)  The boys are kinda “meh” about school starting back….but that’s to be expected at 12 and 15.  Happy for them to get in there and get it going though!

Mike’s promotion + school = CRAZY!  Many nights when we first moved in (he had finals then), I didn’t see him after dinner because I couldn’t stay up until he got in bed!   Work has been busy for him as well….he hasn’t even played much golf lately!

TO BE CONTINUED…………I can’t even stay awake!!!

Moving On

On By mrsjmejonesIn hubby, love, marriage, memory, my heart, prayers, sickness1 Comment

I can’t imagine losing my husband…or my daddy.  I have such emotion right now for my friend and her mom.  I can’t imagine the “what do I do now” feeling or the immense feeling of loss.  I know they are absolutely relieved that he’s no longer in pain, but I would imagine that they are also having that empty feeling as well.  I don’t know how you move on…how you go about your daily life and miss that person….how you sit down to dinner at the table you shared with them and they aren’t there.  The whole “time heals all wounds” saying would fall on deaf ears to me…it would almost offend me.  I’d want more time…more moments…just a few more memories.  Knowing that person is in a better place, of course, helps you with these feelings somewhat I’d think…but not having them present in your every day life has to sting so much.  I am praying so hard right now for this family…I love them so much and I know if there is any way they are going to heal, it will be from our Lord.  God bless them…

Co-sleeping, doesn’t equal no-sleeping…

On By mrsjmejonesIn about us, family, hubby, kids, love, marriage, MJ, sleepLeave a comment

I’m not ashamed to admit that my almost 5 year old sleeps with my husband and I.  Every night.  I.Love.It.  She’s my last “baby” and we have a king size bed.  We also have a healthy relationship, parents that babysit and two grown boys that hardly even want to SIT with us.  I am sure that because this August, she starts school and has to have more of a routine, we will begin to transition her to her bed.  But for now, and for the last almost five years, it’s been a blessing to me.  My 14 year old used to be my buddy but is “too cool” for me now…so this has been nice.  I’m sure things will change and one day she’ll too think I’m not cool enough to hang with.  I’m just enjoying this piece of her life right now and the place she’s at.

Even if it means a foot in my back every now and then.

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Busy Bee

On By mrsjmejonesIn family, food, hubby, kids, MJ, praise, travel, vacation2 Comments

I am so excited about the next three weekends.   I can’t even contain myself!!

This weekend, I venture a short ride away and meet up with Victoria – a long time friend – for shopping, gabbing, catching up, eating…I cannot wait.  LONG overdue and very much anticipated!!!

Next weekend, I venture to downtown Raleigh with my sweetheart to just getaway for the night.  Getting dressed up and going to a nice dinner and spending the night in a nice downtown hotel.  So excited to have some time for just US!

Weekend after that – VERY exciting…taking MJ, my mom, and my niece to Atlanta’s American Girl store for some shopping and fun!  We are staying in a Marriott that does it up right – with doll beds for the AG dolls, milk and cookie amenities…it will be some great fun!!

I have some work in the middle of these weekends but I am so ready for them all – I love having things to look forward to!!!

Vitamin F

On By mrsjmejonesIn Blogging, family, kids, love, NaBloPoMo, praise2 Comments

I’m starting the Blog Challenge for January of 2013…this month’s theme is ENERGY..

So, if I think of where my energy comes from…it’s certainly not from MY mind or MY body or MY inner self…it is from Christ.  Just read “I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me” – Philippians 4:13.  I pray if I’m having troubles.  I pray if I’m not.  I pray without ceasing.  I pray because that’s what I’ve been instructed to do by His word.  I also believe that the Lord puts people around you to motivate you.   If I am having a hard time pushing through something, almost always the people I think of are my loved ones. If it’s a work project I’m dealing with resistance on, I think of how proud my husband seems of me when it comes to my job.  When I’m having a hard time even THINKING of cooking dinner, I think of how much he enjoys his favorite foods.  When I am exhausted and one of my kids asks me to play…I am absolutely stoked that they picked ME to spend a moment with!  Our kids are so busy and getting older…if one of them actually thinks of me, I am IN!  At the end of the day, it’s easy to be tired and lazy, but with the motivation from my family members, I feel like I can do anything.

Happy New Year!

Onward…

On By mrsjmejonesIn about us, family, lists, my heart, positive thinking2 Comments

I don’t like resolutions.  I shy away from predictions.  I am more of a “goals and objectives” kinda gal.  In – SHOCKER – a list form!  Here are some of my goals for the coming year:

  1. Read the Bible AT LEAST daily.
  2. Become more active in my church. Also, if I’m uncomfortable with that, find a church that I am comfortable with doing that in.
  3. Keep blogging.  I love to journal and I love the feedback that I get.  It’s not usually in comments, but rather in emails or direct messages that are from close friends.  I appreciate that so much.
  4. Do more random acts of kindness.  How about making them NORMAL and not RANDOM?
  5. Disney. Again.
  6. Make sure my teenagers know how very special they are…and then keep telling them.  Every day.  I see so much hurt in teens all over the place and I need to be SURE I don’t have that under my roof.  Ever.
  7. Be more expressive of my feelings in person.  I have a pretty hefty problem of expressing myself if you’re in the same room with me.  Over blogs, texts, emails – I can rock out words a plenty.  I need to get over it.

I’ll never ask my mom for oatmeal cookies again…

On By mrsjmejonesIn Christmas, kids, lists, memory1 Comment

It’s so hard to believe that it’s come and gone.  That the long-awaited day of celebrations of our Savior’s birth…with presents and food and family has happened and is now a memory.  As I upload the photos to my computer and try to process the frenzy of the last few days….I thought I’d list out some things that I hope I remember a year from now…or even 5…but hopefully 30.  You know I can turn anything into bullet form.  🙂

  • Oatmeal cookies are good.  But making them is NOT an easy task.
  • My boys DO count presents.
  • Mama will let you help.  If she has a debilitating illness.
  • Family really is the best part of it.  Hands down.
  • If your husband buys you that Kitchen-Aid mixer, he WILL expect you to USE it.
  • When people say “if you need me, just call” – they might really mean it.
  • Santa can find his way in even if you don’t have a chimney, a special key for him or sleigh parking.
  • The more you say “I’m not going to overdo it this year.” is proportional to the amount in which you WILL.
  • Kids are really fun to watch open presents. The wonder, the surprise, the smiles…it just makes the hustle and bustle and money and time SO WORTH IT.
  • It really is better to give than receive.  Honestly.
  • There is no better party than a pajama party.
  • McDonald’s really is the only place open.  Really.
  • Being able to help your parents out more than ever is still rewarding even if your Mom is sick and that’s the only reason she let you do most of the grocery shopping.
  • Having a sick mommy on Christmas is pretty much the same as having a sick kiddo at Christmas.  Feels just as yucky and you want to take it away for them!
  • Real friends wear pajamas to your house.  And don’t care that you’re still in them.
  • Reading the Bible on Christmas Eve with your kids is actually that awesome.  Having a husband that explains things and is so patient with them is even more awesome.
  • When it’s all said and done and your four year old lists out a few toys as her fave parts of the day….but ends with, “but spending time with my family was the best thing ever” – it’s okay to cry.  It’s probably preferred to exploding internally.

Merry Christmas to everyone reading.  It’s been a great one for us and I hope it has been for you as well!

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Just Reflection

On By mrsjmejonesIn family, grateful, kids, my heart, praise, prayers, trust, trust in Jesus, world, worry3 Comments

My heart is really heavy tonight.  I’ve prayed, I’ve cried, I’ve read, I’ve watched…I’ve tried to comprehend the details and then shut my computer in dismay.  I have hugged my children, absorbed in their scents, and thanked the Lord for my blessings.  I feel so incredibly sad for the families of the little angels that lost their lives today.  I feel so raw with emotion that I can’t even put into words exactly how it makes me feel.  I am looking to my Lord.  I am not asking for answers or understanding or even peace.  What I ask is for more people to trust Him.  More people to have the kind of faith that moves mountains.  That heals hearts.  That forgives.  Those children were so innocent, so unfinished.  Surely so loved by a parent or two….grandparents…great-grandparents..aunts..uncles…brothers…sisters.  Those small little hands and fingers and toes….so small and yet so missed this evening.  I cannot even imagine the hurt and loss that their families must be feeling.  But, even so, I pray that they have faith.  I pray that they look to Him.  I pray that they would draw closer and nearer to the only one who can deliver them.  I pray that they would know Him, love Him, trust Him.  Only through Him will they once again see those small eyes and be reunited among streets of gold!!!  I pray for comfort for these people, this town, our country.  We surely need many things…but most of all, Him.

Countless Captions – My Daddy

On By mrsjmejonesIn Blogging, captions, family, grateful, hubby, lists, love, memory, my heart, photography, serious2 Comments

So, I did this earlier with my great-grandmother’s picture…and I thought it was time again.  Chose THIS GUY…since it was just his birthday and I had this awesome picture of him!

That man right there is my Daddy.  He’s a great husband to my Mom, a wonderful Daddy to us girls, and a fabulous Papa to all the grandkids.  This pic was taken at his birthday party just a couple of weeks ago.  It makes me think of a few things:

  • to get my Daddy to smile straight on in a pic – IMPOSSIBLE
  • his laugh, which is contagious
  • his love of San Felipe where he orders “pollo VANDITO” every time, no matter how many times I correct him (fundido)
  • our Sonic dates when I was a teenager…every Friday night
  • his height…six feet six inches..he has always been the “jolly green giant” to me
  • him taking me to my first race in 1989…getting vomited on and leaving early!  LOL
  • Darrell Waltrip
  • that stache. (Victor Newman?  LOL  Weekend at Bernie’s??)
  • I remember hanging out with him when my mom worked in retail and we would order pizza, those were some of my favorite nights!
  • That time we sat on the floor together to watch Miami Vice and he ended up with knee surgery (womp womp wompppp)
  • I also remember the gut-wrenching feeling of disappointing him (too many times)…and the hurt look in his eyes…thinking there was NO way he could feel as bad as I did (as a parent know, I know that’s not the case)
  • If you know my Dad, you know he watches commercials.  All of them.  And he likes to talk about them.  And I secretly sometimes watch the funny ones so we can talk about them. 🙂
  • Seeing him and Christian build things when Christian was about 3 or so….melting my heart.

I am so blessed with a Daddy.  Not a “father’ or a “dad”, but a DADDY.  He’s always been there for me and still is.  As a teen, when I thought I’d done that THING that would make him not love me anymore..it was when he surprised me and was more present than ever.  In my adult life now, I am so very thankful for my childhood relationship with him and even more for the grown up relationship too.  I truly believe I married someone that’s somewhat like him – and that makes me so very proud.