Restore the Joy

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You (Psalm 51:12-13).

At some point in the last couple of months, I lost my joy. It was a very hard discovery for me. I have spent a lot of time reflecting how it happened. I have been to 2 Women's Retreats, read countless devotionals,gone to bible studies, done bible studies on my own, prayed and prayed and prayed and no joy. My heart has been so hardened and I couldn't figure it out. I have come to the point in my spiritual journey where I have just enough Jesus to be miserable. Have you been there? I have seen the other side, so to speak, where the abundance is and my heart aches for it. Now with Christmas around the corner, it occurred to me that I spend a lot of time pointing other people to Christ but am I there at His feet in gratitude for everything He has given me or do I take it for granted? Do I take for granted what He suffered for my sake, that I don't for one minute deserve a fraction of the grace I have been shown not only by Him but by wonderful people in my life? Do I show that grace to anyone? I just know that regardless of anything my redeemer lives and so although, I may not hear His voice clearly right now, it is to me to persevere and keep listening. I will praise Him regardless of how I feel.

Encounters

I just have to tell this story. I was sitting in the karate studio waiting for Abigail to finish her lesson and there were 2 sweet little boys waiting for their mom who was taking pictures for the instructor. I was mainly trying to keep them out of trouble but I started talking to one of them and he asked "Do you celebrate Halloween?" to which I replied "Yes, I celebrate Halloween" , he then asked "Do you have God in your heart?" and I replied "yes, I have God in my heart." He told me that God doesn't celebrate Halloween. I then told him that we celebrate Halloween at our house to help reach people who don't have God in their hearts and it was like a light bulb went off in him. (So, I apologize to that mom.) I then asked him if he had God in his heart. He said "yes" so I said to him "Well, that means you are accountable to God for your actions and that one of God's rules for us is to obey our mommies and daddies." I don't think anyone had explained it that way before and he was very well behaved the rest of the time I was there.

God knows exactly what you need and when you need it and sometimes it takes a sweet little boy to remind you of "God in your heart".

Oh my goodness

I always feel like I should write something really profound on here and seriously folks, have you met me? Deep is not the word that I would go for. For an update things have been crazy at the Jones. Michael has been working all sorts of crazy hours. Finally those should be over (until Christmas anyway.) We have all passed around a stomach virus. And having in-laws living with you is sometimes not all it is cracked up to be. It is so nice though to get on the other side of things and realize how many times God has stepped in when you thought you could not go on for one more minute without screaming. I have some of the greatest friends who are so patient with me when I don't deserve it and give me great advice even when I don't want to hear it. You know who you are. Thank you!!

Grattitude

It really occurred to me today just how incredibly grateful I am to have the husband I have, the children I have. Michael and I have been together all of our adult lives. We met when we were both 17. He is a wonderful man and it doesn't occur to me that not every man on the planet is like him. My husband has never raised his voice to me. I know that sounds amazing but it is true. He doesn't get angry very often and when he does, it is a calm angry, if that makes any sense. He will talk it out. It is irritating sometimes because I am a little more volatile, okay a lot more. My children are also absolutely amazing. I just look at them and smile. Isabel can walk into any room with any kid and make a friend. Abigail is so tough that it is scary. Jon-Michael is all boy all the time and I love it. I didn't do anything to deserve them just like I didn't do anything to deserve Jesus' love and yet I still get it everyday. AMAZING!

Jon-Michael's First Day of Preschool

This is a picture of our sweet boy on his first day of of pre-K, the official pre-k that is right before kindergarten. He went to pre-k last year also. I have to admit I was a little concerned. Our son has been much more of a challenge than either of the girls so when I leave him somewhere, I automatically expect to get a phone call to come pick him up because he is acting so badly. He had a great day and got a "terrific" on his behavior chart which was very surprising to me. I know you look at that sweet face and think "what could he possibly do?" One of his recent adventures was to pour the mop bucket of soapy water onto the kitchen floor, change into his swim suit and play "slip and slide". There have also been more pee and poop incidents with him than I care to admit. Seriously, what is the fascination little boys have with pee and poop? It makes me crazy! When this little boy gives me a hug though, he can do no wrong. It is the best feeling in the world!

Patience

Some days as a parent you are reminded that some things do sink in with them. Michael and I went to the gym together this morning and Jon-Michael wanted to go with us so we took him. The line to childcare was very long and after standing there for about 15 minutes I decided that we should just go home. My son looked up at me with his sweet little face, patted me on the stomach and said "Patience, mommy, you need to have patience." How could I possibly leave after that? I am constantly reminding the kids about the fruits of the spirit and something actually sunk in!! How exciting!!

Quote of the Day

"Dang, man, I didn't know a minivan could go that fast."--State Trooper on 121

Little did he know that he had pulled over the Batvan!!!

Jones Family Covenant

I thought I would share our Covenant with everyone.

The Jones Family always

• Loves and serves God

• “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” Deuteronomy 10:12

• helps others

• “This is what the LORD Almighty says: Judge fairly and honestly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And do not make evil plans to harm each other.” Zechariah 7:9-10

• loves kids

• "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise?" Matthew 21:16

• opens their home and hearts

• “Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13

• forgives each other

• “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times. Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times “ Matthew 18:1-22

• uses kind words when we leave each other

• laughs together

My Brilliant Plan

Today my brilliant plan was to sit down to "help" Isabel with her homework. Well, my first mistake is that I told her I would be nice. Isabel is not a hurrier, nothing is urgent to her. So we sat down at 3:30 or so to do a paragraph from her spelling words, write her spelling words in alphabetical order and one math worksheet with 15 problems. It is now 5:10, I have not been nice, she has not hurried and I once again am feeling like I am possibly the worst mother in the world. I love my children more than I love my own life and would do absolutely anything for them except give them baths and help with homework apparently. That is where my patience ends. Don't get me wrong, God has increased my patience so much over the last few years that I hardly recognize myself at times but there are still these times that remind me that I need to rely on Him and not myself.

They made it through the day

Of course, when I picked up the girls from school today, they were smiling from ear to ear. I had to fight urges to pick them up all day. I made it. Isabel has made a complete recovery from not liking me for holding her back. She made at least 2 or 3 new friends today.

I would love to know, however, if there is anywhere in the Frisco area to buy jazz shoes. In typical style, waited until the last minute and now Isabel has dance class tomorrow.

Finally blogging

I have been fighting the blog thing for a long time. I have finally given in to peer pressure. Oh how weak I am.
Isabel and Abigail are headed back to school and I truly don't know what happened this year. They are so upset to go back to school and it is not usually that way at all. They are usually ready to go and happy. We did all the usual things we do to get ready and tried to keep to our routine. I guess they are just getting older. I always read so much into everything though and automatically go into full worry mode.
Hopefully soon, we will be adding pictures! Be patient.