WAIT... NOW GO!!!!

I have a heart for children. I always have. I knew in first grade I would be a teacher. I also have a heart for orphans. It was compounded by 1000 when I saw the face of my daughter on a screen in 2006. I knew then that my life had been forever changed... Not comfortable. Not quiet. CHANGED!

 Since 2005 I have sat watching my husband go on mission trip after mission trip (9 in all now). I have even sent my (then) 9 year old son in my place on a mission team because I felt I was told to wait. God gave (and kept giving) me my beautiful children and He confirmed with me that for that time I was to stay home with the mission field that had been created in my home. So I waited... and I waited. I have often wondered when I should go, when would I feel at peace about it, and I have told God "I'll just sit here and wait... you just holler GO when we are ready."

Well, "holler" He did and off I go. In full disclosure I have to tell you that I thought my first mission trip would be to Nicaragua to see what all my husband has been a part of, or to Guatemala the land of my child's birth and the country that captured my heart years ago. I have been searching for a trip and praying for God to lead. In the meantime He began to whisper a quiet little word that had not been on my radar. One that even at the mention of now I get teary and excited all at the same time- into my heart was whispered... HAITI.

 So, in January, my friend Sonja and I will head to Haiti with Visiting Orphans. We will spend a few days loving on the children in Port-Au-Prince at 2 different orphanages. One of which was completely destroyed by the earthquake and the children there live in tents on the property of a woman who took them in. The rest of the week we will spend in the Village of Pignon where we will lend a hand at an orphanage and love on the people of the Village.

I am more than excited, and want to share my adventures with you- my family and friends. I covet your prayers as I prepare to go, as I leave home the most precious gifts God has blessed me with so that I can learn more about myself, the love of God, and His desires for the world.

I also want to invite you to participate. Brent and I have discussed for years our stance on asking others to financially support our adventures. Honestly, if we plan accordingly, save a little, make a few sacrifices, and have a yard sale, this expensive trip is do-able for our family. It is no different than a choice family vacation or expensive want on our list. But, if we do it all on our own then we are not allowing others a hand on what God is doing in our lives or in Haiti. We feel like we are cutting out the blessing for those who can't go on an international trip, or don't feel called to it. So if you feel so called to be a part of my adventure I would feel honored and blessed.

Visiting Orphans has a spot on their website that allows you to make a donation to one of their trips HERE. On the page you should select the January Haiti "Simply Love" trip. You should also select that  you would like it specified for a person and type my name in the box that appears (when you select yes). If on-line donations are not your cup of tea but you would like to join in,  you can also mail a check payable to Visiting Orphans to the address below. Just be sure to indicate on the check that it is for the January Haiti trip and for me.

Visiting Orphans
PO Box 668
Nolensville, TN 37135

Thank you so much! I cannot wait to share with you as I prepare to go and all I get the opportunity to encounter (even potted meat) and how it is all used to bring Glory to God.

All my love,

A little homeschool

I have not had the time to post on here all of our homeschool adventures. It has been a GREAT adventure for our family. I think we all have learned something new. Here are a few photos of some of our more exciting works.

The littlest Jones' are always a challenge to keep busy!!!  I try to throw some things at them every now and then for fun. This project took about 35 seconds... then they were wanting me to do something else.

This was the introduction to our Earth's Crust Unit. Nothing like eating the Earth for lunch!!! YUMMY!

And in keeping with our no dress code AT ALL policy. Silas and Callan show off the playdough model of the Earth and it's layers.

Finally a little Picasso...  I was worried that we were missing out on "real" art, so I found this great website with some kid friendly projects from famous artists. I had a great children's book on Picasso... so we went with it. The kids LOVED it... especially this ARTIST!!!!

My little Picasso's.

Fall Ball- Callan Jones

After coming off a fabulous All- Star season, we were so excited for Callan's Fall Ball season. We knew it was going to be tough adjusting as he had to move up from machine pitch to kid pitch, but we had no idea what was in store. In the first few practices Callan got hit in the knee fielding grounders... and to him that meant DONE with the infield. Before even the first game, Callan got hit square in the back with a pitch from a kid (accidentally and on his team)... and to him that meant DONE at the plate. Because Jones' don't quit, he stuck it out playing mostly in the comfortable outfield. At the plate we offered all kinds of bribery just to get him to attempt to stand in the box for a chance to hit it. We knew if he could ever get the bat on the ball again he would find his groove again. He was just plain scared. He wanted to do it so bad... but he knew better than to trust the kids throwing the ball at him. Finally with just a few games left in the season Brent bought him a chest protector, and although he looks more like the umpire standing at the plate than a batter, it gave him the sense of security he needed to stand in there at the plate. He still did not get a hit in those last few games, but he stood in there and ended up getting walked several times (when he would back out of the box the umps would end up calling strikes because that is what they are taught to do).

He did however do something new... something he enjoyed.

It is very hard to get a good picture of a pitcher... and it was at night... and the OTHER teams coach fussed at me for my flash going off because it was messing up "the little boy that is pitching".

I don't know what the future holds in baseball for Callan. Maybe after a little winter break we will be ready to try again... maybe this is the end and it is time to find something else he wants to do.

Sissy is FIVE!!!

Where did the baby face go? I look at this face and see such a big girl. So many emotions fill me on the day of this sweet child's birth. There is so much I want to tell her birth mother, but mostly I want her to see how happy and loved she truly is. I also want her to know that we get out her picture every birthday and talk about what a special woman she is.

The birthday girls dinner request? Spaghetti and Broccoli!!?? So you know we had to have it!

She also asked for a trampoline since she loves it so much at Gymnastics. Daddy agreed at first and then chickened out on us. She settled for Kaya the Native American, American Girl Doll.

BRAVOS!!!!

When the Morgan's called us and asked if we would be interested in a family fun outing to the ATL (minus the littlest peeps), we were ALL in! I don't think you could have found a more excited crew, unless you would have gotten a pic of the momma's. Dan (Bobby and Sonja's baseball playing friend- or Mike's brother) didn't have anyone using his seats and let us have them for the weekend. Can you say 3rd row excitement, with a dab of fine dining and personal service for anything your baseball heart desires?

Dan (Mike's brother) also threw in some passes to watch a little BP. This youngin'- Freddie Freeman threw me for a loop. He was sweet to sign some hats, but really those legs of his are LONG. His waist was pretty close to my... ummm chest.

Dan was sweet to the boys. Sonj introduced each of my boys as a best buddy to each of her boys. He also made sure they could all see and spent some time chatting.

This was Silas' "Chip-chip" evidentally he no longer acknowledges small children dying to meet him. Oh well, they were so excited about being THAT close that it really didn't matter.

Baylor had to sit for a second to take it all in... all that black on his bill- signatures!!! Can you say DREAMLAND?

These two got the raw end of the deal and never knew it! Callan and Grant got to sit in those nice green seats with the Momma's, and Bay and Cade got to sit in them Sunday. I don't think they knew they did not get the royal treatment. Throw in some Dip-N-Dots and sitting side by side and they would have been happy in the parking lot.

Finally GAME TIME!!! Do you see how close we sat??? We could talk to them and they could hear us... and I took pictures of every single one of them. The Dodger's On Deck Circle was right in front of our face, they got heckled a little too much from our area, but we got the opportunity to learn about and watch  Dodger's newcomer Dee Gordon. He is one to watch (and was very sweet to his High School Coach who came down to chat)!


This is Dan (Mike's Brother) rounding 3rd after a solo homerun. Just after this shot he pointed at us (really  his friend Sonj- but I was close enough to count and afterall I was in his seats). We were hoping for 3 homeruns, per Sonja's request, but the rest of his at bats did not fare as well.

The kids who will never look at the baseball park the same after the option of Roasted Duck and endless Ice Cream Sandwiches. But then again told us that they got the shaft because "THE DAD'S" would not as closely monitor their sugar intake.

Such fun!! In fact, I am having trouble watching the game on TV now, but at the same time, I can't miss a game.

Our First Field Trip

For our first field trip, we headed to downtown Nashville to visit the Tennessee Museum. My dad (Gandie) works in the same building that houses the museum so he and mom took the morning and went with us. I had no idea that it was as big as it was. Of course my kiddos were interested in the Native American stuff and the interest slowed down after that, but I bet when we get to that stuff in our History studies they will want to go back.

We took a before pic while Gandie went and parked the "bus".

Then who can pass up the chance to restrain your kids... one. at. a .time??

 I was afraid to take many pictures, plus the class tends to scatter like ants while exploring!

Fun times...we will have to go back.

Celebrating Last

I am doing my best to relish and celebrate every bit of babyhood in Cruz. But somedays, it is time to move on. For the first time in 11 years our crib came down. He was more than ready and has been asking to sleep with brothers for months.

Do you see the look... it is the "Do you want to tell me why I am still trapped in this thing" look.

And then the BIG BOY BED! Look at his face. He is so excited! He slept in it for the first time with no problems at all.

Can you hear him "This is the best thing EVER!!" I think I will wait a year or so before I tell him that the bed rail on the bed is not holding him in like the crib did. He has not gotten out of bed one time. He just wakes up and yells for me to come get him. "Mommy, I UP!"

Now... if we could hurry up and celebrate that last pack of Pampers!