My 2 littles

Our two littlest kiddos were so proud of their costumes I thought they deserved some more photo time. Eliza has fallen in love with Pocahontas (and we are studying about her in school too), and have you ever NOT seen a cute zebra???

I have to add that I was so proud of my oldest son this Halloween. He did forgo the extra friend time and quickly running from house to house in order to carry Cruz slowly door to door as he collected candy and said "Fank You".

Halloween

Halloween was a little rushed this year. I don't know where the day went, but suddenly we were 10 minutes late to head down the street to Trick-or Treat with our BFF's. We intended on making it to church for the Fall Festival, but wore ourselves out before we got there. Daddy still went and set up and then went back and shut down the bonfire our Connect Class was in charge of.

Callan as Rocky Balboa

Silas as a Karate Kid

Baylor as the ever occuring baseball player (I tried to convince him to be something else this year as he has been a baseball player for several years... his response, "But I have never been a Legend's baseball player before." WHATEVER)

And my 2 little bits... my Pocahontas and her Zebra buddy.

The trick-or-treating clan before the Ashman's arrived.

FUN TIMES!!!!!

Becoming Legends

After a little bit of a tough time, and a lesson on life Baylor settled with a new team. I immediately noticed a change. Sometimes we are forced outside of what we know and where we are comfortable just so we will take the opportunity to see that something so much greater is waiting for us.

Yes, we put a lot into baseball and I know not everyone understands or agrees, but it is important to my child and being on the right team makes all the difference in the world.

So, here we are the Tennessee Legends, just a legend in the making. Stay tuned... this team has plans to stay together for 2 years and head to the "summit" of youth baseball...Cooperstown!

My first baseman has earned his spot and showed out a little this fall with some of his moves.

Reading and waiting to make a play on the runner (who I cropped out)

Settling in for a hit...

Eliza at the ball field

So what does this cute little girl do to entertain herself at the ball field?

She collects things! Sometimes rocks, sometimes leaves, sometimes a handful of Grandaddy Longlegs. I think there were 6 in all stuffed in these tiny hands.

Fall Ball- Silas

Silas had to move up in baseball this season too. He moved from Coach Pitch to Machine Pitch. Luckily, he moved onto a team with Coaches we know and love, and some of our best buddies!

I think this kid loves baseball more than my oldest. He is not as verbally passionate about it, but the boy has a ball in his hands all the time. My entry and 2 story Living Room has become his pop up practice zone (with squishy balls) and he'd play ball every night outside if he could convince his brothers. His personality is more calm and quiet than Baylor's was but he sure does love it!!! I am pretty proud of how he has done in his first machine pitch season too.

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.