End of School Year

Well we have been very busy with the end of the school, end of dance and so forth. Siran Stacy was a guest speaker this past week and the service was just amazing. I don't think I had any makeup on when the service was over. He did not sugar coat anything. I am so guilty of sugar coating things for people and of tolerance and it was good to hear last night during our Wed. night service that even Bro. Tommy has struggled with it - do I say something or not? I pray everyday for my kids to have the courage to talk about Jesus with others but I need to start including myself!

I am so excited for Maggie - there is a gathering this weekend for the girls of the church to spend the night and to talk about modesty and what the Bible has to say about it. She has been counting down the days! Please be in prayer for this weekend that the girls will have an open mind/heart to accept and apply what is taught.

On a lighter note - we were in the car on the way home last night from church and stopped at CVS to get drinks (they were on sale!) Zac and I went in and when we got back in the car Zac said daddy what is wrong you look sad? (seriously asking) Bubba said nothing is wrong - Maggie goes on to say you know depression hurts and then Zac comes back with Zymbolta helps. I thought I was going to fall out of my seat - no disrespect to those who battle this - this was totally out of character for my kids to make a joke together that was actually funny. I just hope they don't start quoting the Cialis(sp?) commercial!! They watch way too much TV!

Bubba had told me to listen to WDRM on the way home yesterday to qualify to win tickets for Taylor Swift in DC - well when we got in the car and I turned on the radio Bubba voice was what we heard and Maggie started screaming - she thought we had won the tickets!! I had to break the news that we are one step closer now and just qualified to win Taylor Swift tickets in DC and Maggie is just sure they are going to win!! I hope they do. He also won $102 so we get to have a date night this weekend!!! I had just said at the beginning of the week that I wish we could go on a date this weekend! We are going to our favorite restaurant - Connors!

More to come later,

Stacia

Mother's Day

Well I had a great Mother's Day. I had breakfast cooked for me, a card almost as big as me given by the kids, palm trees that I have been wanting, church worship time with my family, a visit with my mother in law, picnic with my side of the family and Mexican for supper. What more could a mom ask for?! Just the time spent with my family would have been enough! I am not worthy of all the attention.

I am so thankful God allowed me to be a mother and that I have my health so that I can experience life with my kids. They are truly gifts from God ( even the soon to be teenager!) I know my son will return to me after a short while!!! I know he is in there. This too shall pass.

My heart is so heavy for all the sadness going on right now. There have been so many deaths lately. Zac said those very words this morning at the table and I just told him it was a part of life-unfortunately.

Something to share:

Bro Tommy had a sermon about mothers and it was great.
I often reflect about the time I have left with my children before they are off to start their own lives and how short my time is.
He spoke about how motherhood is a role, request, risk, responsibility, and a reason to rejoice.
Bro Tommy shared about in John Croyle's book - 18 years to pack a suitcase - he says you have 6,570 days with your child before they turn 18. When 3rd grade is over you are 1/2 way there. We are 1/2 way there with Maggie already - our baby. I only have 2190 days left with Zac. Wow - I remember the day he was born. I sure hope we have raised them and put the correct things in the suitcase so to speak. This I do know - Bubba and I will spend eternity with our kids in heaven.

"No man is poor who has had a godly mother" - Abraham Lincoln.

Blessings,
Stacia

What a busy month

Well it seems everything has been full speed ahead since we got home from Guatemala over a month ago now- it seems like just yesterday we were preparing to leave. I am already longing to go back! I would love to go in July.

Well they started and finished our covered back porch and finished our pool in just a few weeks timing. I felt so guilty doing this work after seeing the poorness (if even that is a word) in Guatemala and I am sure even here in the states. But our kids I know are going to enjoy it this summer. Maggie and I home today and the fence people are suppose to come today and finish and then we should be done except for the grass! We still have lots of mud!

I was able to go with some of the women of the church to Louisville, Kentucky for a Women of Joy conference. I was a little nervous being a new person in the group but felt very welcomed. We heard Sarah Palin speak on Friday night - I am very skeptical of any politician but was going in with an open mind. She did speak openly of her faith. I enjoyed Saturday better though - we heard Becky Taribassi first and then a Christian comedian Anita Renfroe - who was hilarious.
I came away with a renewed spirit within me. We had about 8 hours on Saturday to kill until the concert with Stephen Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith so the 4 of us that rode together headed out to see the city. We saw downtown Louisville, some parts not worth writing about!, Churchill Downs, and several malls. Churchill Downs was a very pretty place. We even had our picture made in some big hats!! The concert was amazing and I don't even know how Stephen Curtis Chapman could stand up there and sing with the power of God. And that was truly a testament to his faith. The hotel we stayed in was definitely nothing to write home about so I was happy to be back in my bed on Sunday night.

Zac had a foundations class with the 6th graders of the church and really enjoyed it. The school year is winding down and Maggie is rehearsing her dances for all 3 classes for the end of year performance.

More to come later-Blessings

Stacia

Coming home Day - Friday - Day 6 in Guatemala

Well I thought I would post the last day of our mission trip- It has been a very busy month here at the Jones' house and I have other things I would like to blog about but because I have OCD! - I have to finish my trip first!!

We had breakfast at the hotel and then headed off to the airport. My ear felt a little better but stopped back up on the way to the airport. We said our good-byes to our friends from Feed the Children and headed into the airport. I had pressed 2 flowers in my Bible from Lucrecia and was a little nervous and thought I would get in trouble and when I talked with Christy on Saturday- Billy had put his whole bouquet in his suitcase!! What was I worried about!?

The security did 2 different pat downs in the airport -wow was that different. We boarded the plane and they announced they were playing the Blindside on the way home - I thought that was a perfect movie for the ending of our trip - the movie was great - a movie about service as well.

1/2 way home my ear started hurting really bad but eased up when we landed-maybe the altitude made it worse. It took 2 hours to get through Atlanta airport. When we were waiting on our luggage for the 2nd time- Patricia offered to look at my ear - we got a few looks but I did not care!! She said it was very red - I took Nyquil when we got home and it felt better by morning.

Bubba had told Billy that he did not want to be separated from on our trip -well while we were waiting on the shuttle to come pick us up at the airport to take us back to our cars at the hotel - there was room for a couple of people and Bubba hollered and said Stacia you can go and I will catch up with you at the airport - mind you I had no keys to car and none of the group was getting on that shuttle!! I guess he had had enough of me!! Needless to say I waited for the next shuttle with the rest of the group!

We were finally on our way to see the kids!! We stopped in Chattanooga at a Wendy's drive through and were back on the road again. Bubba had said when we got on the interstate and had had a few bites of his burger - can you turn on the light and look to see if it is done? I looked at it and said it looks fine to me! He took a bite or two more and said I can't eat it - it tastes funny. Well I did not think anything more of it - my ear hurt and I was so congested and I just wanted to get home and take some Nyquil and go to bed.

Both the kids were asleep when we got home - so we kissed them and put them to bed. Thank goodness for great grandma's! I crashed and woke up to the sound of Bubba sick - from food poisoning. All week in a foreign country and then sick in the states- Oh well!

I am so thankful that I stepped out of my comfort zone and went to serve. I truly have been blessed and really want to go back in July and love on the kids some more!!!

I encourage everyone to get out and serve in some form or fashion.

Blessings,
Stacia