Summer Time

Well I can't believe it is already July 14. This summer has flown by. Well Maggie did not win the Taylor Swift give away but that was ok because it would have been during her recital.

Zac ended up getting an award for second highest math average in his class and all A's all year. Great job Zac - he worked really hard and I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.

Maggie came away with all A's all year and highest reading average in her class. She also worked very hard and the work paid off - she seems to be turning into a young lady quicker than what I would like :)

Maggie danced so beautifully at her recital. She had 3 dances to learn for her 3 classes but she did not complain! She just loves it. I just cried as I watched rehearsals and could see how her dance has improved over the past year.

Maggie came away from the Modest is Hottest with lots of info about how to act decently and dress modestly and to save herself for your husband. I am so thankful that she was able to go and she is putting into practice some of the things she has learned already!

Well we kind of just hung around here for the month of June and swam. Maggie said we were having a virtual vacation - drive around the block and come back to the pool! I have been able to do a study with the kids and had time to just be still this summer. It has been much needed and am thankful for the not so busyness.

VBS was great this year. The kids had a blast. I had told the kids that they could only invite 1 friend since it was during the day and I could only drive one vehicle!!

Betsi, Maggie and Hannah Maggie in the skit! our crazy group of 5th and 6th grade!

Zacc and Maggie are getting ready to head to a short camp this weekend to learn more about God and spend time with friends. I am so thankful for the little things in life.

Next weekend is double date night with some friends. We are going to Connors and to see Eclipse - I can't wait.

Here are a few pics of our end of May and June.

Bubba was not feeling well this past Sunday and so he stayed home and I almost just said we will stay too, but I am so glad we went. The message Bro. Tommy gave was so refreshing and my spirit needed it. It was the first of a series on prayer. It was so encouraging to know that everyone struggles with cutting out a set amount of time as a quiet time to pray and study and to know that God does not want to shame us into time spending time with him.

God is good even in the valleys or the slow (not so busy) times :)

The team from Mission Firefly is in Guatemala this - please pray for them. We hope to go as a family spring break next year.

I am busy trying to plan a 13th birthday party for Zac and a back to school party that Maggie wants to have ( since she can't have a birthday pool party)

More to come later

Blessings,

Stacia

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

Pics from day 5 in Guatemala

Day 5 - March 18

We had breakfast at the hotel then headed out to the village again. We had our whole team with us this day. Mrs. Wallie was in charge of cooking this day so I was able to play more!! -yeah! I videoed some of the footage of the 4th house being built. I was able to go through one of their homes - cornstalk hut- dirt floors-animals running around in the house- I felt like I was being so intrusive. I didn't realize how bad it was.

I did help in the kitchen some - I peeled potatoes. We did coloring pages with the kids and watched part of a movie. We also played duck, duck, goose again.

The women of the village were washing their clothes down below and had laid clothes all over the ground to dry. Billy is looking at putting up clothes lines next trip to get them off the ground.

We served lunch which consisted of potato salad, BBQ chicken, sliced apples, cookies, macaroni salad, and coke. We had lunch meat and bread left over after lunch and we served that also.

After lunch we played more and Bubba and I walked down to the bottom where the women were washing -WOW that was a hard walk back up the mountain and they walk up and down that all the time.

I had also brought my pictures of the kids we were praying for and had found 1 but still had not found the girl -Maria. So I got the picture out and Billy helped me find her. She had been right under my nose the whole time!! There are a lot of little girls with the name Maria! I told her we had been praying for with help of course!! She seemed more shy than Lucrecia but I was able to get a hug and a picture out of her!

Billy also wanted to bless the 3rd house that was done. He wanted them to know that the house was a gift from God - it was very moving for me. I was very thankful I could be a part of that. After the blessing we were able to see the house - it was very nice.

Next came the sad part - we had to say goodbye :(

As we were telling everyone "until next time" asta la vista - Lucrecia was holding my hand -oh I did not want to leave - we hugged and she told me she loved me- which made it even harder to say goodbye - I wish I could have packed her in my suitcase!!! just kidding! Well we said our goodbyes and waved as we left and headed back to the hotel.

We only had about 30 minutes to freshen and head to Antigua to the markets before they closed. Bubba and I were on a mission for souvenirs for a list of people-well we accomplished it with 10 minutes to spare! We all headed to an Italian restaurant and even the hotel staff met us there. Bubba and I split a pizza - it was VERY good! On the way back up the mountain to the hotel my ear started hurting and stopped up.

More to come later

Stacia

Day 4 in Guatemala -March 17

Wow -I officially have a cold. I was very worried about the smells here of the children and the hospital so I guess God answered my prayer. I can't smell anything. We went to Hermano Pedro orphanage/hospital for the morning and then 1/2 free day. I was very nervous about Hermano but it was not as bad as I had in my head. We were at the door about to go in and Bubba made a last minute decision that he did not want to go - but I did! Billy, Bro. David and Eric were going to meet a missionary couple living here and maybe get some questions answered/advice so Bubba went with them and afterward said he felt that was where he was suppose to be. he had said before we left the states that he did not want to be separated from me but felt it was OK since 1/2 the group would be with me. I also have a funny about being separated at the airport in Atlanta on the last day - you will have to stay tuned for that!

Anyways - when we entered Hermano they said no cameras, so Bubba took the backpack. Seeing the hospital, I felt like I was stepping back in time. The atmosphere felt like an old movie and the nurse's uniforms also looked like something from the 70's maybe. We were assigned to the teenage ward and split be male and female. I went to the female ward-surprise! We first folded laundry and then proceeded to pick a lady and push here around the hospital. This would hopefully stimulate them--we pushed, sang and bounced balls to them. The 2 different ladies that I pushed were mostly unresponsive- would not speak to me. The first lady would bounce or drop the ball for me to chase and when I parked her she started crying and i assumed she wanted to be pushed again. The second lady did not respond at all and would not even hold the ball but I pushed anyways! There was 1 hall we pushed the ladies down -this hall was lined with chairs on both sides of the hall full of people that were waiting to see a Doctor. The lady that told us a little about the hospital and took us to the ward we were assigned to said the sad part was that everyone there would not be seen and would have to come back tomorrow. She said it was also sad when they had to turn someone away that needed care, a place to stay and they could not offer care. This hospital/orphanage was for the poor. We were also able to push through the children's ward- it was so encouraging to see so many volunteers/visitors there to interact with the children. Most of the patients that lived there had a form of cerebral palsy.

Around 12 or so we were to meet at the fountain in Antigua which was within walking distance from Hermano-so off we went. As we waited for everyone else that did not go to Hermano-of course we were confronted with market people who wanted us to buy their goods - all I could do was say no gracias - I had no money - no backpack!

After everyone arrived we split again and 1/2 stayed in Antigua to eat and shop and 1/2 went to a volcano hike - I so wish after seeing the pics that we had done the volcano hike but maybe next time!

We went to MonoLoco for lunch and had a great chicken bacon ranch quesidilla. Great food. We shopped in the markets and then Bubba, Kim and I met Wallie to grocery shop in Antigua for Thursday in the village.

It was definitely different from the other grocery-more stuff but still a small space- we survived and had to wait out front for Jake and the truck and boy was Bubba nervous! - they told us not to leave the buggy/groceries for any length of time or they would be gone!

Just a little funny on grocery shopping in a foreign country - I was looking for the eggs in the refrigerated section like in the states but never found them - they were on the shelf by the bread!

We loaded up and headed back to the hotel to unload the groceries and then back to Antigua to meet all the group for supper at Pollo Campero (like a KFC in Guatemala). It was OK but I really could not taste that much from my cold!

More to come later,

Stacia

A few pictures from our day in Antigua and an outside

picture of Hermano Pedro