Everything Under the Son

I read this blog each and every day...soaking it all in. Please go and read this post today. Please.

At the end, she even quotes one of my favorite quotes;one that I have clung to since Carson's birth and death.

Okay friendly readers...it is time for the big challenge! Are you ready?

Yesterday, we started something we are calling our Bountiful Blessings Collection, and I hope that you will join us as we count our many blessings! I found this idea online, and could not pass up the opportunity to pass it along to you!

You will need:



A vase, jar, or basket (ours was a whopping $1.97!)
Rocks/stones (we got the cheap ones from the craft department!)
A marker
A notebook
A pen/pencil

All of these things can be purchased inexpensively, and you might even be able to find them at your local dollar store.

Sit with your family and, in your notebook, list off your blessings. List the many things you are thankful for, both big and small. Be sure to number your list! Once you have a good start on your list, number your rocks with the marker and begin filling your vase. What you end up with is a beautiful decorative representation of your many blessings. Each rock/stone corresponds with a blessing in your life...and watching the vase fill up is a blessing in itself :) The fun part is, you can add to your collection as often as you want to! What a great way to spend time with your kids, being thankful, and focusing on the blessings God has given us!



So, will you do it? Will you join us? Will you make your own Bountiful Blessing Collection? Do you have an idea to add to this challenge? How many stones do you have so far?



Now, go and be blessed! Give thanks to God for all of your blessings, big and small! And let me know how it is going!

We have been oh-so-busy and loving every minute! I have always felt that we were either busy or bored, not a lot of in-between. It really seems that way, doesn't it? I mean, there are either tons of things to do, or there is nothing. Lately, we have been blessed to be busy!

Between story time at the library each week, and Mother's Day Out, we have also had things like playgroups, and Ladies' Bible Class, and church activities, and birthday parties. I have also been working several part-time jobs to help bring in some money, and that has been lots of fun as well. Dittos for Kiddos is coming up soon, so I have lots to do to prepare for that, along with helping my fun friends get ready too! My organizing business, which I think I have decided to call Organizing Frenzy, has taken off wonderfully. There is something exciting about cleaning out and organizing...my labelmaker is my dear friend :)

On top of all of these fun out-of-the-house things, we have the usual mommy/wife stuff like keeping the house picked up. Oh, and clean laundry is nice, too! :) There is also the organizing I have been working on for my family. Things like chore charts, daily activity plans, memory verse plans, and the Names of God study that I have yet to begin. I have also managed to squeeze in a little reading, which has been so good for my soul. I have just started another book, and will give an update soon...I have a feeling I will walk away excited and changed once again. I'll let you know.

So as you can see, we have been blessed with busy-ness! What about you? What have you been up to lately? Tell me about it...

Please...Pretty Please...get this book and read it!

Today we are starting a new tradition in our home! The Fruit of the Spirit Plate!

A week or two ago, I saw an idea online that I just loved...a way to incorporate more discussion about living God's word into our daily family time! A way to encourage daily living of the fruits of the spirit. The basics are, we have a new special plate that has fruit as the design. Whenever we see someone in our family living out one of the fruits in a special way, they are rewarded with the fruit plate to eat off of for dinner. Doesn't that sound great? Natalie is beside herself she is so excited. She cannot wait to hear who will be the first recipient of the Fruit of the Spirit Plate...and, of course, she is working hard to ensure she gets it :)

I can't wait to see where this leads us...what great questions and discussions this will spur on at our dinner table. I know my children are young, but there is no greater time than NOW to start writing God's word all over their hearts and lives.

Here is a photo of Natalie with the new Fruit of the Spirit Plate! I tried to get Levi in the picture too, but he wanted nothing to do with the camera today!

All week long Natalie has been telling me, "Mom, I just have to go to Bible Class Wednesday. My teacher is going to tell us about something bad that happened in the Bible!" She was most excited to learn a new story and see what possibly could have happened...the mystery of it all made her so eager.

Wednesday night came and she ran into class, anxious to hear about what bad thing happened in the Bible. After class I was asking her about it, and she reveals to me that they talked about Cain and Abel. "You know, Mom, he killed his brother because he got really jealous. He didn't have the best sacrifice to God, and he was jealous."

She went on, retelling me the story, full of details, which she loves. (Who ever met a four year old who loved the tiniest details?) Anyway, after talking for several minutes about all that she had learned, she said, "Mom, now the brothers are in Heaven together...you know, like Hope and Carson." "Yes, Natalie. You are right."

Then, imagine this, there is SILENCE for a few moments! She was thinking very hard about something. Look out Mommy, that usually means a hard question, and this time was no different.

"Um, Mommy, you know we send Hope and Carson balloons on their birthday?"

"Yes, Natalie. One for each year old they would be."

"Mommy, if I die before you and Daddy, will you send me balloons on my birthday, too?"

Wow, that is a hard question. So hard that it made a lump well up in my throat and tears come to my eyes. In my head I am thinking 'I don't want to talk about that, much less think about it right now.' But I know she wants an answer, and and I want to be honest with her.

"Yes, Natalie. But I hope and pray that you will live a long time with me and Daddy, and grow up big. So Natalie, what if Mommy goes to Heaven. Will you send me balloons on my birthday?"

She says in her sassy little matter of fact way (that I love!), "No, Mommy. I think I will send you a card instead!"

Then she thinks for a few more seconds and then adds, "Mommy, I sure hope your birthday is a windy day. That way the card can make it all the way up to Heaven."

Wow...the conversations she and I have. Some easy, some long, some short and sweet, some hilarious, and some so deep that I wonder what to say. I love how she can take a Bible story and weave it through her memories and her mind and find connections....ways that our life is connected to those who have gone on before us. And I love how she remembers her brother and sister, who are looking down on her from above. I love the connections she feels to them, though she was never able to run and play and laugh and pray with them. But one day, she will do all of those things, and I think it will be glorious!

I am so thankful for her Bible Class teachers, and the ways they are writing God's Word in her heart. And the fact that she loves every moment of it makes me oh, so, happy!

We have been talking a lot about community at church. Being community, living community, sharing community. Tonight, one of the speakers said that we were made for community...not to be alone. One of the speakers was talking about how we all at one time or another, have been or will be lifted from the depths of despair, or have helped or will help lift someone from their pit. It has given me so much to think about...

Who is my community?

How do I fit into that community?

When I have been in despair, who has helped to lift me out?

Have I ever reached down to help another out of their pit?

Do I have what it takes to be a contributing member of community?

So much to think about...so much to process and be in prayer about. What about you? Do you have community? Tell me about it...

Around the Jones' house, we LOVE this song. When we hear it, you can find us dancing, singing, lifting hands to the heavens! Mary Mary sure knows how to lead us in praising the most AWESOME GOD!

Check out the lyrics:

Just yesterday, Nathaniel and I were talking about struggles. I love it when he and I have great conversations. It always amazes me what is rattling around in that head of his. I feel closer to him because I am learning more about who he is...and I hope we spend the rest of our days learning more about each other!

Anyway, we were talking about struggles...how some struggles people have can be very private, hidden. It is so easy to hide them away, not allowing anyone to know what we are struggling with, while on the outside things look fine. Marriage struggles, etc. And if no one knows, then no judgements are made. The list could go on and on of the struggles that can be hidden. But there are a few struggles that are most obvious...that cannot be hidden, and those seem like some of the most difficult for me. Because they are 'public', judgements are made and everyone can plainly see what they are. For example, my struggle with weight. There is no hiding the fact that I am overweight. It's just not possible. Because of this, many judgements are made, and I am left feeling like less of a person because I am 'more' of a person. Nathaniel says, "It isn't fair." I LOVE HIM!

I guess what really bothers me is this...I am treated differently simply because my particular struggle happens to be an obvious, public one. Everyone has struggles of some kind, but yet those of us who have those 'obvious' ones are left to carry the judgement, the hatefulness, dare I say the discrimination of others. Judgements that many times are untruths...she just eats all of the time...she must never eat anything that is healthy...I bet she just sits on the couch all day eating bon-bons. It's not fair. It's reality on this earth, but it's not fair.

So where does that leave me? It leaves me walking around fat, and judged. It leaves me feeling there is no 'safe' place. It leaves me ashamed and embarrassed and full of guilt.

I can't wait for Heaven...where there will be no such thing as overweight. There will be no such thing as unhealthy, or fat, or discrimination, or gossip. I will finally be free of my public struggle! Won't it be wonderful there?

Well, it's here! The big day...but it feels like any other day. Yep, today is my birthday, and thankfully I don't really feel any older than I did yesterday. It's funny how time changes things. Don't get me wrong, I love my birthday, and it is a great day, but when we were kids, there was an excitement about the day that seems to fade with time. Maybe it was because we were excited to be the new special number...you know, we couldn't wait to be ten (double digits!) or thirteen (officially a teenager!), or sixteen (able to drive a car!). But the older I get, the less exciting the numbers become. It seems more about the memories and the special time spent with those I care about, and less about the actual number. I guess that is a good thing.

After Carson was born, Nathaniel and I heard a powerful saying that has really stuck with us:

Well, this week marks the first week of Mother's Day Out for my kiddos! They are both having the time of their lives...learning, playing, and loving every minute. Even Levi has not shed a tear either morning as I drop him off...he is happy to have new friends and new toys. Who wouldn't love it?

Natalie is in the Pre-K class this year, and she think she is big doin's. Apparently, when you are in Pre-K, you automatically become highly intelligent and independent. She gives a whole new meaning to the saying "Four going on twenty-four". She adores her teachers and I know this is going to be a special year for her.

As for me, I am running on empty, but hoping I can catch up soon. It just seems there are so many things I want to do, or should I say I want to have done. I am working on new chore charts, daily schedules for myself and the kids, the Names of God study I mentioned in an earlier post, and many other projects including finishing my mountain of labeling and pricing for the children's consignment sale that is just around the corner. All of these things are fun, and are things I want to do, but it seems I cannot finish anything fast enough. Hopefully soon! I'm not giving up :)

Well, I am off to make mac and cheese. We are going to my in-laws house for dinner tonight to celebrate my birthday, and I am in charge of bringing the mac and cheese for the kids!

Enjoy your weekend, and I will try to be more regular at posting once we settle into the new routine!