Long time no see

Hi there. I can't believe I have neglected my friendly blog. Well, here I am. Things are going fine here. Matt and I are heavily into school and getting our music planned for the year, ordering music, setting performances, etc.

His kids are going to get to sing "The Preamble" from America Rocks during the presidential debate that is coming to Oxford. I can't wait. That was my major influence musically growing up. I loved those groovy songs.

My kids are getting ready for a fall festival. Several of them are singing for the kiddie pageant that day and then the whole choir is singing later that day. Should be fun.

We had a great time Labor Day with Mom, Mamaw, Chris and the kids at Cossar State Park. Mamaw rented two cabins for three nights. The kids got to fish, swim, play disc golf, putt-putt golf and make lots of s'mores. It was awesome. We celebrated Benny's 11th birthday there. I think I overheard him saying that it was the best ever. Thanks, Mamaw, for getting the cabins. We also had some massive Rook games with Mom and Uncle Chris. Matt and Chris against Mom and me. My first night I had a streak going, but it fizzled out night 2. I think I just started going nuts and bidding whatever just to get the pot. Needless to say we lost.....by about 500 points. We were laughing our heads off, though.

Matthew's youth director gave him tickets to the Ole Miss game this weekend. Matthew has to work so I'm not sure who is going.

Claire starts gymnastics this week. I think the Olympics have inspired her.

I am just randomly writing off the top of my head. I converted our website the other day because I can't get Frontpage to open my website anymore. Not sure why. I have to say that the company's software is so much better. Check it out. jonesrestoration.com

Well, I hope that you all have a very blessed week. Please pray about the elections. Sheeeesh. I know God is in control, but I pray that America doesn't get what we deserve. I pray for God to have mercy on us. If you know what I mean. I think any of my friends reading this understand perfectly.

Take care,
Laurie

Matthew loves me the most

OK, I am being a little like Marie on Everyone Loves Raymond, but I can't help it. I made spinach casserole from a recipe I got from the Internet. I thought we had Mamaw's recipe, but I couldn't find it in my recipe box and I just didn't think about picking up the phone and calling her.

Well, on Easter everyone tried the casserole. Little bites were taken here and there. Matthew, however, took hefty bites and even finished his portion.

Well, tonight, I re-heated our left-overs from Easter dinner. The Sister Schubert's rolls were long gone. We had ham left, pasta, fruit salad and SPINACH CASSEROLE. I went to much care to mix it up better to blend the cream cheese in more (thinking that this was why it was not devoured). Do you think it was eaten? No. Not even my husband, who cares so much about making our kids eat their veggies, would touch it. OK, he has a reputation for being slightly picky, but at least my sweet daughter would eat it. You guessed it. Not a chance. She did later out of total guilt, but just a couple of little bites. She actually shuddered after one bite. Just like when they were babies. So....does this mean that my casserole tasted like baby food? Hmmmm.............

Finally, I offered money to anyone who would eat my food. Matthew took me up on my offer and I paid him $5. Jacob tried with a few bites and then stopped. Benjamin (my Matt look-a-like) didn't even look at it. He said I could pay him 39,000 to eat 39,000 peeps. I was totally insulted. Matt said that he would make them eat it if it tasted good. He braced himself for being knocked out, but I was bigger than that. I wasn't going to stoop to their lever. He was pushing the bonds of our marriage in a major way.

I mean it even had the little fried onions on top until I mixed them in to blend the cream cheese. (OK, don't tell my family, but I thought it was a little gross, too. I just couldn't swallow my pride long enough to admit it.) Anyway, it is gone and I told Jacob as he walked away that I knew he loved me, but not as much as Matthew. I know I have been a little twisted and codependent tonight.

Changing the subject, church yesterday was great. It was such a celebration of what it should have been about. A guy re-committed his life to Christ and another girl got saved. This is what "Easter" is all about. Celebrating the new life Jesus gives us if we come to Him and believe. Our friend Shannon sang an incredible song then our pastor preached an awesome sermon.

Matt and I both agreed, though, that we weren't into the bunny thing much at all and probably will be downplaying it more and more. It really almost turned my stomach to give chocolate and sugar, just because of tradition. Benjamin started asking questions in the car on the way home from church about what bunnies have to do with Easter. I really couldn't give an answer....or did not want to go where asking this question myself would take us. We are already the freaks of the church....well, not as much here at this church, but to question the sacredness of this tradition would, I know, be offensive to some.

We are very much excited about Passover and learning more about that. I am remembering a Passover meal we had when we went to Park Place. It was so much fun sitting around a big table with another family and going through the different parts of the dinner.

Anyway, the next few weeks are going to be fun. Jacob's birthday is next week and we ordered his presents yesterday so they would get here in time. I hope I am not totally crazy, but we got him an archery set. A real one. I am a sucker when he wants something specific. He is such a manly-man. He also wanted a Neo something or other. Like a Bionicle, but a different brand. Anyway. They are on their way from Amazon. We've got to plan his birthday. He has been dying to have it in Jackson and invite their buddy Brian to go bowling. We'll have to see.

After his birthday, we go to Mashulaville to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's 65th wedding anniversary. Grandma is so excited about it. She is so cute. I can't even imagine being married 65 years. I guess I am on my way with almost 13 years.

Matt's choir goes to state competition Wednesday in Ridgeland. I know they will do great. I remember last year Matt almost couldn't ride down on the bus because of his back. Thanks to the chiropractor and his big white exercise ball he is great now.

Take care, and have an awesome week. I have gotten so pumped up after listening to all of the podcasts from Northpoint Community Church in Georgia. If you want to check them out, here is the website:
Northpoint podcasts
Here is the site for the messages you can listen to online:
Northpoint messages
The other day I started listening to "It Came From Within", and today I went back to listening to the series "Discovering God's Will". They are so good.
Take care.

Happy New Year!!!

We wish everyone blessings on this New Year's Eve. This has been a great year. We have so much to be thankful for.
Everyone in our family is healthy. Matt and I have jobs. We have a wonderful church family. The adults in our family know Jesus as Lord and Savior. God has kept our cars going another year. (They are true Dave Ramsey cars and are pretty dern old.)
We know that God has a purpose for our lives and feel His presence and guidance daily.
We both have wonderful, supportive moms, who love our kids and each of us.
God gave us a new house this year. Last year we lived in a house that was cold and still had utility bills of over $600.
Our doggy, who was in a car wreck, made it and is very healthy.
We have so many old and new friends that we love.
God has given us the opportunity to sing together many times this year to new people, which we have really enjoyed.
Things are good between our 16 year old and us. Our kids are getting along so much better than ever. Matt and I have been married 12 years and still love each other. :)
We've had lots of good times together, from singing in weddings to trips to Six Flags.
God has met every need we have had and lots more.

I could go on and on. Matt has taken everyone to the fireworks stand. We live outside the city limits now, so we can go crazy.

Take care. We really are thankful for all of you. See you in 2008!

Christmas rantings...holiday cheer

Hi there. My name is Laurie, and I used to blog.
Last post was December 7. Since then there have been 3 or 4 Christmas programs, parties, exams, basketball duty, etc.
The high school choir sang in between acts of Stocking Stuffers. This was the drama dept.'s skits. They were great. The choir had a good time being a part of this. There has been so much drama in choir that we haven't needed any skits. Things are getting better, though. We had a party after our exam on Friday, and the kids were pretty cordial to each other.
We are working on becoming a choir that pulls together. The kids haven't had opportunities to be a part of something excellent, and putting out the kinds of energy that it takes to get there. With every performance of Stocking Stuffers I saw them get better and better. We still need to work on behavior. I put a lot about concert etiquette on the choir exam. I hope they didn't miss any of those questions.
I could write for about an hour about the Kindergarten and 1st grade Christmas program. Let me just say that it was wild. The kids were so very cute in their penguin costumes. The parents loved it. We learned a lot from it that I believe we will benefit from next time and forever. One person said "I was just sitting there watching you and thinking that you were about to lose it." I kept my sanity. The kids were so excited to be penguins and that their moms and dads were in the audience that they were having a party on the risers. They wouldn't look at me to save their lives. I had to get up and literally say "Boys and girls, look at me!" Hee, heee. I can laugh about it now. One girl shook her head, not wanting to come and say her lines. I gave her a very desperate look. I think she knew I was about to lose it. We finally got to the end, though.
I am wiser now, although I don't know how you keep Kindergartners from looking at their parents, except to practice for two weeks at school and threaten them. I didn't want to do either. The teachers were so busy testing, etc. We wanted to save their school time. We'll find a happy medium next time. The kids were pumped up, though, because one of our songs called for a kazoo, and they all got one of their very own. I have to swallow my pride often. It is not hard for the Lord to keep me humble. :)
On December 16th the kids at church did a program. The youth and children's choir. Youth in the morning, children at night. They all did such a great job. I couldn't believe that the Jones children actually sang solos (except you know who.) Jacob and Claire did great jobs.
Here is Claire.

The church just goo-gooed over all of the kids. They were so sweet.

The youth had been doing an advent wreath starting December 2nd. It has been so cool to see them read and light the candles. There was a tense moment when a certain un-named youth tried to light the candles last week.
After school was out this past week, we really got into Christmas. Matt had Rhapsody rocking with his 426 track Christmas play list. The songs are so great. So much good Jazz. Ella Fitzgerald, Burl Ives, Mel Torme, Laurence Juber, Vince Guaraldi, The Jackson 5, The Chipmonks.
The youth did a live nativity scene on Friday night. Wow! I still am trying to get over Matthew and his friend Stephen being sheep. Here is a little taste of that.


Matt used the money that Grandma and Grandpa sent to buy the kids two collections of Christmas movies. All of the classics including Frosty's Christmas in July (a little freakish if you ask me), The one with baby new year, and all of the best ones.
My family has kind of gotten a new favorite. It's called Robbie the Reindeer. It's made by the Wallace and Gromit people.
We had to watch "Meet Me in St. Louis" a bunch of times, too.
These holidays have been great. So much of a blur, though. I hate getting to the last day of school and thinking "Man, I meant to get this person a gift." I will have to plan a little more ahead next time. I also will try better to find out details about my own children's programs. Jacob had one that Matt and I really didn't know much about, until it was all over. Better communication next year.
The adult choir at church is having our program in the morning. It is called One of Us. Mom is coming and then no church tomorrow night. Matt and I are going to have a date. I never thought we would have gone so long without one. I forgot that Matthew did babysit not too long ago for Matt and me to go see Dan in Real Life. Still, another is needed. I have read that you are supposed to plan one every week. Also a date with each of your kids. We are long overdue. That is a new year's resolution.
Jacob, Claire and I are about to go to my worst nightmare of a store to find Matthew and Benjamin a present. This year we have combined the kids so they can get each other something they would really like and not just something to say that they got each other something. So Matthew and Benjamin bought one present for Jacob and one for Claire. That trip took us about 4 hours, so I don't expect to be back anytime soon. I did tell Claire and Jacob if they fussed at all, that we would come straight home. We might be home early.
Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday of advent. Then Christmas Eve is Monday night. We get to light the big white candle. Happy Birthday, Jesus. Thank you for loving us enough to come here for us. We don't deserve it in any way, but are grateful for it anyway.
Here is a really cool video I got from a friend:
The Watchmaker.

Big Day

Well, Saturday night was our big prayer meeting before the revival services today. It was a time when we got by ourselves and asked God to show us where we had sin in our lives. The pastor that is preaching this week gave us a questionnaire that had different areas for us to look at. It was tough to look at myself so closely, but I know if I want to get closer to God I need to get totally clean. Ouch.
Today was good. I am not sure what real revival looks like, but I believe it happens when people get a burden for their world and touch one life at a time by building relationships. I am excited about the things that are happening at our church. I know that there are areas where I could be much more dedicated.
It is great to have all my people home. Thanks, Mamaw, for taking them to the zoo and taking such good care of them. It was good to be with our Jr. Matthew for a weekend. He is going to be flying the nest in a few years and this time is special. I am going to try very hard to be more fun with him and not so old. I feel so much older every time he shares opinions that are not mine. I can see where the name "The Gap" came from, even though in a way I feel like I am in his same generation. Well, have a good week. God bless you guys!

In the Weeds

This was a term we used a lot to describe a time in the restaurant business when we were totally swamped with tables, etc.

School starts tomorrow and for Matt and me, in the weeds is how we feel most of the time once we are in school (planning and teaching, grading, etc. We are so blessed to have our jobs. We are so blessed to have our family. Both of our jobs are the type of jobs that take a lot of planning ahead. Planning ahead for concerts, field trips, etc. It is exciting most of the time. It is exciting seeing kids learn things about themselves, and teaching them things that, you believe, will benefit them in the future.

Nevertheless, it is very taxing on the energy. This year we are, again, going in separate directions. Matt will take all of our 4 kids with him to school, and I will drive 45 minutes to Potts Camp. This will be interesting. I have already had mixed feelings. On one hand, I had a little feeling in my stomach of missing my guys whom I drove to work with everyday last year. If I wanted to see them, all I had to do was to peek into their classroom. If I forgot lunch money, or snack, all I had to do was to bring it later in the day. Now I am passing the torch on to my sweet husband. I hope he will be able to get more done than I did in the afternoon. He is a little better at managing our kids than I am. I try my best, but I am still a little of a Pillsbury Dough Girl. They think I am very soft. I think Matt will do great.

I did enjoy my drive for the past two days going to staff development meetings. Part of me feels bad for enjoying time to myself, but I know it will be good for me to have time and then have more to give them when I get home. God knows best. I will trust Him that He knows that this is what we (the kids, Matt, and me) need.

I probably won't be blogging quite as much unless I am procrastinating (which may happen at times). I think when things slow down and we get into the swing of things, I want to continue our recording, etc. I don't want to give up on that.

We are beginning Financial Peace at our church in a couple of weeks. I think we may go through it again to get back on track. We really want to save for a car, pay cash, but it has been tough. It seems like with a family it is so hard to get the jump on saving money. After listening every Friday afternoon, I know people get out of debt. I think we need the refresher course.

I am asking that you please say a little prayer for us if you are reading this. Please pray that we will grow to be the people God wants us to be and that we will be the parents and teachers God wants us to be. I know we can do all things through Him who gives us strength. Please pray that we will know what to be involved in and what to say no to. I tend to do many things because of guilt instead of definitely feeling God calling me.

Matt sang "Captured" this morning in church. This is a song that Chris Tomlin sang a while back. It made me have such a desire to sing with him more and more. I know that is not exactly what God is calling us to at the moment. I believe, while our kids are young, that we have a stable home....not a lot of travel or late nights. I am excited about the future, though. It is amazing how God has you in different seasons of life and they are all good.

Anyway, I know I am rambling. Happy Sunday!