Not So Extreme Home Makeover

Before I get to what I wanted to share today, I'll repeat the obvious. As you can see, I decided it was time for a change in the design of my blog. I really wasn't actually planning to be quite so drastic, but my limited knowledge of designing forced me into it when I couldn't undo my experimenting. Oh well, it's summertime and a season of bright colors, right??

I've spent the last week or so continuing to sort, reorganize, and unpack so we could finally be settled. It's amazing to me how attached we can get to stuff and when you have to make decisions, you realize how little is really needed to live. If nothing else, the moves of the last two years have been worth it to simplify life.

One of those items we've been waiting for "someday" to deal with was a painting that Tiffany gave Jeff as a wedding gift. The one she chose was named "Stillwater Cottage" by Thomas Kinkade and this is what it looks like.

While she like the actual painting, it was his description of why he painted it that drew her toward it. This is what it said:

"Still waters run deep; the waters of this crystal pool offer balm to the soul. Here, in this tranquil glade, God's perfect peace reigns....I wanted Stillwater Cottage to come alive for you as a place of refuge. The light pouring from the widows suggests that a family dwells at peace within....In this place, God is surely present; we feel the comfort and protection we can only know when we are in His hands."

If you know her story, it turned out that the painting ended up being almost a mockery of her hopes and dreams and while she didn't necessarily want to keep it, leaving it with the house was not an option when she had to move out. For the past 3+ years, it has hung on a wall in our house or been propped up against a wall in an unused room waiting for "someday".

Fast forward to the present and we realized it was time to see if the gallery would work with us on some kind of exchange for something Tiffany wanted. After a couple of phone calls and an amazingly gracious visit, not only did they exchange it, but they gave us credit for the leftover amount and we were able to get something for our living room as well.

God has used where we've all lived in the past 3 years to be part of our healing. From the north shore of the New England coastline to Baltimore, to Cinderella's castle in Disney World, He has been faithful to not only heal, but restore our hearts so we can fully be who He created us to be. As I leave you with our latest reminders of His love and grace, I hope you take a moment today to look for them in your life.

A New Day At The Cinderella Castle - "Two of the dream-memories we take from childhood on our life's journey, if we are fortunate, are the wonder and excitement of Disney World and the soaring majesty of castles. Perhaps that is why the Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World, Orlando, is such an enchanting inspiration to young and old."

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."
~Walt Disney

"The Sea of Tranquility - How true it is that we often sail to distant shores seeking that which lies hidden in our own heart, our own home. The Sea of Tranquility is not a place; it is all places, for it is buried deep within all people. Inside each heart is a private refuge; a place of serene rest which Christ referred to as "the peace which passes understanding."

Experimenting

Not to overstate the obvious, but I'm working on tweaking my blog design. It is a far more complicated task than I envisioned and I am out of time for now to keep at it. So if you've wandered here today to see what's been happening lately, I apologize for the blueness. If nothing else, this will be a fun experiment don't you think?

Pieces of May

With sincere apologies to Three Dog Night for tweaking their song title, "Pieces of April", I have returned to the world of blogging. I know I've been very inconsistent in recent weeks and I'm expecting that to change as we're FINALLY starting to feel somewhat settled again. I don't think I'll ask if my ramblings were actually missed, but even if they weren't, I still enjoy this 21st century way of recording life as I know it so I'll keep it up for now.

I just looked at my calendar and it was seven weeks ago today that we were packing a too small truck in Baltimore getting ready to drive away from what had become life for us. Then I think about what has transpired in those 7 weeks and I no longer wonder why I haven't had time to do much of anything except survive.

So, the month of May, huh? You know a little bit of it already. We arrived in GA and unloaded into apartment number one which is now not-so-lovingly referred to as the smoke apartment. (It's a new addition in our family history to a house that we lived in for a brief stay and was appropriately dubbed the "pee house". Maybe someday I'll share that story...)

After being here less than two weeks, we went to Boston and celebrated Michael's graduation from seminary. When we returned home, we moved from the smoke apartment into a different apartment and met the emergency room staff of the local hospital as they stitched my head from a nasty fall in the parking lot during the move. A little over a week later, we celebrated Michael and Bekah's marriage with family and friends here in GA. Since that time, we've slowly begun to relax some, continued the unpacking of stuff that you never know what to do with, visited with friends, and sweated...a lot. I moved to Baltimore while it was still winter and we came to the south right before summer. Something's wrong with that picture.

Speaking of pictures, I've realized that I am beginning to see life more and more as a series of snapshots. I have always enjoyed photography and like Julia Ormond's character in the movie "Sabrina", I think I've been taking pictures in my head all my life. So for the rest of this entry, I'll share a few of those with you and by the end, you should be current in your quest to keep up with the Joneses.

Snapshot #1 - Reading



I have always loved to read. My mom made sure books were in the house from the time we were little and it has remained one of my favorite ways of relaxing. In recent months, I haven't read much and I think that contributed to the desert state of my soul. From light and whimsical to classics to inspirational to romantic - somehow the world is a little brighter when a book is closed with a satisfied sigh. And since God chose the written word as a significant means of communicating with His people, I think He understands. With summer here and perhaps some beach or pool time available to you, I highly recommend Robin Jones Gunn's SisterChicks series. While easy to read, be prepared for thought provoking truths along with lots of laughs.

Snapshot #2 - God's world

We had some impressive sights surrounding us while we lived in Baltimore and you've seen a lot of them if you've been keeping up with us for a while. This view from our living room window was a favorite picture of mine, even though we had to look over the parking lot first.



But as time went on, I realized I really missed the color green. Sure there were snippets of it here and there, but when you live in the city, you're just not going to have wide open spaces or unencumbered views of a tree framed sky. This is what I look at when I sit on our very small porch and I've been amazed at the peace that permeates my soul as I just absorb the well...greenness.



Snapshot #3 - Pet smiles

A lot of people are pet owners and for those that are, there's no need for explanation. For those that aren't (and for those who think that cats have no personality) I just have to say that you're missing out on many smiles that are available to you through them. I'm starting to think more often about Kit's life ending because she'll be 15 years old this November. But she's still very healthy and while she does sleep a lot now, she adds much joy to our household and is patiently tolerated by my faithful friends who are allergic to her. I have been enlightened on more than one occasion by the wisdom she possesses as she quietly lives out her days. Here are a few examples of that.

Naps are always a good idea, especially when you get to sleep on a princess blanket covering your favorite person.



It's OK to be cute.



Sometimes the best place to weather a storm is hiding in the closet.



Taking time out of your day to rest recharges your soul.



Snapshot #4 - Braves baseball

I love baseball and I've finally decided that it's OK if no one else understands that about me. I grew up in a sports filled family due to my dad's career and because I grew up in Atlanta, the Braves have always been a part of my life. Until the 1990's, I should have been embarrassed to admit that, but when they combined winning with America's favorite past time, they validated an entire generation's loyalty.

Our move back to Georgia has coincided with Bobby Cox's decision to retire at the end of this season. Not that I needed it, but that has added extra incentive to be at some of the chosen games honoring him, former players, or just because. It also helps that they are currently in first place! My dream is to celebrate my birthday as the Braves win the World Series and you'll be the first to know if that becomes a reality this year.



Snapshot #5 - Home

The last three years have taught me that home really is where your heart is. They have also taught me that our hearts can be spread in more places than one thought was humanly possible. But moving away from all that is known and familiar and then returning has also verified the age old truth that there really is no place like home. And yet, even as I type those words, I know deep down that while Atlanta will always and forever be home for me, should God move us elsewhere again, I would be OK.



As I've driven the roads and been to places that hold memories of people and times forever gone, I've come to the realization that what happened in the past really is in the past. I don't feel sadness anymore at what no longer is. Instead, there is a quiet reassurance that God will make all things right someday and meanwhile He's completing what He's begun in me and those I love...just like He said He would. I've spent a lot of time in the recent years fretting over my lack of extreme emotion about anything. But lately I've wondered if maybe what I've thought was unhealthy detachment might actually be a greater understanding of the reality that life and therefore God, just is. After all, that's how He described Himself to Moses - as the great I Am.

That's probably enough for now. My goal is to have shorter entries more often which will be easier on all of us. :) Hamp and I will be heading soon to a hot and stuffy gym to watch Matthew as he coaches his summer basketball team. I missed not being able to support him that way when we lived so far away, so I'm looking forward to being able to do that again.

Stay cool and check back soon!

Sleepless In Smyrna

It's 4:45 a.m. and I should be sleeping. Obviously, I am not. And this is the second time this week that 3:00 a.m. has been my wake up time. I think my body has reached its limit in how much stress it can take and it's telling me "enough"! My counselor friend whom I chatted with a couple of days ago told me the same thing. So my immediate and short term goal is to rest...in every way. And I will - as soon as there's time. :)

It's been another interesting week in the Jones household. As you know, we began the moving process from our first apartment last Friday night and I went to bed at 3:00 a.m. Then Saturday we moved all day and around 10:00 that night as I was helping Joey unload my car after a quick run to Target, catastrophe struck. My foot caught the concrete barrier meant for the end of a parking space (but due to restriping years ago, was randomly in between two parked cars) and I fell, landing on my left brow bone area. Six hours and nine stitches later we finally called it a day. Almost a week later, the stitches are now out, but the remaining purple eyelid ringed with yellow and green looks like a 70's makeup experiment gone terribly wrong.


I also skinned my right knee and sprained my left arm that apparently helped break my fall, so most of the week has been spent taking Advil, bandaging wounded areas, and recovering. My glasses broke in the fall so an overdue trip to the eye doctor was worked in as well. It could have been so much worse and I'm truly thankful it wasn't.

Let's move on to other news, shall we? I did have the presence of mind to capture a couple of pictures of how we removed the smoke smell that was in EVERYTHING we owned. Most of the clothes were just washed and dried, but when it came to the hanging stuff, drycleaning everything was too expensive of an option to consider. So first the items were lightly sprayed with Lysol and then they were hung outside in the breezeway where a nice cross breeze replaced stale smoke with fresh air. I'm sure the neighbors thought Sanford and Son had moved in, but it worked!




The same Lysol spray was lightly applied to mattresses, furniture, and all sorts of items and they were left outside for a while before they were brought into the new apartment. But I am happy to say that we are now in a smoke free environment and I'm working on being able to say that it was all worth it.

I guess it's technically Friday, so I have to now say that yesterday was Matthew's 30th birthday. We had dinner with him and Lindsay and her family and she did a great job of bringing decorations, etc. to make everything very festive for the occasion. If I had time to really think about it, I'm pretty sure I'm mostly astounded that I now have two children who are in their 30's.

Tiffany wrote a really sweet blog entry about her brother, so if you'll click here you can read it. Hamp and I echo her sentiments with a hearty "Amen!" and we continue to be so thankful for all three of our children and the additions God is bringing to our family. Here are a few pictures from the birthday dinner and we'll be celebrating again next week when we're all together for Michael and Bekah's shower.






Thunder is rumbling in the distance, so I think I'll head back to bed and see if I can add to my night's sleep total. In talking with my counselor friend this week, she told me how her son had coined the phrase "defrag" for us as humans and I realized it was the perfect description for where I am and what I need. If I don't answer the phone or return calls immediately or commit to much in the near future, just know that I'm defragging in the hopes that my operating system will work as it was designed to when the process is complete.

Can't Keep Up

Another week has passed in the lives of the Jones family and my, what a week it has been! I really wish I could stop the world and just get off for a few days. Or weeks. Or maybe for good. It depends on what day it is as to which I would choose.

Our trip to Boston for Michael's graduation was nice. The weather, not so much, but we decided since it was 75 in mid-March for his and Bekah's wedding that we couldn't really complain about rainy, windy, and cold. As many told us, after all it is New England. (Which is why most of our family is now back in the sunny south!)

Here is a picture of the more educated Michael.


With his new wife, Bekah. :)


And with his proud parents (one of whom had already changed into winter clothes because she was freezing!).


Tiffany with her "little" brother.


We missed Matthew and Lindsay not being able to be there, but they were not forgotten!


Bekah's parents came for the weekend to support Michael which meant a lot to all of us. I continue to be so thankful for the godly family he's been blessed with in Bekah.


Tiffany battled a stomach virus all weekend, but she and I did get to enjoy some of the beauty of the area. Most of our appreciation came from the car windows, but it did start to warm up right before we left on Tuesday (of course) and she got great pictures. She would say I'm biased, but I think Tiffany takes great pictures. She has a natural eye for seeing beauty in unique settings and it's showing up more and more as God restores her heart. I love watching that childlike joy and wonder of His creation shine through her from the inside out. Here are a few of my favorites.














While the trip was basically a good one, there was an undercurrent of dread knowing that we were going to have to deal with the stale smoke smell not going away in our apartment once we returned to Georgia. That fact was ever-present because when we opened our suitcases after arriving in Boston, we realized that everything smelled like smoke. So to make a very long story short, I really should be gathering and packing instead of writing this entry. We're moving into another apartment in the same complex beginning later this afternoon and throughout the weekend. I'm still surprised to find that we haven't completely run off any remaining friends we have in various states, but they continue to be loving and kind and supportive...and they keep helping us move. Hopefully this one will last for the next 15 months, but we know at least one more awaits us then. But like a true southerner, I will think about that tomorrow......

I would like to tell you the insightful things I'm learning through all of this, but I cannot. I have reached a point (or maybe been there for a while) of complete numbness and I don't feel anything anymore. I'm not surprised by sad, tragic, or bad news anymore and I don't get excited about happy, exciting, or good news. I'm just here. And yes, I know that's not healthy nor the way I was made to live, but it's where I am. I'm hoping the next few weeks will find a thawing of my emotions as life settles down. But then again, I'm not sure that will be happening any time soon. Between Matthew's 30th birthday next week, wondering about his job for next year, his upcoming wedding, Michael and Bekah's next chapter, their belated Georgia wedding shower, Tiffany's entry into grad school and the life changes that will bring, and figuring out life in a new area, I'm not seeing anything settled about any of it.

So for now, I must begin the washing and de-smelling of all the bed linens so we can sleep in our new apartment tonight without coughing. If there's something to pass along from this latest experience it would be this: don't rent an apartment without looking at the specific one they want you to move into, even if it's being renovated and they say you can't. Should you find yourself in a situation where something is not acceptable, don't be nice and worry about being a nuisance. Assertiveness is not the same thing as aggressiveness.

Have a great weekend and good luck keeping up with the Joneses - if you can!

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

I realize it's been quite a while since I've updated my blog - I just haven't had the time to get to it. We've been in our apartment a week and in just a few hours we leave again to fly to Boston for Michael's graduation from seminary. I seriously can't believe it's been almost 3 years since we drove in a family caravan to move him and Tiffany there. As you can imagine, we're quite proud of this latest accomplishment and now the wait begins for what the next bend in the road will be for him and Bekah. It will be the first time we've seen them since the wedding and her parents are coming too, so it will be fun. Tiffany will get to join us but Matthew cannot due to his school schedule.

So on a totally random side note, can I just say that the state of Georgia has lost its mind in how its handling the economic struggles in education. Excellent teachers are losing their jobs and careers while bureaucrats pad their pockets in the local and state offices. And we wonder why Georgia sits at the bottom of the national average in education. Matthew didn't even consider trying to attend Michael's graduation for fear that taking a day off would jeapordize his job. He'll know in the next week if a career change will be forthcoming. No pressure.......

Our adjustment is going okay. The apartment is smaller than the one in Baltimore so it's been interesting trying to figure out where things will fit. We still have a long way to go, but it will be waiting for me when I get back. We're surrounded by green and trees and birds and Kit has enjoyed looking at it all again.



There might be some time to catch you up more in the next few days. Tiffany and I are staying until Tuesday to visit some of our favorite places since we don't really know if/when we'll go back. Between the two of us we'll have lots of pictures and adventures. Our biggest adjustment will be the temperature. She's going from 90's, we've had 80's, and the warmest we'll be is in the 60's there. We like the south for a reason. :)

I'm leaving you with one of the cutest pictures I've seen in a while that Ellis sent us via his iphone.



We're missing our Baltimore kiddos and the wonderful friends God gave us there. Right before we left, we were introduced to duckpin bowling and had a blast. I think my favorite part, though, was watching Albert prop my camera up on Robert's car to get a group picture. I was impressed with his final result.



I need to try and get a few hours of sleep before we head for the airport. To close, I want to encourage each of you to think about how intentionally you're living our your days. This move made us realize anew how we have great intentions about getting together with people or visiting somewhere nearby, but we let the busyness of life distract us and don't follow through. Don't let the last memory you have of some you love be in the back of a moving truck as you prepare to drive away.

Last Leg....For Now

Quick update - we didn't leave Baltimore until 9:00 p.m. Monday night. Yes, I know that's not the ideal way to move, but work week loading limits one to those available to help. I'm still not sure our amazing friends have recovered yet. We only went far enough to get around D.C. and then stopped for the night. Yesterday we slept in a little and took our time and made it almost to TN. Soon we'll be driving the last 5+ hours and hope to arrive early afternoon and will begin the unloading process. Again, work week arrivals limit help, so hopefully my Facebook plea will result in a couple of brave souls. :)

Thanks for the prayers as we've traveled. Kit has done really well especially since my car is packed to the brim and she basically has no room. I feel a little bad that we've brought her into hotels both nights with clearly marked signs that say, "No Pets Allowed", but it couldn't be helped. Pictures will come as soon as we get internet access in our apartment which will hopefully be tomorrow. One can only hope......

I've learned never to say never, so I'm sure we'll move again at some point in our lives - like in 15 months when our lease is up. Maybe it won't be as far next time. I guess we'll see, won't we?