Summer 2010

So, today was officially the last day of summer. Nathan starts school with kids tomorrow. Brenna will start school tomorrow a year from now. I guess I shouldn't really be worrying about that yet. I'm not really worried. Just a thought.


I thought I should post something about this summer. I know, I got way behind on here. Sorry to all those reading in Georgia. I didn't do it on purpose, just ran out of time. So, here are a few pictures to sum up the summer.

First of all, Brenna did swimming lessons again. She had a great time and learned to swim even better. We really do have a little fish. Also this year, she learned that jumping off the diving board is lots of fun. She asked to do it almost every time we were at the pool. So cute.


We also went to Galvaston with my family.
Brenna had a great time playing with her cousins and with her daddy.
Nathan and Brenna finished digging the hole Aaron and Tanner began.
It really is amazing that a hole can occupy someones time so well.
After the beach, Brenna went home with Mimi and Poppi. Nathan and I were able to spend some time together and I was able to paint Brenna's room. Hers became my second favorite in the house. Speaking of paint. I need to post some pictures of the painted rooms in our house. I'll save that for another post. Brenna, Tanner, and Avery also went back to Mimi and Poppi's house for Cousins Week. They had a great time together, but I think Mom is still recovering from it.

And that is our summer. Nothing terribly exciting, but a nice time. Nathan spent a lot of time being Mr. Mom. I think Brenna loved the time she got to spend with Daddy. I think Daddy also liked spending time with Brenna. There were lots of smiles and giggle.

Long time no see

Wow, it has been awhile. I have to say, I have been a little overwelmed. I'm also not promising to right regularly again yet. I am having a hard time adjusting to working part time. I very happy for my job now, just adjusting my time management. I know I will get better.

Last week and this week has been especially crazy because of VBS. It is lots of work, but well worth the time. We are all tired in this house, but doing well. Hopefully we will get a little rest this week. Maybe I can get some pictures up soon, but I'm not making any promises.

Wishful thinking

Sewing Machine, oh, sewing machine. How I do miss thee. I long for your gentle purr in my ear as we create new items together. I miss the feel of your pedal under my foot, and the shine of your little light as it shows where the fabric should go.

Maybe one day I will finish painting this house and will feel the joy of creating projects with you again.

In Tribute

My precious grandmother went to be with Jesus last week on May 2. I can't even express the degree of sadness that has enveloped my heart. I already miss her dearly, and I don't forsee it getting much better soon. I loved my Nena so much. I haven't really grasped the consept that she isn't here with us anymore. I keep expecting to answer the phone and try to explain how to fix the TV for her. I could rairly fix it over the phone for her and inevitably refered her to Nathan's cell phone. My sweet husband could always patiently walk her through the solution to fix the problem.

There are so many things I will miss about Nena. She had the most amazing giving spirit. She freely gave her love, attention, and resouces to anyone in need and some that just wanted. Ask anyone what the remember most about Nena and they will tell you she was one of the most generous people they knew. Speeking of friends, Nena had friends she didn't even know about. Anyone who met her was instantly a friend. Shy to a fault, she learned to move past her first instinct to avoid new people and situations. She learned to care for herself and make new friends everywhere she went.

Her name wasn't Nena, but that is what everyone called her. She was born Edith and stayed that way until I was born. I renamed her Nena and it stuck. No one knows how I picked that name, but that is who she became to everyone. Shortly after her death, I had several people express that they never even knew her given name. She was always simply Nena. Maybe her peers called her Edith at one point, but many of them had grandkids too and ended up sticking with Nena instead.

I was blessed to have 34 years with my Nena. Many kids don't have as many years with their grandparents. In the later years, I spent some time caring for her. I watched her interact with Brenna and got glimpses of my childhood again. I wish I could have had more years with her, but know that she is without pain with Jesus now. I am greatful that she is now able to dance with her beloved husband again. Her knees and back no longer hurt and she doesn't have any need for a cane, walker, or wheelchair. She didn't suffer over long years, and the last words she said and heard were, "I love you." I pray I will go that well one day.

She was loved by many which was evit at her well attended funeral. What a beautiful service of laughter and tears. She would have loved the service. It was a great time to remember and reflect on her life. It will remain a precious memory for me to hold in my heart. The graveside service was quiet and intimate as we said our last goodbyes for now. I am thankful that this goodbye is not forever for I will one day be able to hug my grandmother again. Her body may lie beside her husband and inlaws, but her spirits is dancing with them in heaven.

Brenna Bear

My little Brenna Bear, where have the years gone? Are you really already 4 years old? You are such a little girl now, no longer a little baby. Although you will always be my baby girl. You have grown a lot this year. I'll start with your vocabulary. It is practiced almost all day long. You amaze me with the words you know. I have to laugh at some of the new grown up words you randomly use. They creep into your speach and surprise me. You pick up language so quickly probably due to your love for books.

Speeking of books, we read all the time. You love to go to the library and pick out new books to read. You no longer fall asleep each day at nap time, but we do have rest time. If you aren't sleepy, you like to "read" in bed. You spend the whole time looking at each book I have piled on your bed. You have also been known to fall asleep with a book on your head. You are following in your father's footsteps.

I love the way your sense of humor has started to take off. Daddy says his prayers were answered because you got my looks and his sense of humor. I'm not sure if it is really his sense of humor, but you do love to laugh. You love to make other people laugh. Often you will laugh and then wait to see if anyone around you laughs too. Of course if you get a response, you will perform again.

You love music and dancing. If you are watching a show you will get up to dance whenever music is playing. And you are always the last one to watch the credits with Daddy. Daddy is watching to see who wrote the score, but you want to hear every last note of the score. It is fun to see you sitting at the end of a movie long after all the other kids have left.

I love to hear you sing. You even hit the right notes most of the time. Daddy and I were recently discussing how much we would love to hear you sing in church someday. I'm not sure if you will enjoy singing in front of a bunch of people, but you do love singing your praise songs to Jesus.

Speaking of Jesus, your prayers are starting to develop past the rote memory ones. For so long you have said the same thing every night, but in the past month you have started to change it up a bit. I think you are starting to understand how to talk to Jesus. I'm sure it stirs his heart as is does mine. You pray for people in your life and for those you don't even know. It is so sweet to hear you pray for your friends and to ask how they are doing the next day.

I love to watch you playing with your friends. You are such a friendly little thing. You have several "best friends" and love to play with them at their house our ours. You are learning to share your toys better and you are playing with your friends instead of beside them.

I can't believe that I only have one year left before you go to school. It just doesn't seem possible.

I love you with all my heart. You are my little Brenna Bear, my love bug, my sweet pea. I am so thankful God chose you to be my little girl.

Moved in

Well, sort of moved in. All our worldly possesions are now in the new house. We are so excited to be here. I can't even begin to describe how blessed I feel. We all (including pets) love the new house. We are still living in chaos with boxes everywhere you turn, but it is a cleaner and roomier chaos.

Moving day went well thanks to a lot of help from friends and family. Thank you so much all who came to move the Jones. We really appreciate your help. It was supposed to rain all day Friday and Saturday. Dad and I did a lot of praying and God didn't fail again. He held the rain off until we were done moving everything. I think one load was sprinkled on, but we were able to wipe that furniture off. It was a lot of work, but it is so nice to be here. Now to just get settled and unpacked. I guess it did take me 3 weeks to pack. That probably means I should give myself at least that much time to unpack.

I thought I would post a few pictures before I began to unpack some more today. I am really down to one room. I'm not ready to unpack books because I want to paint the walls soon. It just doesn't make sense to put books on shelves then just take them back down.

This is our house.

When you walk in the front door, this is what you see. The kitchen is straight ahead. Master bed, laundry, and garage are to the right. The living room is to the left.

Turn right and you see our bedroom straight ahead or...

the laundry room and garage going down the hall to the right.

This is the master bedroom with me standing in the bathroom doorway. The door to the hall is on the left.

This is the master bathroom.

If you look left inside the door, you see the living room and dining room.


The kitchen is right beside the dining area.

If you walk down a small hall off the living room, Brenna's room is straight ahead.

The spare bedroom is next to Brenna's room on one side.

And the spare bathroom is on the other side of her room.

This is the view from the back door. There are often cattle grazing behind our house. Guess what Annie does a lot?

Here is what the back of the house looks like.


And that concludes our tour of the new house. Thanks for dropping by. Sorry for the mess you were exposed to, but it will be better organized soon or I may go crazy.

Moving Night

How strange it seems, that I have book ended my life here on E. Calvert. That first night two and a half years ago, I cried myself to sleep, and left a lamp on through the night. I scarcely sleep that night for fear of bugs crawling all over me. It was a legitimate fear although luckily, unfulfilled.

Tonight, on this last night at this home, sleep evades me. I am awake with excitement, thankfulness, joy, and anticipation. I am ready to complete the move into our new home on Fair Lane Dr. Nathan and I purchased our first home yesterday morning. It is a modest home of about 15000 square feet. It is clean, bug free, and well insulated. It has a very well laid floor plan, and lots of storage space. There is floor space for Brenna and the pets to run in circles, and it is ours. God’s blessings overwhelm me tonight. His care surrounds my every thought and leaves me almost speechless. How can I express my gratitude and love? How can I bottle this grateful heart and display it each day?

Alone, before the chaos of yesterday began, Nathan and I stepped into our new home. We walked through each room and enjoyed our time together. I wish I would have thought to pray for the home: to dedicate it to the work of God, to give it back to Him. Tonight, on our first night there, when all is quiet and everyone has left, I will spend time placing our first little home back into Your hands.