Via Con Dios!

My friend over at Family Jules invites you to post at "Mr. Linky" what you will be for Halloween. We are going to be Vacationers to Zihuatanejo, Mexico!
Michael's parents are taking the entire Jones clan (10 adults and 8 grandkids) on a family vacation.
I have been so busy preparing, packing, cleaning, and over thinking, that I forgot we are going on vacation. VACATION!! No laundry, no cleaning the casa, no telephones, no internet (I'll miss you, and Jennifer Partin there better be baby news when I get home :-), no taxi'n, no must dos- just vacation! Tanning, eating, swimming, eating, sandcastles, eating, reading, eating, laughing, and did I mention eating!

Balar, balar, labumba!

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
Acts 17:24-28


Father God thank you that you are God, there is no other, you are God there is none like you. I want my life, breath and everything else to come from you. I'm sorry that I look for it in other places (people). You have and are everything I need. I do not understand why you set me in this place for this time, I feel I do not fit. Help me to seek you, to reach for you. Thank you that you are not far, I forget that. I want my life, and moving, and being to be found in you, and in nothing or no one else but you. Thank you that I am your offspring, your child, that my identity is in you. Help me to live out the hope I have in you.

And The Winner Is...

So, I just phoned my neighbor Steve and asked him to pick a number between 1 and 50, he chose # 49.
Congratulations Earen from Faith in the Journey.
Email me at jonesidosio@yahoo.com with your address, and Bebo will be on his way!

I Love Give Aways!

Give Away!

Michael and I got a much needed date on Tuesday evening. We had dinner at the California Pizza Kitchen (so yummy), and saw Bebo Norman and Shane & Shane in concert.

Shane & Shane said this , "It isn't the words or these songs that change the heart, it is only the Holy Spirit who can change a heart."
As a worship leader I needed to hear these words again. Nothing I sing can move or stir the heart of the listener, it is only the Holy Spirit who can move or stir the heart. Holy Spirit move, stir, grow, the body.
As a mommy I need to hear this. Everyday I pray, fight for these kids. Everyday we are teaching them truth, and walking beside them answering questions, watching the shaping and molding take place. I feel the pressure to stir and move them, but that pressure is not mine, it does not fall on me, but falls on the Holy Spirit- relief! Holy Spirit move, stir, grow my children.
As a believer I need to hear this. I am never enough- this is what I battle with. I am always attempting to cause the stirring (wing flapper). I want to read Gods word because "I delight in it." I want to be a worshiper in every area of my life because that is full life to me. I want to cloth the naked, feed the poor, love the orphan, and help the widow because it is my joy to give
back to God what he has so graciously given to me. I don't want to do any of it to gain man's approval. And I want more- more of the Word, more worship, more of Jesus poured out of my life. So Holy Spirit move, stir, grow this child.

AND YES! There is a give away- Bebo Norman's C.D. "Between the Dreaming and the Coming True."
Simply pick a number. Yes a number between 1-50. The winner will be announced on Sunday.

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Last week in AWANA's the children were encouraged to help raise funds for Adopt-A-Club (the kids have adopted a club in Nicaragua. Funds are provided to help them start, and fund their own AWANA program). The kids were encouraged to collect cans and/or bring in their change to raise support.
When Noah heard of the need he thought there would be no way he could collect enough cans to raise support, he then thought about his large jar of coins he has been adding to for years, he firmly decided he would give all that was in it-$82.62 He came home, told us of the need, and of his decision.

I'm going to be honest, he'd been putting that money away for a while. He had even added birthday money to it. My first impulse was to say, "just give a portion" or "don't you want to keep some of it." I didn't say anything. My second impulse was to let him do what was in his heart to do, and to be overwhelmed that my boy is a "cheerful giver" on his very own. I did that.

Today he took the money to AWANA's.

In a conversation with his dad tonight Noah said, "If I spend my money on toys they don't last forever, but if a kid asks Jesus into his heart that will last forever. If that kid dies before I do, God may tell him that some little boy hundreds of miles away, no states away, no in another country, gave his money so that he would know God."

God loves a cheerful giver -and so does a mommy!

I want to be like Noah when I grow up!

Oh the Thinks You Can Think

Yes, 2 posts today!
I was visiting over at Earen's blog Faith in the Journey, where she shared about her son Caleb and the "thinks" God puts in his head.

For days I have been recalling sweet moments from when my children were younger. Sweet "thinks" God has placed in their heads, and conversations we have had because of them.
So if you will indulge me, I am going to rewind from time to time and share these. I will label
them
Oh the Thinks You Can Think! (Dr. Suess)

March 2001
Noah (2yrs old) "Mommy I have Jesus in my tummy."

July 25th 2001
Noah (3 yrs old)- Noah was running around the house, when he came to me and said, "Mommy I can hear Jesus in my heart!" I replied, "well, what is he saying?" Noah looks at me puzzled. I said, "is he saying, knock, knock knock, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door of his life I will come into him." Noah replied, "did he come in?" I said, "did you ask him?" Then Noah lifted his shirt, and shouted "Come in!!!"

May 13th 03
Noah (5 yrs old) In the car on the way home from t-ball. Noah says,
"Mommy turn on our songs" (not kid songs, but Third Day) a few moments later Noah yells,
"Mommy, Mommy!" I turn the music down to hear him. "Mommy Jesus is dancing in my heart."

Praise is who I am, Praise is what I do

"To worship is to come towards to kiss." 

I sing. I love to sing.
When I sing; I turn my eyes from myself to Jesus.  I meditate.  I enter the mystery. I surrender.  I move. I build.  I fight. I believe.  I fly.  I embrace.  I kiss... the two become one, and I am found in Jesus.
I love to sing.

When she opens her mouth to sing, 

she becomes a channel raw and plain. 

The notes come from the Lord who sings inside her.  

She opens her mouth and lets the Lord out. 

It's like calling from the mountains. 

Anne Lammott

Mama Holly is 51!

I thank my God every time I remember you. Phillipians 1:3
I had this beautiful necklace made for Holly, with a jade rock we found together while beach combing at Moonstone Beach in Cambria last May. For you locals- the necklace was made and designed by Grace DePledge

On this day in Cambria, Holly lead me down to the beach like a mother leading her daughter into a place filled with wonder. We walked along the beach and she uncovered all sorts of mysteries.
Next, we began to comb along the beach looking for treasures. I felt like a child finding each new rock to be more amazing then the one before. As Holly and I combed we would share our finds with each other, delight in the other's rocks, and then Holly would fill my pockets with her most beautiful treasures.
As I think about Holly, I realize that she always takes me by the hand and leads me to places filled with wonder and mystery. She has walked me through God questions, marriage, motherhood, community, and homeschooling. I also see that she is always filling my pockets with treasures. The greatest gift and treasure she has given me is that she is my God-mommy. I am learning how to be a daughter, how to love a mother, and what my relationships with my girls can look like.

I love you Mama Holly!

It is right for me to feel this way about you, since I have you in my heart.
Phillipians 1:7

The Other Joneses

This weekend we enjoyed visiting with The other Joneses.

left to right, - John, Uncle Don, Bailey, Aunt Pam, Katie, Jeremy
bottom- Jessica & Ellie
I always enjoy Uncle Don's great laugh and Aunt Pam's sweetness. It was nice to meet the very nice guys in Jessica and Katie's lives. Our kiddo's especially enjoyed playing with John and Jessica's beautiful girls- Bailey and Ellie.
The time together went by too quickly!
And this is a big Hello to Gram, who has joined the computer world!

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to listen to some of my favorite tunes, including the recently posted song I Am by Nichole Nordemon.

I Am

Pencil marks on a wall
I wasn't always this tall,
You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed,
You watched my team win,
You watched my team lose,
You watched when my bicycle went down again,

And When I was weak unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Elbow healer, Superhero,
come if You can,” and You said “I Am”

Only 16, life is so mean, what kind of curfew is at ten p.m.
You saw my mistakes, You watched my heart break
Heard when I swore I’d never love again

When I was weak, unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Heart-ache Healer, Secret-keeper,
be my Best Friend” and You said “I Am”

You saw me wear white, by pale candlelight,
I said forever to what lies ahead
two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream
too much it might seem when it’s two a.m.

When I am weak, unable to speak,
still I will call You by name.
“Oh Shepherd, Savior, Pasture-maker,
hold on to my hand,” and You say “I Am.”

The winds of change,
And circumstance blow in and all around
us so we find a foothold that’s familiar,
And bless the moments that we feel You nearer
When Life had begun, I was woven and spun,
You let the angels dance around the throne, who can say when,
But they’ll dance again, when I am free and finally headed home

I will be weak, unable to speak,
still I will call You by name
“Creator, Maker, Life-sustainer,
Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer,
Lord and King, Beginning and
the End, I Am, yes, I Am.”

by Nichole Nordeman

Uncle Pluto

This past weekend Uncle Pluto (Jeff Lane) came to visit. We met Jeff in 1998 at Emerald Cove Camp (where he worked with Michael). Jeff''s camp name was Pluto, but he soon became Uncle Pluto (sometimes Uncle Play-dough) to our kids.

Jeff has been a part of our lives since Noah was just 1 month old, and has been present for 1st birthdays, births (Emilie's or "tiny tiny" as he lovingly referred to her), pumpkin carvings, Thanksgivings in spring, Hoe downs, putting in lawn, stacking wood, Disneyland trip, trips to the Discovery Science Center (to name a few). He is a part of our family. We are so thankful that God, in his goodness, gave him to us. The wonderful thing about our relationship with Jeff is that he belongs to our whole family- he is a friend and work partner for Michael; a friend, help, encouragement to me; and a jungle gym, wrestler, tickler, playmate for the kids. Everyone should have an Uncle Pluto in their lives!

This visit was especially good because we got to meet Jeff's girlfriend Christy. None of us are use to sharing Jeff when he is here, and bringing a girl in the mix could have gone all wrong, but Jeff has the right girl! Christy has a great laugh, is playful, pretty and easy to be with.
Playing restaurant.

BTW- Jeff works as a production assistant for the show Carpoolers which airs Tuesday eve.'s 8:3o on ABC.

The Whitney Classic

This past weekend Michael and I joined Summit Adventure for the Whitney Classic.
Michael had the opportunity to photograph the event, which is a 135 mile bicycle ride


from Death Valley

to the portal of Mt. Whitney (Mt. Whitney has the highest peak in the lower 48 states -at 14,496 feet elevation).
The event is a fund raiser for Summit Adventure .

We enjoyed seeing the event first hand. So much goes into making this event happen; Riders training, fund raising, providing sag drivers (drivers that follow them as they ride), "Sammers and Hammers" (Good Sam's Club, and Ham Radio Operators) volunteering their time and talents to the event, as well as the work of staff, volunteers and supporters who help make the event run smoothly.

We were able to visit with friends Ginger and Spinner Allen who currently live in Florida. Check out Spinner's blog Filatore

I got to be along side my very good friend Kelli to cheer riders on at the start of the race, and to celebrate and cheer them through the finish line. The first riders arrived at 11:33 p.m. with the last one finishing at 10:18 a.m.

You should know that being outdoors in the dark, and cold, on some mountain, with a sign that says "active bear warning," isn't my thing. It's very much my husbands thing, and it was good to see him do two things he loves (outdoors and photography). It was also good to be with and see Kelli in her element as well, especially as this was her last weekend working for Summit Adventure. Keep Kelli in your prayers as she prepares to serve with Pioneers. I know that God has a greater adventure for Kelli ahead, and that He has greater summits to lead her to.
That God would go before you and behind you friend on this
adventure (a wild and exciting undertaking; to take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome), and that he would lead you to the summit (the highest point of a hill or mountain; the highest attainable level of achievement; highest) He has planned for you. That He will be your provider, confidence, love, life, hope, truth, joy, peace and way is my prayer for you.

Jesus!


BTW- a super huge THANK YOU to Gramps & Nana for keeping the kiddos for 4 long days!