NEW SITE FOR THE JONES

Hello everyone who is following the Jones Family Blog here at blogspot. We are announcing our new site: www.jonesfamilyoffour.com. Please make this change on all your blog roll so that you can be apart of our new family blog. You can go there now as it is active with lots of new videos and pictures.

Thanks

The Jones Family

Check out the video

Our Vacation was narrated and videoed by Susan and Andrew Kimmel...notice Susan and my face during the snow storm when Dustin turns the light on...we aren't too happy:) Thanks Susan we had a blast...ecgirlstuckintx.blogspot.com. Go her site and scroll down....

Vacation and back to normal.

We had a great time in Colorado...and in New Mexico...
We arrived to our cabin at about 4:30 am Monday morning which meant the kids were bright eyed and ready to go...we didn't really get out into the snow till later after naps...
In the middle of the week we went to Superior Colorado to see some of our friends...since it was Brock's birthday we did something a little different and we went to the Butterfly Pavilion with the Hammonds...
Later that evening we went back to the cabin and hung out...on Thursday Daddy and the boys plus Suz went skiing while the moms and babes stand at the cabin to play...
Due to the snow storm we headed out a little bit early but got stuck and ended up in New Mexico for two nights...it was a great trip with LOTS of memories...I don't know if I would do it again but the kids did great and we had a blast with the Hammonds and Kimmels.
Enjoy some pics....

He is going to be 3

I tear up as a begin writing this...I don't ever anticipate that he will read this for I want to tell him as much as possible..so bare with me as I write a letter to my about to be 3 year old boy...
Brock,
You make us smile...I believe everyone in the family would say that...this letter is to tell you how proud I am of you...to only focus on who you are becoming...I made a decision this year to stay at home and EVERY day I am thankful for it...I have never felt so much peace and rightness about a decision I have made...staying at home with you and your "Sissy" has brought me great joy.
Who you are becoming: I see the imagination you have, the love to play and explore, how you love to play with others (and even tell others what to do) and yet you find a peace in playing by yourself. You love with all your heart...you say the gentlelest of things when I least expect it and your awareness of others surprises me...I saw this grow with intensity as you helped us welcome Chloe into the world...she looks at you with love and as if you hung the moon...I know that she will look to you to help guide her in her many years to come...and you love her with a love that I am proud of.
I look forward to seeing where your feet will take you...I look forward to how God uses your hands to love...I look forward to the day you become my brother in Him...How Beautiful are your feet my son...I pray they will lead you to go and tell others. Thanks for being my lovebug and making me the mom only our DADDY knows I can be.

Love,
Your Momma

Let the eating begin

Chloe is now 4.2 months old and because of her weight and the amount of food she is eating we have started solids...we are starting with sweet potatoes...here are some pics of her "enjoying some of her first bites". I promise she likes it

SNOW!!!

Okay not just a little but ALOT...I love snow...I cant wait to go to Colorado for spring break and romp thru the snow with my boy. Here are some great pics of three days in the snow... and the last pic is me and my kiddos...you can go to Dustin's facebook to see more pics of our snow days!

Chloe

Here is sweet baby girl doing her new trick this week...rolling over.

A road block...

So we had some friends over on Friday night and we played games till 11:30. When they got ready to go get their little one upstairs and this is what he found...

Spring Break

We are so excited, on Spring Break we are going to go to Colorado and God has given us a place to stay for free...look for pics coming soon!!! www.greshamgetaway.com. Check it out!!!

Chloe growing

So I was getting lunch ready when I heard Chloe's bouncer go off, she is working on grabbing things...way to go Chloe!!!

Loving on baby sister

Well things have changed a lot in the past 6 months. We have a new little one and I am staying at home. Mon-Wed I watched a little girl who is about 20 months and enjoying being with my kiddos. One of the greatest things I am enjoying is watching how Brock's love for Chloe is growing. One of my constant prayers is that Brock would be an example of love and kindness for Chloe. Enjoy the video of him loving on her.

Oh what fun...

Brock playing with his rocket, and Miss Chloe almost 4 months.

Kind words....

That is what I have been saying for the past three days to Brock, "use kind words". But then I stop and ask myself how many times have I used kind ones this week. I am pretty sure Dustin would tell me that I haven't and Brock would agree. Motherhood: how I am constantly refined.

It starts with me...

So everything that I am dealing with right now...which is really the same as usual...comparing, pride...all of it starts with me. The big one is taking these thoughts captive...these lies...the other day I got so tired of it that I literally said, "Christin that is enough..." and I began to praise my God, to be thankful for the many things I have...so as Chloe gets up STILL at 2pm I just wait...I pray and I wait to hear what I am suppose to do next, this is a hard feat to do since I am tired but it gives me enough time to ask God why I am up and then who I should be praying for. I am definitely getting weary of these late night feedings, she is sleeping 5 - 6 hours at a time but by now Brock was sleeping from 9am till 7 to 8 am. Again comparing...:)

Acts...I was ready to read something new and I realized that I truly have never read all the way through Acts. It is awesome it is cool to see Peter go from a coward to Rock, the foundation, he no longer had a cowardly view of our God. I stop and ask myself what would it take to not have a cowardly view of my God. "Oh my God, earnestly I seek you"...amongst the diapers, the cries the helping of my husband, I earnestly seek you.

Christmas Extravaganza...

So we have been traveling alot the past month. We left for my parents', Austin last Sunday and then came home in the snow on Christmas Eve, just in time for the Christmas Eve Blizzard and Santa...then we packed up the car Christmas day and heading to Texarkana to Dustin's parents. We are still here and will head back Tuesday morning. I love family but I am definitely looking forward to a somewhat normal sleeping schedule. But I must say that God has given me two extremely flexible children, Brock is doing well and Chloe is happy as always. One thing I am defintley thankful for is not having to go back to school in a week, amazing how that was a heavy weight upon me.

Silence...

So I am at this place in my spiritual walk where God is calling me to listen. I have felt in the past few weeks that I am at a new place with God. Where I want to Love Him more...I kind of have been thinking on this for awhile but I was afraid of where it would take me or what I would have to do in order to be there. But a few weeks ago talking to a friend and listening to what she was learning I got tired...I got tired of living a mediocre life (don't know how to spell). So I am asking God what he desires of me...He told me silence...so at Chloe's morning feedings, after I work out or some time that I find just to myself I am waiting in silence...kind of hard to do because my mind races, I literally have to clear it all out. Words He has given me this week: Praise, Fear, Awe..I want to view my God as a BIG God, I want to love Him more...Dustin asked me this week if I feel this way because I am staying at home...I laughed, I think Kari said it best this week, my kids are my refining fire...so as I go about my business with my kiddos and family I am praising I am Fearing I am trying to be in Awe of who He is. Phil Whikham has a song that I am breathing every day "You're Beautiful" I want you Dear Savior...I want to live my life in a way that is Beautiful for you.

A snowy day

So Dustin woke me up this morning with "Christin hurry get out of bed".... I looked outside and it was snowing. Not little small flakes but big ones. Brock and Dustin immediately went outside to play, needless to say we aren't outfitted to play in the snow but Brock LOVED it. We are trying to go to Colorado for Spring Break to see snow for Brock's third birthday...I am pretty sure he will love it, just have to get the right gear.

A new leaf...

So I begin this journey of being a stay at home mom...what is funny is that this is totally my way of being refined...fine tuned...cut...this is my pruning of sorts. Not that I don't love being with my two little ones it is easy to just get caught up in the he should she should whirlwind. Last night I was reminded a something that I had forgotten. 1 Cor. 13:4, Love is patient and kind. It does not boast. More importantly it does not get irritable...so today as Brock and I did our morning devotion and read about how we are to love I see it again. Needless to say I have been speaking this scripture all day to my 2 and half year old and to myself. Thank you Jesus for provisions.

Wasting time in the hospital.

I hope we don't get billed for this...

Brock and Chloe

Before Chloe was born my prayer would be that Brock would have a sweet love for her. That he would fill as though he had a special part in who she was going to be. Dustin and I have prayed for hours that Brock would see the role in which he plays in her life. Tonight as we got ready for bed Brock asked to hold Chloe on his belly. It was a special time to watch as he begins to fulfill his role as big brother over his little Chloe.