Jones Family Updates

Christmas Eve Hannah is busy, Maddie is home from college, Andy flies in today, tonight I’m working the sound system for Christmas Eve Service and tomorrow we will host Christmas dinner at our house. This morning I went for a jog in the rainy mist, while I have worked hard to take care of Christmas presents, dinner and cleaning, I woke up with the anxiety of “have I done enough and completed everything?” After reading my morning devotional books, I still wasn’t settled. I often talk to God while I run and the gray jog helped me clear my head. I remembered a Christmas Eve 21 years ago when I asked Kathie to marry me, to know Kath is to know that her hands are always cold and she had asked for gloves. At a moment of creativity, I opened the package and slipped her ring on the ring finger of the glove, she opened the gift with Katie and Andy watching the engagement. The memory was a great blessing as the mist ran down my face. Tomorrow, I will celebrate the Day and the meaning ...

Kathie and I had a busy month, starting with a minor dental surgery that removed an old wisdom tooth and a couple of suspect teeth. Dental pain for Kathie has always been a fear for me, so after he last dental exam I acted on the recommendations. In the days following surgery, she was in pain and I spent a lot of time at her bedside and monitored her pain medication. December 10 th , I once again assisted a professional with a cut and color for Kathie’s hair. I know way too much about the process and now the care facility jokes that I’m going to open my own studio. Kathie’s hair looks beautiful and she is ready for the holidays. December 15 th , Kathie was home for a Saturday visit. I showed her our home decorations and just enjoyed having Kathie at home with Christmas music playing. December 18 th , for the third year, Kathie and I were able to go shopping for Christmas gifts for our family. Crowd wise, this trip was more difficult, I am used to our shopping mall tr...

Blessed it the one who waits . (Daniel 12:12). Waiting may seem like an easy thing to do, but it is a discipline that a Christian soldier does not learn without (7) years of training… There are times of indecision and confusion, when even the most willing person, who eagerly desires to serve the Lord, does not know what direction to take. So what should you do when you find yourself in this situation?... You should simply wait - but wait in prayer … wait in faith … wait in quiet patience … Accept your situation exactly as it is and then simply place it with your whole heart into the hand of your covenant God… “ Lord, Not my will, but yours be done.” [Luke 22:42]. I do not know what to do, and Kathie is in great need… I will wait even if You keep me here many days (7 years), for my heart is fixed on You alone, dear Lord. And my spirit will wait with full confidence that You will still be my joy and my salvation .”   Call upon God and plead your case before H...

October 12, 2012 The true test of a person’s spiritual life and character is not what he does in the extraordinary moments of life, but what he does during the ordinary times when there is nothing tremendous or exciting happening. A person’s worth is revealed in his attitude toward the ordinary things of life when he is not under the spotlight (see John 1:35-37 and John 3:30). It is painful work to get in step with God and to keep pace with Him— it means getting your second wind spiritually. In learning to walk with God, there is always the difficulty of getting into His stride, but once we have done so, the only characteristic that exhibits itself is the very life of God Himself. The individual person is merged into a personal oneness with God, and God’s stride and His power alone are exhibited . My Utmost for His Highest, October 12. A busy couple of months, I assisted the hairdresser as she cut and colored Kathie’s hair, by coordinating a bath night, a hairdresser’s sch...

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13. My Mom shared this verse with me. August was a busy month as we moved Madison into a rented house for her school year. Two trips to San Francisco, furniture shopping and planning kept us busy. Hannah began her sophomore year in high school on the Varsity Cheer Squad and was busy practicing all summer. I began coaching soccer with freshmen and sophomore girls rec soccer. Seems like a long time ago I started coaching 3 rd graders. August was  also a hot month so I didn’t bring Kathie home any of the Saturdays, we sat in the AC of her room while I trimmed and filed her nails. A dental implant had come loose last year and finally came out so I will be scheduling a dental visit this Fall. Her doctor and I planned the next round of Botox injections with disappointing results, we continue to look at ways to add to Kathie’s comf...