Post 99 of 100

Here's a blog of random, totally unconnected things.

For my surprise birthday party back in September, Matt Proffitt made the best jalapeno poppers I've ever eaten (jalapenos halved and cleaned, stuffed with cream cheese, topped with shredded cheese, wrapped with bacon, and baked).  These treats have become a regular side for Corey and I.  He recently discovered a pan that we own that bakes them even better (the grease from the bacon drains off so the peppers don't fry and burn).  We had some the other day.  YUM!

I colored my hair again and am glad to be back to pink.  And BOY is it PINK!

Yesterday for lunch Corey and I went to Sunnyside Cafe.  We had pancakes, homemade biscuits (also referred to as "cat heads") with white pepper gravy, and "cat heads" with homemade jelly.  It was SUPER yummy.  Come for a a visit some time; we'd love to take you!

Post 98 of 100

This past weekend I attended CIY Super Start with a group of 4th through 6th graders and other adult volunteers.  We had a blast!  We were grouped into small groups of 2 adults and 2 kids.  I was with Deanna Wall, the Lead Pastor's wife, and Brooke and Jordan, two 5th grade girls.  Together we played games, attended the sessions, and spent the night in a hotel.

A few things from the weekend:
-Playing adult tag at a roller rink will guarantee the adults have more fun than the kids.
-If you are an adult standing at a station, the kids will automatically think you are in charge of it.  (Good thing I know how to play Ninja.)
-Brooke's love language is giving gifts, no doubt.  When kids have this love language they get flack from adults for spending all their parent's money.  I give them more money so they can spread more love.
-Hot Fries, Flaming Cheetos, pretzels, and Oreos are an acceptable mid-night snack in the mind of a 5th grader.
-Fake something one time and kids will doubt you forever after.
-Any similarities and you become just like "So and so."  When "So and so" is a big deal in the mind of a pre-teen, I'll take it as a compliment.
-If you are pregnant and on stage before a new audience, give them an update on your baby.  Curious minds want to know!  And showing a picture of your husband isn't a bad idea either or else everyone assumes the hottest guy on stage is your boo.
-If kids have no fear of getting out in dodge ball they become fearless and no one stands on the back wall.  It is not the fear of being struck that keeps kids from playing, but the fear of being seen as a loser.
-When traveling with a group always, ALWAYS take a head count before you leave.

Post 97 of 100

Over the past two weeks I have been reading the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis.  I've been really enjoying the books and personally think the movies do a great job of bringing the story to the screen.  Upon finishing the third book, I went to retrieve the fourth and discovered it GONE!

My mother bought me this series for Christmas years ago after I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  She purchased a box set that has AMAZING artwork on the cover.  I have taken good care of these books as we have moved and cherish this gift from my mom.  

So how on earth am I missing one?!?

I see three possibilities:

1)  I lent it out and that person has failed to return it.  I highly doubt this is the case.  First, why would someone ask to borrow only the fourth book of the series?  And knowing how I feel about these books, I know I wouldn't let someone borrow it for fear of them messing it up or not returning it to me.  So this isn't what happened.

2)  Someone "borrowed" it without my permission.  Maybe someone stayed at my house and began reading it and accidentally took it home with them or failed to mention to me that they wanted to borrow it?  Or maybe they out right stole it.  But again, why would someone only take the 4th book?  And I highly doubt that anyone I allowed to stay at my home would take something of mine.  No, this does not seem like a likely explanation either.

3)  I lost it.  The fourth book is about Prince Caspian.  Is it possible that prior to the second movie coming out, I attempted to read this book and some how misplaced it?  I have no recollection of such and it seems to be out of character for me considering my protection for these works and my need to read things in the order they are to be read.  However, this seems to be the only possible explanation.

Bummer.

I am now on a search for the missing book that matches the rest of my set.  In the mean time I'm reading some of the other books  I've been meaning to get to.

Post 96 of 100

We have had lots of questions about our new space here in Carrollton.  I didn't want to post pictures and have those who visit have the privilege of experiencing our apartment (and wanted the homeyness to surprise those who visit and pictures just don't do this aspect justice).  But demand is high for a sneak peek.    So to those who requested it, here is your virtual tour.

This is the view when you walk into our front door.  Take note of the door to the hallway; I'll be referring to it shortly.  See the chair in the corner over there?  I'm standing there for the next picture looking back at our front door.

Here's a closer picture of our kitchen with the awesome bread maker on the "Coffee Counter."  Remember that door?  If you walked through it, you would be facing our bathroom.  I couldn't get a good picture of the bathroom, but it's a bathroom- there's a sink, shower, and toilet.  If you went through that door and to the left you would be in our bedroom.

 And to the right is the guest room.

See, we are ready for visitors!  Hope you come stay with us soon!

Post 95 of 100

Corey and I went geocaching the other evening and discovered a park near our house.  This is one of the reasons Corey enjoys geocaching so much, finding new places that would have otherwise remained unknown.  This park is located next to the local college and has a walking trail that curves around a pond with a fountain.  The picture of me with the Eiffel tower shirt I posted yesterday was taken here.  We attempted to find a second cache, but were unsuccessful.  This cache was hidden amongst a forest of bamboo.

We believe the cache is under a small walking bridge that connects this random bamboo garden to the neighboring parking lot.  However, the ground was snow covered and what appears to be dirt peeping through the snow, as seen in the bottom picture, is actually bird poop.  Yes, the ground was COVERED in bird poop.  It was so disgusting as well as surprising that so many birds had visited the bamboo oasis in such a short amount of time.  To the point, the droppings made it difficult to search under the bridge.  I'm glad we attempted to find this cache on this particular day and not one warmer.  My guess is the warm ground would camouflage the massive amounts of fecal matter that would probably only be multiplied by the warm weather and we would have been rolling around in it clueless.  Yuck.  This cache may remain unfound.

Post 94 of 100

I have a confession to make- I am an avid crafter.

Often times while Corey and I spend an evening at home, you will find me sitting on the floor with hemp twisted around my toes or papers strewn all over the place for who knows what project this time.

Scrap-booking, jewelry making, and collaging are my three most common creative outlets.  I'm currently working on a quilt that I have had in mind for at least 3 years.  A trip to Michaels and it will finally be complete!  Recently I have tried my hand at stenciling.  My friend Rich was an avid stenciler for a time and got me interested in it as well.  I'm currently creating stenciled fashion.  I have altered three tops for myself so far, two of which are pictured below.  Over the past year, I have also developed an interest in altering my wardrobe.  I've cut up t-shirts, added ribbon here and buttons there, or splashed something with a little bleach to give my mass-produced pieces a little flare.

When Corey and I packed for Georgia I was blown away by the percentage of our stuff that was for my crafting addiction.  Luckily, I'm finishing projects and organizing my things to consolidate space... and make room for new projects of course!

Post 93 of 100

After a few days at our new apartment, Corey and I were greeted by a very unexpected visitor.

This is Rhudy, or at least that is what we call him.  He is the neighborhood cat and visits us frequently.  He is very friendly and loves attention.  The previous tenants, who also happen to be the owners of our apartment, had cats and installed a cat door.  Rhudy often sits outside the door meowing.  During the recent ice storm, we let him in to get warm.  He loves coming in, but isn't the biggest fan of going back out.

Post 92 of 100

Corey and I have acquired a lot of kitchen appliances in our 4+ years of marriage.  In our new apartment, we have devoted an entire pantry to our appliance collection consisting of a sandwich maker, smoothie blender, milkshake blender, quesadilla maker, blooming onion cutter, fondue pots (yes, that is plural), and popcorn popper, just to name a few.  Combining his enjoyment of gadgets and his love of bread, I bought Corey a bread machine for Christmas.  Corey has made two loaves since moving to Carrollton.  It is much easier than I could have imagined.  He simply puts the ingrediants in and the machine does all the work.  The smell of baking bread fills our small apartment and within 2 hours, homemade, fresh, warm bread!  Another good appliance for the Jones household!  What to get next...

Post 91 of 100

As I have mentioned in previous posts, Corey and I went to visit my brother, Cory with no "e," in Rhode Island for Christmas.  Many of my few readers probably don't know that my brother has always had an obsession with action figures.  This obsession has lead him to be a free lance sculptor for Hasbro, of which I am proud to brag about.  It has also lead him to be an avid toy collector.  I remember when he was younger, he was strictly a marvel kinda guy.  Spawn took a turn in the spot light and then some other very bizarre looking figurines.  Now his collection is vast and includes DC, Star Wars, and GI Joe.  Part of his collection resides in his studio where he sculpts (as pictured below).  Some remains in boxes in his basement and the rest is in Colorado with my mom.  The collection continues to grow as more action figures are released, some of which my brother will have sculpted himself.

Post 90 of 100

Home.

For many that word brings to mind memories of the house where they grew up- the bedroom where their imagination took flight, the kitchen were the family gathered for meals, the living room where countless hours were spent, the corner where they were often in time-out, the stairs that creaked in the middle of the night.  Home is the back yard where he played hide and seek.  Home is the driveway with the basketball hoop where he learned to sink a shot.  Home is the neighborhood where she rode her bike and learned to drive.  Home is the house where her parents will grow old and she will take her own kids to visit grandma and grandpa.

There is something about coming back to a familiar place.  Nostalgia hits hard after the ten hour drive from North Carolina to Ohio as I pull off the highway into North Lima.  A lot has changed, but I still recognize the place, I still know the streets.  But for me it isn't home.  Growing up we moved a lot, which made me accustomed to new environments and not having a house to call home.  I am not more attached to any one of the houses that we lived in.  And even though I spent half of my life in Canfield, I have no real desire to return to the town itself.

For me, home is definitely where the heart is and my heart is with those I love.

My mother lives in Boulder, Colorado.  Until she moved there, I had only visited Colorado twice and have only been a few times since, but Boulder is my home.  I feel comfortable there because my mother is there.  I yearn to be there, because my mother is there.

My brother lives in Providence, Rhode Island.  Over the holidays, we visited him for the first time.  I despise big cities and Providence is a big city.  I hate the traffic, I hate the constant business, I hate the crowds of people.   Yet as soon as my foot hit the hard wood floor of my brother's apartment, I felt at home.  Driving around with my brother at the wheel, I found myself thinking, "I could live here."
My college roommate lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Prior to my visit, I was nervous about being in such a large city and how the Las Vegas culture would alter my emotional state and thus my trip.  But I wasn't even phased.  I was with Samantha and I was at home.  Sam came back to Virgina Beach for this Christmas and I spent a night at her house.  The deep red of her living room welcomed me in, the smell of her sheets, perfume, and hand soap filled my senses, and the sound of her voice soothed me.  It was good to be home.

Rich Meister and Elizabeth Vahey are taking classes in Texas.  I've never been to Texas, but my heart longs to be there.  I want to see what they do and where they spend their time.  I want to experience life with them.  I want to go home.

For the past 7.5 years, my life has occurred on the campus of Mid-Atlantic Christian University.  I spent my college years here in the dorm, in the classroom, in the library.  I devoted my first years as a career woman to her and her students.  The students became my friends and as my friends left to begin their own ministries, they took my heart with them.  I have a lot of great (and some terrible) memories of this place and my heart will always be with my Alma Mater.  But I have packed up my things and have headed off for a new home.

Carrollton, Georgia.  

I have no family here, no close friends, I know no one.  Yet, it already feels like home.  My heart is here with the church where we will be serving.  I already have a compassion for the people and desire to reach those who do not know the grace and love of my Jesus.  I'm excited to be moved in and can't wait till we have visitors.  I'm looking forward to this new journey with my husband and I know as long as I am with him, I am home.

Where is home for me?  Home is Camden.  Home is Kissimmee.  Home is Papa New Guinea.  
Home is doing life with the ones I love.  
Home is in the hearts of my family and friends.  
Home is with you.