Everything Under the Son

Yes. I know. It seems that there is so much to celebrate here at the Jones house! Today is one of those days. Today, Nathaniel and I are celebrating six years of marriage! I can honestly say that I love him even more today than the day we said our vows. Has it all been easy...no. Has it been a piece of cake...no. Is it worth the work and effort we have put into it...yes! A thousand times yes! Marriage is worth it!



So, Nathaniel has suggested that I share with you the festivities of the day. We know you will find great humor in our celebration! We spent some time at the dog show...Nathaniel's brother and wife were showing their dogs, so we stopped by for a visit. It is always fun to get to spend a little time with them! Afterwards, we spent MUCH time trying to decide what to do next. Is was just too strange having the kids taken care of and free time out on the town. We ended up walking through an antique store, browsing the clearance table at the used book store, and then no special day would be complete without a trip to the store for toilet paper. (If you remember, we had gone to buy toilet paper just hours before Nathaniel proposed!)



Then it was off to dinner and a movie (which we have not done in over a year!). It was great to spend time with my best friend. I love 'dating' my husband! He makes me feel special, important, and most of all, loved! If I had to chose again, I would still choose Nathaniel. I would marry him all over again...in a New York Minute! he's the one for me...chosen by God. When we said our vows, six years ago, in front of a room full of family and friends, we meant every word. Forever and ever...I love you!



Today also holds another special memory for us. Just two short years ago, Nathaniel and I were getting ready to go out for dinner to celebrate our 4th anniversary. I had not been feeling well, and we were anxiously waiting for our next infertility appointment. To our surprise...probably better described as PURE SHOCK...I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. Two years ago today, we discovered that Carson was growing inside of me. A MIRACLE from God...no infertility treatments needed. It is a day neither of us will ever forget. Though we will not see Carson again this side of Heaven, we will always treasure the months we had with him in my belly, and can't wait to hold him in our arms again! He's waiting for us too...safe in the arms of Jesus. We love you sweet boy!



So yes. We are celebrating here again. We are celebrating love, commitment, joy, marriage, forever, Carson, Heaven, and of course, the reason for it all...Jesus!

Today is a special day. A day to celebrate. Another day to thank God for all of His rich blessings. A day that will, for us here at the Jones' house, go down in the history book. You see, today marks the five-year anniversary of my cancer. Today, I am five years cancer-free! Today is a special day!



Five years ago I was diagnosed with and had surgery to remove ovarian cancer. That day marked the beginning of a journey. A journey that would teach me lots of things, both about myself, and about the Lord. The journey has included 'testing' of my marriage, facing the fact that we might never have children of our own, infertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, babies, and to top it all off, a hysterectomy, complete with instant menopause at age 30! And here I am, typing before you, 30, happy (thanks to some great hormone replacement therapy! :), healthy, a mommy (x4), a wife, and child of the King!



I have learned many things through the journey...things like patience. I have learned that I am not in control, though there are still days I want so very badly to be in total control. I have learned the true blessing of great doctors (I know God hand picked the best for me!) I have learned what it means to be loved unconditionally, as Nathaniel has been by my side for every moment. I have also learned to love unconditionally...having children does that to a girl! I have learned that even the best laid plans are still not guaranteed. I have learned that losing children is the worst thing a parent could ever have to go through...a pain that never ceases. I have learned that I will never understand it all or have all of the answers this side of heaven. I have learned to take one day at a time. I have learned that no matter how dark the shadow, or how deep the valley, that God is always right there beside me...never leaving me to deal on my own. I have learned to savor the moments and find joy in the 'little things'. And I have learned that when I think all hope is gone, He can make the impossible, possible!



So here I am , five years cancer-free, and much smarter than when I started this journey. I know the journey is not yet over, and I still have much to learn. I can see God's fingerprints all over my life, and I am so grateful! I can't wait to see what He has planned for the next five years...and many years after that!



So let's celebrate! When you have a minute today, say a prayer of thanks for what God has done for me...and while you are talking to Him, thank him for the blessings in your life too! :) Let's make today a celebration of life...a celebration of miracles!



Father, thank you so much for this day. For all of the ways you have worked your mighty hands of power over the last five years. Thank you for friends and family who have taken the journey alongside of me, and for loving me through it all. Continue to work, Lord, and show me your plans! I am yours...show me the way! Amen.

Just thought I would post a couple of new pics. It has been snowing at our house most of the day today. Funny though, just a couple of miles away, it was ice and frozen rain! We are thankful we got the powdery white stuff...and as you can see from the photo, Natalie enjoyed it too!








My ever talented hubby also took some great photos including this one of the frozen bushes with red berries outside our home. Isn't it beautiful?!







And then, I couldn't leave poor Levi out, so I thought I would post this one. He is such a handsome boy! I wonder what he was thinking when he put his hand to his cheek? So cute!

Well, posting about the proposal was so much fun, I thought I would take my dear friend Scott's advice and post about the big surprise at the wedding!



Nathaniel was VERY involved in the planning and preparation for our big day. Probably more so than your average guy! We would sit and watch TV while I addressed the invitation envelopes and he stuffed, sealed, and stamped them. He helped me chose flowers, tuxedos, and print up the program, along with MUCH more. I was thrilled to have his help, but there was a little something up my sleeve, and because he was so involved, it sure made it hard to keep the secret....but I did it!



After we said our vows, I surprised him with a song...live! I always dreamed of singing in my wedding. I wanted it to be something special for the man God had sent to me. Once we started planning, I decided I would keep it a surprise, and it worked! We even printed the programs, and he folded them all, and I then had another friend stuff inserts of the song lyrics into every one when he wasn't looking.



As I was handed my microphone, Nathaniel had this serious "deer in the headlights" look. We had all made our guesses as to whether he would cry, or lose bladder control out of shock. It took him a few seconds to realize what was going on, but once he got it, the sweetest smile covered his face the entire time I was singing.



I bet you're wondering what song I chose? Well.....



Martina McBride - "There You Are"



The words fit perfectly! Don't you agree...



There you are in the early light of day

There you are in the quiet words I pray

I've been blessed by the simple happiness

Of the perfect love we've made



Every time I turn around

When I'm lost and when I'm found

Like an angel standing guard

There you are



Every time I take a breath and when I forget to breathe

You're watching over me there you are

When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night

Searching for the brightest star

There you are



There you are standing in a crowded room

There you are the earth and I'm the moon

My desire is to stand by the fire

That burns inside of you



Every time I turn around

When I'm lost and when I'm found

Like an angel standing guard

There you are



Every time I take a breath and when I forget to breathe

You're watching over me there you are

When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night

Searching for the brightest star

There you are



When I'm looking for the light in the middle of the night

Searching for the brightest star

There you are



There you are

There you are


It was such a perfect day! One I will NEVER forget!

Since this month I will celebrate six years of marriage to the most incredible man in the world, I thought I would share the story of how he proposed to me. You might want to grab a tissue...it's really a good story! :)



We had been running errands that afternoon, and Nathaniel suggested that we drive around a little bit. We drove around a few minutes and then he conveniently pulled up to the chapel at HSU. He said we should go inside and look around. I had always wanted to check it out so I thought nothing of it. Of course...locked! So we got back into the truck, and he pulls out a present. I was still clueless, as we had not discussed getting engaged at all, and my motto has always been that "I don't want to know!" I did not want to go shopping for rings, I just wanted the guy to do it all...pick the ring, and pop the question...all as a surprise.



Well, I still thought nothing of the gift because when I opened it, inside was a beautiful cross he had made for me. I had asked him to make one for me out of old rustic wood. My thought was, "Oh, how sweet. He brought me to the chapel to give me the cross. So thoughtful!" He then encouraged me to turn the cross over and look at the back. He had inscribed,



"2000 years ago, a cross held God's gift of love. Today this cross holds my gift of love to you."



Still, I didn't get it. I just thought the cross was his gift of love for me. Duh! Then he asked me to take the two cross peices apart. When I did, I saw inscribed in the tiny space,



"Will you marry me?"



He had also carved out a little nesting place, and my ring was snugly nestled within the cross. He has even wrapped it up in some tissue paper so it would not get scratched.



Isn't he amazing? Of course I said "yes" and the rest is history! I love that he started our journey together with the focus on God. We strive every day to keep Him as the focus of our marriage, and we know that no matter what storms may come, He will carry us through!

It is sometimes hard to believe that 2007 has already begun! 2006 was a whirlwind for us...busy and blessed. This fine month of January holds several important days for me. This month I will celebrate 5 years cancer free! This month I will celebrate 6 years of marriage to an amazing man of God. This month I will celebrate and remember the day we found out we were expecting Carson, our little angel. I will never forget those two pink lines, or how Carson changed my life forever!



I will celebrate the beginning of a new year with a clean slate, and another chance to make some changes. To read and study my Bible more. To pray more, and draw nearer to my Heavenly Father. To love on my husband and my kids more. I'm convinced we can never share too many hugs! To exercise more (I've already used the treadmill so I'm off to a good start!). To make some new friends. (Nathaniel and I have kind of fallen out of the loop this year and we need to make some connections). To love our friends more. To focus on our own marriage, and to pray for those marriages around us.




We are so richly blessed and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us in 2007!


Our prayer for you is that God fills your days with joy and your nights with peaceful rest. That He fills your hearts with love and your soul with peace! As Nathaniel put in our Christmas letter, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away." (We aren't sure where the quote came from, anonymous)



May your 2007 be filled with moments that take your breath away!

So this is what works for me...I have one canister that is just too small to keep anything for cooking in...you know, like flour, or sugar...so I keep my cell phone charger in it. It is out of sight, and out of the way, clean, and right where I need it, right when I need it! I just pull it out, plug it in and voila!

It may be silly for you, but it definitely works for me!







I have not figured out how to link to Shannon's WFMW, but, consider this my tip of the week! You can visit her site at www.RocksInMyDryer.typepad.com for more WFMW ideas!

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