My Saturday Morning Project

This is what I've worked on this morning. I was in Walmart yesterday morning, and it was relatively calm, so I browsed a bit. I ran across this planter, and thought it would be perfect for my bathroom, to sit on the area around the tub. I have never had much luck with indoor plants, but I decided to try, because I liked the pot so much! I looked around and found this beautiful orchid that was inexpensive, and the visited some friends up the road who have a nursery and found the varigated ivy to put around it. They told me the ivy should fill in within a week. I hope I haven't killed it all before then!

By the way, I know some of you are still waiting to see photos of my bathroom remodel. I am hoping to finish all the decor in the next couple of weeks. Just consider this a sneak peek!

Decorating Dilemma

Now that things are about to slow down a bit, I'm looking for a project. I think I want to paint these planters that I have on my front porch. I bought them because I really liked the shape, but the color wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be when I got them home. They really don't show up against the red brick that well. Here's a close-up, and then a shot of one of them next to the door and the brick. I had thought about black, but I'm not sure. Suggestions.....please, please, please????

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Hello friends! You all know about our family ordeals of the last several weeks that have kept me busy....well, here's the next thing on my plate. Before school was out (for me at least), we started Vacation Bible School. This was my first year as director, and it was a lot of hard work, but I think it turned out great! Best of all, we had four children saved during VBS, and many, many more seeds planted.

We stuck with Baptist tradition and used the Lifeway theme--Saddle Ridge Ranch. Here are some photos of our decorations for any of you who may be looking for ideas for your own VBS! If you want more detailed info, please feel free to email me or ask me a question in the comments.

Too Soon

Tonight I beg you, my sweet blog friends, for your prayers. Less than one week after losing our Uncle Runt, our family has lost another loved one. This time, my cousin, Garland Jones. He was only 48 or 49. Died unexpectedly early Wednesday morning, and we really don't know what happened to him. Our family is in a complete state of shock. He was just here on Sunday, spoke and sang at Uncle Runt's funeral, then traveled home on Monday. As much as the extended family is hurting, however, it is NOTHING compared to what his parents and children are going through. This is the third son Uncle Mikey and Aunt Frances have lost. No one ever expects to bury their child, much less three of them. If you have a moment, please remember them in your prayers.

Back in a few days, hopefully with much happier things to post!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day. Most of us know it as a day to remember those who have served our country, fighting for our freedom. For me, however, Memorial Day has taken on additional significance. You see, this Memorial Day weekend marks this third time our family has gathered on the last weekend in May to say goodbye to someone we love. Yes, three loved ones, buried during Memorial Day weekends.

Yesterday at the service for my Uncle Orban, or “Runt” as I knew him, a video montage was played to begin the service. I was aware that there would be a video, but I anticipated photos of him with his family, co-workers, and friends, many of which I had seen the night before at the visitation. I was not prepared for what I saw. Instead of a collection of pictures of our Uncle Runt, it was images of all of our family, beginning with my grandparents (Big Mama & Big Daddy) all the way down to the youngest generation of the Jones family, set to the song “In the Shade of the Family Tree”. Wow…very emotional seeing all those pictures, both old and new.

It really got me to thinking a lot about family. Next to my salvation, family is the most important thing in my life. Always has been. My daddy was the next to the youngest of 11 children, 10 of whom lived to adulthood. There are 21 grandchildren; I am the youngest. The oldest is 24 years older than me. So there are two “sets” of cousins, the older ones and the younger ones. Because of that, we have different memories of what it was like growing up in the Jones family. I think the older ones think they have the “best” memories. However, even though they’re different from what the older cousins remember, my memories of the time spent with Big Mama and Big Daddy are just as precious. Some of us are close, some of us just sort of say “hey” and that’s about it, because there’s not that much in common. Some of us get on each other’s nerves unintentionally, some of us do it on purpose! Ha! However, at the end of the day, we are part of something special, something bigger than any of us. A family…where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Regardless of what happens, we are all part of that family tree, whose roots run deep in the Alabama soil, and whose branches will continue to grow.

So from now on, every year on Memorial Day, not only will I pause to remember and thank those who have served our country, I will remember those in our family who have gone on and are waiting to welcome us on the other side, and I will be thankful for the mark they have left on all our lives.

A Couple of Weeks Ago...

One Friday afternoon, we decided to get a little mud on the tires...

And do a little of this...

Luke went on his first little fishing trip! Matthew wanted Granddaddy to take him fishing, and Luke is getting to the age where he thinks if Bubba goes, he should go too. So we headed through the pasture behind Granddaddy's house to the pond where he has a dock, and spent an hour or so catching the big ones. Well, maybe not that big....

Hold it real still

Then puuuuulllllll!

After he caught one, he wasn't too sure about what to do with it, but he did finally get to where he'd touch the fish!

I had some more pictures to post, including Matthew with his fish, but for some reason, Blogger has just erased them. It's too late to try to figure it out tonight. Maybe I'll do a post with miscellaneous photos soon and include them.

Busy week...Matthew turns 8 on Saturday!

Help Wanted

Actually, I'm not trying to hire someone, I just want a little advice from my blog buddies. I hope you've got lots of ideas for me!

1) I once saw some clear plastic covers to put over the cushions of patio chairs, but I can't remember where it was. I am thinking of getting some, since I have an outside cat who loves to sleep in my chairs, and the cushions have gotten rather nasty! Or, do you have any other ideas for me? I really need something than can be washed off periodically.

2) I have a bunch of graduation gifts to buy this year. I have several FBLA members who will be graduating this year, and some of them I have had in class since 6th grade. So I want to do something special for them. However, because of the number of them, I can't spend a whole lot on each one. The girls are all really girly-girls, and the boys are just...boys, I guess! Any ideas would be welcomed!

3) For the first time, I am the Vacation Bible School director for our church. I need lots of help! Talking to the previous director is not an option, and I really don't think there are any records at the church of what was usually ordered, etc. Do you have any tips, neat things your church does, etc. that you can share?

Thanks in advance for all your help! I sure do need it!