Back From our Corpus Christi Vacation

While mom and dad were still here (they are for 4 more days) we decided about a week and a half ago to take a vacation for a week to the beach at Corpus Christi.   It was beautiful-the weather was great and we had a much needed time or rest and relaxation.  I didn't realize how much I really needed it (after the last few months and all that had happened) until we stepped foot out on the beach. It was wonderful.  These are photos I took of the view we had from on condo.  It was just a few yards from the beach.

When we first arrived at the beach.  Look at all those shoes-we could start a shoe store! lol

The Lexington was just yards from where we stayed too-the boys went with Mike and Dad and Alyssa to tour it one day.

Just random photos from different days we were at the beach.
We had beautiful weather and the beach was fun-but there were lots of jelly fish-more than I had ever seen at the beach before-we also caught 5 crabs-we bought a tank to keep them in but only 2 of the 5 made it so we let them go before we left.

It rained one morning when we were there for a few hours so we went to the Texas Aquarium. We got to see dolphins up close and personal and that was so much fun.

On our final day I made everyone dress up in white to take family photos.  I am still learning to use my new 35 mm so they are a little bright but they came out well and nothing that a little photo shop can't fix!

Our crazy shot-I had the timer set and it didn't go off till I started walking toward the camera-so I ran back and we all went crazy and here is what you get! 

The sunsets were just beautiful-it was a great family vacation, but I am glad to be back home now too.  I am so blessed and whenever I go away and come home again I realize just how blessed I am and how good it is to be home too.  I know we are where we are supposed to be when we come home from being away and I am glad to be home and happy, and feeling even more blessed than before I left.

Making Lotion Bars

If you have... split, dry and cracking heels
cacked, bleeding knuckles or fingers
sore and dry elbows
dry, flaky legs
chapped hands and cuticles from dry heat or cold weathereczema-or dry itchy skin

facial wrinkles

These 100% natural lotion bars can be used anywhere on your skin!

They are made from 3 simple, pure ingredients: beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter in one solid lotion bar. 

Here's how it works: hold it in your hand and as your body temperature warms the bar, rub it into your skin. It instantly absorbs without a greasy feeling, and they are 100% natural.

This is my new adventure since I have stepped down from my job at the church to be able to stay home with Analeigh and start homeschooling Alyssa.  I am making and selling these bars. They work great-I have terrible, dry heals and Alyssa suffers from really dry, chapped hands that crack and bleed. So I was trying to find something that work for us-did some research and found out that these ingredients mixed together in this solid lotion bar form work great together to heal our dry skin. The heart shape and square shaped are 3 oz bars and they sell for $8.50.
The little round bar is 1.5 oz and they sell for $6.50 You can special order them in larger sizes (I can let you know the prices per ounce and with different scents as well. These have a hint of lavender-sweet orange-cucumber melon-tangerine or vanilla in them.  I also selling sample sizes for $1.50 each.  They can be shipped as well-depending on where you want them shipped to will depend on the cost of shipping.

I have ordered supplies to start making lip balms next week too-they will sell for $3.50 each but if you buy them with a $8.50 lotion bar a set will only be $11.00.

They are made of 100% all natural of the following ingredients:

SHEA BUTTER-a soft, effective moisturizer which comes from the nut of a shea tree in Africa, known to help ease the symptoms of such extremes as eczema and psoriasis
COCONUT OIL, also a moisturizer, with a low melting point for quick absorption.
BEESWAX, seals the two above ingredients into the skin, acting as a glove that protects the skin from the harsh elements. The great part of the lotion bar is that it not only takes the pain away, it leaves your skin smooth and healthy. It truly nourishes the skin. When it comes to skin problems, shea butter has proven to be the most effective ingredient for soothing chapped skin, sealing minor cuts and scrapes, fading rashes and smoothing chafed skin. The hardness of the beeswax seals in the moisturizing oils of the shea butter and coconut oil, to help heal cracked, bleeding heels and finger cuts when the lotion is applied, and the soothing ingredients work together to bring relief to the pain of split skin on your hands and feet. Together with coconut oil and shea butter, the three to create a lotion bar that rubs on.
Just let me know if you want to order some!  They make great gifts too.

Thanks for letting me tell you about my new adventure.

On His Pathway-

Jill

Happy 12th Birthday-our sweet Alyssa Mae Jones

I can't believe that 12 years ago today we went to the hospital not knowing if I was truly in labor or not and we were both so excited and nervous to be first time parents.  You were such a cute little baby and we were so excited to be your mom and dad.

You have been such a blessing in every way.  You have a sweet spirit and a gentle, loving heart. You are kind, shy, pretty, and funny.  You are a wonderful friend and you love your friends with all your heart.  You love animals and you would take them all home and keep them if you could.  You love to draw(just like your daddy) and you love to dance-you have a natural ability in that area-great rhythm.

You are a wonderful big sister too (even when the boys drive you crazy-you keep your cool pretty well.)

Your smile can light up a room and your laughter is contagious.  We are so proud of you and the lady you are becoming.  You are concerned for you friends and their salvation-and you are pretty brave in sharing your beliefs and wanting your friends to have a relationship with Christ.  We pray that you will always stand strong for what you believe and are never afraid to share Jesus with others.

 I still am in awe that God chose us to be your mom and dad.  What an honor that is-I am still so thankful that two years ago He chose to spare your life when you drowned and that He gave us each day since to appreciate being your parents even more.

Happy 12th Birthday our sweet Alyssa Mae Jones! You truly our such a blessings to all who know and love you. I look forward to watching you grow up even more and the great memories we will have to share in the future.

I hope you have a wonderful, blessed day.

All my love,

Your Mama (so blessed to be called that)

Finally-2nd prize done for Kelly

Kelly-

I have your address and I am going to the store to get something to mail this in today along with something for Grace's to mail out her art piece too.  Hope your daughter likes it and it fits.  I actually used a larger size pattern for the length but I made the waist 22 inches like you asked for-hope it is long enough.  I tried it on my Alyssa for the length (she will be 12 but she is short-the same height as her 8 year old brother) and I didn't think it seemed too short so hopefully it will be just right.
Enjoy!   It will probably take 2-3 days to get to you.  If you will just let me know when you get it so I know it got there ok-that would be great.
Hope you have an awesome weekend.
Love-Jill

PS.  When I was sticking it in the box it seemed a little bare in there by itself so I saw where Abby was wearing a head band in one of your photos so I made one to match and I found this cute little tank at the store when Alyssa and I were shopping and thought it might match-when we got home it did so we stitched a little A on it to match and stuck them in the box with it.  Now she can have a complete outfit!

I mailed it today-be on the look out in the next 2-3 days I think.  Enjoy!

Love

Jill

Noah's Ark

Lots of things I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark .  

ONE:  Don't miss the boat. 

TWO:  Remember that we are all in the same boat! 

THREE:  Plan ahead.  It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.  

FOUR:  Stay fit.  When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. 

FIVE:  Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. 

SIX:  Build your future on high ground. 

SEVEN:  For safety's sake, travel in pairs. 

EIGHT:  Speed isn't always an advantage.  The snails were on board with the cheetahs. 

NINE:  When you're stressed, float awhile. 

TEN:  Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals

ELEVEN:  No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. 

Waiting for Nana and Papa

Well, I cleaned everything I think that I can clean before mom and dad get here today.  I am worn out-because it is hard to clean with 6 people in the house and 4 of them being children that want to drag things out to play with fast if not faster than I am cleaning.
Maybe it will at least stay semi-clean until they get here so at least they can see the house semi-clean before the kids can't stand it any longer and bring out everything they own and have gotten in the last two years since mom and dad where here.
Once a year-in the summer mom and dad come to our house for about a month since we only get to see them once a year-with the kids in school and mom and dad still working it is the only way our schedules will allow for us to see each other at this point in life being so far away.  
Last summer we actually made the trip (4 days in the car with 4 kids) to NY since my sister had an aneurysm rupture in her stomach and she almost died-should not be here but she is a walking miracle.  Since she is not married and has no family other than my parents there they stayed home last summer and we made the trip up there for a week and a half to see them.
So they are doing the trip here this summer and we are all sitting around waiting for them to arrive.  We are beyond excited. The kids are about to go crazy on me I think.  It feels like time has stood still.
I will post photos of their arrival later.
Here is a picture from our visit there last year-the kids seem so little to me here-Analeigh was just walking and barely talking-they will be so surprised when they see her the most today, she is a little girl now, no longer a baby at all-but all the kiddos have grown a couple of inches-you don't notice it on a daily basis but when I look at this picture I am even amazed at how they have grown-I know mom will cry when she sees them-we are so much alike in that way-we both cry at the drop of a hat.  I will go for now-so glad that it quit raining here and hopefully they haven't had to drive in it all day.  Three days on the road-ready for them to be here.

Oh happy day-we are ready for our Nana and Papa time.
On this Pathway-
Jill