Magic Kingdom

A year or so ago I posted that'd we'd take the banshees on a mission trip before we went to the magic kingdom. Slightly hypocritical...hmmm. A free place to stay was offered to us and saving my money from Trinkets and we are here. It is magical and a bit overwhelming! Epcot was our first stop yesterday and I will say the first few hours felt a little hellish to me. It was chilly and windy and packed.
After a break and dressing in warmer clothes, half of our tribe headed back to meet the rest who had stayed. We had a wonderful time. Owen did say during the first part of the morning..."I want to go back to the cottage and play with my animals." It made my heart melt. It was a little how I felt. The simple things.

We are making wonderful memories and as always, being with the cousins is an adventure in itself. We do hope to head south with the eldest on a mission trip in the fall and expose him to reality and the need of a Savior, food and water that ppl are hungering for. Just like some come to the Magic Kingdom clueless that their souls are really searching for the Real Magic Kingdom.

Next stop Animal Kingdom. Gearing up for a chilly day and lots of ppl and memories made. We are grateful to be here. My banshees are loving it. Just hoping to keep our spirits in check and be reminded of the one who made it all. It is easy to have it drowned out by all going on and so many distractions of things that truly are an amazing experience, but in eternity won't matter...for now Owen just wants to see Mickey.

Tata for now!

Life

I am reminded that the simple things are the biggest blessings. Our house is small and tiny and I thank God, bc he knows I really believed, deep down, that money, big houses and fast cars would make me happy. He has taught me how rich I am and how big, fat carrots on a cool April night make my heart leap, my boy running "tremendously" through a wide open field of clover, my husband weeding the garden as the wind blows...all this matters. These moments. My family and the joy that now surrounds us. Full is a word that comes to mind. Full on being in and living full of Christ. Not that we never struggle, not that there are endless days of no tears, but FULL in knowing He is in every detail and He fills us up when life cannot.

Our little neighbor screams from the trampoline sing 'our' song...so off key I belt out "blessed be the name of The Lord..." And have little voices sing along. In every season we will praise his name. If anything this is the legacy I want to leave my children. Not my money, my church membership, community service, but Him. I want my children to know Him. To know His goodness. His love. To experience life in Christ. That is my prayer. Life is rough. The world throws curveballs and people can be hurtful and confusing, BUT In Christ it rises you above the earthly and lift your head above to look at Him.

"Be in this world, but not of this world...." Slowly it is making sense. That is the LIFE I want....

Winter Jam

My nine year old boy and I jetted off to Winter Jam yesterday afternoon leaving my cautious, planner hubs and daughter at home to enjoy a less chaotic night filled with watching tv and strumming the guitar. This is how they roll, mostly. I was telling the hubs this morning, as I was proclaiming that my friends and I were meeting to camp for a night w the children over our spring break. He responded " all the children" and I assured him that I function better in chaos. It gives me a rush and propels me into motion, where the day to day tasks SUCK the life right out of me and have me incapable of doing menial task. He looked at me like I had 10 heads and I proceed to remind him my love language is fun...again the dazed and confused look.

So back to Winter Jam, 10 bands for 10 bucks. Jason Castro, Toby Mac, Jamie Grace.... It was a great line-up and I had a ball. We met some friends and then HUD had a melt-down and we left at 8:15. I was silent walking to the car, which for those who know me well, that never happens. We climbed in our car and I hear a small voice say..."I am sorry I disappointed you"... Heart melts.
I was able then to explain my heart which was I am sad we couldn't stay, but not with him. He was able to say that he just didn't enjoy it and I told him that was okay. It felt nice to have a healthy, non-manipulating conversation and understand and feel understood. That is intimacy...to know and be known. I long for this in our family and we are all working on it.
So here's is our first, and maybe only, concert picture together when we got home. He looks thrilled and immediately after this picture was taken I found him passed out in his bed with all his clothes on. Poor guy was exhausted...
Until next time.

Joy

I am so full. I feel like I can say this unashamedly bc for 32 years of my life my tank was on half empty. I struggled to make sense of this broken world and although there are days it is still just so plain confusing to me I have a hope and deep rooted joy... Most days, at least, this is the case.
I became a Christian when I was 9. I struggled to believe and had no clue how to live. My head was filled and taught tons of knowledge, I was told doctrine was a huge deal to know and have figured out and I was swimming, in what felt like, an upstream sea of chaos. I am not a type A. I am creative and for sure not in a box. I was raised in a society that all fit in a box, the same type of boxes and it confused me tons. Things said and taught went opposite from actions being done and again my world and soul felt so confused and conflicted.
Through my sin and Gods grace He opened my eyes and removed my blinders. I don't believe lies about myself anymore. When things feel confusing I can state that, not out of fear but in truth and grace. I feel free. Free from the bondage of confusion and rebellion and free from pleasing man. It's a great place to be. Things aren't black and white and I lived in a world where they were.
God has revealed and is revealing mysteries to me I'd never thought I'd know this side of heaven. He comforts me and holds me. His spirit guides me and I share my broken story, filled with hope and redemption to a lady with a hard marriage in a driveway after the kids school drop-off. 2 hours later, I am led again to sit on the curb and share yet again the same story with another friend who just wants deep rooted peace and abounding joy. Tears of joy flow each time.
There is no magic formula except a heart of full surrender and it took 35 years and roads of heartache for me to wind up here, with a heart filled with gratitude and deep, deep joy. Sorrow and joy are so closely mingled together. I have such deep joy bc of deep, deep sorrow.
So we are full. I am enjoying my children, my small cottage on a hill tucked in the woods, my local coffee and ice cream shop and shop that holds my trinkets. My husband is amazing, which is a miracle, and when my children tell me stories of their kindness and love to others it shocks me. I never thought I deserved any of it. I was the black sheep, always, and that felt comfortable. I am so thankful to be done with that role. I struggle battling the lies, but now ultimately see myself as God sees me...IN Christ. He calls me up to my one and only identity...Him.
I hope whether your the eldest son or the prodigal you can hear it's not up to you. You could have failed and be failing miserably, but that is okay. You could be keeping things together great and have a heart filled with anger and pride and he knows and loves you still. Your identity is not in what you've done or haven't done...it's in Him. Until I got to the very bottom, and there were some dark times, did I fully grasp the depth of his love for me. He rescued me. I hope that offers someone hope wherever they may be. He loves you.

First Vendor Event

We were asked to join in the vendors at the Easter Seal Event. It was a last minute decision, but turned out great. My kids loved the jump-jumps, we sold some loot and made new friends. If you'd told me three years ago I would be a jewelry vendor at an event at a park I would have laughed in your face. Just another token of God's grace and all HE can do.

Our new leather cuff collection. Keep up with our new accessories by liking Holland's Trinkets on FB. ��

Skipping church

Growing up we were in church everytime the doors opened! I am so grateful for my upbringing and my parents faithfulness. The pendulum does swing a bit and sometimes we skip church bc I think the focus was so focused on the have to's and being in church was the end all. I think church is very important and God does command us to be in a body of believer's. However, I do also believe God uses everything to show us himself and sometimes we stay home and rest and worship him through His creation. After weeks of cold and rain He is fueling our souls on this beautiful day.

I am hoping I can teach my children the balance of spirit and truth. God had revealed and continues to reveal more of this to me. As believers we do have the Holy Spirit and I hear him so clearly now, he speaks through scriptures and his word is the ultimate authority, but when we align ourselves with him and ask for more, with a heart in an open position he will show up and we will see...not that it's up to us, but when my heart has been in the fullest surrender are the times I can hear him the best.

Solid doctrine and good theology is key, but they should not drown out the masters voice...Oswald Chambers talks about this in his devotional My Upmost for His Highest. He does whisper gently to our souls. "call to me and I will answer you..."

Hoping to teach our kids a personal relationship with Him, solid doctrine and a heart that lives in daily surrender and openness to receiving His love and promises inside and outside the church.

Living a wild at heart morning. Shirtless wrestling and BB guns. Thankful for boys.

Life lately

A little bit of our life during this season. Homewood FIT continues to grow and we now have two new locations. Exciting! The sweetheart dance was this weekend...the daddies w their dates. The kids/neighbors play house in the woods after school and "The Nets", as we named ourselves, have become such an important part of my life and spiritual journey this season (aka my prayer group)...Robyn had her baby Thurs and some of the girls came to see her! I love all these women so much!!
That's what is happening these days in Tinks Cottage. God continues to redeem our lives and we are blessed and amazed at all he has done!

Seek His Presence Continually

I can't tell you enough how God whispers and shows up daily, minute by minute. I say this not to boast bc He is the one who does this, not me. His spirit is living in me. This past year has been such a spiritual recovery for me. Relearning my theology and doctrine and really seeking and challenging what I learned my whole life and my view of God. God never changes. His character remains the same even if how you view him doesn't.
This season I have felt him with me. He is real to me, as in I can feel him guiding me. I have open hands, an open heart and I am not trying to figure out or explain God away anymore. I desire a personal relationship with him, as he does with me and that leads to freedom and not having to be right, or prove others wrong. I am so thankful for the countless, countless acts of mercy he has given and bestowed on me. I think once one has been saved from the pit by his gentle, loving hands and walks in His truth they can't help but be fiercely passionate about Him. The word has become alive and the Gospel has exploded into my heart.
Even this morning I was so in overdrive thinking about the small business that is up and running and how to grow it better, and then I felt the gentle whisper of "you can't do this alone." I immediately got off our social media business page and found scripture. He confirmed that soft voice with his word being "seek my presence continually." How sweet of Him. He is constantly showing me he is there through things like that.
This world had a grip on my soul, truly, I felt haunted and so IN the world. It took years of stripping and breaking, for God to have my heart gripped IN Him. I know this..."ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find"...our God is big and waiting for us to give everything to Him. I don't do it perfectly, but my heart does yearn for him most days!
On things happening...we are moving to a community Ross Bridge and opening a FIT there. Praying God will bless us and open doors to minister to women.

Hug Yo' Babies

I remember vividly my first pregnancy, the other two quite are blurry. We thought this kid hung the moon and were amazed at becoming parents. Time rolls by, the days that seemed so long and never ending are now distant memories. I love, love this age. He still carries so much innocence and love for us most of the time. Riding bikes is his delight and he has found the joy of reading, finally.
This baby that has become a boy is so intuitive, much like me. He is smart and a math guy as well, which I am not. He has always been an old soul and the way in which he filters the world through the gospel is a little intimidating at times. He's a little theologian and thinker who says things like "God spoke to me during my test by putting scripture in my head...I can do all things..." He feels the Fall of mankind daily and is able to identify his brokenness far better than most adults. We speak the same language and get each other. CJ on the other hand thinks we are both from mars sometimes and him and gal are definitely more in tune to each other. We can't wait to see where Owen, as he becomes more verbal, fits in all this.
So hug those babies and boys. Time is flying by and while I long for heaven, I long for time to linger as well. For seasons, now, to last a little longer, for my boy to stay a boy. So, today we are going hiking. We are embracing today and living like it won't last, bc it won't. Hopefully great memories will be made and lots of laughter. He won't be a boy forever and babies grow so fast. Seize the day whatever season you are in!

Lately...

CJ's birthday was Jan 6th. We are officially old, but still so young at heart. We {the neighborhood and I} baked him up a boxed cake topped w icing and let's just say it was "sweet". Nothing fancy, had friends over for dinner and lots of hugs from his family. He is aging well. I've known him for 16 years now and he has grown kinder, wiser, cuter, more Christ like and the older we get the more we are getting each other in different, awesome ways. It's hard work though but worth it.
We are in hopes of buying Tinks cottage and renovating her. We had a company come look to give us a quote and these swanky kids walked in. Literally, they looked so young. Even CJ said the same thing. It really humbled me in the fact so many older people used me for Real Estate and I started when I was 23. Crazy. Soooooo not ready to renovate a third house, but it's needed. That or a new house. Living here going on two years in June has taught me marble countertops are nice, but it doesn't really matter. Space is great, but does not equal happiness. Due to quitting Real Estate, for now, CJ taking a job that he thought would be a huge career path ended up a dead end....we have been strapped for money. It's been freeing almost not to have so many choices and has taught us in deep ways the value of a dollar. We are now back to normal, but it was a good lesson and a sweet time and even then, we were so richly blessed.
I am on day 5 of the Whole 30. It's proven tough, but good. I am taking it a meal at a time and have a great support group of women who text verses and prayers and check-ins all day long. Two is better than one...fo' sho.

Happy Birthday Mo!

Mohana is the lady next to me, my Chilean friend and as feisty as they come in her personality and walk with the Lord. She is such a testimony of the Lord and his provision all the time, her stories are truly amazing and the Lord shows her himself in the most tangible ways to her and others through out her continued faithfulness and waiting on him . She walked the hard road w us in our small group during our year or rather years of the great valley and our friendship has deepened and widened since.
Mohana came to Homewood FIT last Feb hesitant. Her email she sent after her first workout would make one cry and laugh all at the same time. She had never done a push-up, she hated running and God was showing her she needed to come back and join us. She shed tons of weight, her pushups got better and she actually enjoyed running across the park within a couple of mths of FIT. Before, her knees hurt and she could barely get off the couch....enough concerning all that, but physically and inwardly this lady has had a revolution of sorts and God has been transforming and using Homewood FIT as a tool for that. That is why I love what I do and am passionate abt other women leading healthier lives...it is hard, almost impossible for me, from experience, to do it on my own. I need stories and words of affirmation and encouragement. Two are better than one...how true.
Okay, moving on to my point. So God's hand in it all has been Mohana has now become our FIT Chef. She cooks weekly for the women and her food is beyond average, she is a feisty cook as well and uses tons of spices and doesn't overcook her food (like we americans do...according to her). God has done great things in her following him and obeying him regarding her health and treating her body as his temple. She eats healthy now and looks fabulous. So happy, happy day sweet lady and friend. So glad to have you in this journey through life and work!

Jeremiah 33:3

This is my verse for 2013. God has consistently been laying it on my heart. In talking to my hubs about some verses we want to focus on for our family in the coming year, I shared this has been on my heart. I had sometime this afternoon to do a google search and God led me to a sermon preached by a man with the last name Philpot in 1846 that someone had written out. It's a lot to take in and digest, but God is moving me and stirring the depths of my heart with some things I've heard in the past few days. Here's the verse.

"Call unto me and I will answer you: and show you great mighty things that you do not know."

Here is an outtake that I loved from it. One of many. Happy New Year. Call out into the Lord in 2013. He has great and mighty things to all who believe in Him!!

Verse of the day

I woke up feeling a spirit of edginess towards everyone. I grabbed my phone and spent some time digesting what the verse of the day meant in its context. The website I looked up had the written across the top..God's Rest. It talked abt the Israelites in the wilderness and than the promised land, and how today our promised land is IN Him. There it is again, IN Christ. Those were always words that before to me, I was saved at the time, but I really had no clue what living IN Christ meant. Honestly, I was too busy caught up in what everyone else was saying pastors , teachers, friends...until I hit my bottom and than other bottom and God showed me what IN Christ felt like. He transformed it into my heart and life and led me to a lifestyle of victorious living IN Him.

Today, this morning, I was not IN Christ, that does not mean I was not saved nor does it mean Christ loves me less, but I was believing MY thoughts, my ways and living here {picture me waving my hands in a horizontal manner}. God gently pointed me to scriptures, I thought I didn't have time to read, but He renewed, refreshed and brought me back to living IN Him {picture me waving my hands vertically}. He becomes my filter for this world, my thoughts and moods. Really, if you haven't experienced this, you might be rolling your eyes....and that is okay. I promise. But for those who know what I am talking about....you just know.

So, I am centered again. IN Him.
"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor my ways your ways...." how true this verse is. Not sure where it is found, but it is Gods truth not mine. "Having the mind of Christ" is another good one. To top it off, I was struggling just living in this world several mths ago and was "in my head". I saw a bumper sticker that was probably as secular as they come, which God has totally used secular things in my life for His glory, but back to the bumper sticker....

"Do not believe everything YOU think."

Wowzer. Chew on that one.

Provision {part two}

Well now, I probably shouldn't have gotten this blog app, for your sake, but again writing is therapy for me, and I've missed it. My phones abt to die and I am wedged by two sleeping, heavy breathing, drooling babes so this might not even make it to the wall.
God provided today, again. I sent out 'a man's going down' text yesterday {i felt my soul was nearly on empty} and within less than 24 hrs we were sitting in a friends kitchen, worshipping w some awesome music and encouraging each other on this weary road. I've had special, deep friendships in many seasons and treasure each friendship in deep, special ways. These women would go to battle for me and give a limb. They love deeply and would come if they got a call from me in the middle of the night, and they are true encouragers. I am thankful for these friends today. God etched out a time for this. We threw our kids together, braced ourselves for the drama and watch Holy moments unfold in our midst. There is intimacy in praying together, in agreeing with each other that God is enough. These girls teach me abt faith, wonder, trust and believing daily IN the power of Christ. If you don't have 3AM friends get some and most importantly be that friend that would come or answer her phone in the middle of the night. Fight the good fight....together.
My tank was so full tonight, I was able to rest, give my banshees the time and affection they needed without being stressed or rushed. A peace and calmness filled my soul and this house. Amd again God provides over coffee with friends. It's in the simple things of life I am learning. Again. And again. And again.
Now back to sleep....

Provision

I really don't think words can do justice of the journey God has brought us on. I could recount in endless ways his provisions on the darkest night as well as the brightest day. These are simple snap peas that we have harvested out of our first garden ever, they don't look perfect but tasted delightful and I walked home in the brisk weather with them tightly bound in my hands reminding me of His provision. It's in every thing. Every.little.thing if you'll open your eyes, your hands and your hearts to His goodness and gifts they make the ordinary....extraordinary. Snap peas on a cold winters morn became a symbol of His love and how he provides when we are in plenty or in want. Blessed be His name. And thank goodness for a plentiful harvest of snap peas.

O Happy Day!

Christmas came and went and was a special celebration with our little family. My sister called several months ago and had gotten a place at Disney for us and all we needed was to get down there and purchase the tickets (which FYI is not cheap). I think it is going to happen, thanks to my small business ventures, so we announced it to the kids AND it was so anti-climatic. No screams of joy, no crying, no hitting the knee's giving fist pumps....just some half smiles and starring at Mickey, the ballon that popped up behind the tree with a note attached!
I really am beginning to wonder if switching it up and taking them on a mission trip would be the way to go...my heart is torn. The things of this world leave you so high and dry and unfulfilled. Maybe when they get older the hubs says....so Magic Kingdom here we come, and I know the fun we will have. Just being with our cousins and my sister for a whole week makes my heart leap w joy.
Here are some pictures of us celebrating! Most importantly, we are so thankful Jesus was born. He makes the lame walk. The blind see. He heals, restores and redeems his flock. He has changed our personal lives in countless ways and he came to do what we cannot....save us. Happy Birthday Jesus!

O Holy Night

Tonight, if you are struggling with feeling lonely, bitter, a longing, a sadness. There is hope. Today was a good day, a hard day filled with family and fun and friction. No major drama, but enough to remind me my home is not my "home". My family is awesome, we are blessed and generally a healthy family unit, but there is always that longing deep inside that they can't fill. They were not made to. So I turn, and continue to turn, to my savior who came silently into the night into a dirty stable to save this broken world.

Tonight as we sang this song at our 1st Christmas Eve service in our new little church I understood the lyrics in a new, beautiful way. I've sung this song every Christmas for 35 years, but tonight it struck a cord with me and my lip quivered as I belted out "the weary world rejoices". An image of a weary world, with all it's shootings, all the homeless, the starving, the orphans and the widows...it does NOT end here. We were made for more. Christ has paved a way for us. No more striving and trying. We can rest, knowing He who came as a babe came to save our lives and give us freedom. IN Christ we can have hope and that longing doesn't go completely away, but it doesn't linger quite as long and the things in this world and of this world own us a little less.

Merry Christmas. Thanking Jesus for saving me and that he is what I need when my heart aches. Enjoy this Holy Night and celebrate it with joy and triumph bc he has overcome the world, we need no longer fear.

Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name

Merry! Merry!

Good tidings from Tinks Cottage! Only 15 of these made them to their rightful owners. This season was everything but silent nights. Please do not remove us from your Cmas card list. I promise we will make a huge comeback 2013. Merry, merry Christmas!
Love,
The Joneses

Ricky Routan

I've joined the ranks w my sister and now own a miniVAN. I fought it to the very end, but then the prices and gas price I could not argue with. Here she is. Ricky the cleanest she'll ever be. Give her a day with the banshees and she'll age 5 years. She is already several years in but looks and drives great! The Banshee's could not be happier. Hudson said if we could not get a limo, than a van would do. Whew, glad he approves.
Merry Christmas to me {I think}. We will miss the old Sherman Tank, but he was on his last leg, literally, not sure if he will ever get a new owner. Sweet Sherman.
On to a new day and lots of last minute orders. Peace, love and JOY.

Holiday SALE: Holland's Trinkets

Tinks cottage is a busy place right now. The house looks like a bomb has exploded, my children are watching tons of tv and I am knocking out some last minute Christmas orders. Bc I roll last minute, impulsive and unorganized....I created this in my head yesterday morning. Flew to the store, started making them at one and they were delivered to the school staff by two. Chaos. But fun chaos. And better news, everyone oooed and ahhhed from the teachers, then instagram and finally FB. They are on sale today for $12. Head to FB to order a pair. Merry, merry!