On the Road Again....

Left the hotel about 7 this morning for the long trip home. We had originally planned to head on over to Clearwater for another day or two, but we are absolutely worn out. We probably walked 500 miles over the last week. Plus we miss our tiny girl back home.

Overall I would say the trip was a great success. The band played on City Walk at Universal yesterday and it was awesome. Couldn't help but notice tears in the eyes of the parents as our small but mighty band was introduced. It was a long time coming and they sounded fantastic. Finished up about 10:30 and spent the remainder of the day in the park.

So now we face the long drive home. Even though it wasn't as bad driving down as we had thought, we have decided we will stick with flying from now on. :)

I have lots of great pictures to post tomorrow....

Vacation Day 3....

Trip is going great! Yesterday was Universal Islands of Adventure. Weather was perfect. Not to hot, not to cold. Lines were about a 10-20 minute wait...some less. The kids wore the roller coasters out.

This morning was the Kennedy Space Center. Aaron, Austin, Jaden and I skipped out on that and went ahead to the beach. The band met us there after their tour was over. I wish you all could have seen the faces of the band kids as they first crossed over the walkway and saw the ocean for the first time. Some of them just stood there, mouths wide open, taking it all in... others took off running and dived in. It was a priceless moment. For me it was the moment that all the hard work and planning by the band boosters paid off. It was cool.

So now we are on our way back to the hotel. Sun-tanned and worn out. Tomorrow we spend the day at Wet n Wild water park. Weather is suppose to be beautiful. Wednesday the band is to perform at Universal Studios and then spend the remainder of the day in the park.

For most of these kids who have never been out of Indiana, this is the trip of a lifetime.

Vacation Adveneture...

Ok so we go to Florida every year...but we NEVER drive...until this year.

I'm not sure why we are driving. We started out with the plan to follow the band bus. Then we decided we couldn't stand the thought of Ethan being on a school bus for 892 miles...so we decided to bring him with us and leave a day earlier. We waited so long to make up our minds, we missed out on the good plane ticket prices. So here we are....in the van.... driving and driving.

I really have been dreading it. Last time I drove to Florida I was 19. Surprisingly it hasn't been bad. Lots of family time with little distraction. Great conversations. Farhars are on the road with us so thats been fun. Jaden has been a champ. Stopped in Macon last night and got some sleep. We will still get there in time today to hit the beach.

So... the first leg of this adventure is almost behind us as our destination is fast approaching. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Thoughts for Thursday...

I think it's been too long since I posted, but things here are insane...

I think I will be doing artwork the whole time we are in Florida cause so far about 1000 shirt orders have come in for little 500 weekend and more are rolling in daily...

I think I am going to try and make the best of vacation even though it will all be on "Band" time...

I am THRILLED that Ethan is so excited to be going with all his friends...

I am THRILLED that Christy will be there.... WOO HOOO!!!

I am Bummed that Ed will not...

I think Alexis picked a crappy song and it got her booted off last night...

I think Adam's song was down right creepy and he should have been in the bottom three...

I think my favorite is Anoooooppppp..... (you are listening to him on my playlist!) Although Danny is the best singer...

I think it's awesome that us Ya Ya's are going to Women of Faith again after all, but really bummed we couldn't get it together in time to go with Andi to St. Louis! I am super excited Steven Curtis Chapman will be there cause he is my fave...

I think I have so many things in my life to be thankful for I can't even wrap my mind around them all....

I think I hear little footsteps coming down the hall.....

Future American Idol??...

Yesterday afternoon Jaden was downstairs playing Rock Band. When I heard him singing I ran and got my camera and managed to catch the end on tape. So funny. Look out American Idol season 19! :)

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Call to Discipleship...

Last night was my Emmaus reunion group meeting...(the Ya Ya's, as we affectionately call ourselves) We just ended our 3:16 bible study, so last night we went over our "service sheet." One of the questions each one of us had to answer was, when did we feel God's call to be a disciple over the last week.

This was an easy one for me... cause yesterday the call came very specfically... at 9:35 to be exact when my phone rang. I answered and a deep voice said "Mrs. Jones?"..."yes" I reply......... "This is Moses"

I had to snicker for a moment...after all that is not something you hear every day. Moses turned out to be my dish network man. He was looking for directions to my house. But the story does not end there.

Moses proceeded to check my dish and replace a part he thought may be causing the problem. He came inside for me to sign his "service sheet" and when he did, he began to talk. He talked and he talked and he talked for a long, long time. He told me about how he was tired of being a dish man. How there must be more out there for him. How he had just lost out on a job opportunity that he was sure was the perfect job for him. And on and on.

I stood there listening and it became clear that this poor guy was not only looking for directions to my house... he was really looking for direction in his life. So when he paused for air, I jumped in and said "you know, Moses (snickering silently)you really need to pray for God's will in your life" He looked at me kind of stunned and didn't say anything for a moment or two. Then he proceeded to wrap up the conversation and go on his way.

I don't know if my words had any impact on him or made him stop and think, but I felt called to say it and I did. Planted a seed perhaps, you never know. I guess the moral of this story is if you feel called to be a disciple to someone, by all means, step out of your comfort zone and do so... cause you never know when Moses may come calling :)

Mom... Can you come here???...

As a mother of four, I hear that a thousand times a day. So many times in fact, that on occasion they have to repeat it three or four times before it registers. My subconscious tends to block it out i think... that is unless it comes in the form of a blood curdling scream... which also happens several times a day around here.

Last night and today, though, I am taking great joy in hearing those words. Ethan came home yesterday with a fever and the flu. Don't get me wrong... I don't take joy in the fact that he is sick... but I am loving the fact that he needs his mom.

At 5'10", my soon to be 15 year old now towers over me by six inches. He can literally pick me up and carry me through the house and does quite often. His voice is so deep, that when I call home and he answers the phone, I have to stop and wonder if I dialed the wrong number. The new shoes I bought him over the weekend... size 11! He is spending more time downstairs and in his room than he is with the rest of us these days. My baby is growing up faster than I can keep up with him.

So while this flu bug runs its course... I will run to his side whenever he calls for me. I will sit and stroke his fevered forhead loving every minute of it. I will cater to him hand and foot as long as he will let me. Even though he isn't so little anymore...He will always be my little boy.

Facebook... It's not just for kids anymore...

Ok... so I must admit... until a few days ago I basically knew nothing about facebook. I have never let my kids on it... probably because I have heard horror stories on Dateline about the cyber-bullies and obscene pictures, etc... I am the quintessential "over-protective" mother. And I am fine with that!

So, imagine my surprise, when my brother (the older one) told me he had become a member and that I needed to go check out his profile. I went to facebook.com with the intention of ONLY looking him up and then being done with it.

I was very ticked to see that you have to login yourself to be able to see anyone...then I was really irritated to find out you have to set up your own profile and then "invite" people to be your "friend." Only if they accept your "friendship" can you view their profile. Good grief.

So, I reluctantly set up my profile and invited Kent to be my "friend." While I am impatiently waiting for him to honor my request, I start to look around for people I know. I started doing searches for various graduating classes from my high school. It was a total crack-up. I was Amazed at all the people on there from the past. I was more amazed to see what they look like now after 20 some years. Some had literally not changed a bit... some looked better actually... and others, well, time had not been so kind. I found one of my very first best friends and had a great conversation with her...I saw former "scrawny nerds" who are now buff ... I even saw a guy I would have bet the farm that he was a little "fancy" in high school who now is married with SIX kids. Go figure.

Overall, I give the whole facebook experience a thumbs up. I like the fact that not just anyone can see your info. If some mean girl from high school or other undesirable person from your past ask to be your friend you simply ignore their request. Sweet justice perhaps?

So now that I know what its all about, my kids are allowed on and we are having a ball with it. If you haven't already, you should check it out. You just never know who might ask to be your friend.