Fortune

 Today I found a random fortune cookie lying around Lindsay's kitchen.

I don't love fortune cookies, but I guess I was hungry or something because

I opened it up and nibbled on it.

But the best part was the fortune inside:

"You will move to a wonderful new home within the year."

Yes!  How did it know?  This is exactly what our family needs!! 

Interestingly, I had just read in The Book Of Mormon one of the 

shortest, if not the shortest scripture in the book;

 "And my father dwelt in a tent" (1 Nephi 2:15) 

referring to Nephi's father Lehi.

Dwelling in tents is referred to several times in the scriptures and 

is oftentimes accompanied by some pretty epic and important revelations.

And even though I try my very hardest to control what happens to our family,

especially when it comes to where we live and the spiritual experiences 

I can create in the homes that we live in,

I firmly believe that they will come to us when we are open and ready for them,

wherever and whatever that looks like- even in less than ideal situations.

(Like in a friend's basement, for example).

I don't know if Lehi and Nephi would have learned and received spiritual 

instruction if they had been in their comfortable home in Jerusalem.

Maybe they would have, and maybe not.

But instead, they learned them living in tents in the desert.

I think the point is, whether we're in tents (or basements), we can have

spiritual experiences and deep learning moments together if we

are being obedient, keeping our promises to the Lord, praying, and pondering.

In our quest for a home for our family and when our efforts turn up

empty and discouraging, I try and remember that just maybe

the Lord is trying to teach me (our family) something while we are

homeless and dwelling in "a tent"

Maybe the Lord is teaching me something while we are homeless

that I wouldn't have learned any other way.

Whatever the reason, I believe Nephi added that six-word scripture reference 

 for a purpose, and that he thought it was worth it to add it in the story.

And those sacred words are keeping me afloat right now.

That, and the fortune cookie.

SteFANNY's Dream

When I was going through some, you know, normal high school challenges, 

my mom bought me a children's book called Fanny's Dream. 

One afternoon after school we sat down on the couch and she

read it to me like I was five years old again.

 One of my nicknames as a child was Fanny, 

and this book spoke to me in more ways than its name.

  The book is about a young girl who has big dreams and people tell 

her that her dreams can't come true because she isn't good enough,

 smart enough, or even pretty enough, and instead of believing them

she works harder to make them happen.

But her dreams weren't happening exactly the way she 

had envisioned them, and yet they still came true. 

Fanny marries a fantastic man named, Heber, and they

work hard to achieve these dreams and goals TOGETHER

to make a beautiful ordinary life.

Not to give away any spoilers, but Fanny and Heber's house burn down

 and together they rebuild a life with a glorious attitude,

 and they do it with love.

I'm so grateful my mom gave it to me 

when I was a sophomore all those years ago when I felt like 

I wasn't good enough at cheerleading, 

or smart enough like all my friends around me.   

The book was good for me then, but it's really for me now

as I endure new challenges and struggles.

 

Jane and I spent some time together one afternoon where we

 found ourselves at the mall to make a return, 

which is funny since we both HATE THE MALL.  

But while in line to make our return, Jane saw a really darling hat.  

and it looked just like Fanny's hat on the cover of the book.

I put it on and I felt like Fanny in every way.

My life has been hard, challenging, and frustrating- especially lately.

 I've seen some very high highs, and have been met 

with some very low lows.

But I've always been protected by God and His grace.

And Christian loves me, and my children do, too, and

I'm still hanging in there.

And I should have bought the hat!

Enjoying a Haboob in Good Company

 Tonight was a wonderful night in Arizona.  

A mini Haboob arrived in the sweaty city of Gilbert!  

It didn't cool the city off any, but it made everything super windy 

and even brought some rain.

So we celebrated and had snow cones and Chick-fil-A waffle fries for dinner

and we even braved sitting outside, too.

Our snow cones literally melted before our eyes.

In 1876, under the direction of Brigham Young

my great great great great grandfather, Daniel W. Jones founded

and established Lehi/Mesa, Arizona.

I'm still not sure why.  It's like living in hell.

I'll change my tune in a few months (like maybe in March)

because it's like heaven on earth then!

But part of me has a little Arizona blood inside, and not just

because I married an Arizona boy.  

Because of my incredible ancestry.

Daniel W. Jones is also why Spencer and I are related.

Also, today I went to Deseret Book to grab a few missionary essentials for

my favorite Sister Nielson in Brazil

and found my good old book, Heaven is Here next to the Prophet,

Russell M. Nelson's face and a book about him written by Sherri Dew.

I'm in good company.

Numbers and Motercycles.

While sitting in a taco shop in downtown Mesa for lunch with the boys

 Oliver showed me a photo of Gigs on a motorcycle.  

"See this photo, mom?" Ollie asked me.

"Ya, I see it. Gigs, you look so cute!"

Then Ollie said,

"Well about 10 seconds after I took this

 a girl came up to Gigs and asked

him for his number."

Wait, WHAT?" I shouted in the taco shop.

"Well, actually the girl's mom asked Gig's for his number.

She told him that her daughter (who was by the way standing next to her)

 thought he was super cute and wanted his number."

I lowered my voice a little and said, "That's weird, but then what?"

I was on the edge of my seat when Gigs interrupted 

and said,

"I gave my number to her mom and smiled at the girl."

I think this will be the beginning of many more 

experiences like that for him.

Gigs Ledger

It seems like every time we're with Lindsay, we all ask her for

a fantastic braid, or a trim, or a buzz, or hair advice.  

She's just good with hair.

Nicholas wanted braids and because of his super fine-spun locks, 

he only enjoyed them for one night.

But what a night!

I think he was more excited to have

curly hair the next day anyway.

We showed Jane who then sent us a photo of Heath Ledger

because she thinks it made Gigs look like him. 

I can see it.

 

Riggs and Lottie BFForeevvaaaaaaaaaa

Yesterday I drove up to find Lottie and Riggs on his Honda 50 

 headed to Lindsay's sister's house
(who lives three houses down)

for an afternoon swim.

If I was 9 years old riding on a motorcycle with another cute 9 year

old I would have died and gone to heaven.

Riggs and Lottie are the cutest of friends,

and have been for their whole lives.

Now I don't know if anything will become of anything, but I've got

quite a folder on my computer full of amazing photos of the

two of them- you know, just in case.

Like these from church last Sunday:

And this one from 2016 at their "wedding" 

that the older kids performed:

Or this cutie one when the Jones's owned the Gilbert

Sweet Tooth Fairy!  (Those were good days!).

Or this one when they are four years old and they

 hid behind the temple doors to smooch:

And this one at the beach:

....and the rodeo:

Saying goodbye:

And the time they tried to be secret and hold hands

in family pictures.

(They were caught red-HANDED!):

And this cute one when they were still sucking on binkies:

Oh, and this adorable one in Spencer's lap while

 sailing on the AuroraMark in 2013

Oh, and these gems, too:

I mean, can't you just see the makings of

a fantastic wedding slideshow?!

4th of July 2021 in Arizona!

 Our 4th of July weekend was fantastic, and of course, 

spent in Joneseon fashion: together!!  

Just like the good old times! 

Lindsay and I did some research and we found out that

 we've been together every 4th of July (or summer) for over 10 years!

We enjoyed the town rodeo where it

 poured pretty much the whole evening.

After the rodeo rainstorm, it took me a whole day to

 warm-up because I was soaked to the bone. 

My skin just doesn't regulate normally  

and warming my body temperature is tricky.

I wrapped up in a blanket and with Lindsay's slippers on

and spent most of the day on the couch with Milo snuggled next to me.

I don't think I'd ever been cold on the 4th of July.

We had a nice freedom dinner on Sunday

and Lindsay made delicious homemade pretzels, salad, cauliflower

with cheese on top you know, just a few of my favorite things.

We played games, watched movies at night, 

drank lots of drinks, did sparklers off the porch,

made treats, and just relaxed and enjoyed glorious mountain air.

On Sunday we went to church and worshipped God.

I feel so thankful to be an American woman raising a family

in this beautiful land.

Claire called us on Monday and we LOVED talking with her.

I am so thankful for technology!

She's doing wonderful!  She was transferred to 

a little town called AURORA!

She's healthy, she's happy, she's strong, and she's preaching the gospel!

Go, Claire, Go!