New Holiday Traditions

Merry Christmas from the Joneses!

We're trying something new this year: Christmas by ourselves! We won't be making the traditional trek back to Columbus for many different reasons. Am I sad? Yes! But am I excited to spend Christmas with my man alone for the first time ever? A million times Yes! One of the reasons why we won't be making our journey north is because of everything that is going on here in Charlotte. I'm sure most of you can relate to crazy Christmases, maybe even 3 or 4 in one day. What Travis and I need is a relaxing Christmas where we can focus and seek God's guidance in this next big step. Beginning in January we will transition into the role of being the point leaders of the Albemarle Community which will hopefully be followed by us moving into one the apartments there. So heading back home for the holidays is just not an option for us if we want to focus on the responsibilities and the move ahead of us in less than a month. We will miss our families tremendously but we know we need to take time for ourselves this year. I'm pretty excited about experimenting with new traditions; maybe pancakes on Christmas morning, spending most of the day in our footie pjs, and reflecting on the joy, peace, and love our Emmanuel has brought to the World!

(I won't admit just yet though that I'll miss the white stuff on the ground, ask me Christmas morning and I may change my mind :)

While We Were Gone

So life didn't stop when we left for our 2 week vacation trip--wish it did though so we wouldn't have missed all the great things that happened while we were gone! Here are just a few things that took place:

1. Soccer practices, tutoring, and bible studies went on as usual. However, the Woodbridge Albemarle Community is now practicing at a field close by instead of the tennis courts. The kids have been really receptive to this change and enjoyed going somewhere other than their own "turf" for practice. 

2. Two Thanksgivings took place in two neighborhoods! Along with the Urban Eagles, there were three other ministries, including the church Travis and I are attending, that came to Birchcroft to put on a Thanksgiving meal on November 19^th. Canned goods and prayers were given at every door and a potluck of Thanksgiving deliciousness was outside for everyone to enjoy. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving Grier Heights had their meal and moms were making their best Thanksgiving dishes and girls were putting on a dance performance for everybody. A community came together to share in the praises of the past year and families became one as they celebrated what God has done for them. I so wish we could have been a part of both these wonderful celebrations!

Grier Heights: not on Thanksgiving but a few weeks before--gives you an idea of what it was like :)

Birchcroft: Mom & David

Birchcroft: waiting for a delicious meal 

Birchcroft: enjoying a delicious meal

Blast from the Past

After 4 months we finally made the trip back up to our old stomping grounds and visited great friends (and one sister :) in the infamous Anderson, Indiana. On our way we just had to stop and see the one and only Miss Lindsey Marler who is a grad student at Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. Who knew there were still old river ferries around, especially in the mid-west?! In order to see our great friend we had to ride a car ferry that fits at the most 3 cars and takes all of about one minute to cross a river that you could throw a stone across and clear the bank! It was such a neat experience and a great memory from a great visit. We talked with Lindsey into the night and encouraged one another in both of our current endeavors. The next morning we were delighted to have breakfast with Lindsey and also with our dear friend and fellow AU alum, Gina Shaner! It was a great time of catching up and hearing stories of our various lives before heading out and up to Anderson. 

It was such a surreal feeling pulling into A-town. Just 4 months before we were leaving with our whole lives and now we're back visiting so many who mean so much to us. We visited East Side Church and reconnected with GREAT friends, supporters, and our youth kids who we've missed so much! It's so great seeing how HeartBeat Preteen Ministries and LivesMatter Student Ministries is going! Heather O'Connor and Preston Kegley ROCK and they're doing such an amazing job! We didn't have any doubt that they could do it but they are going above and beyond even our greatest expectations :) 

Monday was a special day. We were able to see what an amazing job Austin Shaner is doing leading Unity Soccer. Most of you know that Travis started Unity Soccer a couple of years back (the same time Urban Eagles started and gave Travis a call) and Austin felt led to keep it going. It was so encouraging to see some of the same kids we played with when we were still leading Unity, and to see Austin's heart and passion put into this ministry is such a blessing. He is living out the gospel and bringing the Kingdom to this neighborhood--he's only 15! 

Bringing Takis to Anderson! These kids love Takis like our kids in Charlotte do! :)

Our Tuesday was spent with 4 amazing little girls and 1 amazing sister! Ah, to see the Holmes girls again made me miss Anderson all the more. They are getting so big and the babies (can't really call them "the babies" anymore) are talking like crazy. I was afraid they wouldn't remember me. When Travis and I walked in they looked at me for a few moments and then after a slight hesitation they both came to me and gave me a big hug. I knew right then that they hadn't forgotten (then they couldn't stop saying our names! :)

I can't forget to mention the family we stayed with and how amazing they were to open their home to us after only moving in 2 weeks before. Thank you, Courtney and Katie Taylor for your kindness and your friendship! Your beautiful daughters Abigail and Emma are too cute and so much fun to play with :)

We are so grateful for our community of friends and supporters in Anderson! If I were to give everyone a shout out who we saw and visited with while in A-town this blog would be way too long (might already be!) We love you all and can't wait to return again soon!

Now off to Carmel to visit our best friend, James, and his awesomely big family! 

Happy Hallelujah!

Maybe I was being a Debbie Downer or it was that I didn't have a whole lot of time to get into the spirit. Either way, I just wan't feeling Halloween this year and all the festivities that go into it. Maybe it was just that I could have liked if summer went on a little bit longer. Oh well, after seeing these guys below, my heart changed and I was ready to put on my facade and eat some candy! 

Junior as a cowboy as Winger; 2 costumes in 1!

Darwin as some kind of ninja

Tron and another ninja

I ended up being Hannah "Swift" Turner,
THE Lady Eagles soccer player

The lovely couple :) Travis in his traditional Gator Bob/Uncle Earl garb