August Update!

If you're reading this, you're probably wondering what on Earth has happened to the Jones family that they cannot take a moment to update their blog. Excuse #1 - KYLIE. This was a lot easier to keep up with before she started walking, better yet before she was born. excuse #2 - full time jobs. Tre and I both employed!! Praise God! Tre is teaching 6th grade Math at Sugar Creek Charter School. He loves the school, loves the people he works with, and is still getting used to the math part. I am teaching 4th grade Reading and Writing at Grace Covenant Academy. I also get to teach Bible to my homeroom. It is quite the adjustment from Nashville, but I really enjoy the people I work with and feel that I will grow to love the students and families.

So I will stop with the excuses and apologize to those of you who are trying to be faithful readers. All in all, we are doing really well. We are meeting new people through work and even have some plans in September!! Don't make fun, that's a big deal for us. Kylie is growing DAILY! I cannot believe how much she is walking, laughing, attempting to talk, and just all around growing! She is still very petite, but big in personality! She is adjusting to home care and the mom that watches her now laughs when she tells me stories from the day. I can sense a relationship already forming!

My sister and her family are back safely in South Africa. It was so great to see them over the summer. The Lord is clearly working in their lives and in their ministry. It's amazing to me to see the sacrifices that they are making to serve Him in such harsh conditions. They of course are soaking up every minute and love their new lives. Please continue to pray for them as life is not always easy.

Hope to update again soon,
Lauren

The Collins Family

We have had a great week with Sarah, Casey, and Kieren! It has been fun to hear stories and watch them share about their ministry in Cape Town, SA. I am so proud of them and all they have allowed God to do in them and through them. Sarah and I both hope that Kylie and Kieren can be close, even if they live far away. We were constantly encouraging them to play together and learn how to share. There were moments of sharing, stealing, and hording, but they also were able to laugh and play together. Kylie has been such a wonderful addition to our little Jones family, but to sit back and look how the Lord has blessed the "Collins" family!! Did He know all the plans He had for us when Sarah became a christian in Lakeland, Fl so many years ago? Did He know what He was doing when my family moved around so much? Or has He just used our lives and circumstances for His glory? We serve a creative and wonderfully loving God. I am so thankful that He was able to take a family that was caught up in material possessions, money, and most of all ourselves, and form us into people that He could actually use. Now we still love our family shopping trips, but we have changed and grown a lot since God began to reshape us over 10 years ago. I am so thankful to be a part of a family that loves and serves the Lord in so many ways. It's not always easy and it's hard not having everyone so close, but I am thankful for the GREAT love that we all share!

She turned ONE!!

It's crazy to think that this time last year, Tre and I were still in shock of the birth of our daughter. Kylie's due date was July 18th, but she surprised us all on June 24th. I can remember waking up that morning, my water breaking, driving myself to the hospital, and her birth. I remember ALL the visitors (thanks for coming), I remember feeling like my body went through the biggest shock of my life, and I remember watching Tre hold her for the first time. I remember the sleepless nights and wondering what the first year would be like. Well, now that I can look back . . . it was NOTHING like I imagined, but TEN TIMES BETTER!! Having a daughter has been one of the coolest experiences I have ever gone through. The feeling of being a vessel, used by God to house and care for another human being. The love that continues to grow and the sacrifices I am so willing to make on her behalf. The natural ability for me to become a mom, words just cannot describe. Yeah, there were moments that were painful, exhausting, stressful, and challenging. But they have all been worth it. Kylie has only brought Tre and I closer in our marriage and our little family of three so much JOY! I feel so blessed to have a healthy, beautiful baby girl. I look forward to many more days ahead.

Now that she is one, she is almost a toddler! So crazy!! She EATS all the time, and LOVES watermelon!! She can pull up to a stand and walk while holding on to something else. She can climb a flight of stairs, but cannot go down. She LOVES baby dolls, baby faces in books, and babies in real life. She loves to splash in the pool whether it is filled with water or plastic balls. She is very intense and has moments of complete focus. She loves to giggle, laugh, and scream! She is such a happy girl :) She can make a fish face and spit with her tongue. She is just awesome! I'm sure you can tell we are big Kylie fans.





Her first birthday party was a huge success. It was fun to decorate the kitchen with balloons and signs and make her cake. It was funny because she didn't know what to do with the cake and the icing was so sticky. After a few bites that Tre fed her, she realized that it was delicious and went to town. About an hour later, we had crazy baby crawling all over the place with high pitch shrieks (her first sugar high). Opening presents was an interesting task as she loved her first one so much that she didn't want to open anything else. She has way too many new toys and is on sensory overload. The only thing that was missing was YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Well it is hard to believe that Kylie is now 1 year old. It blows me away how fast this past year has gone by. It truly seems like yesterday that we were sitting in the hospital room holding our little hairy burrito baby for the first time. We had a great day yesterday, but the real celebration is going to be this weekend. We will post some pictures of the "birthday girl" and the cake that she will be wearing.

Sorry it has been so long, life has really been keeping us busy.

God Loves Me

I had the privilege of sitting in my dad's Disciple I class this morning for Sunday School. We were discussing the book of 1 Corinthians. It was so much fun to hear other's opinions and perspectives on the same scripture, but in the middle of it all I heard something else. It was God reminding me that He loves me. A thought so simple, but so important to remember. You see we were trying to figure out why Paul was so confident when he was talking to the church in Corinth, when my dad brought it back to the point Paul was trying to make. It was then that God reminded me of His GREAT Love! All the little things in our lives don't matter: what I wear, how much money I make, how good of a job I do, ect. I worry about all the little things in life, who is right and who is wrong, but in the end - it doesn't matter. God wants us to know that He loves us, so he cares about the things we care about. I love Kylie with all my heart and long for her to know that she is loved and cared for. Therefore, I will sing, dance, play, and look goofy in public all for her to know that she is loved. God cares about me more than I care about Kylie, and in the same way he hears my prayers about the little worries I have in my life because he cares.

The last week has been absolutely crazy. Tre and I took the teens to Nashville for TNT @ TNU. It was an AMAZING trip!! We were in constant motion attempting to watch our teens perform at all of their events. I, being only one person, was unable to watch every teen at every event. But when I saw them, I was so proud! They have grown so much this year and it was fun to watch them knowing that their heart was performing for the ONE who mattered most.


This weekend, Tre and I drove to Charlotte, NC to watch my dad graduate from seminary. Riding in a car for 10 hours while Kylie had a slight temperature was not very enjoyable. However, to watch my dad receive his "hood" and degree made every mile worth it! Kylie earned brownie points beyond her comprehension as she smiled and played with my parents every day. It has been nice to visit and relax with them.

As I look back over the past week, my life has been a whirlwind. However, I am so thankful for the truth that I was reminded of this morning. God loves me. He loves me through my weaknesses and strengths; he loves me through it all. The best news is that He loves you too!

A New Step!

Kylie continues to move around the house! We have begun chasing her and telling her no when she gets into things that she doesn't need to be in. Today she began another milestone . . standing up. She has been leaning on things, but today she figured out how to pull herself up. Since then, she has done it several times. Here is a video of her new skill!!

Spring

So even though the pollen here is crazy and has completely covered my car, I am in love with Spring! The weather is absolutely perfect . . not too hot, but not too cold. I have enjoyed several afternoons in the new park and walking in my neighborhood.

We had a wonderful Easter weekend here in beautiful Clearwater. Again, the weather was perfect and we started the day with a breakfast in front of our church! We had a wonderful time at church celebrating our risen Savior. My favorite were the cardboard testimonies. Melissa, one of our teens who is in remission, walked across the stage for the first time to share how God has transformed her life. I'm not sure if there was a dry eye in the room. We spent the afternoon with half of Tre's extended family! It was a great time to eat and visit. Of course, the highlight was the egg hunt. Kylie wasn't quite sure of everything, but once she could put an egg in her mouth she was content.

We leave you with a glimpse of Kylie's first dance moves!

9 month check up

It's still crazy to think that we have a 9 month old! Wow, how the time has flown by! Yesterday, we took Kylie to the doctor for her regular check up. She is now 27 inches long and weighs 14lbs 4oz. She didn't have any shots, but a toe prick to examine her blood. Even though she is still petite, all looked healthy. Now that she is 9 months old, we can start transitioning her into 3 main meals a day with some smaller snacks in between. We can introduce a sippy cup with water or juice and continue to introduce new foods. Yesterday I made her applesauce, which I thought tasted pretty good. However, by the looks of Kylie's face, I think she disagreed. It usually takes a few tries of something new before she likes it.

It has been spring break in Pinellas County, so we have been busy with the teens this week. We have been on picnics, delivered flowers to some of our precious church members, played Frisbee golf (among other games), ect. It's been a great week! Hope you are enjoying this spring sunshine as much as I am!

Happy 9 Months!

Kylie is 9 months old today!! She is still petite in size, but growing in personality!! She loves to eat (wonder where she gets that from) and play!! She is scooting all over the house and loves to follow Marley around. It's hard to imagine that we'll be celebrating her first birthday in just a few months!

Eating a Lemon!

Part of being a parent, is allowing your children to have a wide variety of experiences, right? Check out our video of her first taste of lemon. Don't worry we don't plan on giving her anymore.

They are worth it!!

I found out this morning when I was giving blood that mine goes to help save babies!! I am O+ but the nurse told me I am also CVC- (I think that's what it was called), which basically means my blood is able to be used for babies. If you know me well, you know that I don't handle stories about blood, infections, or other gross topics very well. I easily get light headed and grossed out. However, when the opportunity came for Tre and I to give blood in return for a free ticket to Walt Disney World, we decided to go for it. While we were there in January, we realized that giving blood is not as scary as we thought it would be. For me, I just can't look at the bag or needle, and I just focus on sipping a coke and eating my snacks. The nurses are great about keeping the conversation going and making me laugh. So if it has been awhile since you gave, I encourage you to look up a blood bank in your area and give. Every time you give, you save three lives . . which is pretty awesome!!

While I am motivated to blog, I thought I would update you on our wonderful life in Clearwater. Serving the Lord is tough when everyday feels like spring! The sun is shining but it's not too hot, which is perfect! Tonight, the Ladies from the church are eating dinner on the beach while the sun sets, I know rough.

Kylie continues to grow up, but not out. She is getting longer and more mobile. We have started saying no as she reaches for cords, Marley's ball, and other things that don't belong in her mouth. Fortunately for us she doesn't move fast, but has great determination to go wherever she wants. She says da da when she is happy, and sometimes it sounds like ma ma when she is crying. Her appetite continues to increase and she enjoys all the veges we have been giving her! We feel blessed to have a beautiful, healthy little girl who enriches our life daily.

Kylie's friend Reaghan.

Our visit to Nashville!

We were able to take our teens to visit Nashville and Trevecca Nazarene University this past weekend. We were excited to show them a part of our old life and see some familiar faces. It was a great opportunity to make some wonderful memories, and we did just that. Living in Florida, a few of our teens had never seen snow, so when Tre saw an open field covered with two inches, he couldn't help but stop. We built a snowman and had an impromptu snowball fight. I laughed when they realized that snow melts and everyone had wet clothes for the remainder of the trip. It also snowed Sunday night and throughout Monday to give them their fill. It was definitely freezing compared to what we were all used to. The teens really enjoyed the campus and the city. One of the benefits of Kylie being small, is the ability to take her with us. She managed the long van ride and freezing cold with ease. Okay well she did fuss a little on the way up, but not a peep on the way home. She managed to get naps while being passed around from person to person. While we were hanging out in the hub at TNU, I sat Kylie down on the pool table. One of our girls started enticing her with a pool ball, and she went for it. She managed to scoot (or inchworm) across the whole thing. Of course, the rest of us stopped playing our own game, pulled out our cell phones, and started taking pictures of her. It's so much fun to share Kylie with the teens and know that they love her almost as much as we do!

Pictures!

Here are some recent pictures of Kylie as she continues to grow and bring so much joy into our lives! She has started solid foods and LOVES to eat . . hmm I wonder where she gets that from. She can sit for longer periods of time and can scoot to reach something she wants. No crawling yet, but I'm sure it will come with time. She loves to put EVERYTHING in her mouth, especially things that make a crinkle sound (bags of chips, candy wrappers) of course, she doesn't get to eat what is on the inside. She loves to look at herself in the mirror and even gave herself a kiss last night! She had a runny nose last week which made her more fussy than normal, but she is doing much better now. We feel very blessed to have a happy, healthy little girl!

Kylie trying to get Grammy's attention.

One day she'll probably want to look like a princess!

Enjoying some skittles!


Kissing herself!

2 Teeth!!

A few nights ago Kylie would not stop crying. We tried everything, walking, rocking, feeding, changing, it was just not like her to continue to be fussy. Then we handed her a teething ring and she went to town! I mean she has been at a state of constant drool for several months now, but that night we went through several teething rings. They were on rotation from her mouth, the floor, cleaned in the sink, to the fridge again. Then next morning we woke up to a second tooth!! I have tried over and over again to get a picture of these teeth, but she just won't have it. FINALLY, on Tuesday I got close. So break out the binoculars to see Ky's two teeth. They are the small white spots on the bottom of her gums. If you don't believe me ask some of the teens she has bit!

7 months!!!

I cannot believe that 7 months ago, our world changed when Kylie entered it. I think back to the exhaustion and overwhelming emotions we felt those first few days as we began to take care of her. Everything was new and scary. Sleeping and eating pretty much consumed her day. 7 months later, sleeping and eating are still pretty important, but now they are only a part of her life. Kylie continues to learn new ways to communicate. Lately, she has enjoyed high pitch screams. She gives a loud cry paired with a huge grin to show you that she is excited and having fun! Last night she was pulling herself up to a standing position as she tried to get into a box. I cannot believe how strong her legs are getting. She cannot crawl across the floor but continues to get closer with her daily tummy time. She has enjoyed eating bananas and sweet potatoes without spitting them out all over the table! We will continue to introduce new fruits and veges each week. She is still a thumb sucker (which I am sure we'll pay for later) but for now it is a self-soother. We are better about her daily naps and bedtime, which help everyone involved! She has one tooth on her bottom gums, but we know that more are on the way as she drools and bites constantly. We couldn't be happier with the blessing that God has given us. Our prayer is that we surrender to God's guidance and direction for her life. We know that He has already written her story and our job is to read it as her life unfolds!

Congratulations Missy!!

Last night I had the privilege of celebrating Missy's last chemo treatment at All Children's Hospital. The hospital room was filled with family, friends, and nurses stopping by to celebrate with Missy and of course eat some cake! It was beautiful to take in the joy and the conversations that filled the room. It is evident that this family is loved. For those of you who don't know Missy, let me share a little about her journey.
In February 2009, Missy was headed out the door for another normal day of her teenage life. However, as she stepped out the door her leg gave out and she fell to the ground. When they got to the doctor, they found out that no only did she have a broken leg, but she had bone cancer as well. How do you handle hearing the news? How do you sit there and listen to someone who is telling you that your daughter has a sickness that cannot be fixed with a band aid and a kiss? How do you go from worrying about what you will wear, who your friends are, and the big test you have next week to wondering what chemo will be like and will you have the strength to beat this? I have asked the Mugno family so many questions to try to understand what this journey has been like for them. Each of them have given complete credit to the one who has truly helped, the Lord, the Creator of Missy, and the master Healer. While others may feel sorry for her, she'll tell you that the day she broke her leg was the best day of her life.
This past year was filled with countless trips to the hospital, a few surgeries, lots of chemo and other things I can't spell or pronounce, and a complete life change. I could list all the things they have had to sacrifice, but they would tell you all the things they have gained. Their family is not only closer to each other, but closer to God. Missy appreciates each day of her life, something that most of us overlook and take for granted. Jennifer respects and admires her younger sister, when most of us ignore and fight with our siblings. They have met so many wonderful people who have battled cancer as well as countless doctors and nurses. They have been able to travel to New York for New Years and Missy was able to give a speech to a room of doctors in New Hampshire. Really, I could go on for hours about how wonderful and loving the Mugno family is, but I just wanted you to know about one of the families I am blessed to know.

Congratulations Missy!! It has been a long journey and I am so proud of how you have fought. May the Lord continue to shine through your smile and love for others!

Going Bananas!!

We've been talking about trying fruits and veges for awhile, but just hadn't taken the leap. Today we did!! I smashed up some banana added a little milk and rice cereal, then we got the camera ready and gave it a try. She definitely spit a lot of it out, but did eat some. She didn't like rice cereal nor a bottle the first time, so we'll give it another try again tomorrow.

We also tried to put Kylie in her bouncy swing. I think it is called Johnny Jump. I was hoping she would enjoy it and love to bounce. However, she ended up trying to sit down instead. Oh well, we try it in a week or so.

Here is a picture of Kylie with her cousin Riley. Once we walked in the door, Riley wouldn't stop looking and trying to kiss Kylie. At one point she had her pinned down, it was awesome!

It doesn't stop

 

Life never stops or slows down for that matter around here, but the Jones' keep on moving! Kylie had her 6 month check up last week. She weighed in at 14lbs and 26 inches long. The doctor said she looked great! She received 4 shots as well as a liquid vaccine. She took them like a champ and didn't seem to react negatively the rest of the day. Her teeth seem to be coming in as we can see small scrapes on her bottom gums. That pain has caused some discomfort in our little one and she is more fussy than normal.

We celebrated New Year's Eve with our teenagers and had a GREAT time playing crazy games at the church! It cracks me up that we heard fireworks outside to realize that the clock had struck midnight. We were so into our game of sardines that seven of us were hiding under some tables in the dark and lost track of time. Oh well, that's ministry, right?

I am so excited for 2010 and all that God has in store for us here in Clearwater! Know that I am praying for your year as well!!