Introducing Maci Gayle Jones

Our little "Angel in Waiting" graced us with her presence on Monday night, January 11th, at 10:32 pm weighing in at 7 pds 6 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. It was a very uneventful 6 hour labor (with about 8 hours of waiting before that after my water broke). Eric was a wonderful coach and I like to think that I was pretty good at pushing her out as well. hehe.

Maci is a beautiful, calm but alert little girl. She is a GREAT eater and sleeps about 3-4 hours at a time at night already. We are excited for everyone to meet her and can't wait to watch her grow. .....And yes, Maci is already the apple of Eric's eye and it was just as I thought--he is SMITTEN by her. Tears in his eyes are tears of a Father's love that is truely priceless.

Happy New Year....Here's to "finding meaning" in all things

2010--What can I say? This is going to be one heck of a start to a new decade. I can't believe how fast this past 10 years have flown! I have been in WA now for all of that time and I couldn't be happier at this very moment. I have been reflecting this past couple of days and feeling so blessed. Around us, the world seems to be in quite deseray, BUT my life, is perfect. Sure, there has and will always be ups and downs, but I truely believe it is how we look at them and work through them that affects are attitudes about our life. LIFE is about learning, growing, loving, hurting, caring, sharing, and the list goes on. With my Grandma's passing, I have thought about her life and the LONG life that she lived. She had a wonderful life--hard, I am sure at times, but VERY fruitful. She had a mother and father that raised her wonderfully, married a strong, hard working man who then together were extroadinary parents to 3 beatiful people. Those beautiful individuals passed on those blessing to know one of many Grandchildren--ME:) I feel so honored to become a parent this year. What a gift Eric and I will be given this year. I want to lead a legacy that one day, my Granddaughter will look back and admire and cherish! I am going to challenge myself this year because I know this year will be "challenging" to FIND MEANING IN ALL THINGS. Our little family will hopefully be going through some changes that Eric and I are praying so desperately for. They may or may not work out as we want them, but we are, as a family, going to try to "find meaning in all things". Everythign we do and the outcome has purpse and "means" something. I look back at certain obstacles that have been placed in my life and even Eric's. As we talked about them in hindsighth--we have found meaning in those and have gain respect for God's plan and why those paths were a little quarky and hard at times. The meaning may not always be the outcome that we want, BUT we will remind ourselves that it is what we "need or will see the meaning in later".

I hope that EVERYONE has a "meaningful" 2010. I cherish each one of you and grateful that you are in my life. Cheers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Jones'

Christmas '09

Christmas was hard this year, BUT it was still wonderful to spend it at home! I love having all the lights off with just the Xmas lights on. Here is our house this year. Eric was persistant that we needed a bigger tree this year. As you can see, it over took our front room. I was hesitant at first, but it did end up looking GREAT! Hope everyone had a wonderful Xmas!

Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning

9 months pregnant on Christmas

Eric and his mom

Christmas Dinner set up--we had to imprevise because our house is a little small :)

Grandma vonHarten

Christmas was bitter sweet this year. Sweet in the fact, that Eric and I were able to spend our first Xmas together in our house. Because I am 9 months pregnant we didn't feel comfortable having me travel anywhere far, so everyone came to us. It was so nice not to have to spend half our time in a car! The Bitter part of Xmas was that morning I received a call from my family that my Grandma had just past away. As much as we had prepared ourselves that Grandma was ailing and hadn't been doing too well over the past couple of months, it was still so very hard. I was so fortunate enough to grow up with my Grandma and have her in so many of my memories. She has always been of comfort to me and taught me so much. The pictures above was two years ago--the last time I saw her. I am so glad that she isn't suffering anymore, but my heart aches that I wasn't able to see her before she said goodbye to this mortal earth. I LOVE you Grandma and know you are so happy to see Grandpa. He has been waiting patiently for you.