Finding our place...

We have now been living in California for 2 months and Nick and I just said the other day that it seems like forever. Once we arrived I hit the ground running. Let's talk about the arrival.

Thankful for Nick's mom and
at the end of the day we were a mess!

37 hours across the country...the angels picked up the Penske and trailer with our car on it and flew us to our final destination...They had to have done so because everything is a blur. Well maybe not everything. Nick and I decided to take a week to make the move and in that week we would take some time to visit family in doing so we traveled from Columbus, OH to Indianapolis, IN (where my mom is) to Nashville, TN (where my sister and her family are) we were able to see our niece win her first volleyball game...I may have cried. From Nashville we went to Hernando, MS (where my other sister and her family are). Each place we were able to visit and at the end of the visit each one ended in prayer. For that we are blessed. Nick's mom is in Columbus and if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have survived moving day. Nick and I started the trek across the country exhausted and ended the trek exhausted!

Some of our closest friends in Columbus
Josue, Kendra, KJ and Haddie and of course Pastor Jay

We were so thankful for the friends who came
out and helped us move! They all aren't pictured here because let's be honest...I was a mess. My heart still misses these people and I don't think that will change anytime soon.

The day we left Indy to continue our trek across the country...here we go!

Not a blur: As we were crossing over from Arkansas into Oklahoma we heard metal clanking under the Penske so I pulled off onto the shoulder. Not being able to go around to the drivers side due to traffic we decided that we would pull off into a truck stop. MUCH to my surprise we had lost 7 out of 8 lug nuts on the back drivers side tire. Long story short...we had to switch trucks. Thankfully Penske hired movers to move all of our stuff to the new truck. We praise the Lord for his provision! 

The switching of the trucks. 

Lug nuts gone! The one lug nut that was "holding" it on
I loosened with my hand.

 We traveled from Oklahoma to Texas and stayed the night that night. From Texas we traveled to California... I still don't know how we made the 18 hr trip from Texas to California. The day we arrived we picked up my mom from the airport. She has never missed a first Sunday as a Children's Pastor at any church I have been to. Thankful that she was here to help us out with the house.

My mom was able to send me away to my first official Monday at the church

Nick and I were so blessed on our first official Sunday at the church. So many people told us that they have been praying for us which meant the world to us. We were flooded with hugs, cards, money and gift cards. We continue to feel so blessed by our new church family.

The start of our new adventure!

2 months later and God still blesses. Nick's schedule at Apple was so crazy our first month here because of the time change...things have finally calmed down at work for him. We as a couple continue to busy ourselves with ministry! God has opened amazing doors for Nick and before we were out here we prayed that Nick would find his place in ministry and plug in where needed. One Sunday he was bombarded by people asking him to help out in various ministries. He has developed a Tech Team at church, has joined the Men's Ministry and is now getting ready to head up the College and Career Ministry. I would say...God has answered those prayers.

We are adjusting well...actually let me rephrase that I am adjusting well. I love California! Nick hates the heat but these past few weeks we have been able to experience "fall" in California. Nick has become homesick a couple of times and we continue to miss our family and friends. With that being said God is continually blessing us as people have been so kind and supportive out here. Nick was blessed with an amazing desk for work. We ended up throwing his away because it was so old and we weren't too sure what we would do once we got here. One thing that we ended up selling in Columbus was our dining room table but once again God provided us with a beautiful table and chairs for free from some amazing women in the church. God continues to show us his goodness and I am starting to fully understand the beauty of nature. We miss the changing leaves that the midwest has to offer but we love the mountain views and the amazing sunsets. 

We are finding our place here and we know that the adventure has just begun.

Thanks for keeping up with us! -The Joneses

California Dreaming

This blog is long...but life for us is about to drastically change. We couldn't be more overwhelmed! Along with being overwhelmed we are overjoyed by God's great blessings and today we want to share those blessings with you. So where did this adventure begin? Well I am happy you asked.

As many of you know I unfortunately lost my job just about a month after marriage. I was approved for unemployment benefits...but I battled back and forth with my past employer. I would love to tell you the whole story here but I will spare you the details. Let's just say I won after many lies from the other party. Thankful that truth always reveals itself. Anyway...when I lost my job this forced me to start sending out resumes ANYWHERE. I sent my resume to places that I didn't even really want to work but the $194 in unemployment wasn't doing it for us. Don't get me wrong we were so blessed with any amount of money but it was extremely difficult to get by. Rice, beans, ramen and chicken have been staple items for us as of late...and yet the Lord continued to provide. My unemployment was coming to an end in April and around that same time a friend of ours offered me a job as an as needed Pharmacy Tech. This job couldn't have come at a better time.

In May as I was pushing pills onto the machine to be packaged I started praying, evaluating our life together and thinking about the future. Nick and I know that full time ministry together is where we will eventually end up. We know the leading and the peace that comes with this. I asked myself what we were doing to pursue this further. Sure I was the volunteer Children's Pastor at our local church and Nick is involved in media at the church and other odd and end things. Now don't get me wrong we have been so blessed at Obetz Church. Our Pastor is a man of God, the people are amazing, I have a phenomenal group of leaders in the kids department and wonderful kids to minister too. Obetz is blessed greatly and the truth of the matter...we are called to full time ministry. I have been working bi-vocationally and it has been trying...exhausting at times but this is where God has us even if it has been for a season. I came home that day at talked with Nick about what I was feeling and together we started praying and we both agreed that I would look for a full time ministry position. I spoke with some Pastor's to see if they had heard of any job openings and sent some resumes to District Offices of the Nazarene church. I also went to the Nazarene Job Board and posted my resume. I sent my resume to pretty much all the churches that had posted for a full time children's pastor and the only place that I didn't send one were the listings in California. Even though Nick encouraged me for two weeks to do so, it was too far. So far away from family and friends. I am sure Nick was thinking what would it hurt.. Well I decided to send the resume but when I sent it I never ever thought that the pastor would get in contact with me..because why would a church all the way out there want someone from the Mid-West? Well here is where the adventure really starts...

Before I continue with California...I need to tell you that Nick and I had previously been interviewing with another church and he and I both just couldn't get the peace that we needed to move on with the process...we were pretty deep into the process with this other church and I had to call the pastor and let him know that we couldn't continue further with them. This was such a hard call to make because this church was amazing...it just wasn't for us. Once we turned this down the Lord opened us up to California...

In June the pastor in California called...I was shocked...I didn't expect it at all! Well he and I had an amazing conversation...A peace fell upon me...I can't explain it and even if I try I wouldn't do it justice. In this conversation the pastor asked if we would be open to flying out for an interview...of course I thought what could it hurt. Well...the waiting game began. Two weeks later we heard from the pastor. The board had approved us to fly out for an interview...and the waiting game continued. We finally found a weekend that would work best for all of us... the weekend of July 16th is when we would make our trip out there. I must say that this time of waiting to fly out was strenuous on the both of us. At times we would allow our human thinking to get the best of us.

I do have to say that I am extremely blessed to be married to a man of God and a man who listens to the leading of the Lord. We decided that we would pray and fast during this time. We had three weeks from the time that we got the call to go out there until we made the actual trip. The first week of our fast we gave up dinner, the second week we did a Daniel fast...and quickly realized how much we love meat and the last week we didn't eat at all. God stretched us so much and at the same time Satan fought us...there were so many questions, what ifs and at times worry would start to set in. At this same time peace would remain. The night before our flight Nick had to work and I couldn't sleep...I was too excited, nervous and anxious. On July 16th we headed out for California and one thing I learned is that Nick is TERRIFIED of flying which I on the other hand, love it!

On the airplane BEFORE the terror set in! 

Now on to our weekend:

Thursday: We arrived in San Diego and was warmly greeted by Pastor Bill. He was so welcoming, friendly and felt so great to finally meet him. From there he took us out for BBQ at Famous Daves. We were amazed at how beautiful the city was when we flew over it.

Once we were done eating Pastor Bill took us to where we would be staying. WOW! We were amazed at the generosity of a couple at the church who allowed us to stay in an apartment that they built above their detached garage. The couple uses this home for reasons like ours and mainly for missionaries who come into town and need a place to stay. Here is what it looks like. 

 

The view from the apartment 

Friday: Pastor Bill came and got us in the morning and we went to breakfast at a diner. Once we were done eating he took us to to the church and gave us a tour. The church sits on top of a hill and is surrounded by mountains. 

That night Pastor invited us to a Lake Elsinore Storm (farm team for the Padres) Baseball game. Of course Nick made t-shirts! Everyone was shocked that we had t-shirts and it was funny to watch the faces of people when we told them that we owned a t-shirt company. We see many orders in the near future. We met so many people from the church this night as there were over 150 in attendance from the church. It was truly an amazing time of fellowship and Nick and I already felt accepted and loved. 

Saturday: This was a BIG day for Nick and me as we would interview with the church board that morning. We were prepared with our list of questions and at the same time so anxious. Nick and I felt that we had a lot to share with them about our life before we were married, our life after we were married and about our call into ministry. The board had over 22 questions and the interview lasted a little over 2 1/2 hours. We walked away with a peace and were so thankful for the opportunity for us to share our hearts. After the interview we HAD to get IN-N-OUT with the Youth Pastor (Wally) and his wife (Susan). We loved them and you would have thought that we were long lost best friends by the end of the meal. 

That night we were invited to an Introduction Reception for the church congregation to come out, meet us and ask questions. During this time we had people ask Nick and me questions about ministry, life and anything else that they wanted to know. By the end of the day...I didn't want to answer questions or have another question asked of me! LOL After the reception we went to dinner with the Youth Pastor, his family and another couple from the church. It was a fun night full of laughter. 

Sunday: We went to church and Pastor Bill introduced us to the church and asked us MORE questions =) Nick and I were able to stay for the first service but had to leave during the second service to catch our plane. 

Vacation Bible School was about to start that week so the platform was decorated for it. The church is revamping things and this is a temporary platform until the new one is built. The lady (Sarah) playing the piano and the man singing (Rick) are the Worship Pastors at the church.

We got home pretty late Sunday night/Monday morning. And once again...we waited as we knew that they Pastor would be calling us that Saturday. This week we were full of nerves. We knew the peace that we had received ever since the very first conversation with Pastor Bill up until that point. With many decisions in life there is another party involved. Did they like us, why would they want someone from the midwest, what if they don't want us? All of these question flooded our mind. Not to mention this week that we were waiting to hear from the Pastor I was offered a full time position at a company here in Columbus. I had to turn this job down...which was scary because we didn't have a for sure answer from California. The only thing we had was a peace and how we felt.

On Saturday Pastor Bill called us and offered us the position! We were so excited! There are SO many things confirming this move to California:

-The obvious peace that we BOTH felt since the very first phone conversation. 

-I had been looking for a job in Columbus 7 months and couldn't find one. I start looking for a ministry job at the end of May and had MANY phone interviews and great possibilities to find a ministry position that we both had so much peace about 2 months later. 

-I prayed so hard that Nick would really connect with some amazing men out there and did he ever! 

-The church honors their Pastor's and provides for them (which we prayed for during this process)

-Our vision lines up with the Pastor and Youth Pastor (as I will be working with him a ton) 

-This church provides so much for our future as Nick will be able to continue to pursue ordination within the church. 

-Oh and I almost forgot our lease is up at the end of August... talk about perfect timing on that one! 

Ministry positions are hard to find as you MUST be like minded and sometimes the process can take forever! My first ministry position I ever had it took me a year to feel at peace with one after seven interviews and many ending in the church offering me a position. 

These are just some confirming points as the Lord continues to direct us! We ask that you please pray for us...here are some ways to do so. 

-that all things fall into place as far as the move goes. 

-for safety as Nick and I will be driving cross country. 

-I will be flying out August 18th to look for houses, please pray she finds one for us to live in.

-for us and our family as this is a big move...they/we will be missed so much! We are thankful that it is a flight away and we have FaceTime! 

-for the children's ministry at our new church.

-for Nick as he continues to pursue ordination and that he can get plugged into ministries at the church.

I know its a bunch but we are so grateful for all of you! If you have made it this far into reading this blog...you are awesome and deserve a cookie! 

...and the dust returns to the ground it came from...

I'll never forget the events of that day... each time my thoughts overtake me and the next thing you know my eyes are filled with tears... I try to wipe them away but it's as if the tear ducts in my eyes have broken... April 18, 2011 you are not my friend... and Monday... were you ever really on my side?

It was weird day...I woke up cranky and not feeling well...heck I didn't even shower. I threw on clothes, put my hair up and went to work. I didn't talk to many people...only if I had to. Maybe it was the Monday blues? Best thing about Monday was our weekly young adult small group...I was always excited about small group...I even invited a friend to go...she reluctantly said yes...and only because I begged her. We were hungry on the way there and thought Chic-fil-A would hit the spot...we had just pulled into the parking lot...when my mom called:

Mom: Kendra, are you alone?
Me: No, why what's wrong?
Mom: Kendra, who are you with?
Me: My friend Stephanie...why mom what's wrong?
Mom: Your dad is gone.
Me: What do you mean he is gone, did you guys get into a fight? I'm confused...
Mom: No, I came home and I found him dead on the kitchen floor!
Me: (My mind racing...trying to catch my breathe...as I fell to the ground...it was like a movie with the world spinning around me...and I let out a loud shreek of terror)

My dad was gone...forever...never to return...his body remained...but he was gone.

The events of that day are a blur really...we rushed to the couple's house who held our small group and Sarah held me in her arms. My friends Doug and Morgan helped me get back to my house where I could pack my belongs and drive to my moms... they insisted on driving me...2 1/2 hrs there. We met some family half way. I continued to pinch my self over and over again...it must have been a joke. A very cruel one... I hadn't eaten all day so we thought we should stop and grab something when all I wanted to do was to just have my dad hold me in his arms. We stopped and got something to eat which I later threw up all over myself. My families house was only 20 minutes from where we were so they let me stop and take a shower before we got to my moms. Once we arrived I walked through the doors...and so many loved ones were there...but my dad wasn't. It wasn't a joke...he wasn't there...and he wasn't coming back...The days after were some of the hardest days of my life.

Even through that time of trial God was always there...protecting...and watching over us. I will never forget those ones who were there to help along the way... I will never forget Stephanie..in those moments she was there...I wasn't alone...she drove us to Tom and Sarah's. I'll never forget Sarah and her holding me in her arms comforting me. Doug and Morgan who filled my tank with gas and drove an hr to meet my family half way and an hr back to their home..and helped me pack my stuff. Lynn and Judy who picked me up half way, held me in their arms, let me throw up in their van and use their shower to clean myself up. Paul for being there with my mom until someone could get there. Mike for driving my mom and sisters to the burial site. All of the ones who showed up at my dad's viewing and funeral...over 1,000 came through the doors. My heart is full as I type this knowing all of the loving people and the kindness that pours from their heart...

Dad...you really were the funniest man that I knew, you and Nick would have had a ball! I'll never forget the corky way you would say my name...the way you would pick things up with your toes...your smelly black socks...your corny jokes (we call those dad jokes)...your smile...your laugh...the way you would sing bass...the way you would praise Jesus in the choir at church...how you encouraged...how you led...how you hugged...how you mowed the lawn in your daisy dukes...the way you ran...or how you touched your tongue to your nose...they times we would watch nascar or the times you would take me to the races...I'll never forget our trip to Puerto Rico and the morning we went out and watched the sun rise...spin the bottle with the ketchup bottle...ants in the microwave...peanut butter and miracle whip sandwich...how you made mush just perfectly (I can't get it right)...the time I was dancing in my room and you joined...when you saved me from getting hit by a car even though you fell in the process...our many talks about ministry...how you pushed me to make it another day...our talks about scripture and our beliefs...the dip in your chest and we would joke about eating cereal out of it...your love for milk with ice cubes...your love for mint chocolate chip ice cream (Nick too) or milkshakes...the way you would dress in your crazy colors...

The list really could go on... You are missed...my heart misses you...we miss you...the pain of grief really never ends but I stand here today blessed that I had a father who loved the Lord with reckless abandon...thank you dad for 26 years! You are loved and one day we will meet again...and I'll come running to you!

...and the dust returns to the ground it came from, 

and the spirit returns to God who gave it...

My Happily Ever After...

I have been wanting to type this post for sometime now... but have never gotten around to it so...here it goes...


There is so much hype about the 50 Shades of Grey and honestly I don't know much about it to really start a fair debate...what I do know is that I have seen the previews and that is enough for me to not want to go see the movie. This blog isn't being written to sit here and even argue a point... or even to talk about this movie. What this blog post is for is this... 

Let's stop settling for scraps.

Let's stop being naive and lukewarm.

Decide today that enough is ENOUGH.

Lisa Anderson

Before I dated Nick...I had my fair share of the dating world...trust me. From blind dates...to online dating...I had tried it all. Each time they ended in heartbreak, or me not wanting to settle. I have had my share of men or should I say boys who were in it for something other than Jesus... Being single is lonely... I get it... trust me do I ever. I was someone who moved due to ministry jobs... and each time...I was single...alone...lonely...longing for more. I longed for someone who would be enough for me...I desired a man who would treat me like gold...who would protect my virginity as if it were a true treasure. I looked high and low and even tried to talk myself into relationships that I knew would never be. I cried at night holding onto my pillow because being married to a man who respected me for me and for the choices that I have made in life was such a deep desire for me. I longed for it...I was no different than most other single girls. One thing that I didn't do though...is I didn't let it hold me back...I didn't obsess.. I didn't sell myself sort but one day I decided enough is enough. I had to put on my big girl panties and I had to stop being so naive. What I mean by this is I had to realize that love doesn't happen like it happens in the movies... Its unrealistic...and honestly I was living in a fairytale world! I will never forget the countless nights that I watched The Notebook while in college with my old roommate. Every time after the movie was over we would have a HUGE cry fest! We would say to each other... Why can't I have love like that?! Some nights we would cry ourselves to sleep. As I got older I looked back at that movie and I thought.. Is that really the kind of relationship I wanted?...Sex outside the confines of marriage... To me if you fall into sex before marriage you don't respect yourself...and you don't respect the other person. I know that may seem like a bold statement...and I am okay with that because biblically...sex is for marriage.  Love isn't like the movies... it is SO much better! Because love in real life...is a REALITY! Wake up world...and stop being so NAIVE! 

My husband is amazing... and not because he is married to me...but because of the man that he is, the man he is becoming and because of the man he wants to be. I have never known someone who wants to better themselves more than Nick does. He is an extremely hard worker and he sacrifices so much of his wants to provide for us. Some of you may see this blog post as a mushy, lovey dovey blog and you know what I am okay with this...because I waited 28 years to date the man of my dreams and 30 years to marry him... So you are just going to have to deal ;) I also find myself writing this and posting it as we ring in another birthday for him (tomorrow)... Happy 34th my love! Nick and I before marriage abstained from sex. Nick respected me...I respected him (we still do). My eyes are only for Nick and Nick's for mine. Sure we may think that someone is pretty or cute...that's not wrong. I am here to tell you that it is possible to not have sex before marriage...to respect not only yourself but the person you are dating. I am so grateful that I didn't settle for scraps. I am proud of my husband... sure he isn't perfect but who is? He messes up...who doesn't? He doesn't do things the way that I would do them...but thats okay. What he is...is a follower of Christ, a provider, protector, someone who respects me, encourages me, my personal comedian, he leads us and longs to be something greater. Ladies...pray for a man like that. 

Thank you Jesus for my happily ever after...