Tonight as I climbed into my car at work…
“Oh no - I need gas.”
“Oh NO - I don’t have any cash... or my credit card... or my debit card.”
“I can’t make it home from work & back tomorrow morning on what I have in the tank.”
So I did what any other Nancy-Drew-wannabe would do. I scrounged through my ash tray (my change collector) and came up with $2.35! I then proudly walked into the gas station & putting all my quarters, dimes & nickels on the counter, proclaimed that I would like $2.35 in gas please. The clerk carefully counted the change to make sure I wasn’t going to cheat them into really giving me that much gas for only $2.30 & grunted her approval.
The guy behind me was waiting impatiently to purchase his gas. He pulled out the thickest wad of $20s that I have ever seen, threw two down on the counter & said, “I will fill up and will be back for the change” in a voice that reminded me of the man who buys the Banks’ house in “Father of the Bride Pt II.”
Three things happened inside me at that moment...
First, it made me want to yell out, “I do have a job!! And a car that’s been paid off for four years! And a credit card at home! And a bank account. And a cat named The Cuteness!!” (Just wanted to throw in that last one so he wouldn’t think I was poor AND lonely!)
Secondly, I thought, “If I ever have a gigantic wad of $20s in my pocket & some poor blonde is in front of me paying for a gallon & a half of gas in change, I will pay for both our gas.”
Lastly, it just made me laugh out loud!
When I drove out of the gas station I saw that he wasn’t driving a very nice car either. Maybe his thought process was, “If I pay for that poor little girl’s gas, I wont have enough to put the down payment on my Jaguar!”
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Monday, December 27, 2004
What Goes Around, Comes Around
In NH, a person can start driving at 15 ½. That means that when Darren started driving, I was just 10. And it was exciting! I remember one trip to Fairwood, where Darren was trying out his new-found skills. Being a new driver, as well as a law abiding citizen, Darren was cautiously going under the speed limit. Evan & I were sitting in the way back of our family station wagon, laughingly counting the cars lining up behind Darren on the narrow NH road. “Sixteen faithful followers,” I’d gleefully howl toward the front seat, updating the count as new cars joined our caravan.
Last night my 10 year old self visited my car! We were driving home from Christmas in Nova Scotia, and about two hours from home, drove into the path of our first substantial snow storm of the season. For a while the conditions were almost white-out, and I saw one car slide off the road & another one do a 360 in front of me. The passing lane was not plowed, so we were down to one lane of traffic. Looking in my rearview mirror, I could see this line of traffic snaking behind me, and I could hear my 10 year old self chortling gleefully “Sixteen faithful followers!”
Last night my 10 year old self visited my car! We were driving home from Christmas in Nova Scotia, and about two hours from home, drove into the path of our first substantial snow storm of the season. For a while the conditions were almost white-out, and I saw one car slide off the road & another one do a 360 in front of me. The passing lane was not plowed, so we were down to one lane of traffic. Looking in my rearview mirror, I could see this line of traffic snaking behind me, and I could hear my 10 year old self chortling gleefully “Sixteen faithful followers!”
A Joyful Christmas
Christmas was wonderful! Evan, Jill, the kids & I left late Wednesday afternoon for Nova Scotia. In a daring attempt, we decided to drive through the night, and arrived home exhausted & happy at four o’clock Thursday morning. I’ve never driven that late or that long, and in the last two hours found myself wishing that I could just drive my car into the roadside ditch, because then I’d be able to close my eyes! It sure was worth it, though, when we woke up already home on Thursday!
On Friday we went in to see Grandpa & Grandma. The kids did really well, and I think that G & G really enjoyed watching the next generation of Joneses. Dad had the brilliant idea that after the kids went to on Christmas Eve, the adults should open their presents, and that Christmas morning would be filled with watching Jed & Chloe open gifts, and then opening stockings. The five of us adults had a fabulous time sitting around the living room, watching each other’s happiness as gifts were opened. Darren and Sara had sent up a video of their kids, so we all watched that, and it was like they were there as well.
Christmas morning was the traditional bedlam of wrapping paper and screams of delight. Jed is at such a fun age to watch, and he truly enjoyed everything that was going on. Chloe was gratifyingly one & a half, and her face would light up as each new thing was unwrapped. She’d then waddle off to find something else. Tucker happily sat on laps and bestowed smiles on all who took the time to look his way.
Each time I would check my email I would get notes from friends who were reveling in the joy of family and more than that, the realization of what an incredible gift God gave us in the form of His Son. Earlier this season I heard on the radio that at Christmas time we tend to focus too much on Jesus coming as a baby, and not enough on the reason that He came, to redeem us all. Throughout this season I’ve been trying to focus on my gratitude of all that Jesus did, not just in being willing to come as a child, but being willing to go through all that He did in order to bring me home with Him, in God’s perfect time. What a gift!
On Friday we went in to see Grandpa & Grandma. The kids did really well, and I think that G & G really enjoyed watching the next generation of Joneses. Dad had the brilliant idea that after the kids went to on Christmas Eve, the adults should open their presents, and that Christmas morning would be filled with watching Jed & Chloe open gifts, and then opening stockings. The five of us adults had a fabulous time sitting around the living room, watching each other’s happiness as gifts were opened. Darren and Sara had sent up a video of their kids, so we all watched that, and it was like they were there as well.
Christmas morning was the traditional bedlam of wrapping paper and screams of delight. Jed is at such a fun age to watch, and he truly enjoyed everything that was going on. Chloe was gratifyingly one & a half, and her face would light up as each new thing was unwrapped. She’d then waddle off to find something else. Tucker happily sat on laps and bestowed smiles on all who took the time to look his way.
Each time I would check my email I would get notes from friends who were reveling in the joy of family and more than that, the realization of what an incredible gift God gave us in the form of His Son. Earlier this season I heard on the radio that at Christmas time we tend to focus too much on Jesus coming as a baby, and not enough on the reason that He came, to redeem us all. Throughout this season I’ve been trying to focus on my gratitude of all that Jesus did, not just in being willing to come as a child, but being willing to go through all that He did in order to bring me home with Him, in God’s perfect time. What a gift!
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Today's Christmas Pageant
Jed made his acting debut this morning as Joseph in our church's Christmas pageant. He looked oh-so-cute in his little bathrobe as he sat next to "Mary", who is also four. Our church has so many young kids, the shepherds & angels were probably an average age of four. One shepherd, our cousin Tim's little Becca, was sitting nicely up on stage until Carrie came to give Tim the camcorder. When Becca saw Mama, she was all done acting! Another shepherd left shortly after Becca, walking down the aisle towards his dad, peeling off his bathrobe as he went.
When it was time for the Wise Men to follow the star to the manger, the little girl playing our "star" stayed comfortably sitting in her chair next to the front pew, so our Wise Men (who all happened to be little girls - Chloe also made her acting debut today - as one of the "Wise Guys" as her father so graciously put it) made their way to the manger with no help of a guiding star. Even if the star was MIA, Chloe had a guiding Mom!
It seems to me that God must get much pleasure out of seeing His precious little ones re-enacting the story of His Son coming as a child.
When it was time for the Wise Men to follow the star to the manger, the little girl playing our "star" stayed comfortably sitting in her chair next to the front pew, so our Wise Men (who all happened to be little girls - Chloe also made her acting debut today - as one of the "Wise Guys" as her father so graciously put it) made their way to the manger with no help of a guiding star. Even if the star was MIA, Chloe had a guiding Mom!
It seems to me that God must get much pleasure out of seeing His precious little ones re-enacting the story of His Son coming as a child.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Ode to Lolo
(to be sung to the tune of "Ode to Joy")
Holy cow, I love you lolo,
You’re my favorite food of all.
When I’m hungry, when I’m cranky,
You’re the one whose name I call.
Best when hot,
Okay when lukewarm,
Not so good when its stone cold.
Holy cow, I love you lolo,
I’m so glad I grew up in the Jones household, where you were Dad’s favorite too!
(Yes, I'm well aware that the last line doesn't fit the song or rhyme... its the sentiment that counts!)
For those of you unfamiliar with Jones-speak, "lolo" is box macaroni & cheese... about my favorite food EVER!
Holy cow, I love you lolo,
You’re my favorite food of all.
When I’m hungry, when I’m cranky,
You’re the one whose name I call.
Best when hot,
Okay when lukewarm,
Not so good when its stone cold.
Holy cow, I love you lolo,
I’m so glad I grew up in the Jones household, where you were Dad’s favorite too!
(Yes, I'm well aware that the last line doesn't fit the song or rhyme... its the sentiment that counts!)
For those of you unfamiliar with Jones-speak, "lolo" is box macaroni & cheese... about my favorite food EVER!
Monday, December 06, 2004
An afternoon of dating...
Today Jed & I had a date. After church we started out to Pizza Hut. On the way Jed asked, "Why is it called Pizza Hut. I know the 'Pizza' but what's the 'Hut' for?" I tried to explain perhaps it was because hut is another word for house, and then he came back with, "Maybe it's because the pizza is hot." I didn't ask for an explanation, and he didn't give one.
Cuddled in the booth, he contently munched on a piece of pizza, laid his head up against me & said, "This is fun." I agreed whole-heartedly. And he even got a fabulous dessert of chocolate pudding & vanilla wafers because I had ordered the salad bar. Oh yes, that makes much sense!
Then we stopped at a party store & picked out a big helium balloon for Mrs Partin, a lady in our church who just had knee surgery. The it was off to Wal-Mart where we took a tour of their "play hah" department. For those of you not fluent in Jed-speak, "play hah" stands for toys. He then informed me that every time he goes to Wal Mart he gets a protein bar. Who can fight with tradition? So, he came home with a belly full of pizza, cookies, pudding, lemonade & a chocolate-almond protein bar. I do so love being an Aunt!
On the way home I said "Holy Toledo" (probably about some crazy driver... we're very close to the MA border!) and from the backseat I heard "Holy potato!"
We came back to my house to make a card for Mrs Partin. "Making a card" with Jed means, I drew the front, signed the inside & then corralled him (from running all over my apartment in his sugar-crazed state), thrust a red crayon into his hand & forced it onto the paper. He crazily drew some red scribbles, proclaimed them a "Robotic Airplane" and called it good.
We then met up with Uncle Wesley (my cousin & one of Jed's favorite people) and we all walked down to the Partin's house. It was cold, and about every five feet Jed declared that he needed someone to carry him. I finally asked him whether he planned on being this cranky when we got to Mrs Partin's house. He said, "No - only to you." As we came up the driveway their dogs started barking, and the little man to the right of me said, "Holy potato, those dogs are loud." Another thing to have to explain to the parents... Sigh
Of all the names that I answer to, Aunt Lindsay is definitely my favorite!
Cuddled in the booth, he contently munched on a piece of pizza, laid his head up against me & said, "This is fun." I agreed whole-heartedly. And he even got a fabulous dessert of chocolate pudding & vanilla wafers because I had ordered the salad bar. Oh yes, that makes much sense!
Then we stopped at a party store & picked out a big helium balloon for Mrs Partin, a lady in our church who just had knee surgery. The it was off to Wal-Mart where we took a tour of their "play hah" department. For those of you not fluent in Jed-speak, "play hah" stands for toys. He then informed me that every time he goes to Wal Mart he gets a protein bar. Who can fight with tradition? So, he came home with a belly full of pizza, cookies, pudding, lemonade & a chocolate-almond protein bar. I do so love being an Aunt!
On the way home I said "Holy Toledo" (probably about some crazy driver... we're very close to the MA border!) and from the backseat I heard "Holy potato!"
We came back to my house to make a card for Mrs Partin. "Making a card" with Jed means, I drew the front, signed the inside & then corralled him (from running all over my apartment in his sugar-crazed state), thrust a red crayon into his hand & forced it onto the paper. He crazily drew some red scribbles, proclaimed them a "Robotic Airplane" and called it good.
We then met up with Uncle Wesley (my cousin & one of Jed's favorite people) and we all walked down to the Partin's house. It was cold, and about every five feet Jed declared that he needed someone to carry him. I finally asked him whether he planned on being this cranky when we got to Mrs Partin's house. He said, "No - only to you." As we came up the driveway their dogs started barking, and the little man to the right of me said, "Holy potato, those dogs are loud." Another thing to have to explain to the parents... Sigh
Of all the names that I answer to, Aunt Lindsay is definitely my favorite!
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