Hunter William joined our family June 26 at 6:28pm.  We praise God for this little guy.  I was shocked to have a son.  My first memory of him incidentally was he being placed on me and then he   promptly peed . (I guess it was my initiation b/c since then I have been peed on countless times!!!   )   He was 7 weeks old yesterday, and I still look at him and marvel that we have a baby.  We prayed and wept for another one for so long it seemed.  I am trying to treasure every moment - even the difficult ones!!   We are just so incredibly thankful. 

Well, the first month I can only describe as baby bootcamp.     He was one hungry guy!  I think he was in a continual growth spurt that whole time.  Having a needy newborn is very wearing on the mama, but God gave me grace and strength.  Thankfully He also gave me relief just when I was beginning to feel at the very end of a very frayed rope!!  We began supplementing him w/ formula when he was one month, and he immediately began to sleep better.  He hasn't needed any formula for over a week now, and is sleeping soooo much better.  In fact I've started getting the best mommy paycheck!! SMILES!!!!  He gave his first smile at 6 wks and then just yesterday started smiling more.  This morning daddy finally got a smile.  Don't you just love when they start smiling at you?  You forgive them of everything!!!

In this picture there are 4 generations of Jones men!  Hunter is being held by Mike's Grandpa who he was named for (William).

The girls of course love him to pieces.  They are great helpers!  Faith in this picture rocked him to sleep for me while I was trying to get ready to go to the park for a playdate!  

It has been soooo long since I've posted.   I could write a book and as I don't have the time to do such (and you don't have the time to read) I will desist.  My goal is to write little bits more often.  I don't know if I can do that though!

But,  in the last week I have felt so blessed beyond measure by our Great God I feel the need to share.  It wasn't that long ago that I was struggling w/ discouragement and even feeling abandoned by God as I experienced the pain of a barren womb.  As my husband and I poured out our hearts before God, He always remained faithful.  He would draw near to me in my dark moments and give me verses that comforted as well as rebuked my lack of faith in Him.  I am thankful for my dear husband who never gave up.  Even as I was trying w/ all my being to accept my barren womb  and that God has answered "NO" to our pleas, Mike told me that   we weren't at that point yet! He insisted we make the appt to the fertility specialist where we had been referred.    I will never forget that first meeting in mid July when we met the doctor.  He gazed at us w/ so much compassion.  He and his wife had journeyed the same path, and he even told me some of the things I was feeling!  He also told us (w/ much glee rubbing his hands together) that we WOULD get pregnant!  I remember feeling hopeful and yet cautious.  Of course he is not God!  But in God's providence we had landed w/ a Doctor who has the best track record in the nation!  3 and 1/2 months after our first mtg, his office called to tell us that WE WERE PREGNANT! I still am constantly amazed that we have another little one on the way.  God is sooo good and I am soooo undeserving.  It is such a humbling thought.

As many of you know our economy is in the pits.  For our family though, b/c my husband works residential construction,  this is our 3rd year of a less than stable job situation for my husband.  I don't say this to complain or gripe or even make anyone feel sorry for me.  I say it in thanksgiving.  We have seen God provide for us OVER and OVER!!  It is amazing.  I remember once last year Mike didn't really have any work for the week, but things came up w/ side jobs etc and he worked 4 days!  Mike's company (over the past several years) has dwindled from 300+ plumbers down to 9-11.  Anyway, this year we were looking at our worst yet as we realized this would be the year Mike would probably get laid off or his company would close their doors.  While those things could still happen, God has provided for us yet again!!!  Mike was running a job that went bankrupt.  He had work until early March and then nothing.  Work has come up almost 2 hrs. from home in a very prestigious neighborhood (Chicago bears players live across the street from his project!) the foreman requested Mike and so now Mike has full time work for the next several months!!!!  PRAISE BE TO GOD!! 

I need to go! 

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  Phil. 4:19

Hunting season is upon us!  Mike has already taken both girls out hunting with him.  Last year he took Faith up in  a tree stand and not Lily.  Lily was absolutely devastated to be left out and cried and cried.  It broke both of our hearts.  This year Lily was the first to go out w/ Daddy. You can see from her face that she is feeling like she is the cat's pajamas!   He has a camouflage tent that he set up for the girls.  They sat in their tent, ate candy, drank juice boxes and looked for deer.  Unfortunately the deer didn't cooperate.  I was able to spend time w/ Faith.  We played catch w/  a ball, danced, and played w/ the girl's dollhouse.  It was good for Faith and I to have some relaxed unstructured time together. 

A couple nights later it was Faith's turn.  They didn't see any deer either .  Mike is a little bummed. He has seen quite a few deer, but never w/ his girls! Lily and I played stuffed animals and dollhouse together and went to Walmart.  We had fun too!

This week we also carved pumpkins.  Actually I should say this is also a daddy/daughter venture.  I help a little, but my job mainly is to roast the pumpkin seeds.  YUM YUM! The girls clean out the insides and design their face and daddy does the carving. 

In mid September I was able to go and visit Sarah Shackelford and family.  We had such a nice time together.  I got to be part of Leslie's birthday celebration and see the whole Wilson family!  I sure do miss them!  Faith and Lily enjoyed playing w/ Bea, Helen and Nathaniel.  For some reason Faith got it into her head to make a paper dress.  She colored all the papers, but couldn't figure out how to put it altogether.  Helen came to her rescue measuring and taping for the perfect fit!!    It was so cute to watch.  Here is the finished product.

You can't tell from this picture, but Helen also made paper shoes for this dress.  This dress is still hanging up in Faith's room today.  She has since then added accessories such as a paper necklace and bracelet.  I don't know how long this creation can last!!