The back to school buzz has started around these parts and it feels like summer is wrapping up. Of course, Texas has two more months of summer weather before we can even think about fall, but fall semester activities are surely not far off.
I don’t know about you, but this summer took me by surprise. I really thought it would be low-key and restful. We had a busy year with ministry and family life (hello, Annabeth!) and I looked forward to recuperating over the summer. Well, my Relaxing Summer quickly turned into Activity Central. Can you relate? We had Jackson in swim lessons twice a week for two months, Curtis taught at MetroLive on Thursday nights, and we traveled a bit. I also did our MM&L study with some girls from Sunday school. When Metro and the MM&L study ended last week, it was like the end of a marathon. (Not that I would actually know what that’s like.) What I’m trying to say is we had a great summer but we are t-i-r-e-d!
Curtis and I decided to wrap up our summer with a trip to the mountains. We have a house/dog sitter coming to our place and we’re heading up to the cabin in Wyoming for almost two weeks. We’re saying adios to schedules, commitments, wireless and high speed Internet, our cell phones, humidity, and having anyone else to hang out with but each other. We can’t wait for some milder weather, frigid night air, sleeping with the windows cracked, quiet times on the porch with a view of the mountains, and just being together in one of the most beautiful places God ever made. This will be our first time to take Jackson in the summer and of course it will be Annabeth’s first time to go. My parents are going to join us there after about a week. We’re so excited.
I may be scarce around the blog for a while, but your Siesta Mama will keep things afloat. The cabin only has dial-up Internet. Awesome, right? I guess we’re lucky to even have that in the middle of a national forest. I hope to have some neat pictures and stories to share soon. As my mom says, you can’t write about life unless you’re living it!
Enjoy what’s left of your summer, Siestas! I’ll see you soon.
Love,
Amanda
FROM BETH: Y’all, I accidentally just deleted 41 comments! It’s been a long time since I’ve done that! (It’s easier than it seems.) Please forgive me. I had a technical difficulty and had them marked to approve them and – boom – there they went! Tried to reverse it but couldn’t. We are having a terrible lightening storm and somehow the web wires may have gotten crossed. I will tell Amanda how many of you sent prayers and encouragements for their time away. You are wonderful and we love you so much!
God bless you and your family. You deserve this rest – have a great time!
Lawan
Phil 4:8
Thanks Amanda for keeping us up to date we will miss you on the blog but get some rest and enjoy your family and amy God bless you in a mighty way are you all flying or driving? Well have a great time anyway you go. May God Bless You all and hugs and love sent to you all from Albuquerque NM
Your Seista Carol
Enjoy your family time, they grow up quickly. We motorhomed with our three kids all over the us when they were growing up…the absolute happiest times of our lives. Now that we are empty nesters, we rented a cabin for our 30th wedding anniversary this summer. No phones, no computer access, just low dose cable and a hot tub. Even the rain did not dampen our spirits. We came back so recharged and decided we would go again next year. Have a great trip!!!
Have a great time away! It is refreshing, to get away and just be together and do whatever! Love you guys so much!
We'll miss you Amanda, but you will LOVE this time with your famly. Enjoy every minute of it. We will be praying for your little family.
Blessings,
Bible Bunny in NO MI
I hope you have a wonderful time together making memories and feasting on the beauty of God's creation.
The Grand Tetons are magnificent!
Hugs sweer family,
Mary
Have a great time – restful and relaxing! We just got back from a vacation where we did nothing!!
"Come to me all you who are weary and heaven laden and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28
Have a great and restful time Amanda. You guys deserve it.
Oh have a lovely time girl! This time with your babies is so special and exhausting all at the same time, so enjoy being away for a bit!
Blessings,
Sasha
So thrilled for you guys, Amanda! Soak it up!! Love you, girl!
Have a ball with your family and enjoy your time together 🙂
Have a wonderful, restful time away with your family.
Have fun, Amanda and crew! May God bless your time with many blessings.
Hope you have a wonderful and rejuvenating time. Sometimes it's good to get unplugged for awhile, huh?!
Blessings!
Hope you guys ahve a BLAST! A well deserved time of rest and recuperation.
Blessings and prayers for your safe travel.
Sister Lynn
That vacation sounds heavenly! Be refreshed and enjoy, sounds like you really need the rest and relaxation.
Go have fun!! The summer has been hectic for us in Ohio. We spent some quiet time in Hawaii and it was a true blessing! It's been non-stop ever since!! Enjoy the mountains. I prefer mountains over beaches any day!!!
Amanda –
you go girlie, enjoy the no hassle elctronic filled days, the sunsine,the moon-lite nights. Time with the hubby and kids alone. The no clock watching, calander watching days. But don't forget to sit on the front porch with a galss of ice tea…oohhh yeah!
Just chill out. :0)
have a good one
Becky
Have a blessed, wonderful and SAFE time!
oooops….just noticed I wrote "heaven" laden instead of heavy laden! lol Maybe I was thinking of the "heavenly" time you are going to have in Wyoming!!
Amanda –
Prescription for a relaxing vacation.
Sleep in late. :0)
Stay up late. :0)
Eat whatever you want :0)
Sip Ice tea on the front proch :0)
Rent some movies :0)
Shopping :0)
Have this filled and call me in the morning.
Ha-ha
RS/Nashville
Have fun, cant wait for pictures. I think a mountain trip will be my vacation next summer…
HAve a wonderful time! With a few trips to the beach under our belt, I'm ready for cool weather, a new pair of fall '09 jeans, quiet times with coffee on the deck,and believe it or not, the sound of football on the tv. (I can't believe I said that.)
Heather G
Charlotte NC
Y'all, I accidentally deleted 41 comments! It's been a long time since I've done that! Please forgive me. I had a technical difficult and had them marked to approve them and – boom – there they went! We are having a terrible lightening storm and somehow the web wires may have gotten crossed. I will tell Amanda how many of you sent prayers and encouragements for their time away. You guys are wonderful.
Have a WONDERFUL time enjoying life the way God intended it!!! I can say that because I just got back from visiting my parents in North Carolina, and I was so overwhelmed with the beauty of REAL rural life that I'm counting the days before we go back. There is just nothing more splendid than being in the midst of God's beautiful scenery….so peaceful, so wonderful. I'm so excited you get to explore it together 🙂
My father loved exploring the forests with my son, and I'd forgotten his petname for Corbin…my dad calls him "Bitty" as in "Itty Bitty." It sounded so close to "Bibby" that I did a double-take 🙂
You must whip up some pancakes (maybe chocolate chip or blueberry) and pop some popcorn for a late night movie (Winnie-The-Pooh).
Soak up some outdoor stars and let God's peace just overwhelm you.
What a blessing you all are to all of us.
I catch myself saying "I found it!" all the time, just like Jackson. When I am so amazed at God's Hand on my life…I say "I found It!"
And "It" is my Good God.
Hurry home invigorated!
I am laughing SO HARD Mama Beth. HA-HA!! (*with* you, of course) 😉
Amanda,
I decided to go unplugged at the beginning of the year to simply spend time with my family and it was THE BEST decision I've made in a very long time. Be blessed. I KNOW you will be. <3
Enjoy your family time! I believe it is one of the greatest blessings God gives us, to spend time surrounded by all that love!
Praying for the time away! What a treat to enjoy the mountains and family all wrapped up together! 🙂
Love you all~
Fran
I hope you all have a wonderful time! God bless!
The Journey Continues ~
Laughing Out Loud Beth!!!!!
I am glad that I am not the only one who wipes out things on this technical equipment!!!
Amanda, I am so happy that you are learning to REST WHEN YOU ARE
t-i-r-e-d!
even if your sweet Mama Beth deletes this blog accidently you can still know that
I will be uplifting you in daily prayer "on my knee's" while you are spending PRECIOUS FAMILY TIME TOGETHER IN WYOMING!!!
With "Heaven Bound" blessings,
Kim Safina
Hope you have a restful vacation. I know that my family would in that setting. We live in Oak Ridge NC but my husband loves Wyoming. He has hunted there several times and has fallen in love. I hope to see it some day. May God watch over you and give you the rest and family time that you need.
Sherrie Watson
Have a blessed peaceful vacation. My prayers are with you all. In Jesus' Love Kathy Knoblock
Amanda, I am praying for safe travel and a wonderful family experience for y'all!
Amanda,
Bless your family! Have a great time relaxing with your family! It is great to spend time with them without all the interruptions of technology.
Again, blessings!
Mary Ann
Woodbury, MN
Sounds so awesome, Amanda! Hope it is.. hope we get to see some of the beauty in the pics when you get back. May the Lord restore your souls and bring refreshment. Our souls need the wild! Enjoy..
My hubby, two sons and I are meeting up w/my brother and his family out in Wyoming one week from today!!!! Never been there (other than driving through on the way to CA). Cannot wait to see what the Lord has for us there.
Have a great time!
I love the Tetons! They are like the ocean to me- I can "hear" them when I sit looking at them- blessings, blessings, blessings and treasure this time together dear ones, you are certainly a treasure to all of us- thank you for inspiring and serving us- Aunt Siesta, Kathy from Austin
Love those get-away's! Hope you have an excellent time!
Sounds wonderful! I am a mountain girl at heart, being originally from WV, so that is my kind of vacation! Have a great time and I'll be praying for you!
Lots of love!
Wyoming is ready for you….all cool (or downright cold) at night…the Tetons are, of course glorious…and the moose are awaiting a peek by Mr. Jackson and Miss Annabeth.
Blessings and much rest to you as you visit the most beautiful place on earth!
Melana in Wyoming
Your mom has been looking forward to a double-grandchild trip to the cabin for YEARS!
Enjoy a few days "just us four" and then let the grandparents swoop in and take over.
Wyoming sounds like too much fun! Hope you breathe deeply of fresh mountain air, stand in awe of amazing mountains, marvel at lots of wildlife, and gaze in wonder at star filled skies.
Have a siesta (literally) Siesta!
Warm in Alaska.
Have a great time in the mountains. It is so easy to see the beauty of God's creation there. School starts Wednesday here. We had to report back last week. I am so ready for routine again. This is my oldest son's senior year, kind of bittersweet for me. He has decided to go into the ministry either with youth or children or maybe some kind of overseas missions.
I share all that with the hope you enjoy and savor every second of Jackson's life. He too, will be graduating it seems in a blink of an eye. See you back in a couple of weeks.
Jan
What a blessing for your sweet family to get to have this time in the beautiful state of wide open skys…"big sky country"!
Enjoy every moment, and every memory you make with your precious kids and husband. Savor being able to stop and rest awhile. This scripture was on our bulletin at church yesterday with a picture of an empty yellow lawn chair sitting near a bed of bright pink cosmos: "My presence shall go with thee and I will give thee rest." Exodus 33:14
Thought it apropos to share with you…
Siesta Pam H.
Buena Park, CA.
Hey Jones family,
This close to the clouds, you could very easily get snowed on! Remember to take sweaters and blankets.
We have yet to have a summer day above the 80's. I spent one Christmas w/ in-laws in Harlingen, and everywhere I went people were talking about the 'chilly' 80 degree weather! LOL!
Enjoy one of God's most spectacular creations!
Jillian
Laramie, WY
I know what you mean about a quiet summer ending up crazy. I intentionally kept my MM&L study very casual, much more casual than the rest of ya'll. We didn't even schedule our time together until the week we were supposed to meet and ended up a week behind because of sick kids and having to reschedule and other things. We haven't had our last meeting yet. I just wanted my summer to be completely relaxed. But what ended up happening is my daughter's summer school teacher was murdered and then my husband got a new job which is keeping him extremely busy and my grandpa died of cancer less than 2 weeks after they told us he had 6 months! That really was crazy and took us all by surprise! This cancer originally was not expected to spread at all, so it was really unexpected. It was a whirlwind after 2 years of the treatments working and then boom it was just out of control! So weird and devistating! So, yes, I understand. I am definitely ready to send my kids back to school and not ready to get a job outside the home for the first time ever, like I thought I was going to do.
Praying for ya'll as you rest and just enjoy being with each other. You do so much for us siestas and know that it is appreciated. Enjoy the break!
I pray all of you have a wonderful, relaxing "playcation" together!
Enjoy every second of one another and don't sweat the small stuff!
Thanks for all you do for us here in Blog Land!! We will miss you and continually cover you in prayer!
BLESSINGS IN ABUNDANCE!
Amen to cooler weather! We spent a good chunk of July in Texas this year and we were so thankful to return north. How you can stand the heat I don't know! We either went swimming or stayed in the air conditioned hotel! We have always visited in the cooler months and loved it, now we have a completely different view of Texsas!
I hope you have a refreshing and relaxing trip and come home to cooler temps.