Hello from Springfield, Missouri! I’m sitting at the table with my mother-in-law, who is writing thank you notes to all the folks who have sent flowers, and with my father-in-law who is watching Jackson try to draw a back hoe on a sheet of paper. This morning he took Jackson for a ride on his back hoe and they moved some dirt around. Jackson loves life in the country. I have to confess that going back to the city does not sound like much fun to me either. I’ve loved watching the fireflies glow all over the fields at night. We don’t see much of that in Houston.
Melissa and I had had high hopes of blogging from Israel every day. Since I had been before, I was going to take on most of the burden of doing that. When I had to stay behind, I believe Melissa made the right choice to savor her pilgrimage rather than do all the work of blogging it. I know she will have some neat things to share with us when she gets home. I did talk to my mom this morning and she sounded great. They’d just been to the Church of the Nativity and were doing some shopping.
Thank you so much for your sweet words and prayers for Curtis’ family. Grandma Dixon was an amazing lady and I would love to sit down and write about how much she meant to me and especially to my husband. She was a treasure to this family.
I hope all of you enjoy a wonderful Memorial Day weekend with your friends and loved ones!
Blessings,
Amanda
Thanks for checking in AJ! Glad to hear that everything is going well in Israel. When are they coming back?
I am grateful that I got to hug my nephew who is on leave for a couple weeks from the Air Force! We are proud of all our military personnel Have a great weekend everyone! God bless the USA!
Blessings upong blessings, Amanda.
I have been praying for ALL of your family all over the GLOBE.
You are such sweet and loving servants of the MOST HIGH GOD!
You represent HIM well with your acts of lovingkindness!
Hugs,
Roxanne
Hugs Amanda to you and your family.
Dear Amanda, Thanks for checking in with us. As hard as it must be not to be in Israel with your mom and sister, I pray you are doubly blessed being with CJ and his family. Wow–fireflies! I’ve never seen one. I can only imagine what it would be like. Is it possible to capture them in a picture? Anyway, wishing you a very special weekend!
Karene in Orange County, CA
Thanks for checking in Amanda. I love you and will continue to pray.
Thank you for updating us, Amanda. What a different week you have surely had than from what you had planned. I figured our resident blogmaster was still here States’ side with us. Who could blame Melissa. I can barely keep a journal when I travel, let alone make sense to the masses. Praying your little darlings are a sweet smidgen of salve to any sadness in your soul.
This smiling siesta sends salutations. (Eyeroll)
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Sometimes our pilgrimage takes to the place where Jesus was born and to the place where our loved ones has passed on to be with Him in His Amazing grace!
Grandmother’s always seem to leave a special place in our hearts. There are those sweet memories of faith and love that remind us of who we are in Christ.
I cannot help, but think of Timothy in the Bible and how his grandmother and mother taught him the Word of God and how they were valuable models to him.
May the Lord bless you during this time and I pray He will be near to encourage, up-lift and give you His peace.
Thank you for sharing in Christ.
Also, I would like to say a special “thank you” to those who serve in the Armed Forces, those who risk their lives for our freedom and to the firemen, policemen, doctors and others that help others, so we may live. Thank you to our Lord Jesus Christ all He does in our lives.
Don’t you guys ever worry about not blogging enough. We appreciate all you do share.
Much love to you and your family, Amanda!
Sending my love to all the Jones! My heart really has been with you!
Tell Cozy that I tell my kids all the time that I want “Cozy” to be my grandmother name! It just makes me smile!
Hi Amanda,
Your blog made me think of how I enjoyed the fire flies when I was a little girl in South Dakota. We used to catch them and put them in a jar and place it on the dresser. I remember laying in bed falling asleep just watching the jar light up. I’m smiling thinking about it.
You all are still in my prayers. Have a wonderful Memorial weekend. You all are loved soooo much
I hope one day maybe you can share about how special Curtis’ grandma was. I love hearing about Godly men and women who walked a long walk with Jesus before going Home. Bless you and your family, Amanda ~
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your family’s loss. Grandmothers are often the “best” of our childhood memories. We also appreciate your mother and sister sharing their special trip. Sincerely, Kathy, Austin
That is so true!
Such a bittersweet time… to know she stands before Jesus and to say good bye for a while … My prayers are with you all …
Amanda, my sympathies to you and Curtis and the entire family. My grandmother was 88 last month and I blogged 88 memories in her honor. She does not get on the computer so I printed out a copy and sent it and she was surprised to know what I remembered — being 44! I never realized she was at the SAME age I am now, when I was born — weird. I am the oldest of some 30+ grandkids — so it was sort of special.
I must admit — I check this blog each day – hoping to see photos and words of encouragment — but, God reminded me — I can’t rely on you nor your mother — WE should SEEK HIM first. Period.
Again, thinking of those fireflies – how sweet. I bet it is so peaceful to know she is with her KING now.
Sincerely,
Michelle
Okeechobee, Florida
Again – I am glad your mom and sister are enjoying their trip.
My condolences on the loss in your family. I agree I prefer country to city living. They both have their advantanges.
Don’t worry about the blog. I am sure when they get back you can help organize everyone’s photos and memories bit by bit.You are good at that sort of thing.
My continued prayers for your family.
I had thought of going to Springfield and Branson this weekend but am recovering from a hospital stay with kidney stones and am not quite up to it.
Enjoy your time left in the “country” and you are welcome in our neck of the woods anytime. It is quiet and peaceful in the Ozakrs.
It is great to hear from you, Amanda. I am so sorry for Curtis, his family and all of your loss of his special Grandma Dixon, and so sorry that you did not get to go on the pilgramage. But,I do know your first family priority is with Curtis, now, and that yes, Melissa is wise to enjoy her time there first and then tell us about it later.
Also, I know it is great to enjoy the peacefulness of Springfield!
I am praying for all of your family.
Thank you for blogging!
I am getting excited about our summer Bible study!
Thanks for checking in Amanda. We’ve been praying for you and Curtis’ family all week.
Thank you for taking time in the midst of grief and altered travel plans to think of us. Glad you have a peaceful place to relax this weekend.
Love, Linda
Blessings to you and yours. I had written you an email about my grandma. She passed away on the 25th. Her body had to be transported from Phoenix to San Diego so the services were pushed back a bit. We are leaving tonight for California (driving with all the kids and grandkids, separate cars!). I just wanted to thank you again for your prayers and for Curtis’ words that I will use at Grandma’s service.
Please pass along my deepest sympathy’s to Curtis and his family.
I will continue to pray for you and your precious family both the ones with you and the ones in Israel. You all mean so much to me.
Lawan
Phil 4:8
Hi Amanda,
Thank you so much for the update – was wondering how you were doing and how the trip is going! So very glad to see your post!!!
Prayers are with you and your extended family as well as those on the Holy Land trip!
lovingly, Barb
My sympathies to your and your family, Amanda. My six-year-old son was very concerned that flowers be placed on his great-grandma and great-grandpa’s graves for Memorial Day. They died a couple of years ago, but he still remembers going to visit them in the nursing home. He has such sweet memories of them. His grandpa and grandma have invited him to go along and place flowers on the graves. We see fireflies around here all the time. Your post reminds me to be thankful for the little things in life.
Thanks for the update. Happy Memorial Day Weekend to ya’ll too!
Thanks for checking in, Amanda.
My family is from Kansas. I can almost smell the fields of grass and see the thick humidity hanging over them on a warm afternoon. As children, fireflies were the delight of our young lives….While I am sorry you had to make this trip because of the loss of Grandma Dixon…I know that this time is special and sweet with family. Glad you are getting some time to relax with loved ones.
Melana
Deepest sympathies to your husband and his family.
May the veil of Christ provide you with a comforting peace at this time of grief.
Thanks for checking in Amanda, being somewhat of a worry wort and since your mom and sister and all are half way around the world, my mind begins to get away from me. I thank God all is going well.
Ah, sweet memories of grandma. I remember so many memories of my dear granny. Yes, catching fireflies and throwing horseshoes were among the many memories. I can’t tell you how many times I would come home from grandma’s house and ask mom for something, only to be told no. I would always answer, Grandma would do it in a heartbeat. Well, you’re not at grandma’s anymore. Nothing takes the place of grandma’s. When I lost my grandma, one of the children at my first church I ever worked wrote me a letter and told me how sorry he was to hear of my loss. He was all of 6th grade at this point. He told me to dwell on the memories and just know that she is pain free doing all the things she used to do that she could no longer do …. like playing basketball and swimming. And always remember she’s is with you always in your heart.
It’s not hard to think of the positive because she was such a neat lady, loved so much by all that knew her. Enjoy the laid back country life. Glad you guys could stay and visit. Enjoy your weekend. You guys are still in my prayers as well as the troupe in pilgrimage.
Love to all,
Jan
We are still praying for you and Curtis, your little ones and Curtis’ family.
Amanda, I am so sorry for your loss. The country is definatley slower-paced that can provide a great time of refelction. Don’t get me wrong…I love to be close to the mall (which my husband refers as “the mother ship”), but living in the country puts all my purchases into perspective. How I got into shopping is beyond me…
Again, I am very sorry.
Amanda,
I’m sorry for your loss. Please pass on my condolances to Curtis and his family. Death is hard, even when it is one of God’s children. It lessens the pain and grief but just a little I think.
I’m learning that God’s plan is so often not our own. His is always better though. I am considering maybe moving to Texas to teach. When I was there in Jan. I saw big billboards saying that teachers are needed. And, being that teachers are laid off repeatedly here in CA (me being in this new category), I though that it was worth checking into. Please pray for me as I seek God’s direction in this. Thank you sweet one! I will be in prayer for you and for your family, both stateside and in the Holy Land.
Amanda…I have kept your sweet family so close to my heart this week. Thank you for all the updates via twitter. My prayers are still with all of you.
I took my middle son, who is 12, to sonic tonight because I could tell he was just “having a hard day.” Well, he ordered a root beer float and I thought I was gonna cry. My grandfather LOVED those things so very much. He made one every night after dinner!! So, I shared with my worried 12 year old some fun snippets inside my grandfather’s life that he would not have known.
Grandparents are so special and dear to so many of us. I hope you share about her.
Hugs and blessings from TN,
Fran
Amanda & Curtis, you and your family have my deepest sympathy for the loss of your Grandmother…they are such special people in our lives and we miss them when they are gone. Even at the age of 65, I still miss mine…they were a big part of my childhood and into adulthood. Savor your memories, dear ones. Love to all of you….
Praying for your family. What a joyful trip your family is on to Israel. I went in March 2009 and pray to go again in the next year or two. Life is never the same when we walk on the same ground Jesus walked on. Listening to the audio book “So long insecurity”. Seeing where God is taking me next. Love the Spiritual journey with Beth and family.
I will be praying for Curtis’ family (and yours)
Thanks for checking in Amanda we Love you so much here in seistaville you are awesome. I hope and pray you enjoy your weekend with your sweet family. I would love to live out in the country the sweet smell in the morning when you get up and just the quietness. Anyway have been praying for you all and your mom and Melissa. Can’t wait to hear about there trip.
Blessing to you sweet one and your family.
Have a Great Weekend.
Love Carol
Thank you, Amanda. Much love to you this Sunday morning. Holy hugs, Kat…
Thanks for checking in with us! You know we get withdrawls if we don’t hear from a Moore.
Have a wonderful time in the country. I’m in the mountains with my sister and my toddler, it’s a little slice of heavenly pie; but I couldn’t live here! 🙂
Keeping your whole family in prayer.
Amanda,
It’s so good to hear from you, especially from Missouri. You’re a beautiful blessing to Curtis and his family and I’m sure they’re all grateful to have you with them. Thank you for the firefly memory, I loved them when I was a little girl…running around the yard with a jar trying to catch as many as possible!
Safe travel for Beth, Melissa and the ladies of LPM…
So sorry to read about your loss Curtis and Amanda! Thanks for sharing that with us and I will be praying for the Jones family. Loss is never easy!
I just stumbled across this blog by googling “Beth Moore” What a treat that y’all take the time to be connected this way! I’m so SUPRISED and super THRILLED to find this! A great big capitalized THANKS to you, Beth, Amanda and Melissa!!
Hello Amanda, lovely to hear from you. I grew up on a farm so can relate to what you are feeling. Being in the country is so good for one’s soul. Get all the refreshing you need – it will help you cope when you return to “normal” life.
I am so glad you are still with the family. There is so much comfort & strength from being together after a loss.
Much love to Curtis & Grandma Dixon’s children, grandchildren etc. Grannies are so special & even though they have lived a full life by the time they leave us (usually), it is still hard to say goodbye. What a comforting thought to know that we will see them again in Glory.
Bless you all. And all of you in Israel!
Much love
Colleen
Love to you, Amanda- you are a precious wife, mother, sister, daughter, and daughter-in-law. My son John has a wife like that- what a blessing to all you and she are!
good to hear from you amanda… my heart’s been with you guys, probably especially more so going through similar losses… my best friends since childhood have lost both their ma and papa within the last 7 weeks (ma 7 weeks ago, papa last week). they were grandparents-of-sorts to me as well and also left such a legacy. so incredible to know they are whole and restored and now beyond the reach of sin and decay… perfect in and with HIM, adding their beautiful voices to the multitudes singing of His glory. makes heaven feel that much closer, doesn’t it? praying, and celebrating beautiful lives with you joneses. much love!
Thank you Amanda for the update – and for taking the time to fill us in.
Blessings this Holiday in HIS Name!
Siesta OC
Hugs and prayers for making new memories for you children and their grandparents during your time together.
I am so glad they are enjoying themselves. We cannot wait to hear all of the details and stories when they get back. Have a great Memorial Day weekend as well.
I am sad about Curtis’s grandmother. I know how special they are. Take good care of everyone. I know you are also disappointed about missing the Pilgrimage. You have been on your own kind of pilgrimage these past few days I’m sure. Hugs and prayers. I’m in Missouri, too…
Amanda – your thoughtfulness is so encouraging – to your husband, and your mother-in-law, and even to encourage Melissa to enjoy her journey and not worry about blogging.
I hope that my life will be such a blessing to my daughters-in-law and grandchildren in that day…
Bless you sweet girl, praying for you all,
Gran Jan
AJ – Thanks such much for checking in. We have missed your entire family. Our prayers have been with you and will continue to be for the days ahead. Prayers for protection for your Mom and her group. Safe travel for all and remember you are loved by all of us Siestas and by our heavenly Father.
GG2002