Cheers to 4 Years

November 19 we celebrated 4 years of being married. I still cannot believe it has been 4 years already. I am so thankful to Jesus for the gift of marriage and for the life Jeffrey and I have together. Jeffrey and I love to celebrate all things and our anniversary was no exception. We decided to do what we love best and take a trip. We did a little weekend road trip to Waco and then to Fredricksburg. Friday we spent it in Waco and ate at the first place we had a date then called it an early night because we were leaving bright and early Saturday. We got to Enchanted Rock right when it opened and spent the morning hiking and hanging out. We then headed to Fredricksburg to the Herb Farm to check in for the remainder of the weekend. We laughed, ate, relaxed, talked about the last year and set goals for the year to come. We had the best time away and it was a great way to celebrate 4 years together! Cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for year 5!

"When I look in his eyes, I don't see perfection. I don't see a love story that would necessarily be something people would watch on a big screen and dream about. I see someone who will fight for me and protect me and love me in spite of all the ways I am still a wreck. I see home. Wherever he is. That's my home." --Melanie Shankle (The Antelope in the Living Room)

Thankful for 4 years,

MJ

Happy 1st Anniversary to US!

I cannot believe we have been married a year! It was honestly the sweetest year ever! I have loved getting to come home to Jeffrey every night. I love getting to do life with him. We have grown so much over the past year and I am excited to see how God continues to work in us. For our anniversary I created a beer paring dinner. It was so much fun! We watched our wedding videos and since the first anniversary is "paper themed" we journaled about our first year together. This is a tradition we will continue to do every year. We also got a journal for all of our trips each year and it was so fun to go back and remember all those. Now it seems crazy to document all of this, but I cannot wait to look back and see all we have been through and experienced together. Happy Anniversary Jeffrey Jones I love you more everyday!

Thankful to call Jeffrey my husband, 

MJ 

My sister is getting MARRIED!!!!

This weekend was incredible. My sweet sister Annie and Nathan are getting married. He proposed Saturday night on Baylor's campus. It was PERFECT! I cannot wait to see how God uses the two of them. Congratulations Nathan and Annie! Let the planning begin! Tons more pics to come!!

Thankful for marriage, 

MJ 

Day Date

I know I have been saying that my summer is over many times before.. but for real this time FRIDAY was my last day of summer! Jeffrey had been planning on taking a half a day so that we could spend the afternoon together just the two of us. He decided to take the entire day off which was such a nice surprise because it had been a long time since we had gone on an entire day date. As we continue on this journey of marriage we both want to make sure we are making it a priority to make time for each other, so Friday we did just that. We woke up bright and early to get coffee at my favorite coffee shop in Dallas, Pearl Cup. We then headed over the Farmers Market where we had a blast walking by all the stands. We had lunch at the Pecan Lodge (I highly recommend this) it is only open Thursday-Sunday I think from 11 until the food runs out. It was incredible barbecue!!! We then went on a hunt for Blue Sky Soda. I had been dying to try one. We had to buy them in a six pack and after tasting them I do not regret that at all! They are delicious. We then headed back to Grapevine to see Batman (I also recommend this one) it was soo good! We ended our day with dinner in Arlington with our besties James & Krista. It really was incredible day.

I loved getting to spend the day with my best friend! I love you Jeffrey! My prayer is that I continue to be the wife GOD called me to be and that I always put you before myself. Thank you for loving me unconditionally! 

"Do nothing our of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." --Philippians 2:3 

Thankful for marriage,

MJ

FAT TUESDAY

So Yesterday was my first day at my new job and it went GREAT! Missed my DZ co workers but was very welcomed by the new staff. I had completely forgotten yesterday was FAT TUESDAY so when I got home and realized it, Jeffrey and I decided to WALK (yes I said walk..we have been dying to walk to Main street from our house and the weather was perfect for it) this local sea food joint on Main street called BIG FISH! We were greeted with beads and live music! We waited a lot longer than I expected, but it was worth the wait once we tasted the crawfish! It was a great evening celebrating with my sweet husband!

Thankful for unexpected date nights,

MJ

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day!!! 

<3 The Joneses 

So I absolutely love VALENTINES DAY! I think it is just a fun holiday mainly because of all the colors. Do not get me wrong there were times that I despised the day devoted to love, but now that I have a permanent Valentine it makes it that much sweeter. I hope that everyone of you has a day filled with LOVE. Below are some sweet pictures of the blessings that have filled my day with love.

 The Cute headband my mom made me to wear to work today! 

 Candy from my sweet student

 Breakfast from my hubby X0X0

My valentines mug waiting on my coffee maker this morning! 

Feeling Loved today, 

MJ 

Wine Trail with the Joneses

PREPARE YOURSELF THIS IS A LONG ENTRY 

This past weekend was an action packed weekend. It hit the ground running at 4:30 when I picked Jeffrey up from his week long trip to Minnesota. We went to the bakery to pick up some sweets for our special guests: Rich, Cathey and Judy. They drove in from Amarillo to celebrate birthday's, valentine's day and just because. It was the first time they stayed in our home and we had such a blast hosting them. Friday night we went to Birthday dinner at a little Italian place by our house that is BYOB. We ended the evening by watching our amazing wedding video (side note: if you are looking for a videographer I highly recommend Wink & Smile out of Waco, Tx). It was so fun to remember the day all over again. 

Saturday we woke up and had a huge homestyle breakfast at another place near our house. Cathey and I had to leave early to make it to our appointment at the Dry Bar in Frisco. Which I had heard very mixed messages about. Luckily we had an incredible experience. They were super friendly, greeted us with drinks, washed, dried and styled our hair exactly the way we wanted. We even got some new product and hair accessories out of the trip. I definitely want to make another trip there very soon. 

After the Dry Bar we met the boys up to start our Sweetheart wine trail tour through downtown Grapevine. We had such a blast strolling up and down main street. We tasted lots of fun wine, ate yummy food and did some shopping as well. If you have never done the wine trail in Grapevine I highly suggest it. It was the best Valentines date ever! We will most definitely be participating in this again very very soon. We ended the night with a lovely make up experience at Nordstrom and yummy pizza from Coalvines. 

The super fun bracelet I got on the trail (Thanks Jor) 

Sunday we woke up and Rich cooked us a yummy breakfast. We then headed to church for our Man vs Series. It was a great message on Man vs. Envy and how it is all a heart issue. So this week I am really working on knowing that I am an envious person and that is because it is a heart problem. 

After church we went on the Baylor Women's Council home tour through Colleyville and Grapevine. It was a fun way to support Baylor scholarships. We then had to say goodbye to Rich and Cathey which is the worst part. I really wish we all lived closer, but am so thankful for the time we do get to spend with them. We are truly blessed to have such amazing family. 

After they left Jeffrey and I quickly ran to the grocery store to prepare for community group that evening. We were having a cookie exchange and each couple had to bring homemade cookies along with the recipe. It was such a fun way to try a lot of different cookies. It was actually a contest and we had to vote on each others cookies. Our's did not win, but at least most of them were gone by the end of the evening (thats a good sign right?)

We had a great night of fellowship and spending time applying the sermon for the week to our lives. Really focusing on the memory verse this week and spending time in prayer for a more content heart.

"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." James 3:16 

Thankful,

MJ

Happy February

Well it has been a few days since my last post because life has gotten the best of me, but I am happy to be back in the swing of things. We had a wonderful trip to Chicago to visit the Blandford's especially getting to pick out Miss Blythe's ballet attire and just spend some time with them. This past weekend we had a blast celebrating the marriage of two of our friends from Baylor. We stayed downtown at a hotel and danced the night away.It was a great way to end the month and it was our first wedding to attend since our own!

 I feel like today is a fitting day to begin my routine of blogging (hopefully). February is a very important month in my life: I was born on the 25th, Jeffrey proposed on the 12th, Valentines day is the 14th (my favorite holiday because of all the pink), my dad passed away on the 25th, a lot of family members have birthday's in this month and its short! I have a love hate relationship with February because at times it has brought me the most joy I have ever known (getting engaged) and the most pain I have ever experienced (loosing my dad at 16). I honestly feel a wave of emotions as the month begins. I have spent a lot of time in prayer the last few weeks and I am confident to say that no matter what is thrown at me this February I have God's grace and that is ENOUGH. I am excited for all the time we will get to spend with friends and family this month as well as the time we will spend growing our relationship with each other and with the lord. So as this month begins I wanted to take a minute to wish you all a VERY HAPPY FEBRUARY!

--MJ