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Blog, Books, Business, Faith, Family, Parenting, prayer, Speaking, Speaking Events, Spiritual Gifts

Beautiful changes

sunflowers & purple flowers

sunflowers & purple flowers

It’s officially Autumn (Fall), one of my fave times of year. The leaves haven’t changed to glorious colors yet here in Missouri, but will soon.

“Autumn, the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.” Heather Stillufsen

I’m knee-deep in writing my next book (on repentance – the book cover reveal is soon!), attending a ladies’ Bible study at my new church (Hope City Church in Harrisonville, Missouri), and leading a writers’ Progress Pod for my writing coaches CJ and Shelley Hitz’s membership site, Christian Book Academy. The brilliant idea and software for Progress Pods with The Next Tiny Step were created by Richard Ralston of New Zealand.

The progress pod helps with accountability and support to reach your goals and dreams faster. I love the ladies in both my Bible study and my pod each week! They are so sweet and encouraging. Some women in our pod are just starting to write their books and others already have published several. Many of us also write blog posts, speak, and coach. The main thing is just to keep going and not quit!

Beth Jones, International Speaker & Author

Beth Jones, International Speaker & Author

If you need help coaching to step out to speak or to write your book, here’s my coaching page for beginner speakers and writers. 

One of the ladies in our pod, Constance Diakow, just published her first book; it’s a cute children’s book called Henrietta and her Special Rain Boots. You can find it for sale at Amazon here. Another author, Jill English Johnston, has written a Be Still book series with beautiful photography, such as this one, Consider: Trusting the Abundance of God.  

dolphin Image source: http://www.defenders.org/

dolphin
Image source: http://www.defenders.org/

I was so honored that my writing coach Shelley asked me to lead one of the progress pods. I asked my husband Ray to help me name the pod. He has a quick wit and said immediately, “Dolphin Pod,” because dolphins swim in pods. He also knows that I LOVE dolphins.

When we got engaged, Ray didn’t have a lot of money then to buy me an expensive diamond engagement ring, so he bought me a gold dolphin ring. I still have it and keep it in my jewelry stand. (He later bought me a beautiful diamond one!)

dolphin engagement ring

dolphin engagement ring

This past Friday, I attended the ladies’ retreat at Hope City Church with our beautiful daughters Heather and Eden, and Heather’s beautiful, previous neighbor, Samoy. God’s presence was there and it was so fun! Over 260 ladies signed up for this first-time ladies’ retreat at Hope City – wow! This blew me away.

Ladies' RetreatL to R: Beautiful ladies! Samoy, me, Heather, & Eden

Ladies’ Retreat
L to R: Beautiful ladies!
Samoy, me, Heather, & Eden

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Blog, Family, Friendship

An ordinary day on your birthday, an extraordinary God

Today is my birthday! I haven’t done anything spectacular to celebrate it; in fact, it’s been a very ordinary day…primarily because I just had some dental work done and I’m on a soft food diet this week (which means, the hygienist said, no chips & salsa right now (or cake)…although I did buy a Sonic hot fudge sundae today to put in my coffee for a little chocolate, creamy treat!). I can’t have hot or cold drinks right now, so I had to let it cool first. But it was so good!

hot fudge sundae for my coffee

hot fudge sundae for my coffee

But my perspective (despite not being able to go out to eat for my birthday) is that each day and moment is a precious gift and sacred, whether you’re saving lives like my husband Ray does in his courageous career (Marines/Navy corpsman, paramedic, police chief, SWAT team medic, and currently a fire chief/paramedic); a doctor or nurse; a lawyer; a librarian; a homeschooling mom; a garbage truck worker; a scientist; a therapist; a radio show host; a stay at home mom changing diapers; or ____ (you fill in the blank). 

Fire Chief Ray JonesCentral Cass County Fire Dept yellow-ribbon cutting ceremony

Fire Chief Ray Jones
Central Cass County Fire Dept yellow-ribbon cutting ceremony

When I went to get Swiffer power mop cloths at Walmart this morning to mop the floors, I also bought myself some gorgeous yellow roses there. They are among my fave flowers, besides sunflowers, daisies, and wildflowers. 

Yellow roses for my birthday

Yellow roses for my birthday

They go nicely with my t-shirt with the yellow inscription (with a cute heart!), which reads, “Choose Happy.” I believe that we do have to CHOOSE happiness, or joy, rather, no matter what our circumstances are. “The joy of the LORD is our strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Choose Happy t-shirt

Choose Happy t-shirt

Today was a beautiful day with the sunshine streaming through the trees in our yard. 

Sunlight through the trees

Sunlight through the trees

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Blog, Faith, Family, Marriage, Parenting, prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Travel, worship/praise/music

My birthday: Destin beach, a surprise visit, Japanese hibachi grill, Starbucks gift cards, songs, and more

Yesterday was my birthday. My husband Ray’s gift to me was my recent week-long trip to Destin beach, Florida for a week alone (August 15-22, 2022). I’ve been praying for over 3 years to travel there. One day I found a reduced plane fare online and Ray said, “Book it!” so I did immediately!

Destin beach is gorgeous with soft, white sand and clear, blue-green water. I desperately needed this time of relaxation on the beach and to work on my speaking and writing biz. You can see my recent vlog, My Happy Place, here at YouTube. It is my 11th vlog about the trip.

Destin beach, Florida

Destin beach, Florida

 

Beth Jones, Destin beach

Beth Jones, Destin beach

Ray also gave me a pretty card with a Starbucks gift card and took me out for supper to a Japanese restaurant in Lee’s Summit, MO, called Siki.

We got dressed up to go out, a rare occasion. I found a pretty teal, inexpensive dress on Amazon and an elegant but cheap necklace and earrings from Paparazzi. I already had my bracelet and black shoes with a slight heel. The dress had high reviews on Amazon and was soft and comfortable. Ray wore a charcoal-grey, button-up shirt and beige slacks.

My teal birthday dress and Paparazzi jewelry

My teal birthday dress and Paparazzi jewelry

 

Ray in charcoal-grey shirt and beige slacks

Ray in charcoal-grey shirt and beige slacks

We had a nice, funny chef who cooked us delicious food.

Chef at Siki restaurant

Chef at Siki restaurant

He couldn’t put on the usual great show of fire, because there was a toddler girl there at the hibachi table, who screamed and cried when he first made the flames appear. I’m sure this was a disappointment to the chef. Everyone else at the table was related to her, so they understood. Ray and I are parents so we got it, too. We remember those days! They grow up so fast!

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