My Grandmother

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me and my family these past few days. For those of you who have no clue whats going on and want to know I'll give you the brief summary: My mom called me on Saturday and asked if I would come spend the night with them (she and my grandma) because she needed a break from taking care of my grandmother who has been sick this past week. I said sure thinking I would just help my grandma get to bed and give her her meds ( we thought she had pneumonia). She was schedule to go to the hospital on Sunday as that was when her sister, my Aunt Bobbie and Aunt Mayme could come take her. Well when I got there my grandma had gotten progressively worse. She was now hallucinating very very badly and I couldn't keep her in bed. My mom took some sleeping pills and went to bed so I was on my won around 8. My grandma kept getting up every 15 minutes ( and mind you she can't really walk so every time she gets up you have to as well and walk with her because she falls)So I would get up with her and ask her what she was doing and she would reply " getting all these people out of the house". Every time I would tell her there was no one there and she would get so mad because I couldn't see all the people, dogs, ants and rats she could. So this went on all night. I left there at about 8 on Sunday morning and came home and went to bed. My aunts came and took her to the hospital ER yesterday and she is in ICU right now. HEr breathing is still labored but the mental part is getting worse. They had to tie her down this morning to the bed because she was hurting herself and the nurses trying to fight off imaginary people. So that is all I know right now so keep her in your prayers as the doctors try to figure out what is going on.

I'll keep updating as I know more.

God is good and it's times like these when I see just how good and gracious and loving He is.

+Rach

Life as it Used to be

So I am here in Tuscaloosa. Heather and I came down for UA's graduation. I just dropped her off, went to Target and am now at the new Starbucks...well new to me anyways. They didn't have any of this stuff when I was here. NOw they have a whole new shopping center with Panera, Barnes and Nobles, Old Navy and tons of other stores and restaurants. I used to come home to Birmingham to go and sit at the Barnes and Noble or Starbucks to study bc there weren't any good places in Tusc. to do that. I think they got this the summer after I moved. Go figure. But being back here to actually hang out has brought back such weird emotions. The other day I was think about how different life would have been if I had stayed and finished school here. I would probably be living in a house on 13th street and back in Birmingham for Christmas break. It was weird to drive around campus and see all the buildings I used to have class in. and then drive to the target I went to so much. Its been two years since I've lived here but I could so vividly remember my old routines and the good ole' days at University of Alabama. It was a pool of mixed emotions. Many of which were thankful that God led me back to Birmingham, because I do love the city and don't miss the actual city of Tuscaloosa at all. But then some were sadness and just reality i guess that I am getting older, memories of college are quickly fading and real life is about to hit ( in 4 months to be exact). All that to say my heart is a big ball of paiurgtbiuagtyrugtv right now. YOu know what I mean. I am very excited for this next step in life and I know I am right where God wants me to be... for right now at least. We will see come May where the road will go, but for right now God is keeping the future path hidden from me...which is really good yet really hard.

Random thought but I was just thinking how interesting it is that Christmas is everyones favorite... whether you believe in the King or not... Christmas is just a season that everyone loves to celebrate. Whether people know it or not they are celebrating the birth of a Savior. Cool part is...one day everyone will bow to the Lord, it just won't be so happy at that moment for those who have ignored Him all this time.

Fear Not ---- There IS a SAVIOR!

Desert Song

This is my prayer in the desert,
When all that's within me feels dry,
This is my prayer in my hunger and need,
My God is the God who provides,

And this is my prayer in the fire,
In weakness, or trial, or pain,
There is a faith proved more worth than gold,
So refine me Lord through the flame,


I will bring praise,
I will bring praise,
No weapon formed against me shall remain,
I will rejoice, I will declare,
God is my victory and He is here,

This is my prayer in the battle,
When triumph is still on its way,
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ,
So firm on his promise I'll stand,


All of my life, in every season,
You are still God,
I have a reason to sing,
I have a reason to worship,


And this is my prayer in the harvest,
When favour and providence flow,
I know I'm filled to be emptied again,
The seed I receive I will sow

tis the season

So as Christmas approaches the question comes to mind...what do I get everyone... Now mind you I love to give gifts. LOVE it. One of my favorite things to do in life. So Christmas shopping is one of my favorite activities! But I always sturggle with what to give everyone...and it is usually the same issue that trips me up every time... no one i am close to really needs anything! Now mind you I am not Scrooge and I love to give fun things that we really don't need...like Starbucks giftcards...hint hint....but I mean really... I can't think of s single thing that I really need.

Think hard...got something?

Me neither.

So think year I have re-vamped my thinking when it comes to gifts and the amount of money I spend.

All that to say I am announcing a December special on my website : RachelJonesPhotography.com

100% of the proceeds from any purchases made during the month of December will go toward the maximum impact fund of World Visions Christmas Campaign.

$35 provides $490 worth of clothing for a child in Africa.
$30 provides a wool blanket for a child living in an open air house in frigid weather.
$25 helps provide job training for women who are trying to get their lives back after losing their hubands, families, and often dignity due to sex trafficing
$70 sends an orphan in Zambia to school for a year.
$100 provides a goat and 2 chickens to a family which means eggs and milk for food.
$50 provides $250 worth of food for a family in Africa.

I could go on and on but you get the point.... a little goes a loooooong way.

So check out the site...order some photos and make a difference for a child this Christmas... Oh an watch the video from my previous post to get a little Christmas motivation.

WATCH THIS

Thursday thought

EVERYONE WATCH THIS...NOW!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Tune Tuesday

SO I had to take a study break...so I thought I would post the song for the day.

This is Wedding Dress by Derek Webb. I've had this song on repeat for a few weeks now. The words are just so true. I cannot listen to it without tears in my eyes. What a gracious Lord we serve.


If you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I?d ever need
or is there more I?m looking for

and should I read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich, and wise
Is that really what you want

I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I run down the aisle
and I run down the aisle
I?m a prodigal with no way home
but I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I run down the aisle to you

So could you love this bastard child
Though I don?t trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side

I am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

Because money cannot buy
a husband?s jealous eye
When you have knowingly deceived his wife

I am terrible at this study thing...result...a new writing

So for some reason I hate the word poem/poetry. I do not know why. maybe it brings a cliche factor... I don't know. But nevertheless I write. And these "writings" which I guess are technically poems come out. So here is one I wrote the other day...during Bible study... I know I know. Hey it is about a Biblical story. Come on :)

I dont have a title yet.



An intentional rendezvous on bitter soil
A weary traveler meets a weary girl
An ancient stone provides a seat
A patriarch’s well is where they meet

“Give me a drink”, He read her mind
If she only knew what she was looking to find
Is sitting right there, an open door
Reaching out His hand to embrace a whore

Are you better than Jacob? Becomes her defense
This invitation to beauty does not make sense.
Straight to the core aims His demand
Go now, away, fetch your husband

“I don’t have one” becomes her mask
“I know, you have five, I didn’t need to ask”

The truth revealed she could no longer hide
And she turns to the man that sits at her side

What is this living water you speak?
And how did you know I’m so desperately weak?

Child the one that you search for is I
I’ve seen every tear that you have cried
This satisfaction you have sought for so long
Is now found in I who left the throne

And as the ink flows from my pen
I’m reminded of when I used to drown in my sin
My eyes have been open and now I can see
This girl that he met at the well was me.