Father's Day

We had a little Father's Day moment Saturday night. Jerod had spent the day outside doing a project (in the heat, bless him!). He was out there for several hours and had hooked up a CD player for entertainment. He pulled out an old favorite CD by his very favorite band, Better Than Ezra, and "heard" this song with fresh ears. When he played it for me Saturday evening, I was a teary mess (but then again, what's new?). He's had this CD for almost ten years and can sing every word, but just hadn't really heard this song with "daddy" ears before:



"Closer"
And the morning light was breaking
Slowly moving across the bed
He gets up without her waking
To the voices in his head

Through the shadows in the hallway
To the room they painted blue
And on the inside he is frightened
At a loss for what to do
Until he opens up his eyes
And the angels all look down

Even closer than this life
Closer than your faith
Closer than the things that you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win

And he knows his life is changing
It's never easy letting go
For the first time you are mortal
As the child before you grows
And he wonders at the sight
Of the joy that they have found

Even closer than this life
Closer than your faith
Closer than the things that you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win

And what would you intend to find?
Solitude? Your peace of mind?
Holding out for something less
Than touching the hand of God?

Even closer than this life
Closer than this faith
Closer than the things that you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win

Closer than this life
Closer finally
Living for the only thing
You ever made complete
Oh, for the one thing
That you both did perfectly

15 days 'til due date

Oh my. It really could happen anytime now. We spent the weekend trying to get the house picked up in case of emergency dash-to-the-hospital. Everyone says don't worry about the house...but please! I can't bring baby home to a wreck! And we still have to have clean clothes, towels, and sheets...you know!?
Jerod was so sweet to tackle the nursery closet as I supervised from the glider. We got most everything out of there and appropriated. Enough to get all the big baby stuff inside the closet as well as his hanging clothes. I can't imagine that his hanging clothes will ever be as long as his dad's! Just one last box of stuff I need to find spots for in the office/guest room.
If I had one wish from a genie in a bottle right now it would be that MY closet would get magically sorted, organized, and rebuilt. Just not gonna happen before due date...such is life.
The sweet husband also installed a ceiling fan in the nursery which was on my "to do" list. He agreed that we needed one after we spent time in there sorting the closet. It was a little stuffy!
We're ready. I mean. We have stuff. Lots of stuff. Diapers, creams, toys, onesies, wipes, bags, breastfeeding stuff, books, fans, lullabies, bottles, pacifiers, humidifier, socks, mittens, hats, furniture...man! Do we have STUFF!?!  I still get the cold sweats when I think about delivery, but I just keep asking God to get me through it.
Feels like we're flying in airplane strapped to a skydiver and are about to be pushed out into the vast open skies. We don't know exactly when or exactly what to do...but we have an expert "attached" to us! And lots of family and friends ready to help us land. Thanks everyone for your excitement and prayers!

Welcome to the New Blog!

Baby Shepard will be featured here. I'm sure this first year I'll record his every grunt, smile, scoot and poop. Well, maybe not the poops! All of our precious family is out of town (y'all are welcome to move to Rock Hill--hint, hint), so hopefully this will be a way we can keep up with the newest Jones family addition. And while no one will be as interested in him as Daddy and me, friends can always drop by for updates, pictures, and video clips.
I wanted to keep the blog I have been doing for years now, and wanted to give Shepard some space of his own.
Welcome!
Will update as events warrant.
Next up on the calendar: Labor and Delivery
When? Who knows?
Where? Hopefully in the hospital.
How? Lord only knows. Quickly and safely would be two adverbs I'm ranking near the top of my list.

'Til I see you again,
Shelley