"Hit the ground running"

My Dad is famous for his little phrases and this is one he uses that perfectly describes this past week for the Jones' family. We had some really hard goodbyes in Virginia, then an incredibly long drive to Texas, and things have been non-stop since we got here. We have settled into our little (and I do mean little) hotel room and Cory has his new office all set up. Most importantly we've already figured out how to get to the nearest Sonics and Whataburgers...and Teri we've already fallen in love with Pei Wei too- delicious!!!

Our hopes of moving to be closer to family have definitely come true because we've spent at least part of everyday at my sister April's house and my parents are coming into town today- plus we'll get to see Cory's family in a few weeks too.

We've got some big news already. First of all I have a job!! It's another PRN position at a hospital so it just means I am a sub again and I'm hoping to keep working my two days a week only. The best news is that I don't have to get on any highways to get there so my commute will be 10 minutes- a ridiculously short commute for Houston!!! And since I had a guarenteed job we were able to go house hunting and let me tell you Cory and I gawked at the size and prices of the Houston market...especially compared to what we just sold our 1,100 square foot house for. Our realtor took us to around 20 houses the first day and on our way back to the office she remembered a house that was actually one of her listings. She took us by and we completely fell in love with it until she checked her papers and realized the price was not what she remembered and was out of our price range. To make a long story short the people selling the house are ex-members of the church Cory is working at and had sold it too some friends but sad story the friends got divorced and bailed on the mortgage which suddenly left the original owners with two house payments.

Our realtor talked to them (because she was also their realtor) and told them our story, that we were looking for a quick close, and what our max amount could be....AND they took it!! They were thrilled at the idea of a quick close and a nice family moving in and wanted to help us out so they lowered the price into our range. Our heads our still spinning over it all. We knew that with the Texas market we would probably get a bigger house than what we had in Virginia but never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined something so nice. We affectionately call the house "Gigantor!" So everyone please come visit us because we need some bodies to help fill this house because we sure don't have the furniture to fill it!!! :)

Cory and I have been reflecting a-lot on how much God blesses us-we just feel really unworthy and sooo grateful. I have always loved the verse "my cup runneth over." Here's some pics below of all our blessings this past week.

This was at a going away party some of our friends had for us. There were four of us families that have really bonded over the past six years. Together we have a grand total of zero little girls and nine little boys.

Here's everybody next to their best friend. I think the biggest gap between friends is 3 months. Poor Joshua the oldest never did have a buddy his age.


"Gigantor"

We move in the first week of October- pending the closing of our house in VA. I can't wait.


Sleepy boys packed up for an early departure and a looooooooong drive

We wanted to take pictures at every state sign but we really didn't want to

make the trip any longer than it was!!!

The teens sneakily decorated our car for us Sunday morning the day before we left

Here's our gang

Me and my girls on our last Sunday. Most of them dressed up in Western wear since we were moving to Texas- it was really cute. Two of the girls made up scrapbooks and we spent all Sunday morning calss looking back through six years of memories. It was really special!