The Whirlwind is Almost Over!

So, here is where we are right now...

We just finished helping coordinate, feed, and photograph my sister-in-law's wedding in NC. We left on Thursday evening for NC around 5pm. We arrived at my parents house at 2:30am on Friday. The boys were up at 7am! We did some finishing touches on our leftover stuff back in NC from our move. We leave tomorrow morning around 7am in order to be back in FL for the 6pm service and dinner.

I was able to get a job in Tampa (the next county over). I drive around 30min. one way to get there, but it is not bad. I teach all 3 grade levels in Reading. Most of my classes are students who did not achieve well on the FCAT (similar to EOGs). I have enjoyed it thus far. I was hired on a Monday afternoon (teacher's first day) and was a work the next day. I was "official" on Wednesday. Students began on Tuesday, the next week.

The boys LOVE their daycare, which is at the church where Daniel works. Malachi is in VPK (pre-kindergarten). He is enjoying learning. Ezekiel was put in the 3 year old room since he is advanced. He loves it, too.

We accepted an offer on our house of Monday this week. We should close in September 20-something. We now have 2 months left to find a house in the Z-hills area. We are happy for the temporary housing with no lease but ready for a house with room for all of us and our stuff. We will be looking at some homes next week.

The boys were ringbearers in the wedding today. We bought them suits. Ezekiel called it his "soup." When he says bathing suit, it is "baby soup." He was so exhausted from today's festivities and no nap and little sleep that he was in bed by 7:30pm and should sleep until we wake him up in the morning.

We don't have internet or cable/satellite at our temporary house, so I will try to do better about updating later. That's why these are a little far and few between.

Pictures!!!

Last week we were at General Council in Orlando. We had a great time.

Bibleman (Malachi)

My friends Tigger & Pooh (Downtown Disney)

Rainforest Cafe - very scary for the boys - in Downtown Disney

Playing outside at the house

More Playing outside

Maw-Maw Carol (plus Grammy & Grandpa) came down with us to help us move. This is from a recliner in our furnished temporary house.

We're "settled" in.

We arrived with our U-haul with car-in-tow and Durango at our "rental" temporary housing (for 3 months max) on Thursday morning around 1:30AM. We had planned to leave NC around 6am, but we didn't get to leave until 1:30pm. I love how plans work out :) Anyways, we would have made it sooner, except we were stuck on a stretch on I-95 in SC for about an hour. A tractor trailor must have jack-knifed in the rain, so we got to STOP! It was nice to take Ezekiel pee on the side of the road and share mom's snack of friendship bread with Daniel, Maw-maw Carol, and Malachi (while stopped). We also inched along interstate 95 to 295 as Jacksonville decided to route all traffic for 95 & 295 into ONE LANE! How wonderful!

Well, we made it without any excitement on our part that day. We were able to sleep until 8 or 9am. Then, we began to sweat more than any human should ever have to sweat! The humidity is horrible. Thankfully, we got some help to unload most of the stuff into a storage unit (our rental is furnished). The head pastor and great man, J, came out to assist while Maw-maw and Grammy watched the boys nap and unpack kitchen boxes.

Friday, Daniel went into work for a few hours. I took the boys to the local spraygrounds/splashpad. Malachi wanted Ezekiel to play, but Z would have none of it. It ended in a double meltdown. I'm glad I had to other "mothers" along that day. Malachi had a "talk" with Ezekiel about being his buddy next time and playing. It is so funny how Malachi is a splashpad man, and Ezekiel is a swimming boy. Z hates the splashpad, and Malachi is finally warming up to the pool. He used to be terrified of water.

Saturday, we went out to breakfast, toured Lakeland and saw Southeastern, then ended the day with CiCi's and swimming at the pool at Grammy & Grandpa's hotel.

Sunday was church. Malachi did great, once we got to church. I had to wrestle his clothes on him at home, then throw him in the car. Once there, he calmed and actually sat in his seat the whole time! I was so proud of him. Ezekiel did fine in nursery, too. Grandpa, Grammy, and Maw-maw headed for home right after church. We went to a little Italian/Greek restaurant and home for naps. Church at 6pm, then warm-up the taco meat we bought in the microwave b/c the oven pilot hasn't been lit yet.

Monday, I did laundry and clipped coupons. Afternoon we ate lunch at the house then went to a local bank to start a new account. Then, we ran home and packed, so we could get in the car to head to Orlando for General Council.

We've had a fun time at the Liki Tiki resort in Orlando and a great time at General Council.

We hope to sell our house soon. It was viewed on its 2nd day on the market. Then, we can seriously buy a house. I'm looking forward to more space than a hotel and little 2 bedroom can provide. It's been a whirlwind.

Please pray that I can find a job. School starts in a few weeks. I am believing and praying that God would provide that.

Love ya.