Offer Made; Now onto inspecting and picking over with a fine toothed comb..

Here we sit, and we are happy as clams, hoping for the best on our soon-to-be-new home.... we hope, we hope, we hope!  Maybe it's really that we're happy as crabs, because we now have two hermit crabs, who like to sleep the day away and party all night long!  We welcomed them into our family about a week ago.   

We made an offer last week on a lovely, 1977 home in the Memorial Northwest Neighborhood last Tuesday.  Our first offer was rejected but we kept at it.  By Friday night, the sellers had decided to accept our counter-offer and we made it official on Saturday, August 6th (my 37th birthday)!!! 

8218 Forest Ridge
Spring, Texas 77379

And now, we wait... and we plan, and we pray so that we don't put the cart in front of the horse.  Greg has Roy, the inspector coming out to meet with he and a pool specialist this Wednesday (tomorrow) and they will determine for us what needs to be fixed and what does not.  The kids have been officially enrolled in THE TURCOTTE ACADEMY for this semester and Daniel is awaiting approval from TxVA (K12) while I'll be using "Alpha&Omega" curriculum with SaraKay.  One or both of them may eventually be pulled from homeschooling and enrolled in Theiss Elementary, but for now, this is the most affordable and most flexible option for our family as we travel through this transition.  The kids and I are all actually looking forward to the adventure of homeschooling together beginning August 22nd. 

I had a wonderful birthday weekend!  Barry drove over after work and picked up the kids Friday afternoon, 8/5.  He, Adele, and Ryan took them to Chuck E. Cheese that evening while Greg and I went outlet mall shopping and out for Texas BBQ!  They (including Stephanie) all drove back up to GRINGOs the following morning and we met up for a birthday luncheon.  Barry's birthday is the 9th and mine the 6th, so we made it a double doozie and had a good time.  We stopped by the house we put the offer on on our way back to our apartment.  Once back at the apartment, we had chocolate mousse filled chocolate cake.  Yum -o!  Then, the adults as well as Daniel & SaraKay worked off a few calories by going swiming here at the complex.  That night, we drove up to the Woodlands and signed the contract papers.  We celebrated that by going to "The Cheesecake Factory." Oh... we were like stuffed ticks!  We walked the Woodlands Mall for a while but then headed home to fall into bed for a long night's sleep.  We visited Cypress Bible Church the following day and we are pretty sure we'll go back soon. 

All moved in...now onto homeschooling and house hunting.

Our movers arrived with all 432 items/boxes last Tuesday - whew, that's a lot o' cardboard!  Greg's boss generously allowed him to take the whole day off to help us unload and settle in even though it was only his 2nd official day on the clock.  He is enjoying his new job as Continuous Improvement Specialist at FMC and is learning more and more every day there about the oil supply business.  He was assigned his first project on Thursday and he's pretty gung-ho about chipping in and leading others to work together to be consistent. 

The kids and I spent all day Wednesday and Friday unpacking boxes.  Thursday, we took a break and SaraKay had a playdate with a friend and her girls that live here in the apartment complex.  (Yes, a new friend!!! Yay!) Daniel and I went on house tours with our realtor for a few hours Thursday morning, and then we all came back to the apartment and kind of chilled out. 
Saturday, Greg and I told one another that we needed to have a more relaxed weekend than we'd had the last 3 weeks because we were wearing a bit thin from all the unpacking and busy, busy, busy.  Now, if we could only magically locate our bedroom comfortor and sheets without busting into more cardboard!  (smile)

Sunday, we went back to The Woodlands Church because the kids wanted to see what their kids worship was like and Greg and I wanted to hear Dr. Charles Lowry one more time.  Next Sunday, we'll probably start looking for somewhere a little closer to home.

We drove around a few more neighborhoods this afternoon and enjoyed an Italian meal out at Buca Restaurant. 

Last night, after going to the pool together and then onto H-E-B to shop for a few

groceries, Greg and I hosted a movie "preview" to watch "The Wand Of Lore," the film

in which our kids took part during Vidalia's Movie Camp, mid-July.

I got inspired by a FAMILY FUN article to make a FAIRY house out of melon.  The kids

had a ball and the movie was so, so cute!  They had had such fun being actresses and actors in Jackson, John and Ala's REAL movie.

So, we're settling in, and while we miss friends in sweet Onion country, we are thankful to be able to follow God's lead and bloom where He has planted us for this season of life.

 

New Home - Houston, TX!!!

Wonderful friends at FBC Vidalia threw us a
"going away" luncheon our last Sunday there.

Jackie & Stacey were my hostesses with the "mostesses"

We've arrived in Houston, Texas and have begun our next adventure!
13504 Schroeder Rd Apartment #4104  Zipcode: 77070

Old Home in Vidalia all cleaned out and ready to sell

Ft. Walton Beach, FL

It was a long set of two days getting here, but we all made it in one piece and not ripping our hair out, so I consider that a success.
It was nice to have our first night's stayover near Destin, Florida... can't beat a white sand beach!  We drove 7 1/2 hours the first day and  were on the road about 12 hours the 2nd day.

Our Moving VanLine

We stayed at Uncle Barry & Aunt Adele's house that first night, and let the kids play with their older cousin up until about lunch on Friday.  Then, we headed up to North Houston to start setting up house.

We're living out of totes and boxes... fun, fun!

Our first Sunday here in the Houston Area (July 24) we visited Kerry Shook's church, "The Woodlands Church - Fellowship Campus)

Woodlands Church - Worship Thru Music Sun. AM - July 24

We've been able to set up bank accounts, move into our town-home, secure insurance,
set up initial drs appointments, purchase bathroom necessities like shower curtains & hooks (that accidentally got packed away in the vanline truck) as well as eat at some good ol' Texas favorite restaurants.  Greg started work today at FMC, and the kids are I are sticking close to home since we don't have a 2nd vehicle to use to run errands.  I'm hoping that the pool opens up soon.  Without a tv or radio or mp3 player, it's very quiet except for the elephant-like tromping around that's going on above me in the kids' bedrooms.  Geesh, they're loud walkers.  I've never lived in a 2-story house with them, and this is quite the experience!

The Moyes let us stay the night with them when all our good were packed
on the moving truck.  It was a true blessing to be surrounded by such
wonderful and gracious friends the night before we drove out of Georgia!