Finding our place...

We have now been living in California for 2 months and Nick and I just said the other day that it seems like forever. Once we arrived I hit the ground running. Let's talk about the arrival.

Thankful for Nick's mom and
at the end of the day we were a mess!

37 hours across the country...the angels picked up the Penske and trailer with our car on it and flew us to our final destination...They had to have done so because everything is a blur. Well maybe not everything. Nick and I decided to take a week to make the move and in that week we would take some time to visit family in doing so we traveled from Columbus, OH to Indianapolis, IN (where my mom is) to Nashville, TN (where my sister and her family are) we were able to see our niece win her first volleyball game...I may have cried. From Nashville we went to Hernando, MS (where my other sister and her family are). Each place we were able to visit and at the end of the visit each one ended in prayer. For that we are blessed. Nick's mom is in Columbus and if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have survived moving day. Nick and I started the trek across the country exhausted and ended the trek exhausted!

Some of our closest friends in Columbus
Josue, Kendra, KJ and Haddie and of course Pastor Jay

We were so thankful for the friends who came
out and helped us move! They all aren't pictured here because let's be honest...I was a mess. My heart still misses these people and I don't think that will change anytime soon.

The day we left Indy to continue our trek across the country...here we go!

Not a blur: As we were crossing over from Arkansas into Oklahoma we heard metal clanking under the Penske so I pulled off onto the shoulder. Not being able to go around to the drivers side due to traffic we decided that we would pull off into a truck stop. MUCH to my surprise we had lost 7 out of 8 lug nuts on the back drivers side tire. Long story short...we had to switch trucks. Thankfully Penske hired movers to move all of our stuff to the new truck. We praise the Lord for his provision! 

The switching of the trucks. 

Lug nuts gone! The one lug nut that was "holding" it on
I loosened with my hand.

 We traveled from Oklahoma to Texas and stayed the night that night. From Texas we traveled to California... I still don't know how we made the 18 hr trip from Texas to California. The day we arrived we picked up my mom from the airport. She has never missed a first Sunday as a Children's Pastor at any church I have been to. Thankful that she was here to help us out with the house.

My mom was able to send me away to my first official Monday at the church

Nick and I were so blessed on our first official Sunday at the church. So many people told us that they have been praying for us which meant the world to us. We were flooded with hugs, cards, money and gift cards. We continue to feel so blessed by our new church family.

The start of our new adventure!

2 months later and God still blesses. Nick's schedule at Apple was so crazy our first month here because of the time change...things have finally calmed down at work for him. We as a couple continue to busy ourselves with ministry! God has opened amazing doors for Nick and before we were out here we prayed that Nick would find his place in ministry and plug in where needed. One Sunday he was bombarded by people asking him to help out in various ministries. He has developed a Tech Team at church, has joined the Men's Ministry and is now getting ready to head up the College and Career Ministry. I would say...God has answered those prayers.

We are adjusting well...actually let me rephrase that I am adjusting well. I love California! Nick hates the heat but these past few weeks we have been able to experience "fall" in California. Nick has become homesick a couple of times and we continue to miss our family and friends. With that being said God is continually blessing us as people have been so kind and supportive out here. Nick was blessed with an amazing desk for work. We ended up throwing his away because it was so old and we weren't too sure what we would do once we got here. One thing that we ended up selling in Columbus was our dining room table but once again God provided us with a beautiful table and chairs for free from some amazing women in the church. God continues to show us his goodness and I am starting to fully understand the beauty of nature. We miss the changing leaves that the midwest has to offer but we love the mountain views and the amazing sunsets. 

We are finding our place here and we know that the adventure has just begun.

Thanks for keeping up with us! -The Joneses