A Hunting We Will Go....

WHEW!! The month of November has flown by!  Jason and I really started the house hunt strong this month.  We have had an AMAZING realtor who has really done all the work for us.  We have only had to show up to look at the houses.  We found a great house in the West End.  It was a 3 bedroom/ 2 bathroom brick rancher with a HUGE fenced back yard.  We took my parents to see it and they liked it too.  We decided that we were going to make an offer!! How exciting? Jason and my first offer on a house!!!  We made the offer late in the afternoon and gave the seller until 6pm the next day...and you know what? He waited until 6pm the next day to counter. Geez! We went back and forth several times and in the end it didn't work out.  Jason and I took that as our sign that this wasn't the "perfect" house for us right now.  We took a rest from looking at houses to revisit our priorities.  We decided that we would open our search radius back up to the Midlothian area and asked our realtor to take us to a house that we has seen a few weeks prior.  This house was  white with black shutters and a white door. I have always dreamed of a white house with black shutters and a RED door so a little bit of paint and POOF! Dream come true! It has 4 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a living room, family room, newly remodeled kitchen, AND the most AMAZING walk-in closet with vanity!!! WE HAD TO HAVE IT!! Jason and I decided to put in an offer right there and within an hour we had heard back from seller with the great news that THIS WAS IT!!!
   We are so excited to start the next part of our journey.....home inspection, closing, painting, and moving!!! Of course, the day after we found out it was going to be ours I made Jason go to Home Depot to get paint swatches!! We are also going to be looking for some new furniture....a desk and living room set!
   We have lots to be thankful for this holiday season!

The GREAT 'Punkin'

October has been flying by and so many great things have happened!  Jason and I had the chance to visit the Hanover Vegetable Farm.  It was SO much fun.  We got to go on a hayride to a field full of pumpkins.

Of course we took the challenge of "All You Can Carry for $20".  Jason was able to carry 6....yes SIX pumpkins! It was quite a feat!

 

  When we got home that night we decided that we were going to make a night of it and carve our pumpkins, watch a Halloween movie, and enjoy a quiet evening together.  I have to admit that I was not very helpful in the carving department.  I think I am responsible for 1 of the 6 pumpkins.  But as I was carving my one and only pumpkin, I got to thinking about God and Pumpkins.

    A pumpkin is quite a bit like being a Christian.  As you would go into a pumpkin patch a pick a pumpkin, God chose you from his "patch".  After picking the perfect pumpkin you take it home and clean it off.  In the same way God, takes you in as his own and begins to "clean" you off.  Next you take the pumpkin and cut the top off and scoop out all of the pumpkin guts and God does the same thing to us.  He digs all of the yucky stuff out.

 

 All of the pumpkin seeds and guts are removed and then you begin to carve a cute pumpkin design, you put a candle inside and BAHDABING! God removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. And then he carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

 

  I hope that everyone has a safe and fun filled Halloween.  Continue to let your light shine for all to see!

 

Rush Rush Rush

   WHEW!! October is flying by! This past weekend was slammed!  We were in Virginia Beach for my best friend's wedding.  It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a delicious and relaxing reception!  Jason and I had to drive back to Richmond the night of the wedding because our Sunday was so full. 
   Jason had to work Sunday morning/afternoon and I went to the "October Birthday Party" at Bradley and Stephanie's (Jason's brother and sister-in-law). Stephanie had invited all of her family as well as the whole Joyner clan.  It just so happened that they are expecting their first child!!! I AM SO EXCITED TO BE AN AUNT!!!  They told the family in a really cute way.  After everyone opened their birthday presents they gave each set of parents and grandparents a card.  Inside the card was a picture of the first ultrasound and it was signed "Bradley, Stephanie, and Baby J"....SO STINKING CUTE!!
   I left the birthday party early because my cousin, David, was in town from Seattle and I had planned a little cousin time.  We went to Champp's at Stoney Point then made our way to Bar Louie.  We had a great time catching up and it's crazy how you don't realize how much you miss someone until you are able to catch up with them again. I miss him so much and hope he will come live on the east coast some time soon!
   The beginning of the week has gone by so quickly!  There are a lot of things coming up that we will get to later:-) Stay Tuned!

It Was a "Thrilling" Weekend

    This weekend was one to remember!!  Jason and I traveled to Virginia Beach for Kristin and Matt's wedding.  We left early on Saturday morning and arrived at Betsey and Patrick's (Patsey) house around 10am.  Betsey and I started right away running around for the bride!  We were lucky enough to help set up some things AND spend some time with the beautiful Mrs. Sheely!  Jason and Patrick spent the afternoon watching UVA win!!  The wedding was gorgeous and the reception was a blast!  One of the key parts was  a "Thriller" dance by a group of dancers that Kristin's dad knew! It was so cool! I will post a few pictures soon!

 Kate, Betsey, and Me (I look a little scared, not sure why)

The Beautiful Mrs. Sheely

  On Sunday Jason and I left early to head back to Richmond.  We had a minor detour and met my sister in Williamsburg.  While Catie and I shopped all day, Jason made his way back home to check on the kitties and unwind with some golf!

   All in all it was a great weekend!  It is great to travel on the weekends but also good to be back home; although, sometimes coming home involves encountering stress that you were able to leave behind. More to come on that later.......

FALLing into October

   October is finally here and you know what that means........ Fall, pumpkins, chili, football games/tailgates, and lots of other fun things!  We have a busy month coming! 

   This weekend we are headed to Virginia Beach to celebrate the marriage of one of my sorority sisters and good friends, Kristin!  We are so happy and excited for their journey!  We are going to be staying with my best friend Betsey, who is getting married the following weekend, and her fiance Patrick.  I am so excited to see what Betsey has done with baby Molly's room

   Life as a school teacher is going well.  I am so blessed to work with the people that I do!  We have just started to get kids and there are some interesting ones!!  Today a child said a word that I had not heard in a while.  It was not a cuss word....I  know I was surprised too!  I am used to hearing the normal "f", "b", and "s" words but this word struck a serious nerve with me!  I asked this particular student if he had completed an assignment I had given him and he said "Yes, Mrs. Joyner.....SYKE!" Man oh Man!  SYKE? Really?!?  I felt like I was back in my school days when "syke" was a cuss word. I absolutely LOVE my job though. The classroom is getting cuter and cuter each day! It seems that throughout the day Adriane and I are always thinking of a cuter way to do something or a decorating idea!  We actually pulled out the pumpkin wreath , pumpkins,AND the fall leaves today...so exciting!!! (pictures to come soon)


  We have started the preliminary steps of househunting. Found a Realtor...check!   Preapproved for a Loan...check!  Now we are just going to slowly begin this exciting process. We will definitely keep everyone posted with our progress! 
 

First Timer

This is the first time we have ever created and posted on a blog!  We are looking forward to keeping everyone up-to-date with everything that is going on in the Joyner household!

Let's start from the beginning.........

   Jason and I got married on July 11, 2009 in Richmond, VA.  We had a gorgeous backyard ceremony in Jason's parents' backyard.  Jason's parents (Martha and Charlie) did an AMAZING job landscaping their backyard.  The personal touches that they added made our day that much more special! 

Our reception was held at Wellesley Clubhouse.  My mom, my roommate from college (Kate), my sister (Catie), and I planned the setup and decorations for the party.  Jason and I were We were so lucky to have such a FLAWLESS party.  I danced the night away with all of my family and friends while Jason was busy mingling with all of our guests.  We are so grateful for the support of everyone who came and shared in our special day! 

     After the wedding we whisked away to Punta Cana in the Domican Republic.  We stayed at the Paradisus Punta Cana and were treated with Royal Service!  During the day we would lay out in the sun or in the Bali Beads and at night we would enjoy the wonderful restaurants that our resort had to offer.  We did encounter a bit of "Montezuma's Revenge" but that did not stop us from enjoying our time together in the most GORGEOUS place I have ever been.

  Jason had to head back to work and I enjoyed the rest of my summer off, a perk of being a teacher!  Most of my days were spent opening wedding presents, writing thank you cards, hanging out at the pool with Jason and family, and playing with our two kitties: Miller (tiger) and Lily (Calico).

  Towards the end of August, I headed back to school and Jason continued working at American Family Fitness as their Assistant Fitness Director.  Going back to school proved to be more of an adjustment that I had expected.  I ended up having to move out of the classroom that I was in last year and combine with another teacher into one room.  We are going to be team teaching the Kindergarten and Second Grade students that come through.  At first moving seemed to be a HUGE task but now that we are all settled in we are happy with our new room!

     September proved to be an interesting month.  The children started back to school and I was working at a few of the elementary school to help out with interventions and what not.  Everything was going a long fine until I got a HORRIBLE case of vertigo.  I ended up being stuck in the bed for what seemed like forever! I couldn't watch tv, use the computer, or even read a book.  Jason was an angel through it all.  He stayed home with me, helped out around the house, took me to doctor's appointments, and took me to work when I was steady enough to go. 

     Jason had to opportunity to go to "Big Dogs" which is like a big trip that he takes with the guys.  It is basically offroading in the masses.  Lots of people drive their "offroad" vehicles and get a chance to try them out on trails all weekend!  Jason and his buddies camped out all weekend and had fun trying the different leveled trails. He had a fun time and only injured our Wrangler a little!

  Right before Jason went to Big Dogs his best girl friend and her husband delivered their first child, a little girl!! Jason was able to go to the hospital and see her the night of her birth.  We have also been over to visit the new family since they have been home!  It is such a blessing to have a beautiful, healthy baby!! Jason was really cute holding her too! No worries though...... we have a couple, 5 years!!

 

  I am looking forward to posting more of our adventures this fall.  We have a lot of things to look forward to: two of my best friends' (Kristin and Betsey) weddings, Betsey welcoming her first child, Hampden Sydney tailgating, our first Thanksgiving and Christmas together, and the biggest being HOUSEHUNTING!!!