Interview update

Thanks again to those who have been keeping tabs on us and sending up prayers on our behalf.

John felt very positive about the interview on Friday. Upper management is making their decision by Monday, and we should hear one way or the other shortly after that. We're so blessed! BOTH opportunities look very good. IF we have the LUXURY of choosing, I pray one becomes very apparent in the way to go. God is so good, and provides so abundantly!

We'll keep everyone posted:-).

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Giveaway!

OH. BOY. Is this stylish or what?


Couldn't you just picture this beauty finding a nice home on your arm? I sure could! Rebecca is having a giveaway to launch her new design site Uptown Design Studio. Click here to get details and enter the giveaway.

We'd like to offer you the job....

Oh, those words have never sounded so good! Yes, John has a great job offer! Praise the Lord! This offer is not with the company he's interviewing with this Friday (a position John thinks he would still prefer at this point, if given a choice), but it's a descent offer for a territory manager covering ME, NH and VT. If we're fortunate enough to have 2 offers after this Friday's interview, it would be a blessing beyond words! Don't get me wrong...we're so thankful for THIS offer in and of itself, but it also allows John to go into the interview on Friday with much less pressure. It's wonderful knowing you have a strong offer in your pocket if your 'first choice' job just doesn't pan out.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who kept us in your prayers during this difficult time. Please, if you can, say a prayer for him on Friday that the interview goes smoothly. However it works out, we have faith and trust that in the end, John will end up where he's supposed to be, and the Lord's Will, will prevail for good!

What a day!

I am definitely a proud mama today! Nathan and John left bright and early yesterday morning (5:30a!) to do a 12+ mile hike in the White Mountains. Nathan has been wanting to do this particular hike since mid summer, and yesterday was THE day! It was perfect weather...80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. John said Nathan was unbelievable.....he didn't complain once about his legs, and for a 9 year old boy to do this particular set of trails was quite an accomplishment, to say the least.

The guys hit the first trail (Falling Waters) at about 8:00am and hiked to the summit of Little Haystack (4640 ft). They then picked up the Franconia Ridge Trail that traverses the ridge between Little Haystack to Mount Lincoln (5089 ft)and on to Mount Lafayette (5260 ft). To descend, they took the Old Bridle Path from Mt. Lafayette back to the car.

John and Nate had a wonderful time together, and this adventure has formed one of those lasting memories for both father and son. They've decided to try for membership into the 4,000 foot club. You have to climb 40 mountains that are over 4,000 feet to 'wear' this badge of honor. They're off to a good start....3 down!

Nathan says he wants to do Mt. Washington next year!

I am of course proud of my little guy as well. It was tough for Owen to stay behind, but he was a trooper, and understood that as a family we will be doing some less strenuous hikes this fall, and that Dad would do this with him in a couple of years. Owen and I had a wonderful day together. It was nice to spend some 'one on one' time with him. I let him pick an activity of his choice. Since it was such a nice day, I was really hoping it would be something outside, but he had his heart set on Chuck E Cheese, so off we went. We really did have a lot of fun together playing all the games, and then we went out for a special lunch. I gave him my undivided attention for the whole day, and although we didn't accomplish a huge hike, we definitely made some memories of our own:-).

Here are some photos from the Ridge trail and mountain peaks....(most photos taken by Nate!)

Good News!

A big THANK YOU to all who said a prayer on our behalf yesterday. John came home from the interview, and said he felt very good about how it went. The manager he interviewed with said she would be making a decision on who she will be moving forward to interview with the Regional Director in NJ by Thursday evening. John was sending a thank you note to her last night, and as he hit the send/receive button a message from the manager crossed at the same time. She had obviously made her decision early, as John read that he would be flying to NJ on Friday, Aug. 29th for a final interview!!!!! So, all in all, things are moving forward and looking very positive!

Thank you again for lifting us up during this process....John said he had a definite sense of peace during the interview. I'll be calling on all you 'prayer warriors' again next Friday:-).

Hope springs eternal! Praise the Lord!

Two Stories For Your Sunday

I don't normally blog too much on Sunday, but when I woke, I really felt the need to tell these two stories...one, to provide simply a chuckle, the other to hopefully testify to God's amazing power, and the profound difference the heart of a child can make.

Funny....

Owen was with me in the car the other day and we drove by one of those radar signs that flash your speed as you approach. Owen noticed this, and as our car approached it flashed '33' (in a 15mph zone....just kidding!). Owen said, "Oh mom, we're 33 so does that makes the car behind us 34?" Gave me a chuckle:-).

Serious....

When John was driving the boys home from my parents, they stopped at a rest area on the MA turnpike. Outside the building were two gentlemen. John said they were probably in their 20's and definitely 'worn' looking, holding a sign that said, "Heading west, ANY amount will help". After John and the boys went into the building, Nathan asked about the gentlemen, and said that they looked like they really needed help. John said not to worry and he would give them some money on the way out.

Now stay with me....During the stay at my parents, My Mom and Dad bought the boys some lottery scratch off tickets for fun. Nathan won $5.00, and unfortunately Owen was not so lucky. My Mom said Nathan immediately said to him, "don't worry Owen, I'll split what I won with you." ( Yes you can let out an 'Aaawwwe' now, but wait....it gets better:-).

Back to the rest stop....Nathan said he wanted to go to our car and get the money he won from the ticket and give it to the young men. Of course, then Owen said he wanted to give them his money as well. John said to them that it was a wonderful, thoughtful idea, and he would chip in as well.

They got to the car, and Nathan noticed a small pocket bible that he had received a couple weeks ago at an annual carnival in our town. He excitedly said to John with a huge smile, "Dad, we should give them this bible! We have bibles at home, and this will really give them hope!" John said he was really trying to hold back tears, at this point, as this was all unfolding. The boys put their money in the small pocket bible and walked back to the gentlemen. Nathan and Owen handed them the 'gift' and John said the look on the faces of the two men was priceless. They were beyond appreciative, and the sparkle that immediately filled their eyes was an immeasurable gift in return. What was so special, was that the men focused on the Bible, more than the money!

On the way back to the car, John said both boys had a smile ear to ear, and Nathan said to Owen...."Doesn't it feel really good 'here' (covering his heart with his hand) to give?"

Praise be to God

Now, who is the teacher here?

Psalm 8:2
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

God provides John and I with such bountiful gifts through our two boys. At times like this, I am overwhelmed and reminded of just how blessed we are, and how good God is!!

I hope this story has warmed your hearts as well.

For anyone who is looking to order a DVD of the Opening Ceremonies can purchase it on the NBC Olympic website or by clicking here

Lovin' Nature!

I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures of the boy's vacation at Camp Grammy O and Mungo's! Life has gotten back to normal here, other than the boys suffering from a summer cold with an awful cough! Shouldn't complain......can't remember the last time they were sick.

For your viewing pleasure...

At the farm, the boys had a great time fishing! The large mouth bass were biting, and both boys caught some descent size fish. They cooked what they caught and thought it was the best dinner ever:-). Doesn't get any fresher than that!
There are numerous trails that you can hike to 'quietly enjoy nature'. Adding a bit of noise and speed, The boys love to go 4wheeling along the trails. Each boy has a trail named after them. You can see their name marker on the tree in the pictures below. For those of you who may be a bit concerned...no, they don't drive the full size 4 wheelers by themselves; just posing for the pics.

Back at the homestead, the boys have mini four wheelers to zoom around on. They got creative and made an obstacle course out of whiffle balls:-).
All in all, they really enjoyed themselves and are already planning their trip for next summer!

The End is Near....

Now, if that title didn't get your attention, I don't know what will;-)! Obviously, I'm not talking about THE END, but rather the end of my 'personal retreat' that I have thoroughly enjoyed this past week! The boys are due back around supper time today, so I'm counting down the last hours of my alone time. Dear Jenna has asked how the "couple" part of our week has gone, and I have to say, invigorating! It's been a blessing to spend some quiet time alone with my dear hubby, reconnecting on many different levels.

~We've had some wonderful, uninterrupted conversations, many of which, surprisingly did not involve a topic surrounding the boys.

~We enjoyed a relaxing dinner out, and I have to say it was nice to come home to a quiet, organized, clean house, and not even have to pay a sitter!

~We took numerous 'hand in hand' walks, without being preoccupied as to how far ahead the boys were getting, or constantly being on the lookout for cars!

~I took notice again of actually how handsome my husband is; saw the twinkle in his eye when he looked at me; and was reminded of how strong our friendship is. It's such a blessing that we really enjoy just being together. There's no one else that can make me laugh the way John does! Laughter is so good for the soul!

~We enjoyed waking up in the morning, not having to get out of bed at any particular time, and relished the morning hours being able to slowly wake up together, in peace and quiet, leisurely sipping some gourmet coffee, I bought on a splurge.

~We swam in the pool, without getting splashed by cannonballs!

~We had planned on going out with some friends, but decided what we really want, and seem to need, is just to be reclusive together.

~And although this is more 'personal' than 'couple' in nature, though my DH might disagree since he's frequently on the receiving end, I was able to go through PMS all alone!!!!!!! Yippeeee!!! Does it get any better than that?!!!....Well, maybe not having to go through it at all, but you know what I mean, right ladies?!!!!

John left yesterday to pick up the boys from my parents, as my mom's visit will need to be postponed for a bit. Did I mention what a wonderful husband I have;-)??!! When plans changed, and we had to figure out how to get the boys home, John announced HE would be the one to go and pick the kiddos up, as this would extend my 'hiatus' a bit longer. Now remind you, it's 6+ hours there, and another 6+ hours back (with kids, it makes it feel like 12;-). John was the one that brought them there, and stayed to help my dad with some work that needed to be done. Don't get me wrong, he did enjoy spending time with just the guys at the farm, but after all, they are the 'in laws' and it wouldn't have been unreasonable to ask if I could do the trip this time ;-)! All I can say is, you've gotta love this guy!

Changing gears...back to my alone time. I mentioned to John that I didn't even realize how much I NEEDED this break, until I was actually in it, and remembered...OK, THIS is what relaxation feels like. As most of you know, we've had a rough several months. I've been quiet on the blog about the events surrounding John's unemployment, but without getting into too much detail, I'd like to share it now. His job loss involved John uncovering unethical issues/business practices with the company he worked for. When John uncovered these issues, he approached upper management about these inconsistencies, and the immediate need of the company to notify past and present customers. Unfortunately, management did not agree, and when John refused to continue the way management wanted, his employment ended. Shortly after these issues were uncovered we sought legal counsel. We've been in a very stressful, and EXPENSIVE, legal dispute these past few months that doesn't seem to be moving along as quickly as we would like. Financially, and more importantly emotionally, we can't keep moving forward. We've decided to settle with whatever we can expeditiously walk away with, in order to put this behind us once and for all. Rebecca reminded me in a comforting email that, "God will be the judge and will make everything right!! It's TRUE! If you decide not to take it to court, you can rest in knowing that God's perfect justice WILL prevail". Life IS long, and I hope we will look back on this event as just a 'blip'.

I'd like to thank my wonderful parents who offered me/us this much needed break, and showed the boys a fantastic time. Although they said it was their pleasure, I'm sure this week has been a bit more on the 'active' side than they're used to;-).

I also wanted to relay how much I've savored spending time with my bloggy friends, and how much I enjoyed doing my dining room project with you all:-). Thanks for all your input in making my nest a bit more colorful!

Most importantly, I'd like to raise my hands to God in praise for this personal time. Although I didn't have my head buried in the bible the whole time, my personal relationship with Him has grown this week. I invited Him to be with me during this time, and as always, He's accepted. I'm so appreciative of the uninterrupted conversations I've had with Him. I'm reminded He WANTS to be with me, in EVERY aspect of my life, even the minute and trivial, I only need to ask, and He's there. I have undoubtedly felt Him beside me, providing what I need, and this has made MY TIME that much sweeter.

Well, that's all....4 hours and counting down:-)! Soon, I'll hear the car doors slam, the boys will come running inside, the noise level will rise dramatically, I'll get some hugs I have been yearning for, my clean, orderly house will be trashed by tomorrow, and chaos will reign again. I've put so much of this week in a special compartment of my brain that I can hopefully pull out when I need a 'Calgon' moment. Life will go back to usual, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

The New Look

It's finished! Yeah!!! The painting, at least;-). I still have to bring it all together with curtains and a few other items, but the walls are done! I know many of you haven't been able to sleep, anxiously and oh so patiently waiting to see the finished product (ha!), so here you go. Again, the colors are a bit off with my camera; too pink...Hey Tish, could you come over with your new Canon Rebel XTi and take a picture so my beige wall doesn't look so pink in pictures;-)!!? oh well, hopefully you all get the idea:-). A project accomplished...does it feel good!!

Painting Progress....

I've finished with the Sheraton Beige above the chair rail! I'm really liking the color....my camera makes it look pinker than what it actually is...what do you think?

Even though it's labeled as a cool color, it definitely feels warm and makes the 'space' cozy. (Now I really feel like a designer using the word 'space';-). I'm on a roll, and really want to finish the room today. I can't wait to see how it looks with the blue. It's a rainy day here, so I don't feel like I'm missing anything not being outside. We'll see how it goes.

On a side note, The boys are having a great time with my parents, and really enjoying going to the farm and lake. They went fishing and both caught bass about a foot long!! I hope my Dad is taking pictures so I can share with you all.

John and I have really been enjoying our couple time, and John had a very positive interview on Tues. Things seem to be looking up on the job front ( keeping fingers and toes crossed he'll be employed again soon!)

As it stands now the boys will be coming home this weekend. I really miss them, but have been enjoying every minute of being 'off duty'.

And the winners are....(for real this time!)

Jamestown Blue on the bottom and Sheraton Beige on the top!!!!

Although I loved the way James River Gray looked on the small swatch on the wall, once I put a larger color sample up, the color just looked too gray and not enough blue. So, I moved over a couple blues, and Jamestown Blue seemed to fit just right!

I went to the paint store this morning and found they wanted $4.oo for each color sample of paint. Being on the frugal side these days, I ended up taking 6 of the color sample squares of each color and taped them together to form a larger sample of the color. This way I was able to use the blue painters tape and adhere them to the wall. I was also able to move the color around the room to see what effect lighting had on them. It worked like a charm! Now, I don't have paint colors to paint over, and I saved myself some moolah!

Anyhow, thanks for all your suggestions....I think I used every one's ideas in one way or another. I'm definitely a 'cool' girl by heart (I think my blog colors give that away;-) I always lean toward the blues and greens, but I agree with those of you who voted for the warmer tones, as I don't want the dining room to feel cold or dark. Putting the burgundy/wine colors on the bottom just made my dark furniture disappear into the walls. Barbie's idea of the blue on the bottom and beige on top really worked nicely and I think it will keep the room 'cozy' enough.

I'll take pictures as the painting progresses so you can see how it looks....

My next dilemma will be curtains!

Thanks again for your creative ideas!

And the Color Is........

Just kidding! I think I'll keep the final choice a secret for now, partly due to the fact that I haven't made my mind up 100% yet, and I figured, what the heck, I'll build some anticipation with all this! Thank you ladies for all your designer quality suggestions! I really appreciate it. If anyone would still like to provide some creative input, you still have a bit of time.....I'm off to the paint store tommorrow!

Here's the progress on the room....

All taped and ready to go! Now, we just need the color(s)!

Stay tuned!

Here We Go....Input Needed Please!

I've narrowed the colors down for the dining room, and need your help picking the final selection! I've posted some before shots of the room below. I SO need a new camera, and definitely some photography classes, but these will have to do!


Things to consider:

The room is not big, it's about 12X13.
The room has a chair rail and crown molding on the ceiling.
I can paint the room one color or divide into two.
The trim is white, and I will not be painting that.
The room gets what I would consider adequate natural light, but that's about it.
the table and chairs will eventually be replaced, but I will be keeping the antique server and jelly cupboard. The server is a dark oak, and the jelly cupboard a dark mahogany.
The window treatments will change (not sure to what yet!).

Here are the paint choices....I'll try to describe them as they are not very clear and the color is a bit off in the photos.

I'm trying to decide between a warm color or a cool color?

Warm choices:

Somerville Red below chair rail Monticello Rose above:
I think these colors Will go nicely with the wood. The SR color looks redder in the picture than it actually is...it has more of a burgundy tone with a more blue base.
My concern here is whether the red is going to be too dark for the room?

Chippendale Rosetone below chair rail Sheraton beige above.
These colors are more subdued/neutral feeling, though there is a definite rose/almost salmon tint to them.

Cool choices:

James River Gray below chair rail, Nantucket Fog above(middle two colors)

I think the blue would go nicely with the wood, however I have read blue in a dining room can be unappetizing? What do you think?

Gossamer blue/Ocean air
These colors have a greenish undertone to the blue

Sea Star below/Gossamer Blue above chair rail
A step darker than the previous.

I would really appreciate your input! Thanks for your help;-).