Friday, August 29, 2008

New Paint Makes A Big Difference

So I thought I would post some pictures of all the hard work we put into the house the past two weeks. I think the changes look great!


This is a picture of our office. It used to be a dark blue color. We like how it turned out even if it wasn't a color we would have chosen for ourselves. We would have painted it a shade or two darker, but it looks good.


This is our bedroom. We put in up the crown molding and painted the walls. It no longer looks like a hot dog exploded in our bedroom!


This is the peak in our kitchen. There used to be a Bible verse where the star now is. I think it still looks really good without the verse. I love my country kitchen.


This is our basement bathroom. New tub shower, new floor and new paint. I love how this turned out. It goes great with the rest of the basement! I just noticed how the walls look blue around the door frame....they aren't really, they are white.

Well those were our updates. Once our house is listed with the realtor, I will post the site you so you can check out our whole house. It's amazing what a little paint can do!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

What To Do?!

Ever since we decided that Jon was going to go back to school and we were going to move to Pittsburgh, I have been browsing the job situation. There are so many great jobs out there that I'm debating whether to just apply and see what happens. A part of me doesn't want to leave Jon all alone over here, but at the same time, he and I both agree that I could use a pay raise. It doesn't make sense to look for another job here seeing as we are moving. So what to do?!

Any suggestions would be helpful!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Updates Continued

These past few days have been busy ones. My parents returned this past Wednesday night to finish up where they left off. We painted our office so we no longer have 3 blue rooms at one of the hall. We painted over the Bible verse in the kitchen which was located in the peak above the cabinets. I know that sounds weird, but a Bible verse in such a prominent place in the kitchen could potentially be a turn off to a buyer and we can't risk it. The changes we made in there look good. We hung up a ton of pictures in order to "stage" the house. It's weird all the things you do just to sell your house.

After we finished those final touches, we packed and packed and packed. My parents are returning to PA with another van full of things that we can store in their house for the next few years. I'm getting good at packing boxes in order to be stored for a long time. I have to pack all similar things together and label EXTREMELY well. At least when we move out of my parents we will know what we need for sure and what we can sell because we didn't miss it.

So things are moving along. There really is nothing much else going on. I don't work all weekend which I'm looking forward too. Hopefully Jon will be home for some of it. I will keep you posted on how the selling of our house goes. Much Love!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Updates

So here is an update about the last week:

1.) Jon will be losing his job at the end of the season if he and his boss can make it that long. Hopefully unemployment will follow to cover us until our house sells.

2.) The house is on the market. At least, For Sale By Owner until the projects are finished. Keep your fingures crossed it sells fast.

3.) The projects: Paint Master Bedroom-Complete, Finish Basement Bathroom-Complete, Paint Office-Color chosen, just have to paint, Pack boxes- Started and have a long way to go.

4.) We have almost decided 100% what we are going to do next. As of this moment, granted something could change but not sure we would change our minds even if it did, we are going to be moving to Pittsburgh, moving in with my parents so Jon can go to school and get another degree in the Business field. I will be working full time some where. After much debating, we have decided that this is probably the best option for us.

As of right now, we are waiting on the school information to arrive so Jon can narrow down the choices to the ones that interest him the most so we can go visit them. We are busy packing up our house and trying to decide what we can store for the next three years. We do hope that after a year we can move out of my parents and rent something, but that is to far in the future to think about. Even though this is a stressful time, we are looking forward to something new and different. That's all for now. I will keep you all updated as things occur. Much Love!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Painting and Preparing

Today I begin to paint our Master Bedroom in preparation for selling our house. It's an odd feeling to be painting a room we, hopefully, won't be able to enjoy for very long. But it must be done. The paint colors the previous owner had picked for the room are horrendous. I'm not so sure she wasn't color blind. As my brother puts it, our room looks like a hot dog and ketchup exploded in there. So in a day or two, the room will be a nice, neutral brownish color and we will also have crown molding. YAY for changes that will help sell the house.

Our house is officially on the market. We placed a "For Sale By Owner" sign in the front lawn this past Saturday. Mostly so people know we are selling our house, while we finish up the last few projects, but also to see if we can get a buyer with out a realtor.

So where are we headed when the house sells?? Not a clue. We just need to get rid of the house. We have options, but until the house sells and we nail down a few more details about some things we will either end up in Pittsburgh, Grand Rapids, or some other town. Like I said, we don't know yet.

Well to painting I go so I can get one coat on before I head to work! Bye For Now!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

God Always Knows

As I lay in bed earlier wondering what Jon and I are going to do about our current situation, I decided to pray and then read my devotion from the book "My Utmost For His Highest." God always knows just what to say when you need it most.

Here is what it said:

Will You Go Out Without Knowing?

"He went out, not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8)

Have you ever "gone out" in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, "What do you expect to do?" You don't know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to "go out" in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don't know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to "go out," building your confidence in God. "...do not worry about your life...nor about the body..."(Luke 12:22). In other words, don't worry about the things that concerned you before you did "go out."
Have you been asking God what he is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do--He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you "go out" in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised on iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to "go out" in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to "go out" through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.

Jon and I both need to remember that God is in charge of this situation, He knows where we are going and that we are not to worry. We need to "go out" and have faith that God will lead us where we need to go.

I ask now, more than ever, for prayers. Things have come up, which we expected, sortof, but are hard to hear and it has changed a lot about our current situation. Pray that God will show us where we are to go from here. Pray that everything will fall into place over the next few weeks and that we are both less stressed. Pray that Jon and I can come up with a plan that not only is right for us but that it's what God wants for us.

Thank you to all who have been praying for us, we greatly appreciate it!!

Much Love.