All in a day's work

We have been so busy around here. I knew when Dan decided that he wanted to start his own painting business it would be a lot of work, but I don't think I realized how it was going to seem to hit us all at once. He has been picking up a lot of work for spring, which we are thrilled about. He is hoping to be able to put all of his time and effort into the business instead of dividing it between the two jobs he is working now. We feel so blessed that work is coming in for him and he has a lot of jobs stacked up now. A lot of times painting has a slow season in the winter and thankfully we made it through with no gaps in jobs at all. It seems like God just lines them up one after the other and Dan gladly takes them on.

I have always loved paperwork. Ask anyone that knew me from the time that I could walk. I would go to work with my grandmother and dig through her recycling bin signing (scribbling on) each paper as I went. My most treasured gifts as a little girl were my dolls (babies), label maker, receipt maker, and toy cash register. I love paper, office supplies, sitting at a desk, and have always thought that if I wasn't a stay at home mom I would want to be a secretary. This love of mine has worked out great because Dan loves quoting jobs and working hard but he does not love the behind the scenes paperwork. He has no desire to set up files or type out estimates and bills.

I don't think I realized just how much paperwork went along with all of this until lately when we have started working towards the goal of this being our only form of income. Along with that goal comes the challenge of figuring out health insurance for the family which is the reason he still has the second job right now. We are looking into other options for health insurance. It's not easy trying to sit down at a desk and focus on all of this work while entertaining a busy toddler but I really am enjoying it! Since it isn't easy while Logan is awake, nap time has looked like this for me a lot lately...

Notice my giant mug of coffee (from my baby shower) keeping me going.

Dan has been busy quoting different jobs, contacting clients about start dates, looking into getting a company truck, and actually doing all of the painting work. I have been home doing estimates, invoices, setting up paper and computer files for each client, keeping track of receipts/ looking into what we will need for tax information, looking into different forms of advertisement, looking into business and health insurance options, emailing about a logo, and contacting some clients that need work done. We are so thankful that everything seems to be coming together so that we can get him where he wants to be as far as a career goes. I love being able to help him out by doing something that I really enjoy doing too. It is amazing how both of our interests and talents are working together wonderfully.

On top of all of the work outside of the house Dan has been working here when he has the time. He has been chipping away at it room by room. He has done all of the wall repair after taking the wood panelling off downstairs, and will be painting next. He also just finished painting our bedroom- I will be doing a before and after blog post (hopefully within the next week). Maybe we will have the walls all finished by our one year house-iversary.

If anyone is looking for a super awesome painter in the area feel free to contact one of us. Dan is always willing to do free quotes and I am sure you will be pleased with the work!