Chismville

I am currently in Ohio receiving extensive training on Christmas light hanging! I started my new job with Hallco Painting last week and have been working on Ted Hall’s second business: Christmas Decor by Hallco LLC. Hanging Christmas lights has been something I wanted to do for Dad’s business in San Diego but did not know there was a really professional Christmas light services company around. I had seen the cheap little signs around town the past few years that advertised light hanging, but had no clue if the companies were professional or did good work. When I interviewd with Hallco, Ted told me all about Christmas Decor and the services he offered for his clients! It sounded perfect! I am actually more excited to sell Christmas Decorations and Installation to Maryland residence than I am in selling paint jobs at the moment. It is a rather cool opportunity. I am receiving thorough training in how to properly design a home for Christmas! What can be more fun than that? I already love colors and interior design. Now I get to add another skill to my job!

Christmas Decor is the franchise company that Hallco owns in select areas of Maryland (Frederick, Howard and parts of Montgomery Counties). At first, I thought maybe a company to hang lights on their own without being involved with a franchise! I can now see why being a part of a larger company is well worth it! Christmas Decor Corporate has all the lights and decorations we need when we need them! Al the products are top quality and unique (you can’t get them all at Home Depot or Walmart). Plus, Christmas Decor provides employee training to make sure that the lights and decorations are hung perfectly. I especially like the way they do their tree and ground lighting. A homeowner or even a handyman just cannot get a tree to look perfect!

Anyways, my first week on the job, I was able to coordinate getting a one page website up and running for Hallco. I wanted to make sure that his company received the proper placement in search engines and looked the best as most companies do not market this service very well. The new web address is: View Here

The only downside to being in Ohio this week is not being at home with my wonderful family! I cannot believe how much I miss them all. It was so hard for me to say goodbye yesterday as I drove away towards northern Ohio.  My wonderful wife is being such a trooper by allowing me to spend all this time training and away at work.

Some people have been asking how my job search is going, so I thought I would give you all a quick update! I’m sorry I have not been updating regularly! The main reason is that setting up a new life in a new area has kept my family quite busy.

First, our computer! Our computer is working fine, but we have a VERY VERY SLOW Internet Connection! If anyone out there knows how to have a fast connection when the phone/cable company won’t install high speed because of your location, let me know! Can you believe it: David Chism is using speeds similiar to the old dial up? The problem is that the connections are so slow, I have NOT been able to upload some of our photos to the Internet. It would take a week for each pictures to load even after converting them to small files. So, bare with us. I’m having the cable company to a land survey to see if they can install internet and also looking into Satelite Internet.

I did take the job offer by Hallco Enterprises, a professional painting company only about 16 miles from my house. It takes approximately 20-25 minutes with no traffic to get there, but  it is the prettiest drive in the world. I take 1 main backroad highway all the way down. It is just amazingly beautiful!!! I love it. Ted Hall, the owner, has two businesses: his bread and butter painting company and a franchise called Christmas Decor: a Professional Christmas Light & Decorating Company. My job will be to help him develop both companies especially his residential painting business and marketing to his existing clients about his Christmas business. I’m really excited about the Christmas company as I will be trained in being a Christmas Design Consultant. I’ve already done a few projects! It is rather fun to tell people how to decorate their homes for Christmas. I leave for Ohio tomorrow afternoon for a 3 day training course in Christmas Decor. I’m just praying that God would continue to bless us when the economy is pretty slow all over the country. So far, Hallco is keeping busy.

I have to run to Church with the family, so I will update more later. We are very happy in our new home and am very content with my new job. I have a lot of freedom and flexibility with my new company! It is NOT the same as working for my dad…but it is still similiar! I’ll post another video of our new home soon and try to get a few photos posted.

So maybe the road trip wasn’t exactly what I’d envisioned….ions of blissful one on one fellowship time with my husband as we sojourned across America’s countryside with our three happy children cooing and chortling in the background. Our first day of driving lasted approximately 14 hours and we made it to the friendly Best Western in Albuquerque. Unfortunately our children were too wired and we were too tired to enjoy the hotel swimming pool or our beds. It must have been far past midnight when at last we all fell asleep.

At the morning Aria feeding, I secured the hotel blinds, rearranged toddlers and we all continued sleeping well into the morning. When Joel woke up, he announced very happily that we had reached our “New Home.” (How thankful I was that we were not living out the next season of our lives at the Albuquerque Best Western!!) By the time we reloaded, refueled and made it to Cracker Barrel “breakfast” at noon, I was about ready to pass out. I don’t do well without breakfast. We had a short day of about five hours to make it to David’s hospitable friends, the Giedds, in Colorado Springs. We enjoyed two and a half delightful days with friends in Colorado. We went to church with the Giedds. Mandy and I were fast friends. The next day was spent with the Harvey’s rowing, mowing, hamocking, riding in a chic sports car at thrilling but slightly illegal speeds, and playing fuseball. David got his first experience on a riding mower and looked like a natural. I enjoyed meeting Rebecca, Mike’s wife and all the Harvey clan. It was a fun visit. Danny and Terah entertained us the last bit of our time in Colorado. Danny even took the day off of work and spoke Donald Duck to our rather grumpy children before we set out on our last leg of the journey. We left Danny’s early afternoon and drove til well past dark through Kansas. We were crushed to miss out on all that Kansas scenery. We arrived at Hotel 6 where they left the light on for us. The next day we made it to the Indianapolis Training Center listening to a Grisham tale from Cracker Barrel’s stash of audio tapes. I agonized over whether to wear shorts and a t-shirt or meet the ITC standard–sort of.  We identified our photos on the EQUIP wall and were amazed to see that there have been nearly twenty Equip classes since we were there! It was super weird sleeping at the ITC with a boy in my room, let alone our three children. We noticed Indy has made their breakfast menu slightly more healthy since we’d been there last with no fake bacon. Mr. and Mrs. Gergany greeted us warmly and we got to meet two of their granddaughters also. We left late morning the last day of our road trip. I think I might have won the prize for most impatient to be done driving! I more or less begged to take a turn at the wheel and be free of nursing, reading, and spanking duty in the middle seat. When Taco Bell toppled from one of the back car seats and I lost the battle to keep any semblance of cleanness in our little van or to get food in the little urchins, it nearly did me in.  One of the last movies we watched in San Diego was Supersize Me. It was a good flick to watch before a road trip. We managed the entire trip soda, chips and fries-free! Our last stop we tanked up on a very make-shift dinner consisting predominantly of sugar in various forms. Never have I been so thrilled to round the rolling hills leading to Libertytown! My brothers, sisters and parents formed our enthusiastic welcoming committee.

It was Thursday when we arrived in Libertytown. Our belongings were supposed to land that weekend or Monday, but our expectations were off by over a week. It wasn’t until the following Monday that the moving van pulled in to our new home. What a home it is! I feel so unworthy of God’s rich blessings on our lives. We now live in a safe haven for family members and friends. Our home is down a half mile long driveway off of Liberty Road, surrounded by 8 1/2 acres of beautiful green grass that we don’t have to mow! and nestled in by trees. Somewhere beyond us are cows that we can hear moaning pittifully if they are neglected and not milked on schedule. We have a lovely porch and deck that connects to the capacious master bedroom. David estimated that three and a half of his bedrooms growing up would fit in our master bedroom. The master bath is a room in itself with a whirlpool and double doors! Aria sleeps in our walk-in closet. Wood floors and nine foot ceilings are throughout the house. There’s a fireplace and an enormous beautiful kitchen. There’s also a laundry room. The appliances are all so nice. I can scarcely believe this home stood empty for roughly two years before they posted it on Craig’s list just when David was looking and for rent the same price as a two-bedroom appartment in town.

We’ve been enjoying our first week moved in. David’s parents and the Browns were in the DC area for a conference and we enjoyed spending part of the weekend with them. Our things are nearly all in their places and it’s feeling like a very regal version of home! My mom made phone calls and lined up all sorts of unpacking help the day we moved in. The kids are getting back on schedule.

This afternoon I’m off to pick apples at a nearby orchard with my mom, sisters and a few friends. I’m happy to can applesause for the first time for my own little family. David’s work is falling into place. He met with his employer to discuss particulars this morning.  Uncle Steve preached an encouraging sermon from Joshua on scripture meditation and staying in the word this past Sunday. It was timely encouragement for me to go beyond just reading by trying to also read good books, study the Bible, memorize passages and meditate on scripture. David and I also are eager to train our children well. While Joel loves to sing the Christian songs he knows, his religion seems to be Thomas the Train more than anything. It’ll happen though! Joel and Chalice are good little mirrors into our lives as they parrot the things they hear us saying. It’s so fun being back in touch with so many dear friends, though we do miss our loved ones in San Diego!

I received a possible job offer from a contractor before I left for Maryland about 4 weeks ago. I told him I would work for him and was excited to actually have work before I arrived! It was such a relief for me! However, the job offer was not in writing nor was there any mention of timing, job description of talks of money. When I got out to Maryland, I began to explore other opportunities and talk to this contractor about my job description. His operation was very professional and probably a great company to work for, but I did not feel like I was going to be a good fit for him. He also mentioned that the job, as a sales person, was a 100% commission. Sometimes that is ok to be on a 100% commission, but I felt I would be completely on my own. It was almost as though he was setting me up in business 1 hour from my home to work for myself. I wanted to work for a company that was a close team: working together. Yesterday, I received a call back from the company I was hoping to work for that is only 20+ minutes from my home. This painting and contracting company, Hallco, seems to be a perfect fit for both of us. He mentioned he was going to get back with me TODAY, and my heart sank! Why? Because that has happened about 2-3 times already. So, in a concerned and business like tone, I accepted it but also asked him if wanted to hire me. I told him I had 2 other contractors interested and needed to know what to tell them. He then got excited and said, “Absolutely! It just takes a long time to hire someone!” So, that was a relief. I just thought, at first, he was stalling for time or did not know what to do. He then reassured me that he thought I would be a good fit for him and that he wanted to take the extra time to make me an offer that was very satisfying to me. I have NO idea what he will offer me for a salary, but I think he’ll be fair. I told him all the benefits and salary I was making in San Diego but assured him I did NOT have to make the same out here. However, I think it gave him a good idea while he began to run the numbers for himself. Hopefully his offer will be acceptable, and I can start ASAP!  Ted, the owner of Hallco, actually has another business he attached to the painting company that hangs Christmas lights. I have been wanting to have that service for my dad’s business but did not know there was a business and system in place to do it. So, once the details are worked out, I will be flying to Ohio for 4 days for a crash course in learning all about Christmas lights and how to sell them! Should be fun and a great business when the weather gets bad out here!I lastly have one final “interview” this morning with a company I like and know very well: Summit Services. The owner of Summit, Brian Nolan, is a business coach/consultant. He has helped my dad’s business along with many other painters to systematize their companies and be more professional: rising to the top in their area. His office is out of Philly, and he would like me to interview with him about a possible job in consulting? I’m really not sure what he has in mind yet…but will look forward to discussing those opportunities with him. He is looking for part time consultants to help him with his clients. He only works with painters and uses his brothers successful company, Nolan Painting, to help be the “model” company. We’ll see where and if that leads to somewhere! If not now, in the future.  

I made a short video of our new home. It is about 2 minutes of the exterior property. I have a VERY slow internet connection as Cable and DSL are not available for our new home. So I have a Verizon Wireless USB Card, which is a fast dial up connection. So it took awhile for me to upload, but should take those of you with a fast connection 2-3 minutes to download this file. Sorry it is so large…still getting use to a Mac computer and iMovie. Here is the link: View Now

When I moved east, I had to give up my company vehicle, a white Toyota 4- door truck. I’ve been driving a truck for close to 10 years and for the first time in my life, I purchased a sedan as my personal commuter vehicle. I purchased an Accord for Joli 4 years ago, but we also sold that when we moved as I did not want to drive 2 cars out east. Michael Howard directed me to a dealership he trusts that sells and services used Hondas and Acuras. I felt very comfortable that they knew those cars and would not sell junk! They do not sell new cars: only cars that were traded in or they found, made sure they were sound and resold them. So, I found myself a 1999 Acura TL with 100,000 miles and completely tuned up, ready to go. It has more bells and whistles than I have ever had, and I will enjoy it. It drives so smooth and is also a fun car! I wanted to get a reliable commuter car but also one that was comfortable as I would be driving along way each day.

Sometimes I just can’t believe I wake up each morning on the other side of the country. Spending my entire life on the west coast makes living on the east very strange. I keep driving down these little country roads thinking to myself that I am just visiting and will be returning to the west soon. I then remind myself that I am a local now, a resident of Maryland! I even purchased a commuter car the first week of my arrival! I think it will not become reality to me until I start a full time job and move into our new home.

Speaking of our new home, we have not moved in yet! The movers gave me a tentative date of delivery drop off: 9th through 18th! Originally, I thought that was quite the range of dates, so I moved up my  pick up date 3-4 days expecting the drop off to be earlier. It was not! We’ve been camping out at the Howard’s for the past week now with our traveling bags and a week’s worth of summer clothes. The first few days the weather was very hot and sticky leaving behind lots of mosquitoes bites for us foreigners. The last few days have turned into very beautiful and cool days! I just hope I have a long sleeved shirt before Maryland’s fall season hits! Lord willing, we should be moving by Friday the 12th!

Joli and I are in the final stages of negotiating the lease agreement of our new place for the first six months. Everyone says it is a great time to buy a home, but I’m just not ready to buy when my job is still up in the air. I’m a very cautious person so renting seems like the best option until I can get used to the area and have a stable job. I am very pleased with the home we are getting. As a city slicker, it will be a whole new way of life and country living, but I am very excited about the new adventure.  The home boasts about 2700 sq. ft of living space on the main level (excluding the finished basement). It has approximately 3 acres of grass with woods bordering the property. We have a full deck in the back and a white front porch! We were just told that we were responsible for mowing the lawn two days ago, which completely threw me off guard, as it was never mentioned. So we have asked that the landlord maintain the majority of the property and we’ll cover the grass directly around the home. So far, they are agreeable to this arrangement. Now we need it in writing!

Joli is completely excited about our new home. She had a BIG smile on her face the entire time we looked at it together for the first time. That, of course, makes me happy! So, in a few days we should be completely moved in and will be true country folks! I can’t wait.

As for my job, I’m still praying that the Lord would direct me to the right company. I have a job offer for a company in Kensington, MD which is about 50 miles from my place. It seems to be a well established paint company that can offer me a good place to work. For the sales position, it will be 100% commission based, very different than working in my family business. They are very open to me marketing and running another division near where I will be living, but I do not think that is a wise idea for me to start out that way because I do not know the area. I would rather have a more stable income and good results by working in an area that this company is already established and known for the first 6 months or so. To start, I will be able to put some of my business development skills to work but most likely will go back into sales after the first few weeks or month as I can probably earn more money that way. To start, I will help them with their website and create more legible estimates, proposals and possible marketing material. I also have one more interview tomorrow with a painting contractor only about 30 miles away! So, we’ll see how things work out.

Our family is settling into Maryland quite well. The kids have been extra tired, especially Chalice but seem to be doing a lot better this week. I will write another update once we move into our new place and post pictures of our trip, family and our property.

I miss my dear friends and family back in California. It is SO hard to leave my family business but still feel that the Lord has directed me back to Maryland. I wish Dad and I could still work together! Maybe I can convince him to move east someday! I praise God that we were able to work together for over 8 years and get along!!! He was a wonderful boss, and I know I will NOT have it as good working for anyone else. For all my friends, please do keep in touch. Send us emails and notes anytime you think of us.

Joli’s cell phone had problems ever since we left California. So, I need to get her a new phone, and her email is also down. I will be getting her a Maryland cell phone and email soon. Her new cell number will be available by emailing me or Joli this weekend. If you are interested, please email me. If I post her number online, I’m afraid it will be spammed! Her email for now is: jnchism@gmail.com

We just arrived safely to Libertytown, Maryland this evening at 7:45. We were greeted with Joli’s family standing out on Main St. and running along side our car back to their house! I felt like a celebrity! I wish I could have written the play by play for all of you during our 6 day journey to the east coast, but for some reason, my Blackberry handheld device did NOT like logging into my website! So, I could not update my blog! I had plenty of time too. Anyways, we are all very tired and ready for bed…so we will write more updates in the days to follow.

On stupid thing I did do that I should not have done was cancel Joli’s email account without checking the mail first! So, all of you who have tried to send her emails this past week will get them returned undeliverable. We have had Cox email since we were married, but because we were leaving California, I had to end my services. We just forgot to send an email out first!!!

So, a temporary email for Joli is: jnchism@gmail.com

Or just facebook Joli!