Blessings Beyond Measure: It's here!!!

When Randy and I first got married, pretty much all of our furniture was hand-me-downs, and that's ok. We were in a little apartment and really didn't need a lot. We did have a small dining table, but most of the time we just ate in the living room- sitting on the couch and using the high coffee table. With just the two of us (and eventually Emma in a high chair) it worked.

When we moved from the apartment to our first house (when I was pregnant with our second), we had a lot more space to fill and very little to fill it with. We were very blessed to purchase our house from family friends who were downsizing. They offered us their large dining room set for a very reasonable price. It was a great deal for everyone! We had a nice, large dining set ready and waiting for us, and they didn't have to move it. :) This dining set worked really well in the large, open space in that house. The six chairs fit easily around the table even without the two leaves (which gave us lots of room for company!)

Once we moved out to the farm, however, the large, oval shape did not fit as easily into the space we had. As much as we had enjoyed this set, it just wasn't as functional in our new space. So, we began the process of searching for a replacement. I was really excited at the prospect of purchasing a brand new dining set! We visited many, many furniture stores over the course of a couple years, gathering ideas and trying to decide on a style that we liked. We saw several tables that we liked, but we were always a little disappointed in the quality of the chairs. We wanted something that could stand up to 4 kids...something that would last. At one point, we stopped in to an Amish furniture store near my parents'. We were immediately drawn to the beauty and quality of the furniture. We knew that this was something that would stand the test of time (and children!) However, it would also be a significant investment. We spent a lot of time weighing our options, and kept returning to the Amish furniture store. Each time we went, we came a little closer to making some kind of decision. First we found a style of chair that we really liked, then a general table style. After a LOT of measuring and remeasuring, we decided that a large square would fit nicely. Finally, on our last visit (between Thanksgiving and Christmas), we brought in a cabinet door to compare stain colors. Again, we left without actually ordering. I was not really upset, because I knew that at some point we were going to get something, and we had something to use in the meantime. I was excited about the possibility of a new dining set, but I was willing to wait.

The day before Christmas Eve, as we were getting ready to head out of town, Randy handed me an envelope that had arrived in the mail. I saw that it was from the furniture store. I figured that it was a summary of what we had finally decided on, along with the pricing information. I really didn't think anything of it...until I opened the envelope. Inside, I saw a purchase order...for a brand new dining set! Randy had called and ordered it for me as a surprise Christmas gift! I was speechless!!! Not only a brand new dining set, but a custom-made table and chairs that would last through generations! Of course, the one drawback was that we had to wait for it all to be made. :)

Well, as of this morning, the wait is over!!! Our new table and chairs were delivered this morning, and I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!