Wishcasting Wednesday!

Over at the Jamie Ridler Studios it's Wishcasting Wednesday & this Wednesday she asks us "What Guidance Do You Wish For?"

I love wishcasting Wednesday's but don't always participate because I don't always feel I have a good wish.  However after reading today's question I knew I had to participate for a couple of reasons!

1) The other day I had lunch with some friends & after we ate we all went back to our normal work day.  I was driving home that evening and had this overwhelming feeling I had said something(s) to one of them that hurt her feelings or had offended her & I just couldn't stop thinking about it.  I tend to say whatever comes to my mind and forget not everyone can handle that about my personality.  I did apologize to her and later found out I had said something - not even sure what!!  But was glad I had apologized. 

2) My Grandfather was unexpectedly hospitalized this week at the age of 92 and has had to undergo major surgery - let's be honest when you are 92 any surgery is major surgery!

I wish for guidance to stay positive, to associate with positive people and to work towards bettering myself and growing as a person.  Growing and striving everyday to be better, to be more compassionate towards others and to look for the positive in others.  To hold my tongue and learn to listen to others and talk less!!!! 

As you wish for yourself today, so I wish for you also!

Country Life....

I'm not so sure what I think about country life as my allergies seem to be in full force in the country - but as soon as i get to town - they stop!  So that's been new!  But the biggest changes has been all of the creatures - that's right not animals - creatures!  We started off with an infestation of wood ticks - I've never experienced anything like it!  Every night for the first few months we'd pull anywhere from 5-20 ticks off my poor dog! We seem to have gotten that under control!

          

 Then we moved onto an ant problem like you can't believe - not just regular ants but fire-ants and they are everywhere - I have tried every kind of ant spray/powder/pellet you can think of. Keep in mind - they aren't just outside - we've had an ant issue in the basement as well!  I think we've gotten rid of the ants in the basement and it appears for now we've gotten rid of the fire ants but I can't believe all the ant hills that just seem to pop up everywhere!

            We have snakes - lots of snakes & if I can, I mow them up!

       

We have frogs - not just one or two frogs tons & tons & tons of frogs.  Again - not just regular frogs - but frogs, and toads & tree frogs - you want a pet come to my house!  One afternoon we pulled 15 out of a window well!  I also try to move these guys up as well!

We have now moved onto muskrats!  Yup that's right - 2 of them in the window well!  I don't know why all of these creatures need to visit me - but I've had enough!  We were sitting on the deck one afternoon when my dog started to freak out about at the window so we went to see what was in there & there they were!  I wanted them dead - but Dave got a bucket & gloves & scooped them out and let them run away!!!

Then on the way to a wedding just 2 miles from out house - this is what we come across:

This thing must have weighed 45 - 50 lbs!

 You want a pet - come visit me - you can have anything I have for free!!

Here's a good one!

Vacation 2011

July 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

A Way To Learn!

I knew who Sarah Palin was from all the Presidential election situations!  I didn't really know that much about her so I thought by reading this book I'd be able to learn more about her as a person & her views and standpoints on life.   I was actually intrigued by her and the quotes! I loved that this wasn't an overly long book - this was a great read to pick up & easily finish.

I really enjoyed the collection of quotes throughout the book that were organized into subjects like Crime, Education, Foreign Policy, etc.  We can all choose to agree with her on her opinions or we can disagree but this is a great book that will serve as a good reference for her political reviews - straight from her own mouth.  It's nice to be able to read her actual opinions and not what everyone else is just saying about her.

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher at BookSneeze.com for my honest reviwe which didn't have to be positive. 

You Were Born For This

You Were Born For This By: Bruce Wilkinson & David Kopp. 

 

I just finished reading this book & have mixed feelings about this book.  There were definitely parts of the book that I greatly enjoyed - loved some of the personal stories that were in the book.  I however did find some sections that I seemed to just skim over as they weren't as engaging as other areas.  I think this might be a good book to read with a small group and have a discussion time with as I think you might get more out if that way. 

I did appreciate the breakdown into four sections with each part bringing you practical information about allowing God to use you.
Part 1: Welcome to Everyday Miracle Territory
Part 2: Four Keys to a Life of Miracles
Part 3: How to Deliver a Miracle
Part 4: Three Keys to Special Delivery Miracles

I think this book can help shift our mindset about everyday miracles and felt that hearing of the other miralces around us happening every day are good resources. 

I received a free e-copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah’s Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review

I'm also a Psychiatirst?!

Here's another good one!  I had a call from a lady that wanted to sell her home.  She starts out the conversation by telling me I went to school with her daughter - she is 100% sure of that....oopsies!  That was my sister who is 4 years older than me!  Oh well - she can think that for now. So I go to her home to do a CMA for her and have been warned that she is a unique woman. 

I get there and she invites me in - it's a home I'm familiar with because it is a very unique one of a kind home!  Those details aren't even important!  She invites me and and I'm there for a good hour to hour and a half and we never once toured the home - we sat at the kitchen table the entire time.  What she did the entire time was "drink" something and talk to me about her hard life...her divorce....her step kids....her kids.....her dog was jumping all over me - there are no lights on in the house and it sort of felt like an episode of hoarders - a toned down version - but hoarders!  She wants to list her home for about $100,000 more than what it's worth - so this was the first listing I've ever had to tell no that I can't take this listing.  She was thankfully very understanding and then informed me that one other Realtor had told her the same thing.

After a lull in the conversation i mentioned how gorgeous her Christmas Cactus was and she offered to give me one!!!  She literally can grow any plant and grow it amazingly well!  She had gorgeous orchids and other unique plants that no one else can grow!

After this she receives a phone call and tells me it's from a debt collector!!  I'm trying to figure out how to get out of here at this point!  She stays on the phone with the debt collector who is coming after her because of stuff her soon to be ex did!  Either way - this is very awkward and I need to leave!  She is giving the debt collector more information than anyone should ever hear!  Finally she needs to smoke - so we head outside and I make my exit!! 

This sweet lady now sends me strange emails & calls me randomly about her home!! 

Here's another story!

A few weeks ago on a Friday night at about 7:00 p.m. I go to meet a new client.  I've emailed with this gentleman and spoken to him on the phone but this is our first in person appointment. 

I go to meet him at a foreclosure - no big deal!  I get to the house prior to him (which I prefer to do) - go inside to find there is no electricity!! 

The buyer arrives and is about 300 lbs, with missing teeth and one eye that doesn't work - no big deal. 

However, I open the door to let him in and he (I think trying to be polite) kinds of ushers me in, in front of him.  We get in the house to this tiny little entryway and there is a bathroom door to the left and a door to the kitchen on the right which the buyer is blocking along with the outside door - I am now trapped inside the bathroom!!!!!!!!  At this point every crazy thought is running through my head - get out, run - you're faster than him - "damn I wish I had on heels! 

I offer to go out to my car & get a flashlight so we can see better & he says no & won't let me - I'm still stuck in the bathroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 Pretty much petrified I finally find a way around him & get into the kitchen & start looking around all awkwardly!  I get to the living room and open the front door - wide open........to let light in, that's what I tell him at least!  He looks around and then wants to go in the basement - there was no way on earth I was going down there!  He did go by himself and look around but I stood at the top of the stairs with my phone in one hand debating which door was closer to get out if I needed to run!!!!!!!!!!!

I get him outside eventually but then he wants to go see the empty garage!  I do allow him into the garage & stand at the doorway not going fully inside!

He decides this house is too much work & we can finally leave!

The Chocolate Diaries

Click on the book to be taken to amazon to order this book!

I just got done reading this book and was quite impressed!!!!  There are several things about this book that I enjoyed including the yummy chocolate recipes!!

This book is a great book for women of all ages - I think there is something for everyone to learn in this book and everyone will take something away!  My favorite part was the "What If...." game - this is a great thing that I started doing as soon as I was finished reading the book and is amazing what it can do for you!  I read this as an E book and loved the fact that the links were live to click on and you would be taken directly to the website!  This was also very helpful. 

I appreciated the honesty of Karen Linamen and the trials and tribulations of what she has been through. I  also appreciate the other stories from others that she wrote about they were quite inspiring and I also liked that she had a positive spin to things.  I thought the "Food For Thought" sections were a nice touch & I could see this being used by a group of women in a book club or a group of girlfriends for something to do together!

This book was sent to me by WaterBrook Press in exchange for an honest review, as a part of their Blogging for Books program.

All In One Day!

So I thought I'd start sharing some stories of the strange/crazy things that happen & that I see while selling houses!!!  Trust me - you can't make these stories up!!!!!

Yesterday I went to show a vacant house & while showing a house to a lady who brought her mother & her daughter with we went to the upstairs.  The house is a 1 1/4 story house with 2 dormers & because Ii am 5'10" and had heels on I had to stay in one spot where the window was so I could stand up without hitting my head!  While allowing the women to look around the Grandmother opens the attic door and starts looking around & goes "oh is that a couple of bats."!!!!!!!  I am about ready to run - but the lady goes into the attic to inspect the bats!!!  I was sure they were going to come flying out at us - but thank goodness they didn't!  We still aren't sure if they were bats that were dead - alive or just lots & lots of cobwebs!  Either way - I am not a fan of bats!

Then after getting in my car to leave I look out my window & see this:

Then I am driving to an appointment & go to pass a truck & trailer going 40 mph and look over into the trailer to see that it's FULL of geese!!!!!!!!!!!  I've never seen such a thing - it was crazy!!!!

All this in one fun filled day!!!!!!!

YUMMMM!!!!!!

I was on vacation last week and it was great to get away & relax!!!!!  I enjoyed a week with family just eating, sleeping, laying in the sun watching my niece & nephew play in the water and did a little bit of fishing!  I do mean a little as the fishing was not good at all - I think it's the heat!!!

I have to share a recipe that my aunt & uncle made while we were on vacation at what they called the R&M Restaurant!  They are awesome and a must try!!!!!!!!!!!!

Corn Dogs - by Sandra Lee

INGREDIENTS

1 Egg

1 (10oz) package of corn muffin mix

3/4 C Milk

2 packets spaghetti sauce spice seasoning mix

1/2 C all purpose flour

12 reduced fat beef hot dogs

Vegetable oil for frying

12 wooden skewers

DIRECTIONS

In a large mixing bowl, combine egg, corn muffin mix, milk and 1 seasoning packet.  In a separate shallow dish, mix second seasoning packet and flour.  Insert wooden skewers halfway into hot dogs.

Heat oil to 360 degrees in a  deep fryer.  Dredge each beef frank in flour seasoning mix, dust off excess then dip into cornmeal batter.  Fry 2 to 3 corn dogs at a time for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.  Drain on paper towls.  Serve warm!!!!!!!!!!!

Enemies of The Heart

Enemies of The Heart By Charles Stanley
Click on the Link to be taken to amazon.com to purchase this book.=

 

I thought this was a good book that really had some great points!  This book is a reissue of the book It Came From Withing - which I didn't know until after reading this book and hadn't read so that book didn't have an impact on my thoughts/feelings on this book.

I enjoyed that this book had four emotions that can attack the heart.  Those four emotions are Guilt - what I owe you, then there is Anger: what You Owe Me, next is Greed: what I owe me and last is Jealousy: What God owes me.  These are the four emotions that cause disruptions in our lives and withing the lives of those around us.  I enjoyed that the author used examples from his own life and those he knows to show how these emotions play out in real life - I feel like it makes the book more relatable then.  This is a book that makes you look at your own heart and what you could work on in your own life. 

I did also like the option of the study guide in the back if you were to use this as a book for studying with others!  I also enjoyed that he tried to use humor to make a point - I don't know that it always worked - but I do think that it helps with some of the points. 

The author does have a section in the book for parents which at this time in my life as I don't have children wasn't of interest to me - but I could see it being helpful when I do have children.


I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from Waterbrook Multnomah books blogging for books program.  I was not required to write a positie review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Last Dance

Slow
Dance 


This
is a poem
written by a teenager with cancer.

She wants to
see how many
people get her poem.

It is quite the poem
Please pass it 
on



This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a
New York Hospital.



It was sent
by

a medical doctor.




SLOW DANCE


Have you ever
watched
kids

On a merry-go-round?


Or listened to
the
rain


Slapping on the ground?


Ever followed a
butterfly's erratic flight?


Or gazed at the sun into the
fading
night?


You better slow down.


Don't
dance so
fast.


Time is short.


The music
won't
last.


Do you run through each day



On
the
fly?


When you ask How are you?


Do you hear
the
reply?


When the day is done


Do you lie
in your
bed


With the next hundred chores


Running through
your head?


You'd better
slow down


Don't dance so
fast.


Time is
short.


The music won't
last.


Ever told your
child,


We'll do it
tomorrow?


And in your
haste,


Not see
his

sorrow?


Ever lost
touch,


Let a good
friendship die



Cause you
never had time



To call
and say,'Hi'



You'd
better slow down.



Don't dance
so fast.



Time
is short.



The music won't
last.



When you run
so fast to get somewhere



You
miss half the fun of getting
there.



When you worry and hurry
through your
day,



It is like an unopened
gift....



Thrown
away.



Life is not a
race.


Do take it
slower



Hear the
music



Before the song is
over.

Great Brave Girl Song!!!

Suggestions?!

Hi Everyone,

 I am going to be going on vacation

 in about 2 weeks & am looking for some book suggestions!  I am open to a wide variety of books - any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!! 

Laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live.

Beautiful

If you are looking for someone to be your everything, don't look around, look up!  God is the only One who can be everything.  By expecting perfection from flesh, you ask more out of someone else than what you can provide yourself.  To be married is to have a partner: someone who is not always there or always on target or always anything! On the other hand, should you ever get in trouble and you don't know who to look to for help, you can count on your partner!  It is to have someone to curl up against when the world seems cold and life uncertain.  It is having someone who is as concerned as you are when your children are ill.  It is having  hand that keeps checking your forehead when you aren't well.  To be married is to have someones shoulder to cry on as they lower your parent's body into the ground.  It is wrapping wrinkled knees in warm blankets and giggling with teeth!  To the person you marry you are saying, "When my time comes to leave this world and the chill of eternity blows away my birthdays and my future stands still in the night: it's your face I want to kiss goodbye.  Is is your hand I want to squeeze as I slip from time into eternity.  As the curtain closes on all I have attempted to do and be; i want to look into your eyes and see that I mattered.  Not what I looked like.  Now what I did or how much money I made. Not even how talented I was.  I want to look into the teary eyes of someone who loved me and see; I mattered!

Taken from Kive At Last Sight!

Motivational Speaker!!!

Taken From: The Final Summit

A Personal Declaration

 

Knowing that all who "arrive" have to begin where they are. I choose to begin now. At this moment. I will do something.

For too long, I have allowed fearful thoughts to dominate my life. Now I recognize fear as a misuses of the creative imagination that has been placed inside me. In the past, I have allowed fear to shove all hope aside. No more! Fear no longer has any power to stop me from doing what I know to be right and true, I am no longer afraid I am courageous. Right now, I will do something.

The person who faces no hardships gains no strength. Though I do not look for hardship;, I am grateful for its results, for I have sown mighty in soil mixed with troubles. My roots are now deep. My mind and hart have become powerful. A beautiful flower cannot be created without fertilizer. A dazzling gem cannot be polished without great friction. I have taken the fertilizer and the friction and am better because of it. Now it is time for me to do something.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I can do something right now. Never again will I allow what I cannot do to interfere with what I can do. Circumstances are rulers of the weak. I am not weak. Neither discouragement nor despair will stop me from doing something and doing it now. I am strong-minded. I can make myself do something I would rather not do, in order to get a result that I do want. I will do something. And I will do it now.

My life, which was once a question mark, is now a statement. Stormy seas do not scare e, for I am the calm in the storm. My past is behind me and my future bright because I now know the secret of the present. I will do something & I will do it now!

right now, I will do something for my family. Right now, I will do something for my friends. Right now, I will do something for those who do not even know my name. For my family, for my friends, and for the strangers of the world are valuable in my Creator's sight. I will let them know that I recognize that fact by my actions. I now know that my smile, my words, and my attitude are actions. They are all under my control. I am prepared to run my race. I am ready to hit the mark. I will now do my part in restoring humanity to the pathway toward successful civilization.

I will do something and I will do it now!

The Final Summit

The Final Summit By Andy Andrews

 

In this book David Ponder is brought to the final summit by the Archangel Gabriel.  The final summit being in Heaven.    David is chose because mankind needs help and he needs to figure out the solution.  He is chose along with other "travelers" that include Winston Churchill, Joan of Arc, & Anne Frank. 

I did struggle getting into this book and found out after reading it that Andy Andrews wrote The Travelers Gift - which if the first book in this set - so I think if I had read that I might have enjoyed the beginning of this book a bit more.  Once I got into the book I felt as excited as David & the Travelers were every time that they came up with an answer because it seemed they were right - you'd think "yes" that has to be the solution!!!!  I did get a bit bored with some of the history in the book as I just personally am not a big fan of history information like that.  I was getting a bit bored again towards the end but overall the end was worth the read!!!!  I am glad I read the book overall!

Love At Last Sight

Love At Last Sight by Kerry & Chris Shook was worth the read!  I greatly enjoyed this book!  The authors give you a chapter a day to read it which is nice.  It offers thoughts & questions at the end of each chapter for review and things to work on.  I sat down a couple of days and read more than one chapter at a time.  I felt it made some very good insightful points that you can use in really any relationship you have. I am not married but am in a relationship and think that this is a very helpful and insightful book for me and my BF and for other friendships and relationships!   The goal of the book is to help you strenghten your relationships with the ones you love!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Easter Pictures!

I realize I'm a bit late posting these Easter cake pictures but I just came across them and thought I'd share!

Hold your head high, don't ever let them define the light in your eyes.

Love yourself, give em hell, you can take on this world,

you just stand and be strong and then

FIGHT LIKE A GIRL!

88 Ways To Make A Stranger Smile!

Love whoever is around to be loved.

-Kurt Vonnegut

1. Smile often.
2. Hold a door open for someone.
3. Pay for the person in line behind you.
4. Send a hand-written thank you card to someone who assisted you with something.
5. Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need.
6. Give a compliment about a waiter, waitress, sales clerk, etc. to his or her manager.
7. Compliment a stranger’s appearance. Flatter them.
8. Leave encouraging post-it notes in a library books and other random places. (Read Operation Beautiful.)
9. Help an elderly person carry something.
10. Send flowers to someone anonymously.
11. Be a courteous driver. Let people merge in front of you.
12. Volunteer at a children’s hospital or nursing home.
13. Donate blood.
14. Buy house warming gifts for new neighbors.
15. Introduce yourself. Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome.
16. Inspire others online. (Check out Makes Me Think.)
17. Send letters of appreciation to business owners/managers and other people who support you.
18. Treat everyone with the same level of respect you’d give to your grandfather.
19. Give everyone the same level of patience you’d have with your baby sister.
20. Appreciate people the way they are.
21. Share your lunch or a snack with someone who doesn’t have one.
22. Put some change in an expired parking meter.
23. Check up on someone who looks lonely.
24. Tell your boss, teacher or professor that he or she is doing a great job and that you appreciate what they’ve taught you.
25. Create places and things for others to enjoy. Like decorating your house for the holidays or creating a piece of art.
26. If you overhear that it’s someone’s birthday, go out of your way to wish them a happy one.
27. Ask someone for their opinion or advice.
28. Bring cookies or bagels to work for everyone.
29. Tip waiters and waitresses well when they deserve it.
30. Be a part of something you believe in. Those around you will notice your enthusiasm. (Read The Alchemist.)
31. Leave a thank-you note for the office janitors.
32. Help bag your own groceries at the checkout counter.
33. Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left.
34. Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store.
35. Wave to a kid in the car next to you.
36. Spread good news.
37. Repeat something nice you heard about someone else.
38. Remember people’s names and address them accordingly.
39. When you make eye contact with someone, smile.
40. Replace what you’ve used. For example, fill up the copier or printer with paper after you’re done using it.
41. Share your umbrella on a rainy day.
42. Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.
43. Dance with someone who hasn’t been asked.
44. Call a stranger’s attention to a beautiful sunset or full moon. (Check out What Money Cannot Buy.)
45. Give words of encouragement toward someone’s dream, no matter how big or small it is.
46. Ask someone who enjoys cooking for a recipe.
47. Let someone else eat the last slice of pizza or cake.
48. Stop and buy a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand.
49. Help someone get your parking space in a crowded parking lot when you’re leaving.
50. Ask someone you see every now and then if they’ve lost weight.
51. Do a little something extra to make someone else’s life easier.
52. Use all the manners you learned in Kindergarten.
53. Listen to someone’s pain and help them find a path through it.
54. Give without expecting to get back.
55. Encourage others to do one unanticipated kind or helpful act at least once a week.
56. Observe everyone without judging.
57. Say “Please” and “Thank you.”
58. Forgive and let go of anger. For instance, if somebody accidentally cuts you off in traffic, just let it go.
59. Believe in yourself with all of your heart. People will notice.
60. Don’t be so serious all the time. (Read The Happiness Project.)
61. Treat every small interaction with another person as an opportunity to make a positive impact in both your lives.
62. Greed, anger and ignorance. Avoid all three.
63. Speak the truth.
64. Teach others how to make a difference by setting an example.
65. Help others be independent.
66. Give people the space they need.
67. Lend your shoulder to cry on.
68. Offer encouragement after a failure.
69. Acknowledge people for a job well done.
70. Tell a good joke.
71. Clean up after yourself.
72. Excel at what you do. People appreciate professionals.
73. Create a care package and send it to an active duty military unit.
74. Redirect gifts. Instead of having people give you birthday and holiday gifts, ask them to donate gifts or money to a good cause.
75. Stop to help. The next time you see someone pulled over with a flat tire, or in need of assistance, stop and ask how you can help.
76. Put a small personal touch on everything you do. People notice and appreciate individuality.
77. Take the time to teach someone a skill you know.
78. Help someone get active. There’s a coworker or acquaintance in your life who wants to get healthy, but needs a helping hand. Offer to go walking or running together, to join a gym together.
79. Send a nice email to a tech support representative who has assisted you.
80. Donate food to a charity.
81. Stand up for someone. Lend your voice. Often the powerless, the homeless, the neglected in our world need someone to speak up for them.
82. If you see a couple taking a self-pic, offer to take the picture for them.
83. Help the weary shopper in front of you who needs that extra two or three cents to avoid breaking a 20-dollar bill.
84. Come to the rescue. If you realize someone is sick, bring them some hot tea, etc.
85. Stand up for your beliefs without flaunting them.
86. Make yourself available and approachable.
87. Over-deliver on all of your promises and obligations.
88. Be positive and focus on what’s right.

And above all, live proudly. Inspire people with who you are and how you live your life - I got this from www.marandangelhack.com

Great Song!!!!

No words needed!

What have we done?!

So the plan was this week to finish getting the yard cleaned up and mow it and have the fence posts taken down by Friday!  No big deal right?!  WRONG!!!!  When Dave works until 6:00 at night & doesn't get home until after 6:30 he can't be out at the house until about 7:00!

Monday night I was able to get a ton mowed in the front yard while Dave & Russ worked on cleaning up the backyard.  They eventually needed my help so I went to help & we got some fencing pulled - so that was all good - I was feeling good about the progress!

Tuesday - I had some showings so Dave & Russ went to the house & started working but some friends showed up & by the time I got there Dave was showing them around & that's what we spend the rest of the night doing!

Wednesday - I got out there early so I was able to get this fenced in play area cleaned out - it was full of toys (pictures to come) - it was sort of sad as I found some little girl mittens and a pair of little boys shoes! After that I was able to get the chairs out on the deck, empty out the fridge (it's not working), and started killing weeds!  Then a contractor showed up to give us an estimate on some sheetrock/taping/mudding that we need done & it felt like he was never going to go home!  Eventually Dave & Russ showed up & they started working on getting the fencing from the horse pen pulled - they made some great progress on that as they got that about 3/4 done in about an hour & a half - so that was good!  Plus we were able to get the fridge moved from the garage to the house to see if that helped. 

Today - I went to check on the fridge & it still wasn't working so I had to call some repair men.  We are now waiting to see what's wrong with the fridge.  In the meantime my Mom & Sister went out to the house to scrub one room that the carpet was already pulled up when we bought it but there was animal feces on the floor and in the vents.  They scrubbed it four times with heavy duty cleaners and some bleach.  Anything has to be better than what it was!

I'll try to post pictures soon! 

We're Home Owners!!!!!!!!!!

Wishcasting Wednesday!

This week's question is:

WHAT DREAMS ARE YOU WISHING FOR?

I'm keeping it simple!!!!!!!

I have a new website!

I'd love for you to check out my new website - it's full of great information whether you are buying or selling or just interested in the real estate market!  Just click on the balloon and it'll take you there!

Check out this guy!

This guy is from the T.V. show The Voice on NBC - loving this show!

Luv This Song!

There's something about this song that makes me want to dance everytime I hear it!!!!!

Brave Girls Club Posting

What I Love About Spring!

I love the smell of freshly cut grass!!!

I love the feel and smell of crawling into a freshly made bed with bedding that has just been hungoutside

I love the smell of lake - you know what I'm talking about!

I love the feel of getting in a freshly vacuumed out car!

I love a good bonfire on a cool evening hanging out with family & friends!

I love that first time out golfing!

I love those first gorgeous spring sunsets!

 

It really is the simple things in life  that make us happy!!!

Great Advice

From The Secret Daily Teachings

Here are four fundamental things to do to manifest money using the law of attraction.(this can work for anything - doesn't have to be money)

1. Think more thoughts in a day of abundance than of lack of money.
2. Be happy now, without the money.
...3. Be truly grateful for everything you have now.
4. Give the best of yourself to others.

Four easy steps. You can do them if you want it enough

Thought for Today

"As we witnessed what seems impossible, we began again to believe in miracles. It made us all just want to be better, fly higher, do more." - Oprah

THOUGHTS

Thoughts, beliefs, and self-talk.”

Can you believe that as many as 90,000 thoughts a day pass through our brains! Most of those thoughts are the same ones, over and over. The trouble is, that if the majority of our thoughts are negative, repetition will make them seem like truth.

The good news is that since we have the ability to progr...am ourselves to believe negative things about ourselves, we also have the ability to program ourselves to believe in positive things.

As you go through your day, focus on the chatter going on inside your head. If you don’t like what you’re hearing, then stop, and consciously choose a brighter thought. As you become aware of your thoughts, it will become easier to program yourself to think in positive ways that serve you better!

Today, replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk....
We'll all be amazed at how much better we'll feel!

(taken from Jane Powell Meditations)

Be Present......

Stress, worry, and anxiety simply come from projecting your thoughts into the future and imagining something bad. This is focusing on what you don't want! If you find that your mind is projecting into the future in a negative way, focus intensely on NOW. Keep bringing yourself back to the present.

Use all of your will, and focus your mind in this very moment, because in this moment of now there is utter peace.

May the joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne

be yourself. not who you’re SUPPOSED to be, but who YOU WANT to be. not THEIR way, but YOUR way....everything else will take care of itself. - mike dooley {♥}

Yard Work

Here's the beginning of our "collection" - so far we have found 6 tires, and we know there are plenty more out there.  We found a drag, a couple of buckets that are in good condition, some bricks for the house, lots of hoses that aren't any good, some pallets, fence posts, a croquet ball, a kickball, a sled, a stroller - it's works just as good as a wheelbarrow!!!!!

This is what D & I spent 2.5 hours doing yesterday in the 35 degree weather and 30 mph winds!  We were able to get almost the entire front yard cleaned up and there is just a few things left in the horse pen that need to come out and then just a couple of boards along the shed that need to be pulled into the shed!  We were able to get quite a bit accomplished in that amount of time actually!

So I'm obsessed!

So I'm pretty much obsessed with this guy now!

Check this guy out!

This is Javier - he was on the voice last night and he is amazing!!!!!!!!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

I Feel It In The Air

I know it's Easter time again,
I feel it in the air.
The breath of spring with woodsy tang,
And new life everywhere.
And spring glides on with magic touch
O'er mountain side and glen;
And wakens all the sleeping plants
For Easter time again.

The brooklets leap from rock to rock,
As if in joyful play;
The flowers peep from darkened tombs
To welcome Easter Day.
The birds are swinging on the boughs,
And trill in ecstasy;
They seem to show the world's great joy
Of Easter mystery.

Why should we dread
the thing called death?
It's just an open door,
Where all within is love and peace
And joy forever more.
"Because I live, you too shall live,"
We hear the Savior say.
Let's consecrate our lives anew,
On this glad Easter Day.~By Edna Reed~

Here's what I'll be making!

I am getting ready for another very busy weekend!!!!  D & I have Easter with his family Saturday around noon, then we have my nephews 5th B-day party in the afternoon, then it's Easter for my family on Sunday!  So for each event I will be making dessert - I LOVE to make desserts - but was a bit overwhelmed by the thought of 3 plus a salad for this weekend! 

My nephew wants a tractor cake - which I'm excited to make:

and for D's family I'll be making this super cute Easter egg cake - and I'm going to try to put a surprise in the center of that cake for the kids!

These are just my templates I'll be posting more pictures later - if they turn out!

Oh you ask about the third dessert - my sisters so graciously told me I could "just" bring banana splits for Easter at Mom and Dads!

I read this on facebook and had to share!

Laugh when you can... Apologize when you should... And let go of what you can't change... Love deeply and forgive quickly... Take chances and give your everything... Life is too short to be anything but happy... You have to take the good with the bad... Love what you have... Always remember what you had... Forgive... but don't forget.. but always remember that Life goes on. Post this if you agree...!!!

Wishcasting Wednesday....What do you wish to tend to????

Over at Jamie Ridlers studio she asks us today:  What do you wish to tend to?

Lots of things went running through my head - family, friends, work, the new house we are purchasing - which needs some work as it's a foreclosure!  However I think I need to tend to myself and my soul first - I need to take time to slow down and be present, enjoy each moment as it happens - right now.  I need to stop worrying about the future and what will happen, how will it all get done - and take a deep breath and relax.  I need to try to be present for family events instead of thinking of work, be present for work events instead of thinking of family - and just be!!!!!!!!!

I am going to tend to myself by being present.

LUV THIS!!!!!!!!!

....it's the way you think. that's your purpose. it's never been about what work you choose, what gifts you develop, or what niche you fill - let these be for your pleasure. 

....think as only you can think, which will lead to feelings that only you can feel, from which connections will be made, lives will be changed, and worlds will come tumbling into existence. 

-mike dooley. 

So much to do!

I had good intentions of posting after we did something for the house - but as we all know - time gets away from us and life happens!  Over the past week I've been working on making purchases for the house so we don't have to buy everything and one time - if that would have to happen I'm pretty sure I'd have a heart attack!  I'm a Realtor and never knew how stressful buying a house was until I am now going through it!  I have a feeling this experience will help me be better at my job!

Shed

 Main bathroom - I can't stand the wood toilet seat and metal sliding shower doors - both have to go!

 Living Room - this room will get new carpet and paint

Work already?

Over the weekend Dave & I intalled smoke detectors in both basement bedrooms and one carbon monoxide detector also in the basement.  Then upstairs we installed two carbon monoxide detectors,  a handrailing and 4 GFCI's, and several outlet covers - all this and there hasn't been a clsoing yet.  These are just some of the details that have to be done prior to the appraisal - things required for us to get the loan.

We still need to install a pipe on on the water heater - also required for the loan.  After that we should have everything completed that we know for sure would be called out as work orders on the appraisal. 

I am going to try to get some before pictures taken so I can share the progress along the way!

On Sunday I also browned 10 pounds of hamburger to use when friends/family come help us work on the house. I emptied my Christmas pots that had berries & ornaments in - the snow had finally melted away!

Then I took down some lights & decorations and hung those out & aired those out and then packed them away.

Then we cleaned out as much from Daves storage shed as we can - we had one full truck load!  So slowly we are getting things done - May is going to be here before we know it!

Then today I went and bought a mail box and have been pricing paint, ladders, flooring, etc!  Who knew that there'd be so much to do?!!!!!!!!! 

Some Exciting News!

Dave & I are buying a house! 

This sort of came out of nowhere!  I felt like we were on this nice planned path and then WHAM!  Here's the perfect opportunity!

I'm a Realtor so I'm always sending Dave homes to look over and thought it's good for us to have an idea of what homes are going for!  This one popped up just outside of town on 4 acres with a triple stall garage and a pole shed!  Dave drove out there one evening and called me immediately and said we have to buy it!  I was like yeah, uh huh, sure ok!  He hasn't spoke with a lender yet, we don't know what the interior is like being it's a foreclosure, we need more information and I haven't seen any of it or the location.  I AM NOT A COUNTRY GIRL and this is on acreage in the country!

So Dave insists we look at it - so the next day I schedule a showing - but we each had to go on our own because of our schedules.  In the meantime I have him call a lender and find out what the payments would be, if he's pre-approved etc.  

We throw in an offer and they come back at full price ( because it's so new to the market and there was a ton of activity this is typical)!  So we decide to have his parents and brother come look at it.  We were with them at the property for over 2 hours - so we were very thorough!  We talked about it over the weekend - all weekend long and decide we are going to try to make another offer!  So Monday morning first thing we do!  Not until later in the afternoon that day do we find out she is submitting the offer after 3 - which means the bank won't look at it until Tuesday.  Then the listing agent proceeds to tell me that there is probably another offer coming in. 

Tuesday comes and goes with no word - Wednesday morning we find out there will be another offer so we now have to submit our highest and best offer!  It's a snow storm and nobody is going anywhere but I have no choice but to get to the office and submit the new offer!  So out in the blizzard I go!

I get to the office submit our final offer and within about 30 minutes I get a call from the listing agent.  She says to me: "so what's this?" I say you requested highest & best - she says oh but the other offer decided not to submit - phew!!!!!  Now we only have to wait for the bank to accept our offer!  However - this takes at least another 24 hours!  Finally we get the news - we got it!

Then we have to get through: 

A home inspection - check!

A septic inspection - check!

A water test - still waiting on results

An appraisal - soon to happen!

I'll keep you posted as we proceed!

Who Stole My Crackers?!

So this is a bit silly so I thought I'd share! 

I don't have any sort of heating in my office at work and we have really bad windows so I have to leave my office door open when I go home at night so heat from the conference room comes in during the night!  If I didn't do this I would freeze all day long!!!!!!!!  I work at a building that the main floor is our real estate offices and my office door is in the conference room along with one other girls door.  Upstairs is a builders office and a landscape office. We are able to lock up the conference room at night when we go home so I usually am never concerend about leaving my door open. Plus I prefer to be warm of freezing and having numb fingers!

So the other day I had a box of Cheez-It's (crackers) in my office next to my desk.  About half the box was gone.  I go to reach for it the other day and the box is gone!  I think to myself oh i must have put it in my snack drawer or moved it - so I look and look and look!  NOTHING!  They are gone!  So who on earth would take a half-eaten box of cracker?!  I have candy sitting out and I have a 12 pack of pop in my office - none of that was gone - just the cheez-it's!  Strange!