Whoo Hoo! Yippee!

I sub for teachers....

...for their Euchre group!!

I love this little group of teachers that invite me to play with them once-in-a-while.

Tonight I walked away with the "most loners!" And a beautiful flowering pot ...that I had just spied at Blooms Brother's this morning -- AND WANTED!

It is turning into my lucky day...It's 8:45p and there's still time to buy a lottery ticket!

Just kidding... I'm waaaay to lazy to fire the car back up and go get a lottery ticket!

E's Mothers Day Stories

E's First Temper Tantrum Pertaining to Mother's Day

She was 3 about to turn 4.

She was (still is) ABSOLUTELY adorable.

She had (still does) a cute little baby voice and a really cute little baby accent.

She liked princesses....(understatement.)

We were at the Hallmark in the mall.

I was purchasing a Mother's Day card for my momma.

E was dancing, swaying, and twirling to the beat of a princess card that played music.

I made my selection, chatted with E about her princess card and then asked her to put it away.

All heck broke loose....

She was so upset that we weren't buying the princess card.. In retrospect...why didn't I?

We cried, we payed, we stomped, we walked out of the store, we were standing in the middle of an active mall and she says...

"You have wuined Mudder's Day fo me!"

I knelt down and put my arm around her. Tried to kiss her and said...

"I'm sorry sweetheart.. But I'm sure it won't be the last time."



Flashforward to Yesterday

(Background facts: Matt sets the coffee pot up everynight for us. It brews around 7am. I get up, have a cup, and watch the news while the rest of them are still sleeping. I have complained a few times about never getting breakfast in bed on Mother's Day. They say it's because I am always up before them.....)

The pot finishes brewing and beeps the "all ready" sound. It's 7am!

I stir -- fully aware of the day, the possibility that there may be a breakfast in bed. (I had overheard E the night before say she wanted to set her alarm clock.)

Matt stirs, I make sure to make eye contact with him so that he knows I'm awake. It's 7am!

G is lying between us. Soundly snoozing.

Matt gets up. I hear cups clanging, the sound of a bag being rustled. It's 7am!

I stay in bed -- just in case.

Moments later a bleary eyed E walks in carrying a tray with a cup of coffee and 3 Hostess powdered sugar donuts cut in half. It's 7am!

Matt hits the play button on my cd alarm clock and Buddy Holly starts playing True Love Ways. (Oh, it was terribly charming at 7am!)

All along I am careful not to wake up G ...she will want to eat my donuts!

Funny thing is ... When Matt got E up. He shook her awake, stood her upright, handed her the tray, and she said...

"Now, who's this for?..."

Another Saturday at the office with a chance to update my blog..

Subject #1

I asked about a second grade teacher for E.

Usually I am of the thought that the hand of providence (aka God) will guide my little girl through her preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and this upcoming second grade year.

But, I was so curious as to what input I might get from her teacher that I decided to ask.

From what she said I could glean a certain direction would be better than another so I ....emailed my preferrence to the principle.

If next year turns out to be a bust I will never forgive myself. And I really don't want to learn another lesson ..even a faith lesson.. the hard way. Not at my little tot's expense.

I can sure squeeze the tears out just thinking about her and the apprehension I feel about school.. the time she's away from me.. the kids that might not be nice to her.. the teacher that doesn't understand where she's coming from.. the ideas she encounters without me there to buffer.

Prayer... I want to be a praying momma.. and I have good reason to be!

Ok. Wipe my eyes.


Subject #2 -- sort of in rambling form

I have no idea what the market's going to do.

April 30th has passed. No more tax credit incentives. That did bring in lots of business.

Listings are picking up.

The market was at a 6 month supply. Which is dead on the "stable" mark. Any less inventory would tip towards a seller's market. Higher than 6 would indicate a buyer's market. (I am a fan of the seller's market.. but I am still a novice..)

So, in the last 2 weeks I have had 5 homes become available for me to list. Sellers are not afraid to "put it out there."

But are buyers still wanting to do something? That is what I am anxious to find out over the next couple of weeks.

Buyers market around the corner?

The news was dark on Thurs ..even though it was just a "flash crash" and maybe even a moment of "oops!"

The carefully watched European Union is looking grimly ahead. What does that mean for us... our beloved homestead and homeland and our economy? The words "world economy" are put together more than ever before.

Ron Paul -- who I am NOT a fan of -- gave a very bleak outlook on our whole idea of currency in an interview on Fox that I saw last Thurs. This is scary. I don't care what this guy says but others might get spooked. This interview happened moments before the "flash crash" surely one had no influence on the other. I know it didn't... still a crazy moment before an even crazier one.

I love the dollar. 'Used to live overseas and exchanged deutsch marks and dollars -- gave me a great appreciation for a "high dollar." The dollar is up these last few days...

I predict interest rates will stay low...even though they have been projected to increase this summer. We'll see how good I am at this guessing game.

Ultimately, I feel like if we don't lose faith in ourselves .. if we don't want to be -- or try to be --like the Europeans...blaah. We can resolve to be great and then BE GREAT!

And if I might digress: There is nothing wrong with Americana, the Reagan rancher, a colonial shade of blue. Don't throw out the American spirit with the old and dated Americana decor. We are a great nation. Not arrogant just GOOD AT IT and deservedly PROUD OF IT!

My personal shoe choice..

So, yesterday's post describes a little bit of what we've got going.

It is a busy season... of our lives.

I was at the office earlier and a friend of mine says to me... "I like those shoes."

I respond... "Thank you. I have found that the stacked heel wears better than the leather covered ones. And this "fake-alligator-type-material" doesn't show the wear either." -- I actually said that.

So there you go busy ladies... a tip for you. Stacked heels are best for the woman who doesn't have time to "take it easy on her shoes."

Squish, squeak, ack! What the????

Update on my Assistant!

Well, my assistant has hit a patch of "not good" health. Blood pressure shot up (and by shot up I mean I've never heard such a high # used to describe blood pressure.) We had to go to the emergency room.



We walked into the ER at REGIONAL HOSPITAL (which looked very nice, clean, well laid out, and new btw.) We had to walk because my assistant was not in the mood to run. Unfortunately the receptionist at the check in desk mistook that as a sign that we were in no mood to hurry -- period.



When they finally called the person ahead of her on "the list" and that persons family members shouted out "He's outside smoking!" I thought THAT'S IT!



Grabbed the nurse and told her we truely had an emergency!



So, now my assistant has had all the tests run. I mean it -- ALL! And.... nothing is wrong with her. Thankfully. But why did her blood pressure shoot up? I don't know, they don't know. But she will watch her cholesterol.



No greasy foods as her and I sit together at my open houses on Sunday afternoons and do our brain teaser puzzles. (We never did have greasy food, but I'm not above trying to slip it in -- now I know better.)



We usualy sit at these open houses and do brain teaser puzzles. We are huge fans of two in particular that are in the USA TODAY everyday: Quick Cross and Up And Down Words. We chit chat, catch up, talk about Young and the Restless and get to enjoy each other for awhile.

She is a fabulous assistant and an even greater MOTHER-IN-LAW!

I'm glad she's doing better!!

I won the referal contest at work!

Yippee! I won the referal contest at work!

I won it last year too!

What's the secret?

For me it is learning to listen.. and not assume.. turn over those rocks!

I used to work at an insurance office and I would pick and choose who I thought could buy life insurance or who would just want the basic auto insurance based on what I saw or some first opinion I had formed. I was wrong on several occassions.

Sit down and talk to these people. Pick up on little things.

Be knowledgable of all your services. This last client needed somthing to rent and I was able to refer her to an agent in the town she is moving to. Had I not known (I actually had to check) but had I not found out that my company could refer someone who needs to rent rather than buy ..I would have missed out on that opportunity.

Know what you sell, or what you offer, or what you have at your disposal. These are tools in our toolbox.

Speaking of..(tools in the toolbox) I am still working on the first grade thing. E came home and said so-and-so didn't like her and I took it HARD. Because blah...blah..blah... see I am starting down my whining path again.

Lord, please help me with this. Truely, it needs to be a priority. Let me be a woman of my word. Help me take my own advice and more importantly yours.

first grade lessons for mommas

I delved... I devled bad. I sunk low.... I got angry at a fellow first grade mother who complained about my daughter.

My sweet girl ...turns out she's just like the other girls.. (only better..because I love her and I say she's better!)

Is her mommy any better than the other first grade mommies? Some of them are very good.. I sunk down to the level of a couple of the others ....I complained about them complaining about Erin. (In some cirlces that's considered gossip.)

What I should have done was blow it off. It was silly chatter and numbingly unecessary to carry on.

I will consider this a learning experience and move on with new knowledge of how to handle myself in the future.


One thing about a successful realtor..

I was talking to my husband about this over coffee at an actual coffee shop this morning.. loved that.

One thing about a successful realtor is they never appear bothered. They probably get bothered but they don't let me see it and they handle themselves with CLASS.

This is one thing a successful first grade momma must add to her little tool box of tricks.

Another Milestone Yesterday....

Matt had a birthday and all went well. He is wearing his (slightly older than last week) age very well.

Of course he would.

I think Matt's one of those "old souls" that people talk about.

Matt takes on life like someone who's been through it once already.

Matt's got a "knowing."

He knows things about things. He is (as we all know) capable of building, fixing, creatin' anything...

But, to my surprise -- and absolute delight -- he also has a "knowing" about ....me.

Things come up ALL the time that make me question, make me nervous, worried, anxious.

I TALK TO MATT. (Of course, I pray about things ..but, thank God, I can talk to Matt.)

Matt has put so many things into perspective for me. I love his perspective ...his "knowing." It's positive. It's comfortable. It's easy on me. It has calmed me down on many-a-hair-raising-occasion.

Is that what makes someone an old soul?

At the same time he stays very ...oh, I hate to be so cliche but... "young at heart." He, himself, says he has Peter Pan Syndrome. -- Well if you have to be sick with something...

So Matt had a birthday yesterday and the 3 women in his life celebrated having him in ours.

I love you Matt. .....Happy Birthday.

Open mouth, insert .....

Remember Bambi?



Cute little Thumper holdin' onto his foot or his ear... saying in his super cute little Thumper voice "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."



I repeat that many times to my girls while they toddle around. Hoping to instill in them to always be positive and if you can't say something nice about a person -- keep your mouth shut!

Again, the sound of the needle being dragged across the record....

I thought I was in the clear. I thought this agent was gone for good. I thought I was right when I said what I said about her anyway.

I came into the office this morning and "this agent" was putting for-sale signs in her trunk.

"So your back?" I ask.

"For the summer!" she answered.

Ugh! Here's a thought Deb.... take your own advice.

The RealEstate business is unique in that we work cooperatively with our competition ALL THE TIME (I hope, I hope, say a prayer...)

We all know that it is very important to watch what we say.

Always be positive and don't say anything about someone that you wouldn't say to their face (my husband's motto.)

Oh! But isn't it awful when we have to be reminded?

BINGO!

I read Harriet the Spy when I was younger. Loved it! Made me want to become a journalist.. until Linda Ellerbee's book screwed me up.. Anyway, I found a copy at an American Cancer Society book sale for 2 bucks and was just tickled! Now I will be reading that to Erin soon.

I bring this up because there is a house I want in town here. I have mentioned it to Matt. He knows where it is. There are actually 2 houses near one another in town. One sits on (not kidding) 17 ACRES(!) the other 2 acres. Well, a wonderful little old motorcylce shop owner owns the larger of the two properties and has in mind a golden egg in the form of a sale price... so forget him. But, my little 2 acre house... hmmmm.... (enter Harriet.)

My Harriet no longer sits in window sills or climbs on roof tops to gather her information. Today she simply hit a few keys on the laptop and POOF! I now know all I need to know about the rather young owner of my coveted house. (Kinda scary huh?) Truely, I know more than she probably expected a stranger to be able to find out. I know she doesn't always stay there, I know it's extremely close to family members, I know where she is now, I know she has just bought a passport, I know she keeps high dollar items onsite while she is out of town... Don't you think that's too much information for me to know? I agree. None-the-less, she sounds like a terrific gal (with a maybe too carefree attitude about what she puts online) -- and one other thing I know...

She wants to live in PA! No kidding! Well, maybe she'll want to sell? I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, PLEASE watch what you post online. Geesh!

American Living brown cable-knit socks from JCPenneys didn't even last through one season. Very pricey .. no quality.

Phew!

Maybe I'll go into more detail about this at another time... Maybe I won't ever feel the need....

'Stuck (only on a certain level) for the last 11 years worrying about bad decisions I'd made. 'Feeling very self concious for the last 11 years -- even worrying I might run into certain someones in town ...or afraid I could never hold a political office. ...Totally took this waaaay too far in my mind -- but that's what I do. I exaggerate, I turn things into a bigger deal than they need to be.

Finally over it.

How strange the way it happened too. I ran into THE person that I was so intimidated by. I have run into this person before and always walked away feeling horrible or heavy hearted or embarrassed or sub par or stupid. Always worried about seeing this person and having my day ruined. 'Would ruin several good days by just worrying. Doesn't this sound ridiculously terrible? Well...

Anyway, half expecting to run into this person at a local grocery. I rushed toward the checkout carrying my daughter's pull-ups and BOOM! There! But this time something easy came over me. I was feeling pretty happy and I guess didn't want that to change. I think maybe my confidance level was higher than usual. Whatever it was. The encounter ...was fine. Words exchanged, there was a smile. Not a crazy 'deer in the headlights' look. Relief. Hmmm...no need to worry.

Can you believe this ("non") event has changed my life??

Crazy -- but true.

I have one less thing to worry about now. And trust me, it was about time!

Hey Paul... Hey Vicki! xoxo

Things are good... I'm good... But every-once-in-a-while the proverbial fly gets in the ointment... we (I) vent for just a moment and then ask Matt to get the fly swatter -- because I don't like to squash bugs....

(eh-hem) Appraisors.

I'm just pausing for a moment while the tremors stop.

'Having trouble with an appraisal on a rather stale property I'm trying to sell. Finally get a low-ball offer on it accepted and the appraisor comes back even $10k lower. ????

Even the buyer was blown away as he told me this afternoon that he already felt like he was taking advantage of the seller with his ridiculously low price. Now the seller will have to reduce even farther???

And get this: I was actually given the heads up that this particular appraisor was "conservative" (AKA BLIND -- my opinion) before he even went out and looked at the place. So we (I mean the sellers) were already at a disadvantage coming in and there wasn't a darn thing we could do about it.

See how relative everything involved in this sale actually is?

Price, condition, location -- all relative. Appraisors opinion -- relative. The only thing that is more or less "factual" is the buyers ability to get the loan. And then it has only become a more "factual" process of late.

And as a side note -- why they get a copy of the purchase agreement is beyond me. The lender can't talk to the appraisor -- not even order the appraisal unless via a third party sometimes. YET!! The appraisor gets the pa and right there on the 1st page is the price, the earnest money, the loan type, amount financed, interest rate, points, term, and concessions. WHAT MORE COULD THE LENDER TELL THEM?????

When Bert gets back from vacation (on Monday, I hope) I'm going to park it in his office and seriously discuss talking to the state legislature about this one! I can't be the only person who wants to do this... I bet I could get a mob together.. A mob as opposed to a petition because I am under the persuasion that one should never sign a petition.

***

This isn't the first time I've been screwed up by an appraisal but it is, so far, the worst....


***

Now.

I have learned over my short years in this business not to get too hot too soon. Things have a way of working out and I am confidant they will. BUT GEESH AM I FRUSTRATED AT THE MOMENT!

(And it is very hard for a frustrated girl like me to stay out of the refrigerator!!!!)

all in good fun... oops!

When Erin was 4 years old. I wanted her to wear a green outfit and she wouldn't do it. I tried everything to get it on her and no luck.


Eventually an idea took hold of me that I thought was GENIOUS!


I got on my cell phone, dialed our home number, asked for Erin and pretended to be....


Ariel ...because she wears green!


Well, it worked. Erin donned the green attire and we all lived happily ever after.



Now ------ Hear the screaching brakes? The record being yanked off the player? Me crying out nooooooooooooooo!



Our story has come to -- a twist.


Erin has asked me several times about the magical day that Ariel called ... "Mom, was that really Ariel that called me that day?"


And of course I say "Yes!"


Well, turns out she tells people at school about this story and they call her a liar. Now what do I do with the poor little thing and her poor little feelings?



This leads me into another part of the twist in our story..

Over the weekend Erin was trying to explain to Gina that God lives in Heaven (the sky) and also in her heart. (Gina was totally under the opinion that God lives in her stomach and spends his time scavenging for food. Really!)


Well anyway, while Erin was explaining the omnipresence of God to Gina she said "it's like a made up story."



What the?


Of course, I tell Erin it is not a made up story. Then I think of him. Know who I mean? The big guy in the red suit. Then there was the tooth fairy that just came to her bedside a couple of weeks ago. And straight ahead... we have the giant bunny that breaks in and delivers hard boiled eggs.



What have I done????? What have we done Matt?



(Insert the word "Crap!" here because I use that word alot.)



The easter bunny's on his way.


This is only the first of many tooth fairy visits.


Santa's already working on this years naughty or nice list.


...And heaven forbid she doesn't want to wear green on St. Patrick's Day...(because I have a way to fix that!)



...Now I am understanding why some people don't go down this road with their kids.



I don't want to go back and tell her I lied about all that stuff!!!



So...Here's the fix:

(Why was I worried? It's an easy one!)

Erin and Gina have heard and will hear many times over The Greatest Story Ever Told. And they'll know it's not a made up story because it will become their story.


Day-in-and-day-out we will use our faith ....to get along, grow together, work, pay bills, feed ourselves, love each other, forgive each other, encourage one another, wake them up, tuck them in.


And they will be confident that we didn't make this story up ...even on that fatefull day that they finally realize there's no such thing as......

Stuffed myself tonight!

Why can't I resist free food? I have a problem with free food. I can be such a good little weight watcher until someone hands me something for the all-too-irresistable price of ZILCH...and then I grab it and inhale it.

Tonight's show was at the Holiday Inn. A cheesy little free meal to intice myself and another member of the pto to use Club Choice foods for our fall fundraiser. They started poppin' frozen pizzas out of the portable toaster oven and I thought I hit the jackpot.

Uuuuugggghhhh!

~~~~

'Shopped at the Mall with G today. She is such a little trooper and a really fun kid to have around. She kisses me. She grabs my hand. She talks about clothes. ...This was after she joined me for our weekly weight watcher meeting. I love that girl and all the time we are able to spend together.

It used to be E that I ran around with everyday.

I must not overlook all the "firsts" that E and I will still enjoy together. She's getting bigger but she still needs me to come along and part the waters with her.

I am really happy to grab her hand and jump on the ride!

Church Stuff ...(disclaimer)

It's been a few days... I have started many posts and then shelved them... because I am too self-conscious about what I write these days.

Grrrrr....

I really hate that ....and speaking of self-conscious ...been dealing with that all over the place..

'Been reading this book called Bad Girls of the Bible. (E gets a kick out of the title.) The latest chapter iss about the couple in Acts that sold some property but only gave the church so much of the profit. The contribution didn't honor God and they were ....killed on the spot.

At the same time I follow this blog by one of our pastors at MCC and he has recently asked 'do you tithe simply for the honor it gives God or do you tithe because you want to be blessed? '

Ok, so I've given this some thought and I'm comfortable with things......

....But! When church was wrapping up yesterday and the music was starting and the congregation was being encouraged to worship I realized -- and became shamefully aware of -- an old feeling that I have also become comfortable with ...but in a bad way.

For what ever reason... when I am standing, sitting in church -- in worship mode -- I feel watched.

I am worshiping while being aware that someone may be watching me. And I worship with that in the back of my mind. Do I do what I'm supposed to do incase I am being watched? It is not the main thrust of my worship -- but is it a ....factor? Would factor be the right word?

Anyway, I was startled when I realized that my worship and reasons for it... and my tithe and reasons for it... ought to be the same. Of course! Duh! I knew this already --

...but then I thought --

....Could the punishment have been the same if the story of this couple in Acts was about worship? There have been many cases in the Old Testament where worship was conducted NOT according to Gods laws -- and last tiny details -- and the punishment was death.

I know I have grace to save me from a punishment of death...but I am going to try to GET OVER MYSELF and ignore this constant self-consciousness or "what do people think of what I do" stuff.

And so, in addition, I am going to try to post more here and not shelve what I write because I am worried about what you may think.

Of course time and schedules also make it a struggle... but I'm gonna do my best!

I am waiting for Matt to shower and dress ..then we are going out to dinner.



I miss Erin and I want to kiss Gina's little nose so bad!

I am waiting for him here at my desk. Checking emails, looking at facebook, watching the nightly news, and comparing little boys and girls in this horrible Haiti footage to MY two little girls ...who are at this moment playing with Grandma and Grandpa -- probably Old Maid.

Giggling, no dust in their hair, socks on their footsies, a knowing that Mommy and Daddy will come get them soon, cute pajamas, full bellies, snacks within arms reach... I am so happy for those two. I am so sad for these others.

God, hold on to these little kids. Give them strength, comfort. Don't let their joy be doused forever. And thank you for my two kids.

Distracted

I want some salty/greasy food, and strawberry jelly, coffee, seconds all around. Then I want a burger with cheese and mustard and ketchup...french fries with ranch dressing and fizzy drinks. Later a pizza...a really thick deep dish with hot tomato sauce oozing all over the place under really yummy cheese layer.

Anyone?

Anyone?

Follow all that up with some icecream, medley of sauces, whip cream, and a banana sliced in two propped up in a really huge bowl. And if you leave off the cherry I'm really gonna be P.Oed!