Dear John...

"Dear John is a 2006 novel written by American author Nicholas Sparks, explores the common romance theme of love after loss. Sparks has also written The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Last Song and Nights in Rodanthe, which, like Dear John, have been made to into films.
Dear John is a three part book that starts out with 23 year-old John Tyree, an army officer. It is set in Wilmington, NC and Lenior, NC from 2000 to 2006."

Just started reading this book last night...I will let you know how it is!

I have got to find a way to relax besides this computer :)

Friday Night Entertainment...

Jason singing to the girls playing Guitar Hero...He is loving his microphone...he has the "do do do do do do", down...he is getting to old to see the words on the screen...lol

Kelly and Katie, they are good!

Cozy entertaining night...glad my picture is not on here...the no makeup look is scarey! :)

Grace before Peace...

My verse before me today is:

Isaiah 26:3

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal."

Bro David made an interesting point Wednesday night in studying Revelation. In the Bible, you always see written, Grace before Peace, not Peace before Grace. Without Grace, we do not have Peace. We are saved by Grace (what we are given that we do not deserve), therefore we do have Peace, we have perfect peace - him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.
Ponder on this!

My buddy...

I have spent some time with my lil' buddy this week. He has been sick, Lauren has been sick, and my laptop has a virus, ughh. So, lil' Layton was with me at home today, and as I worked on the desktop (which I do not prefer and do not have all my info), I put him beside me on the floor with copy paper and big crayons... by the way, they were Lauren's colors, I had them put up, I am just wondering how old they are? hmmm OH and they were glitter crayons. Go figure! Anyway, I am so blessed and even with all the obstacles this week, I can say, " I am still standing".

I left my bible open today beside me all day. The verses I had read today, I knew I needed but I really did not understand them until this afternoon. I had several problems I was dealing with...impossible situations that God easily handled without my help ... huhhh!

Psalms 108:12-13
"Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies".

Need I say more?

Jesus likes ME... :)

Have you ever had times when you have said to the Lord, "what do you want me to say", knowing you want to share Jesus with someone hurting or anyone who has questions about God.

I read this in a devotional today, this is what one ER nurse says,

"Jesus likes me. When I talk to Him today, I'll pray for you."

You know you just never know when what you say, will affect someone. Most of the time, when people are hurting, they do not mind you mentioning God to them. It seems when people are doing good in life, that God is at a distance. Remember 911, no one had a problem with praying, did they! Just thinkin...

The Tough get Tougher...

In hard times she had learned three things:

*She was stronger than she ever imagined,

*Jesus was closer than she ever realized,

*and she was loved more than she ever knew!



AMEN to that! Love it!


PS My name is RAM and my tank is Full!

What could be bad about this?

I don't have a recipe...but I will try these. I am going to mix cream cheese, cool whip and powdered sugar together...may throw in some vanilla or almond extract...what a presentation!

Happy Birthday Ruthye...

I love this picture of you and Jenna~Wade...

This is my mother's younger sister and her daughter. Jenna is 9 months older than Lauren...I am very close to these two!

Much needed time...

Sweet angel...I had Layton this morning, we went to the grocery store, and he just fell out in the car...why are kids so sweet when they are sleeping...lol

He is growing up so fast. I just needed to kiss on him today, and I did! I "surely" need him more than he needs me! :)

Groundbreaking...GTAR

Groundbreaking for the new Greater Tyler Association of Realtors on the East Loop.

Greater Tyler Assoc of Realtors...

The Greater Tyler Association of Realtors introduced new officers and directors at a luncheon this past week.

Bill Jones, president of the Texas Association of Realtors, spoke at the event, held at the Willowbrook Country Club. The luncheon followed a groundbreaking ceremony for the new association home on Loop 323 in southeast Tyler.

Officers introduced were: Bill Pillsbury, president; Jonathan Wolf, president elect; Debbie Ezzell, vice president; Lorri Loggins, treasurer; Laura Corbett, secretary; and Ann Fitzgerald, past president.

NAHB...National Assoc of Home Builders...

According to the NAHB-National Association of Home Builders:

Items most likely to be found in new homes for 2010:
1. Walk-in closet in master bedroom
2. Separate laundry room
3. Insulated front door
4. Great room
5. Low-E windows
6. Linen closet
7. Programmable thermostat
8. Energy-efficient appliances and lighting
9. Separate shower and tub in master bedroom
10. Nine-foot ceilings on first floor

The least likely items homebuyers will find in new homes this year include:
1. Outdoor kitchen
2. Outdoor fireplace
3. Sun room
4. Butler's pantry
5. Media room
6. Desk in kitchen
7. Two-story foyer
8. Eight-foot ceiling on first floor
9. Multiple shower heads in master bath
10. Smaller kitchen area than in recent years

Home buyers want energy efficiency and smaller square footage. We shall see!

Precious Boy...

Sweet Layton, picked him up for a couple of hours this afternoon... fever and cough, but he loved his new shovel...

Valley... :)

What did the mountain say to the other mountain?

See ya in the valley... hehehe!!!



I needed that laugh tonight~ those valley's can get you...but never fear, our God is near! I have whispered his name several times today! He is holding my hand, he is with me in trouble. I call on his name and he listens.
Again, Psalms 91:14-15

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. "

Ganache...

Lauren, we have got to try this over cupcakes.....sounds so easy!!!

Sour Cream Ganache

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place the chocolate chips into a glass or metal bowl, and set over the top of a pan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and transfer the chocolate to a medium bowl. I will probably microwave mine! Slowly...
Add the sour cream and vanilla; beat with an electric mixture until smooth and creamy. If you let it cool down too much it will set up, so frost your cake while it is still liquid, or reheat before using.

Kiss a Frog...

When I was thinking about posting the picture below of Lauren's cookies for Valentines, I found
this picture of "Kiss a Frog"...lol...love it~

http://www.morethanchocolate.net/

For all your cookie gifts, office, or just to eat! Check it out today and place your order!

Swamped...

Well, for the last several weeks, I have been "swamped" with work. That is a good thing! Last year was rather challenging in the Real Estate market.

From the looks of how things have started in 2010, let's hope the market is on its' way to recovery. I know some of you may chuckle at the word "recovery", but hey, I have to keep an optimistic outlook. Right clients?...

Heart of a 10 year old boy...

I received this short story from a client of mine...loved it!

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him."How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked."Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it."Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies...

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

Ahhh...brought tears to my eyes...

Satisfied? YES!

My calendar today:

"The Lord will guide you continually, and SATISFY you with all good things." Isaiah 58:11

East Texas Sunrise...

My uncle took this picture this morning on his way to work in Jacksonville. Gorgeous!

Psalms 19:1
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Housing Trends Newsletter...

Please click on this link to view January 2010 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter:

http://tyler.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/

Smile...

"If you've asked Jesus in your heart, remind your face! " :)

Saw this on Facebook from one of my clients.....Great, isn't it!

Honey Bun Cake...

My version of "Honey Bun Cake"...

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
1/2 cup applesauce
4 eggs
1 (8 oz) sour cream (1 cup) - I use Daisy lite

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

Streusel
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1 T cinnamon

Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
1 T milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease with shortening and lightly flour 13x9-inch pan, or spray with baking spray with flour.

In large bowl, beat dry cake mix, applesauce, eggs, sour cream, sugar, and water with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Spread half of the batter in pan.

In small bowl, stir together brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon; sprinkle over batter in pan. Carefully spread remaining batter evenly over pecan mixture.

Bake 44 to 48 minutes or until deep golden brown. In another small bowl, stir powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until thin enough to spread. Prick surface of warm cake several times with fork. Spread powdered sugar mixture over cake. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Store covered at room temperature.

Food Face...

Is this cute or what? It is a "food face" plate... a bald face, and your kids play with their food. I am thinking, this would be fun for Layton...hehehe...