Lunch = failure...

Wow, took my mother and Layton to the Fair today for lunch, Layton threw a monumental fit for most of the time! I saw this sign on Pinterest.com, so fitting...

Donkey spoke, he listened...

I have been thinking about the story I read this morning, about Balaam and his donkey.  Balak, King of Moab, wanted Balaam to come and curse a people.  God told Balaam don't go, but the king was insistant, offering a reward.  God finally told Balaam he could go, BUT do only what I tell you to do.  Baalam set off for his journey on his donkey.  The donkey spooked, not once but three differents times because of an angel blocking his way.  Each time Baalam kicked the donkey.  Guess what the donkey did, he spoke.  He said, why are you doing this to me?  Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?  I am sure Balaam was freaking out because his donkey was talking.  Oh my, he was probably scared to death, then on top of that, God opened Balaam's eyes and he could see the angel standing in the road. The angel asked him, "why are you beating your donkey", I am here  to oppose your reckless ways.  Balaam fell face down and repented.

Good grief, how many times have I felt obstacles, not once, but several, before I realize that what I am going to do is not good for me!  God allows these obstacles for our own good.  Just like the donkey,  how many times do you think Balaam rode his donkey and never had any trouble.  He probably rode him daily.  It goes to show me, that if I routinely do certain things, and then I notice trouble, it just may be an angel standing in the road throwing obstacles.  I am trying to think back to give an example in my life.  Let's say, work-real estate.  I have had several deals fall apart this year, it has been a challenging year.  I have beat myself up thinking that what I had done was not enough.  Maybe, it was an angel, putting those obstacles in place so that the deal did fall apart.  Maybe, God was opposing a way that was not good for me.  Maybe, I can look back now, and thank God !  I believe I will replace maybe with surely, with confidence, without a doubt, God has a plan for me and if an obstacle appears, it is for my own good!  I will start thinking about that talking donkey!  (I can't help but think of Eddie Murphy's voice in Shrek).  hehe

Numbers 22:32-35

³² The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.^{] 33} The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”

³⁴ Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

³⁵ The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.”

My Pumpkin Bread...

Pumpkin Bread, my version,

1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened
1/3 shortening
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
1 can 16 oz pumpkin
2/3 cup water
3 1/3 cups flour
2 t baking soda
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking powder
1 t cinnamon
1 t ground cloves
2/3 cup chopped pecans
2/3 cup raisins

Mix shortening, applesauce, sugars.  Add eggs, pumpkin and water.  Blend in flour and other dry ingredients. Add pecans and raisins.  Preheat oven to 350.  I use (3) tin loaf pans.  I spray with the flour pam, and then dust with sugar and cinnamon mixed.  Bake for 55-60 minutes.  Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans.  Freezes well, but mine never makes it to the freezer.  Happy Fall!

Followers...

I cannot help but look at the right side of my blog, the Live Traffic Feed, and wonder about all the people that follow me from all over the world.  You know when I blog, I blog for myself, it is a diary, and it keeps me up to date on everything, I, myself, want to remember.

If you follow me, I sure wish I could meet everyone of you!

If you follow me, you know I love the Lord, I love my Family, I love love love Layton- :) my grandson, I absolutely love Real Estate- I breathe it!

I love baking, I love my house and land, I love gardening, I love blue flowers and blue birds, I love "surely", meaning with confidence, without a doubt.  I love "shewood", my Gran-was a strong woman,  "SHE brought in limbs to her fireplace, hence "shewood"... I giggle at hearing her call that limb, "shewood".  I love being a woman, and I love the presentation of everything... presentation matters, be it, home, food, houses, or myself.  So, hey followers, Hello from Texas!  Maybe we will meet one day, like, Heaven!

I cannot help but think of this verse,

Luke 18:22

"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me."

Happy Birthday Jenna~Wade...

I love these cookies that Lauren baked for her cousin's birthday! 
Hope you had a fun time on your birthday, Jenna~Wade... you are special!

www.morethanchocolate.net

Surely Says...Texas Real Estate Update...

Did you Know?
33% of loans in Foreclosure have not made payments in 2 years.
4.1 million loans are 90 + days delinquent or in foreclosure.

RECON, Mark Dotzur, per his presentation below:

Restarting the Housing Market

• People still want to buy homes.

• They are worried that prices may fall further.

• The OCC reports over 4 million houses in

foreclosure or over 90 days delinquent

• Loan modifications are not working

• At current rates, it may take 50 months to

clear the foreclosure inventory

We need to speed up the foreclosure process

• We need to encourage private investors:  

– Make investor financing available

– Shorten depreciation to 15 years, with ACRS

– Write off losses against earned income

– No capital gain if you hold the property 5 years

Everyone agrees that housing is the key

headwind against the US economy.

• Postponing and delaying foreclosure does

nothing but extend the market paralysis

• We need a change in policy now.

Apple Smiles...

Okay Lauren, this is too cute!

• smooth peanut butter
• 1 red apple, cored and sliced into eighths
• squeeze of lemon juice
• miniature marshmallows

Spread peanut butter on one side of each apple slice (squeeze a little lemon juice over the apple if not serving immediately).

Place four miniature marshmallows on one apple slice and then lay another apple slice, peanut butter side down, on top.

Sweet Punkin'...

My punkin' is making punkin's.....so cute!   www.morethanchocolate.net

Drought comes HOME...

I took this pic today, Sep 21, 2011 - drought, this picture brings drought

to the personal level HOME,

 see the water to the left,

the water should be all the way to the right, way past the windmill.

This pic was taken July 22, 2010... hay baled, wonderful site!  see the water,

compare to the previous pic.

Pretty sad, daddy predicts water may be gone by January. 

Prayer needed indeed, for Rain! 

 God's rain!

Claire Bear said, are you ready?...

 

Yes I am ready!  You are too cute Claire Bear, thanks for texting me this pic tonight!

It makes me Happy!

I have had  a Happy Day! 

Pull Apart Bread by Tammi...

Yes, this is bread, not sweet bread. My cousin, Tammi, makes this bread!

 I had this recipe on my  last real estate postcard!

24-Frozen Rhodes Rolls (Frozen Section of Grocery Store)

Grease Bundt Pan.  Using tongs, dip each roll in melted butter.  Place in Bundt pan.

Grease saran wrap and place on top of pan.  Let rise for 4 hours.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Smells heavenly, !

Surely Says...Texas Real Estate Update...

According to RECON, Real Estate Center Online News, Sep 20, 2011.
AUSTIN (Fiscal Notes) – Agricultural losses from Texas wildfires this year are approaching $200 million, and at least 3.6 million acres in Texas have been scorched by wildfires so far this year. That's to say nothing of the many homes that have been lost.

Not sure if there is an end in sight this year... we surely need rain! 

Mighty fort-ress...

He is good for my soul!

My prize today...

 

Everyone should have a daddy just like I do!  He is my constant encourager.  He knew I had a hard time last week, and he even said I needed a prize.  That is what I have always told Lauren and Layton.  Anyway, today he showed up with a card and a "lamb".  Can you  just see him picking out this little lamb and the Hallmark sticker.  Pretty ingenious, huh!  I love this man more than anything!

Lelia, notice the "keep on keepin' on"?  Remember me emailing you this morning and saying the same thing?  Apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Rinley Grace Update...

Rinley Grace update from her father, Rusty (my cousin),

"Just got back from seeing Rinley this morning. She had a good night. They gave her a bath and she had one of each diapers. They are giving her tiny bits of food to get her Tummy working. No procedures scheduled for today. They took off her breathing meds and are just going to monitor her throughout the day." 

Please keep this little girl in your prayers... she was airlifted by the Kangaroo Crew  (love that)  to Children's Hospital in Houston after birth -heart problems.  Her mother is still in Nacogdoches, just released from the hospital-she had a C-section, so she is trying to mend enough to make the trip to Houston.  Rusty is unable to hold Rinley, but he can rub her head.  He said she may not have hair because of all the rubbing, hehe. 

Praying God heals this baby girl...

Nice Matters...

I saw this picture on Facebook today, Rinley Grace is at Children's Hospital, you can read post below from yesterday.  Like my mother said today,

"Is there any better way to make this family know that these nurses and doctors care about this child..she is not just a number..she is little baby Rinley..God bless..."

Just a few minutes ago, I received an email from a vendor and the quote of the day is:

"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

~Carl W. Buechner

Isn't this so true?  Everyday, we have many opportunities to make other's feel good about themselves and to love them.  Nice does Matter!

Surely,

Little baby Rinley Grace...see blogpost below,

Prayers for Baby Rinley...

My cousin, Rusty and Vicki Wood, had a little girl this morning.  Her name is Rinley Grace Wood, 7.5 oz, 21".  I do not have a picture of her yet.  We have since learned that Rinley has Ebsteins anomoly and pulmonary stenosis (Heart issues).  I hope I am getting all this right.  Anyway, please lift up my family and baby Rinley in  your prayers.  Pray that God's gives the physicians the knowledge, expertise, and stamina, to know exactly how to treat baby Rinley.  We all know God is in control, but humanly, it is very stressful on all involved.  I am hoping my blog reaches alot of people that will stop and say a prayer.  God hears our prayers!

Surely,

Pic courtesy of www.morethanchocolate.net

609 Whiteoak Lane, Tyler, TX 75703...

New Listing...

A Gardener's Dream. This house looks like it belongs in a Magazine. Meticulously maintained corner lot with stone pathways in front, side and back. Beautiful front door entry opens into the family room with lots of light looking out onto a covered patio. WBFP with gas starter and gas logs. Kitchen is open,with an island, black granite, black appliances, breakfast bar, and breakfast room with a built in hutch. Owner added tile in kitchen, half bath, and utility room in 2010. Kitchen has updated lighting and faucets. You will love the spacious master suite, and the gorgeous master bath, complete with double vanities, jetted tub, shower, separate walk in closets, and updated faucets. This home has an updated warm, inviting, color scheme. Plantation shutters in most of the rooms, Carpet was updated in 2009, roof replaced in 2009, A/C replaced in 2010. 2 car garage with built in storage. Located close to banking, movie theatre, and shopping. You have got to see this one!  $239,000 

click below for the virtual tour!

http://vt.realbiz360.com/Listing-822579.html

E.T.

Layton loves the E.T. Movie,  Lauren has been making him ET fingers out of foil.  I walked in the kitchen today, and this is where I found his "finger". I laugh everytime I walk by it!  Silly Boy!

Nosey neighbors... :)

We spent a long time on the porch today.  We noticed a deflated metallic balloon in the pasture and the cows were nudging it.  Scared that they may eat the balloon and die, :( , Greg went and retrieved the balloon.  Layton ran up and down the driveway dragging this deflated balloon.  The cows were so mesmorized by this balloon and would follow him.  I guess this is cheap entertainment, huh?  That balloon kept Layton and our nosey neighbors busy!  Why do I even buy Layton toys?  Give him trash and he plays.  Give him a water hose and he plays.  Gosh, when will I learn?  I say "minimum" toys for Christmas this year!   Just a day in the country y'all... it was a great day with my kids... relaxing... if I say so myself! 

Pinterest...

My new favorite website, PINTEREST

A virtual pinboard, you collect what you love.  You follow and are followed!  You are able to visit places you would never have found... addicting...

www.pinterest.com

Ribbon organizer, ingenious...

Found this today, is this ingenious or what?  I have always wondered how to keep my ribbon neat and easy to use instead of piled in a drawer,  go to this link,
http://spunkyjunky.blogspot.com/2011/01/tutorial-tuesday-5-dollar-ribbon.html

Think Fall...

Yes, I did it, I put out my Fall Punkin' Wreath, Fall Flag and a tin Punkin'...  I couldn't stand it, cool weather, bring it ON...

I read a post from James MacDonald on Facebook tonight, it says,

"Not one of God's purposes is ever delayed or frustrated—not even for a moment."

Time for every season, a purpose for everything, God's in control! 

Texas is on Fire...

Click below, Texas Forest Service Fire Activity,

http://ticc.tamu.edu/Response/FireActivity/

Fires in Texas are serious, we have already talked about our evacuation plan.  Sad!  We need rain!  And I admit, I do not consistently pray for rain.  God help our land!

5151 Lemon Road, Big Sandy, TX 75755...

Antebellum Ranch...

Just listed, virtual tour coming soon, AMAZING...
http://vt.realbiz360.com/Listing-819422.html