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...

I need warmth...

This is exactly how I feel, like a cold blob... No exercise, and I cannot get warm!

But there is always hope, I am ready to get out in the warm sunshine....I want to feel strong again.... Love these lions... what a beautiful animal...

Acclaiming my God...

Psalms 89:15

"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD."

Acclaim meaning - To praise enthusiastically and often publicly; applaud---

I will do so! In the midst of all that happens, I will praise my God. Today was one of those days. I own a house that had major water damage done today, but I know everything happens for a reason, and I did "acclaim" my God. So many things in our lives, are soooo out of our control, but I know who is in control! I just have to continually remember that I do not run the Universe. :)

Texas Economy...

Monthly Review of the Texas Economy December 2009

By Ali Anari and Mark G. Dotzour-RECON-Texas A & M Real Estate Center

The Texas economy lost 272,100 nonfarm jobs from November 2008 to November 2009, an annual job loss of 2.5 percent. Over the same period, the U.S. economy lost more than 4.65 million jobs or 3.4 percent of its total nonfarm jobs. However, the nation’s labor market is bottoming out. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 5.4 percent in November 2008 to 8 percent in November 2009, while the U.S. rate rose from 6.8 percent to 10 percent during the same period.

Click here for the complete report.

Realtor Leadership...

Greater Tyler Association of Realtors 2010

Officers

President - Bill Pillsbury

Pres-Elect - Jonathan Wolf

Vice-Pres - Debbie Ezzell

Treasurer - Lorri Loggins

Secretary - Laura Corbett

Past Pres - Ann Fitzgerald

Directors
John Jarvis, Todd Richardson, Kyle Smith, Jason Gregory, Shelia Turner, Terri Durossette, Brenda Stahelin, Jason Wright, Nita Meads

Flu or Swine Flu?...

Hey Daddy, if you wake up looking like this do not go to work! hehehehehehehe...

Go Texas!

Hook em' Horns!!!

Haven update...

Greg (Haven's uncle)...

Lil' Haven...

Update from Greg Davis on lil' Haven,

There is no change in Havens status....Drs are still trying all possible avenues before going the transplant route....when taken off the meds her heart speeds up to 250 beats per minute....if she stays on them too long they will damage her other organs and make her less acceptable to a transplant....so right now.....there is no change in her status....

Keep her in your prayers!

We are Sustained...

Psalms 54:4

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." (Sustain means to support, hold, or bear up from below; bear the weight of...)

I often wonder why there is so much hurt in the world. I suppose, I know, everything we go through is for a reason. I googled "helplessness", and lil' animals were brought up, I just knew you would like this lil' fellow- Mother, :)

Just thinking...

I am just thinking, not exactly doing...that I need to eat like this for days! hehehe...

Happy...

Layton loves to entertain...happy, happy...

Little Haven...

Pray for little Haven...she has heart problems, and has to stay in the hospital until she receives a heart transplant, which could be months. Her grandfather, holding her, is Wilbur Davis. He owns Davis Exterminating and does a lot of business for me. Whenever, you think of this sweet face, say a prayer for her and her family...

Love like Crazy...

"Give your cares to God- He loves you like crazy!"

New Years Eve 2009...

Happy New Years.... everybody!!!

Jason and I at the Star's Game New Years Eve...

After the game, Jason, I, Ruthye and Hugh at the club downstairs waiting for midnight!!! Our tradition, Victory Park, Dallas, Texas...

Outside at Midnight, fireworks...

Great fun!!!