One Cooler - Two Desks - Three Hours - Four People

Do you get the picture?    Last night we had the "pleasure" of assembling new office desks.   I find furniture today rather interesting.     I do not remember my parents assembling items; it was usually brought home or delivered assembled.  (And this was not expensive stuff!)    But these days, furniture is delivered in a flat box in about 100+ pieces (NOT counting the hardware!)  and you get to assemble.

Our first experience with this kind of furniture was with a guest bedroom set we purchased on-line (should have been first clue) but it said SOME assembly required.    Not ALL!!   (Actually the word "our" experience is an exaggeration too!    I did order it but quickly realized that Wonderful Man should manage this one on his own!)     Really, the only thing he didn't do was cut or paint.  We actually believe that this furniture cannot be moved; that taking it apart will destroy any integrity it might have.   We laugh that we will have to sell it with the house!

So imagine the mood after being so excited that our new real estate office was finally ready and to hear our new desks had been delivered, to see the flat boxes and realize it was going to be a longer evening that anticipated.  Inside there were 80+ "wood" pieces (and I use that term loosely!).   I don't even want to remember how many screws there were (and of course all were just "slightly" different).    It seriously took the four of us three hours to get the desks together.    They do look nice, but after seeing how they were made we've established a rule that there will be no leaning or sitting on these desks!!!  

And truthfully we are excited to have our team in a new home, a nice place to meet with clients and discuss their home dreams.   (FYI - supposed to have three CLOSINGS this month and a couple more listings on the way!   We are thankful for our success and for the great support that's been offered!)

Beauty Surrounds Us

Image by Vainsang via Flickr

This time of year I can sit outside and just soak in the colors.   I am in complete awe of how the green changes to the brilliant yellows and reds, falling and creating a blanket over the grass.   While the air is crisp and cold, the warmth of the sun holds that last hint of summer.    I believe its Gods way of getting our attention, saying "Stop and enjoy.  Appreciate the brilliance.  Cold and bareness will follow."    And yet, as our lives get so busy, its hard to take the time.    This time of year we get wrapped up in back-to-school, sports activities, and then before you know it we are planning holidays.   Its just too much sometimes.  That's how I'm feeling this week.  I want a day to just sit in the sun with a book and maybe a conversation with a friend.  

Boy1 is ready to move out.  He sent me a text saying he will sign the lease and get keys today.   I sent him a text that says :-) and :-( .    Because I am happy and sad.  Happy that he is happy and excited.  Sad because I know the emptiness is coming.  Its not like he was home that much, but he was still "here".    And just like Fall, I feel like I didn't take the time to appreciate and enjoy him.  (As much as you can a 20 year old who wants to be anywhere but home!)   So I will wish him well and hope that we see can arrange a set time to get together each week.   And hoping that my prayers for his life will continue to be heard.

Faith (another one!)

Yesterday I received the following email - anyone who's been reading knows I'm a dog (pet) lover and just wanted to share this touching story.  A wonderful reminder about overcoming adversity!


This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with  2  legs - 
He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him. 
His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'. 
But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted  to take care of him. 
She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself. 
She named him 'Faith'. 
In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement. 
Later she used peanut  butter on a spoon as a lure and reward  for him for standing up and jumping around. 
Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk. 
Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, 
Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward. 
After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being. 


Faith loves to walk around now. 
No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him. 
He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows. 
There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him. 
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies. 
His present owner Jude Stringfellew has  given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to  preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'. 



















In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction. 
I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day. 
Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life. 

A small request: All you are asked to do is keep this story circulating

Monday Morning

Image by Graela via Flicker

Here it is.   AGAIN.   Monday Morning.   Words that when used together immediately make me cringe, a kind of inner-tenseness that just stays with me from the first time on Sunday night until I'm into Monday.    Many people believe that our reactions to Monday morning are physiological resulting from a cumulative effect of not enough sleep.   Further contributing is our over-planned weekend activities.

I don't know what causes it - I just know that I don't like it.   I want it to go away.   I know it will.....on Tuesday!   I just wish I could do something that would make Monday more bearable, and I think its worse now that the weather is colder.  I'm going to go for a run but its just about killing me to get myself ready to go!   (Who knows how the time change will affect me next week??)  I keep telling myself, "Think Positive"  "Be More Organized".   What I really want to do is go back to bed, pull the covers over my head, and not get up until Tuesday.

I will just keep reminding myself that after my run I will feel better (proven fact) and that coffee is made from water which is necessary for life!!!!   I will also remind myself how lucky I am to wake up in a bed, in a warm home and to actually have options about my day!    It really is all about perspective.

Happy Monday!