Thursday, October 30, 2008
Happy 40th Birthday Melisa!!!!!
Please join me in wishing my wife Melisa a VERY happy 40th birthday (10/30)!
New Mexico House - Update 10-29-2009
The news got better today...the buyers are rushing to close THIS MONTH! We have received the paperwork from the title company and will be sending it overnight to close October 31! WOW!!! Now we will not have to make our November mortgage payment.
Talk about a burden being lifted! Special thanks to all who have been lifting this up. It is bitter sweet though. While we were only in Las Cruces for a brief time, it was a very special experience for the entire family that we will each treasure for the rest of our lives. Good times and great friends who we miss dearly.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wealth Redistribution
This came from one of the websites where I blog. I found it amusing and thought I would share:
Here is a creative approach to redistribution of wealth as offered in a local newspaper... Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy outside a restaurant with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.
Once in the restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference -- just imagine the coincidence. When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need -- the homeless guy outside. The server mumbled some *expletive deleted* and angrily stormed from my sight.
I went outside, gave the homeless guy my $10 as I decided he could use the money more, and told him to thank the server inside. The homeless guy was grateful. At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment, I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.
Hmmm... I guess redistribution of wealth is easier to swallow in concept than in practical application.
http://community.marketwatch.com/groups/us-politics/topics/creative-approach-redistribution-wealth
Here is a creative approach to redistribution of wealth as offered in a local newspaper... Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy outside a restaurant with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.
Once in the restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference -- just imagine the coincidence. When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need -- the homeless guy outside. The server mumbled some *expletive deleted* and angrily stormed from my sight.
I went outside, gave the homeless guy my $10 as I decided he could use the money more, and told him to thank the server inside. The homeless guy was grateful. At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment, I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.
Hmmm... I guess redistribution of wealth is easier to swallow in concept than in practical application.
http://community.marketwatch.com/groups/us-politics/topics/creative-approach-redistribution-wealth
New Mexico House - Update
Wonderful news! The appraisal on our house in New Mexico came in just fine...in this housing market!!! We should close in a couple of weeks. As I have mentioned before, perhaps I had the order in which events would occur backwards.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Photo in October 24 post
My there are a few folks online tonight! Let me clarify the photo of Joshua in my post from a short while ago...no the little girl is NOT Hannah...it is a member of Joshua's Sunday School class and I have cropped the photo to show Joshua in his class. Thanks for pointing that out!!!
October 24, 2008
Good evening everyone! Fall is now in full swing here in Georgia with most of the trees now changing colors and many having already lost their leaves. The Bermuda grass is nearly dormant for the winter and many folks are starting to use their fireplaces. I love this time of year! The holidays are nearly here…wow what a difference a year makes. What a crazy few weeks that have just passed with more ahead too. I don’t suppose things will settle down much before the end of February around here if then but maybe we will have a little calm before we have to make some additional decisions.
As I recently reported, the house is under contract and we are moving towards closing in mid-November. Melisa and I are both very excited about the lifting of this burden as the strain of carrying two houses has been considerable to say the least. We have not yet heard back from the appraiser but remain prayerful that this hurdle will be cleared in the next few days. There are a couple of minor issues that also remain to be resolved but we believe we can work those out.
Joshua and Hannah are doing well in school with recent report cards confirming what we already knew. Joshua, like Melisa and I, needs to work on his penmanship but that is to be expected at 7 years old. Our Hannah is already reading! They continue to amaze me daily as they grow and learn new things. Children are what make going to work worth the effort!
Speaking of work…I have finally brought home a paycheck! This one and the next are smaller but I already have enough in my pipeline to ensure November is a good month and am not looking back. After almost a year without significant income and not missing a single bill, I can say that we have been blessed beyond measure. The Bible has a great deal to say about finances and I STRONGLY urge anyone not familiar with those passages to READ THEM!
It is my personal opinion that the markets will continue their recent decline with the DOW bottoming somewhere around 7,200 points based on current data available. For the record, I reserve the right to revise that number LOWER based on newer data as it becomes available. I do not be
lieve US markets have reached bottom. Before I get 30 e-mails from folks telling me I’m crazy, remember it’s me and I am crazy. I was also called crazy when I moved our retirement assets into cash back on January 3rd of this year (when the DOW was still above 13,000!) in preparation for the bottom falling out of the market. If you are still in the market (including 401(k) contributions) I agree with the talking heads on television…stay put. Honestly, the damage has already been done and now you are cost averaging down. Never in the history of these markets have they been down over a 10 year period (including the Great Depression) so there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I will close with some thoughts on the General Election coming up in less than two weeks. Yes I have said that everyone should get out and vote on November 4th. Yes I have said everyone should vote their conscience. Yes I have said everyone should educate themselves on the policy positions each Presidential ticket represents. I have also said that these are politicians and that the policies they claim to support and what they can get passed if elected are two different things. I mention this because the importance of the Senate and House elections are just as important. I am not in any way suggesting that we should blindly support anyone but if there is an official running for re-election, take the time to look at his/her voting record…take the time to research policy positions. THIS MATTERS! Don’t buy into the media barrage during this final push to change minds or win undecided votes. It has become crystal clear to me in recent days that what we allow our government to do today has a profound impact on the world our children will one day inherit and I for one want to try and leave it a little better than I found it!
Thanks to all who continue to e-mail and text me with their prayers and well-wishes. These last twelve months have been quite difficult and I am so grateful The Lord has placed people such as you in my life!
Agape!
As I recently reported, the house is under contract and we are moving towards closing in mid-November. Melisa and I are both very excited about the lifting of this burden as the strain of carrying two houses has been considerable to say the least. We have not yet heard back from the appraiser but remain prayerful that this hurdle will be cleared in the next few days. There are a couple of minor issues that also remain to be resolved but we believe we can work those out.
Joshua and Hannah are doing well in school with recent report cards confirming what we already knew. Joshua, like Melisa and I, needs to work on his penmanship but that is to be expected at 7 years old. Our Hannah is already reading! They continue to amaze me daily as they grow and learn new things. Children are what make going to work worth the effort!
Speaking of work…I have finally brought home a paycheck! This one and the next are smaller but I already have enough in my pipeline to ensure November is a good month and am not looking back. After almost a year without significant income and not missing a single bill, I can say that we have been blessed beyond measure. The Bible has a great deal to say about finances and I STRONGLY urge anyone not familiar with those passages to READ THEM!
It is my personal opinion that the markets will continue their recent decline with the DOW bottoming somewhere around 7,200 points based on current data available. For the record, I reserve the right to revise that number LOWER based on newer data as it becomes available. I do not be
lieve US markets have reached bottom. Before I get 30 e-mails from folks telling me I’m crazy, remember it’s me and I am crazy. I was also called crazy when I moved our retirement assets into cash back on January 3rd of this year (when the DOW was still above 13,000!) in preparation for the bottom falling out of the market. If you are still in the market (including 401(k) contributions) I agree with the talking heads on television…stay put. Honestly, the damage has already been done and now you are cost averaging down. Never in the history of these markets have they been down over a 10 year period (including the Great Depression) so there is light at the end of the tunnel.I will close with some thoughts on the General Election coming up in less than two weeks. Yes I have said that everyone should get out and vote on November 4th. Yes I have said everyone should vote their conscience. Yes I have said everyone should educate themselves on the policy positions each Presidential ticket represents. I have also said that these are politicians and that the policies they claim to support and what they can get passed if elected are two different things. I mention this because the importance of the Senate and House elections are just as important. I am not in any way suggesting that we should blindly support anyone but if there is an official running for re-election, take the time to look at his/her voting record…take the time to research policy positions. THIS MATTERS! Don’t buy into the media barrage during this final push to change minds or win undecided votes. It has become crystal clear to me in recent days that what we allow our government to do today has a profound impact on the world our children will one day inherit and I for one want to try and leave it a little better than I found it!
Thanks to all who continue to e-mail and text me with their prayers and well-wishes. These last twelve months have been quite difficult and I am so grateful The Lord has placed people such as you in my life!
Agape!
Saturday, October 04, 2008
October 4, 2008
October is upon us and here in Georgia, fall is settling in. The leaves on the trees are changing colors, the grass is beginning to go dormant, the school year is well underway, and the holidays are fast approaching! Can you believe that 2008 has already reached the 4th quarter? WOW!!! My what a difference a year makes. This time one year ago, Melisa and I were gearing up for the holidays completely unaware that we would be planning our return to Georgia just a few months later. C’est la vie! I would like to report that things have settled down but such is not the case.
Our House In New Mexico
The family that has placed a contract on our house in Las Cruces is visiting it for the first time on Monday. Barring anything unforeseen, they will be moving in short order and we will go to close on the sale in November. Please lift this situation up as this sale would lift a large burden from our strained finances! God willing, we won’t have to make another mortgage payment on that house!
Employment
I have been on the job for nearly two months now and have found that I do, in fact, have a knack for sales. I will receive my first significant commission check in a couple more weeks and expect to get better at my job as time goes on. It is a lot of work and I have a great deal to learn about residential remodeling but I am having fun! It is also good to feel like I have a purpose each day. Being unemployed for the length of time I was had really taken a toll on my sell esteem in a very unhealthy way. I know a number of people who have been unemployed for well over a year (one for more than two years!) and I have a new appreciation and understanding about work and why God says what he does in His word.
Hannah & Joshua
What can I say about the kids? They are growing up so fast and each day seem to claim a little more independence. Hannah is becoming quite the little computer whiz with the online games she likes to play. And Joshua is such a creative little guy. He now wants to build rockets when he grows up! He is certainly smart enough to be an engineer if he so chooses. I am pleased that they are both doing so well in school and am looking forward to the holiday season with them. Last year things were a bit lean and this year won’t be a huge thing either but at least with a good job now, we can be sure they receive a few more Christmas gifts than they did last year!
Election Day
One month to go! The thing I am most looking forward to about this election cycle is November 5 and the end of campaign ads on television. Enough already! Make it stop!!!! LOL
Agape
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