We all experience  those hectic mornings when everything goes according to Murphy's law

"If anything can go wrong, it will"

It can impact the entire day...unless the momentum is interrupted.  Hectic mornings ( or days ) can be the red flags to stop, relax and fill the heart and mind with gratitude.

A wonderful friend suggested  that I..... the moment I get into the car,  I start with a Litany  ( continual repetitive list of ).....".I am thankful for."........

The power of a " Thank you " is empowering.

I live 25 minutes from my office.  I start my " Thank you Lord for......

..........from the moment I get into the car until I reach my office.

I never finish my "I am thankful for litany" but always reach my office with calmness and a new perspective, ready to meet whatever challenge the day hold.

What a wonderful day " Thanksgiving"  a day set apart to give thanks for all our blessings surrounded by family, friendsand good food.

........I wish for all my friends a " Happy Blessed Thanksgiving "

I hope you stop for a moment to  ENJOY THE POWER OF THE VIDEO...MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!!!! Be forever grateful.......

What is it about the Holidays that stir up the fuzzy warm memories of happy times gone by?  We all hold the holiday memories as a special time of excitement with friends and family.

There has to be one memory that stands out above all the rest....mine happened a year after my mom died.  It happened to be a mixed bag of emotion...but a memory that caused me to take seriously ...." Giving Thanks "

I had for the last couple years been the one to have Thanksgiving Dinner for my family...boy..... this year was a tough one with out my mom. I was planning how to handle the day,..... when the phone rang...it was my dad's Doctor. My dad had gone in for a routine check -up.  " June, I called Allegheny hospital..your dad has to get down there now...his test showed an aneurysm.

Our Thanksgiving dinner ended up snacks from the vending machine and a lot of  hot coffee. We watched through the glass window our dad...the rock...the ever strong, untouchable, power house of our dad connected to tubes and wires...helpless.

I looked at my brothers and said " We just can't  lose dad too .....what will we do without him?" 

We sat in a silent vigil, praying with every ounce of strength we had.  We knew dad was in good hands of our loving God.

I sat there and stared through the window of the intensive care unit and watched as the critical care nurse ( she had to have been sent by God to be there at the time of our need )  She held my dad's hand, brushed his forehead tended to him with such tenderness that I had never witnessed before.

We went into visit my dad for only a few minutes at a time...having her caring for my dad meant everything...she never left his side.

Another nurse came in to the room  and I had a chance to thank this angel for her tender care and giving up her Thanksgiving Day with her family.

She looked at me with the most beautiful eyes  and smile and said..

" I wanted to work on Thanksgiving so the other nurses that have families can be with them....these patients are my family....I was happy to be here "

The Happy part of my Thanksgiving was that my dad's operation was a success and this selfless dedicated nurse created a memory for me about Thanksgiving and Gratitude

As we enjoy Thanksgiving Day with our family and friends .... I will take a moment of silent prayer for all.......

• The nurses and Doctors who are called away from their families to take care of others
• The patients, their families and especially the children who are confined to the hospitals
• The military who have sacrificed their " Thanksgiving" to be on a foreign land...so far away
• The isolated and lonely, without family in the nursing homes
• The couples and families who are suffering financially and emotionally in these hard times.
• The marriages that are being tested ...holidays have to be a very tough time
• The homeless who have to depend on the goodness of others
• The lonely, the sick and the depressed
• All the loved ones who could not make it home to be with their families..that soon... they will be re-united with their loved ones
• Our family members who belong to past memories, and will never be forgotten...we love you and miss you..but know you are in the arms of a " Loving God"

God Bless them all with His Love ......Happy thanksgiving to all...Create those Happy memories...they last forever

Anna Banna inspired me with her blog on Gratitude...it is one to read

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1351763/grateful-week-on-bananatudes-get-in-the-spirit-by-posting-your-gratitude-list

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;

Count on God instead of yourself.

~~Author Unknown~~

T

Our local Walmart has done from last years two aisles of Halloween merchandise to an entire room of scary, creepy, ghoulish Halloween merchandise.  The festival of the dead and 3 billion dollars of merchandise sold has made merchants very happy.

Halloween celebrations and popularity soon match Thanksgiving and Christmas. In recent polls ...

60 per-cent of Americans will participate in Halloween celebrations.....56% will don costumes and  21 %  Americans will outfit their pets in costumes.

Halloween parades and childrens'  parties are fun times for our young ones,  but recently the popularity has spread to adults and the intensity  and interest to the  extreme dark side is growing every year.

I have  never been a fan of the creepy  crawly. the scary  or  even the faux tombstones on the neighbors front lawn....no never...and no  doubt , I am in the minority according to recent poles.

Have  I neglected my child's enjoyment of a  " American Holiday "  by taking her to three homes for trick or treating?....

..my parents and my two neighbors...that was it....Of course 28 years ago society was just a little bit different than today.

Yes I agree Halloween can be exciting and fun .........for some..........what ever floats your boat.

Recently at a local nursing home , the person in charge of decorating for the season  obviously forgot about the residents and the impact  of the elderly and sick patients over their decorating style.

Beautiful fall harvest atmosphere with pumpkins a calming themes were replaced with ....Extra large ugly spiders and jointed skeletons and witches plastered everywhere....I guess it was meant for the enjoyment. of the residents.  The residents  were not happy...did that change anything....no...but ( sarcastically ) why should it....after all it is  only their home .

What has happened to sensitivity?  ....Oh yeah I know It's Halloween........

my opinion...bah humbug...

.oh by the way to all those who love Halloween....

.Happy Halloween..

..to those of us who don't...

.let's get on to the real Holidays

  Thanks to Jason Crouch on face book, I have registered for the virtual rebar camp. Check this out.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1296747/virtual-rebarcamp-learn-from-the-comfort-of-your-home-or-office-it-s-free-

 I traveled through winding roads, up and down the hills of the South Hills of Pittsburgh ( 2 !/2 traffic time ) to attend Pittsburgh first local  and FREE Rebar camp

The camp facilitator reminded the agents that the came was not a seminar or a workshop but a sharing of ideas and experiences.

Many times during the day I would reflect on all the tutorials. sharing, blogs and massive information I have received by being a member on Active Rain. I was not " Clueless in Pittsburgh "...thank you Active Rain.

The camp was really a brainstorming of ideas headed by a facilitator.....sometimes can offer more meat and less potatoes.

If your groups have experienced social network activist who love social networking and understand all benefits and aspects of what and how it could increase your visibility and production...you have an outstanding session.  We did have,  ( in  the sessions that I attended )  many  experts sharing their thoughts and ideas.

A special thanks to the sponsors and the local organizers for the introduction to the new realm of reaching out to our consumers through the social networks. If you have a Rebar Camp in your area  take advantage of the weath of experiences shared.

I  came home to read on Facebook....... again, thanks to Jason about the virtual Rebar camp...wow...no travel time....all seasoned experts and attended by Active Rain members...now that is a wow factor...can't wait..

NAR sent  an e-mail forwarded to all agents from my Brokerage.  It is  critical  for the success of the EXTENSION of the $ 8000

Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers.  NAR sent a link to the web site to sign a petition for the extension.  Without this tax credit many first time home buyers would not have been able to buy their first home

The turmoil within the real estate industry has had an impact on all of us.  We have a chance to have our voice heard and there is no better place to place a call for action than to the members on Active Rain.

I posted the e-mail very  late last night but wanted again this morning, to draw attention to the importance of this petition..

Check your e-mail or click here to sign the petition. at the Realtor Action Center on the NAR website.

A few minutes to sign the petition can send a powerful message

It is about time that Congress hears from the source of the real estate information and that is us....The forgotten Realtors

Obviously we love what we do, that is why we are still here.....We have all been rewarded in many ways in our choice of Real Estate Career....................BUT

.When you look at the complete pictures.....truth be told............if needed......We receive

• No unemployment
  
• No workman's compensation,
• No Medical Insurance Coverage
• No paid sick days
  
• No Residual Income

.I say........ lets take the opportunity to speak in a very loud voice ( by the numbers ) and say...Give us all a break

we provide a valuable service to the consumer......don't cause a hurt any worse than we have it right now in this Industry.

A loss of agents in a small office can devastate an office . Many  agents have left to find means of a remedy for financial ruin

( through no fault of their own

The " powers that be need to hear "

The Real Estate Industry can not survive on Foreclosures and Short Sales.......and neither can the agents.

SEND A MESSAGE TO THE POWERS THAT BE AND SIGN THE PETITION....DO IT FOR YOUR CLIENTS...

                                                                         DO IT FOR YOURSELF

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1271173/-nar-tells-us-to-vote-for-8000-first-time-home-buyers-credit-extension-

http://www.realtor.org

Motivational Monday!  We certainly could use some heartfelt motivational  uplifting messages. Thanks to Diane Rice,  I just read  a blog about Alexander Harb and the  devastating struggles he is faceing.  Please visit Diane's  blog and give Alex the needed support that can only come from a caring  family.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1257361/please-sign-this-petition-to-motivate-our-founder-alexander-harb-

                    It is all around us...like a bad dream...home owners on a brink of a precipice teetering  .... hoping not to fall off the financial cliff.

I have been away from blogging for a while to return to read about a refused listing because the seller needed it priced at an above market value price.  How common has that become?  A call of desperation...hoping their only asset will help solve their financial ruin.

People over extended. maxed out and equity at it's limit...........Looking to us as  the Professional for help.

We as Real Estate Professionals committed to service to a buying and selling public....but with our hands tied behind our backs.

Is it me?...or has it become a " Loss of Control"

What has happened to the process?  We have been placed in an out of control position.....out of our hands and nothing we can do or say to speed up the process.  It has become a forever " wait mode."....and no one, other than the agent  seems to care.

My seller's closing has been extended for another month, even though we have an excellent buyer.  Both buyer, seller and agents are frustrated and disgusted. The seller having to come to closing with $ 5000 doesn't help the situation. Someone answer their question ....please ......" How can I schedule a mover, (that needs to be done a month in advance.)..when I have no idea what day this will close? 

It isn't what a Realtor wants to feel....helpless....We who work with ...real people and not just an application number on a paper have to deal with the emotions attached to the wait,  the no response and the lack of communication.

I guess we can add this to our continual list of challenges in our industry.  We constantly work on solutions to problems.

...that's the name of the game...but to witness your clients under undeserving stress and frustrations...well that is a problem

that somehow, I wish would have an easier solution.                                        

Now more than ever we need to be attentive to our clients.

We need to....

• Listen and console
  
• Communicate continually
  
• Be Considerate of their circumstances
• Be there with continual encouragement and
• Care...really care ...about the clients who have put their trust in us.
  

Just maybe...this will loosen the ties that bind us of our what we are called to do as professionals ...to give our clients the best we can .

I usually run far away from political controversy.  I feel that every one has a right to have and  express their opinion .I respect that right. I am not writing this blog to criticize how and what decision is made by parents for their children. It is obvious that  responsibility is theirs as  parents. That being said......

Why was there such criticism over the President of the United States taking the initiative and time  to focus on motivating and inspiring our  school age children.   He took the time to personally visit the classroom with a message of what the future could hold for these young students. They have an opportunity to accomplish what ever they can perceive.  What better example than our First  African American President.

Regardless of politics or policy, regardless of who is in office of  the President of the United States,

The President holds the highest office in our United States  of America  and deserve the respect of all  Americans.......regardless of party affiliation

Some parents  objected to their children listening to the President's message. The message was  about the students own  responsibility to the student's individual duty to  application of  learning and continued education. 

Where is our respect for the leader of our country?   The  President was voted  by majority vote into the Presidency ..that alone should merit him respect from the citizens of the Greatest Nation on earth.

Our children are exposed to  imaginary super Heroes, the hidden dangers  of the internet, potential threats on the street with drugs, Pedophiles in many of our  neighborhoods,  peer pressure  yet some worry that a President of the United States will somehow influence these young minds with a political agenda.  

I apologize for the rant but you listen to some of  the news about  children murdering parents and parents harming and murdering their  children and the whole world through the eyes of the media is going to hell in a hand basket.  ..a real harm of our children...today's society.

In 1988 President Reagan, one of America's most loved President spoke a message to our school age children.

President G.W.Bush spoke to our young children concerning education.   This is nothing new....no new method of attack toward influencing political policy to our children

Laura Bush , a true advocate for the education of our children and a teacher expressed her support for the actions of President Obama's in addressing the youth...our future leaders.

Why would this gesture of concern for the education of our children cause such a stir....I will never figure out. Our President advised these young students

" Be careful what you post on the web...it will never go away and you could be famous someday.".. 

yeah that a message that needed censored so our children would not be influence by political advice.

Again this is my rant....my confusion...over something that was meant to be good yet looked on as such a detriment to our children that they were censored from listening to a President of the United States....God Bless our America........This nhas nothing to do with political affliation only respect for the Office of President of United States................

You think you know family and find out you really don't.    I have an aunt and uncle who are the  neighbors you would love to have, a family you've been blessed with and just plain good hearted ...humble  people.

We all know the good out there..the ones looking for someone to help with a need.

I went to visit my aunt and she walked me through her beautiful flower garden and  large abundant vegetable garden.

Gardens do not take care of themselves, they need nurtured to produce an abundant harvest. It is an enjoyable task but labor intensive. I often thought to myself  " why do they work so hard to plant such a large garden " there are only three  of them in their household .

My uncle has Parkinson disease  and has overcome a serious near death car accident.  My aunt and uncle both in their middle 80's have a son who lives with them, helps with his dad and helps  tends the garden.  What an inspiration of compassion and sharing this family is to all who has been blessed to know them.

I found out recently that they take a good  amount of the  vegetables from the garden  to a local low income senior citizen high rise apartment.  They line the halls with produce and the residents come down and take what they want.  This afford the residents  free  fresh garden vegetables that would not be able to afford.

I  am not surprised....hearing this about this family..they are so giving.. although, in these tough times we hear numerous stories of people helping people. 

Maybe it is a generation thing..a time in society..when helping each other was a means of survival.  Farmers would go from farm to farm helping each other with the crops, sharing their  abundance with each other. The women of the farmers would gather in the kitchens and cook the meals from the meat, vegetables, eggs and fruit grown on the homestead and serve the many farm helpers that always came to help with the crops.

Everyone worked together, everyone shared...their time, their equipment and their abundance...and it worked.

When we reflect  back on how  our great grandparents struggled through their trials we can be thankful they left for us a determined work ethic, the ability to overcome the severest of circumstances and the caring spirit that continues through generations in the people who continue to help  others.

Four  million users, 363,000 in the USA and one millions tweets a day. These stats shout loud and clear that the naysayers need to check out  this twitters phenomenon.  Like or not, ...it is here.  Does it have a business value?

My first very  vague view of twitter was the same, not impressed  view I had with Facebook and My Space. ( that since has changed )

I wasn’t convinced that it would useful for me as a businessperson. I could care less about the tweet chatter. 

There is so much going on in the social network marketing arena, it is like being on a merry go around, trying to catch the brass ring and just end up feeling dizzy .. going round and round..

Thought ..well better check this out before I decide to dismiss the whole thing and continue within my comfort zone.

• "Twitter is like a telephone; every business needs one."
  
• "Twitter will soon replace e-mail "

These two opinions peaked my un-impressed interest.

Thought I would share my findings and shed some light on the new communication tool...the virtual phone.

Chris Brogan  has written 50 ideas using twitter for business.  The blog is easy to read and a valuable tool for those of us caught in the vast amounts of varied opinions and advice.

Another link to Tweeting Survival is Darren Rowae view on Twitter at 

http://www.twitip.com/tweeting-for-business/

Pack full of instruction and the video shown below.  They even offer a " Twitter Survival  Guide " There is a lot to become familiar with but the information to take advantage of the new marketing opportunity is available.

Maybe we need to re-think this tweet thing....we can certainly use these tools to find our customers before our customers can find us...now that is something to consider.

The point of Twitter is not to collect followers. It is to have a conversation. Twitter is your way to market your business to people you don't know for virtually no cost other than time. For Twitter to be an effective tool for your business, you need to be engaged and collaborative. It's also a great way to keep track of the news, trends, and even your competitors.  I like the immediacy of Twitter.

TwiTip is edited by Darren Rowsae