Vacations, Gotta have them!

As I was growing up my daddy worked a lot, mother worked outside the home and my sister and I had a nanny at our home, in which we did not care for too much:(  I never remembered taking a family vacation, I did have fun times with my daddy riding horses and with mother going to Chattanooga to see her family quite often, had great Roger's family reunions every year, but never a family vacation.

When Steve and I married we both loved the water, swimming, and lakes, at that time I had never  been to the beach so I did not know what I was missing:)  Once our children got a little older we started taking family vacations, Steve worked 80 -100 hours a week, which is almost night and day to provide for us, so we barley saw him, but when it came time in the summer we went on vacation, it was always fun and we never really had the money to go but we always made it a priority so the kids could have their daddy time.  Plus we had family time, some times we only went to Hot Springs for the week, a lot of vacations had to be in the winter during Christmas break, but the kids loved the indoor pool and racket ball and Basket Ball. 

Vacations are still very important to me, as you probably know:)  We try to go with who ever can on a family vacation in the summer then again the week after Christmas,  we go some where close after Christmas so who ever can  go with us or come and visit a few days.

If I ever win the lottery the first thing I will do, after I make my children Millionaire's with me, is take us all on a family Disney Cruise....that would be so much fun!  Amelia is ready to go and we may have to do that with them even if we do not win the lottery:)) 

This has been a much needed week for Steve and I at PCB, Steve and I work about 50-60 hours a week, I know you would not guess that in Real Estate but that is what it takes to be successful in this career, thankful we love it:) BUT we still need some down time and we take it,  this week has been a God send for us, I always love my time with Connie, she is like my sister not my aunt, we have laughed, shopped, ate,

swam, about could not get out of the ocean and I have loved every minute of her being here, we went to Senerity Spa, which was out of this world nice, got massages, did a steam bath, whirlpool, sauna, I told her we had all the toxins out:) then we went and laid at the pool, came back in sat in our chairs and totally relaxed, it was wonderful!! 

Steve has played golf

 

 

 

 

with Larry which he loved, we have played cards and dominoes, things we do not take time to do at home, I have loved the sunsets this week, just have had perfect weather!

 I love her!

 

Today was a beach day, we fought the waves together:) Tonight is  Steak at Angelo's! I am ever so thankful for this time with my Connie, she has been a rock for me these past few years, she loves me and I love her, we can miss mother together and laugh at some fun memories that we all made!

 

 

Growing up when it was time for our family to leave Connie would be crying, not just crying but bawling, she has always done that, so now I already make plans to see her again so neither of us will cry:)  So Come December its to Baton Rouge I go so we can see Mama and Roy and Tiffany and her children too!! I love my family, we made it appoint to take mother to see her family when she was living, I am sure she is looking from Heaven today laughing so hard at Connie and I trying to get out of the Ocean, this man and his wife were trying not to laugh, he ask, do we need help, BECAUSE we were both laughing so hard and falling down not able to stand up in the waves, I knew we had to separate to get out, so we could quit laughing, I told him it was ok to laugh and he and his wife just died laughing which made me laugh harder, finally I got my rear out and then I was going to help Connie but could not quit laughing, I decided to walk away so she could get out, the man said you sure you don't need help and I said if we can ever quit laughing we got this, then Connie got her self out:)) I am sure it was a sight, but it sure was fun!  Hugs and have a good rest of the day! Sorry no pics of our getting out:) 



Blogging

Hummmmmm its been a normal work week, had Bible study on Wed. we are doing a Proverbs study, love it! Then our Journey home group started back up on Thursday, was great being back together during the week:0 Just been working and closing loans and selling property:) How I roll:) Saturday went to a 31party and got some Christmas presents and Birthday presents, then shopped some at the mall, got two blouses on sale:) I really do not like shopping, I was going in the mall for a specific lotion that I like.  But the sale racks called my name:)

I have all my fall things out now:) So ready for cooler weather:)

 

 

 

 

Have to have candy corn for the fall:)

Sunday I woke up nauseated:(( so did not go to church and missed keeping my toddlers, it was my Sunday, then had to get a agent to do my open house, stayed in bed all day:(( no fun!  Today has been so hot, got out, but not for long, it took my energy right out of me!  Took BP at Kroger's it was 99/64 so low for me, guess its why I am still sluggish today. I am not a good puny person, I like to go!  I am so ready for this heat to be gone, not quite ready for snow but ready for fall!  I put my wreath out and my Happy Fall Ya'll pumpkin on the front of the house and I have a pumpkin on porch! Just need a big pot of mums!

This Friday its a little vacation time for us, we will meet Connie and Larry in PCB for a few days, then back to the rock! I am missing mother so it will be good to be with Connie, she is more of a sister then a aunt:)  I made plans for Sept. 27,28,29th to go with my friends, I planned me a belated Birthday party since my close friends were all gone on my birthday:) I had rather keep my self busy then mourn, mother is not mourning she is dancing her heart out in Heaven! I know she will not want me sad either:) I cannot believe it has almost been a year since she went to Heaven.  Tine has flown by. This group of friends have lost their mother too:(

The first weekend of Oct. I am going to go with my high school girl friends, we will meet in Jefferson Texas for a get together, going on the River Belle and just visiting, that will be so much fun too!  We are staying in a Bed and Breakfast:)

When I get home that Sunday we have All that Jazz to go to, it is a fund raiser fro CARTI:)  The money goes to give Scholarships and camps for kids with cancer, Jared was a recipient of the Scholarships!

Well best go get busy just checking in! hugs and love
Well with all that I will be working, working, working so I can play, play, play! Looking forward to the Holidays, my favorite time of the year! I love all the smells, foods, gatherings!

Great end of August and beginning of Fall

Had a wonderful time, we left Thursday and went to the condo, showed property at FFB Friday am, then put on PJ's and stayed in all afternoon, it was blazing hot!  To hot for pool for me:) We went Thursday afternoon then rested Friday afternoon, then Saturday got up and went to Jonesboro to see Alexandria cheer.

 

 

 Alexandria looked so beautiful, she just shines, she rolled her ankle so pray it heals quickly:)

 

 

All hotels were sold out in Jonesboro and we made reservations at the only one with two rooms, well there was so much loud and rowdy people there was no sleeping and we had to get up at six thirty to get home for church and the Haley's had a ball game with Jack man.  Needless to say we would of been better just to make the two hour drive back, but we were creating memories and we for sure did! Got in town for a great msg, on prayer Sunday then headed back to the lake, went out on lake Monday with the Haley's:) Miss the others but its nice when it is a small group too:) 

 Sean and his family had Given's family reunion with his wife's family,  Alex had a family deal with Jill's family, and Hannah stayed home:) then Jared was with Jen's family and April had to work, she did get to go to Jonesboro:) My Lovie luv went too:)

 

 

Of course right when you would go to sleep she heard all the ruckus and would bark:) For sure a college town!  Came home last night and had a exciting sales meeting today, we are starting a listing contest with making teams, so you can win individual for your efforts and then the top two teams get a Limo ride to Author's Steak House here:))) So you know me, I will want our team to win, be battled it out against Alicia Jean:) and that team and three other teams:) Today was a easy day for a Tuesday, got home about five which is a miracle for a Tuesday! Feels good, my  friend made me home made peanut butter ice cream and I have enjoyed it!! So So good!  Now ready for bed, have listing appointment tomorrow and Alicia and Michelle are doing a Motivational class tomorrow:)  Today in sales meeting I surprised my self, we were to role play listing a home, I was the agent and another lady was the seller, this was to let the agents see us in action and get some ideals on how to get listings, when we started I got so nervous, I started shaking, totally surprised me, I have gotten so use to speaking in public, and do sales meetings all the time, but for what ever reason that made me so nervous:) My hands were just shaking, so I just said, OH MY, I am soooooo nervous, look at me shaking, which was a shock to the agents, but I was, just goes to show we are all human and if I can do so can they:))  It went well and was fun, but been there done that do not want to role play in front of the company again:) Just such a strange reaction for me, guess it was because I had no ideal what the other person would say or if I had a come back for any problems, which she did present and I had the answers, you would think after being in this business since 1986 that I would not even blink twice at role playing a listing interview. But it was a fun meeting.  Now home and rested and ready for bed:) So glad it is fall, even if it is still hot, it will be the fall schedule:) We have a bible study on Wed. night on Proverbs, the our home group with Journey starts this Thursday:) Have a busy week with listings, closings and offers:)  A 31party Saturday at Jen's then a fund raiser for cancer Saturday evening, then church and open house on Sunday:)   Hope you have a great rest of the week!! hugs

Just A Blogging

This will be what I call free writing just random thoughts of my life and days:)  I am sitting at a home inspection while it is being done, stillest I have been in a long time so I have time to blog:) Just not sure what about:) So here goes, the last few nights the Lord has woke me up to pray for a couple of hours each night, not last night but before, its weird who comes to mind for prayer but such a blessing to know God is answering their prayers:)  I love to pray and do it all day long as I talk to the Lord about things, but when He wakes you, its different, I pray for others, my family, situations in my life and family and friends, I am ever so thankful God cares about all the things we care about!  Today a song is on my heart, Jesus lover of mercy, hold me and don't let me go, I long, long, long to be with you, safe in your arms of love, a love that is sweeter then honey, a love that is purer then gold, Jesus lover of mercy, safe in your arms of love!  So many times in our life we just need a safe place and that is in the arms of Jesus, He never lets us go no matter what, He never gives up on us no matter what and He is our safe place full of mercy! 
My life is full of life, I stay busy with my work and my family:) The Real Estate Market is hot to trot right now and its all Steve and I can do to keep up with it! We usually work 14-15 hours days on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, then Thursday is sporadic depends on calls try to slow down Friday, Sat and Sunday if possible and have us time, cause we are nearly dead from the first of the week, but if possible I book us solid on those days:) so we can have the end of the week to recover:)
This afternoon we will go to FFB and we will show property there tomorrow, then hope go to the pool, Saturday we go to Miss Alexandria's first ASU game to cheer and will be in Jonesboro then back for church Sunday am, I have missed church the past few week and hearing it on line is not the same and I miss my church family!! So hope to get back early for church:) Everyone is doing well in my neck of the woods, its hard to believe we are coming up on a year of mother's death, I still think of her and miss her all the time, but so grateful she is not living the days she did last year right now and thankful I am not either. The bible study we did on Heaven was so insightful and I can not wait to be with all who has gone before me in Heaven! What a day that will be! I use to think well I do not want to leave who is here and I still do not want to leave who is here but to know we will all be living together again with no sickness, no hurts and pains, but like God intended for us to live is something to look forward too!  There are some things that just will not get settled in my life this side of Heaven but thankful they will be for eternity!  If you need a great study it is a book called Heaven by Randy Alcorn.
Now for me, I am at a place in my life that I love, I have learned to let go of what I can not change, to move forward with what I can change and make a difference in others life:)  I love my work, real estate is such a part of me, I am so thankful that it is not work to me but meeting new people and being able to help them in what I get to do for a living!  Yes, I do get tired this business it is very stressful, but I love it and love working with Steve, even though he drives me crazy sometimes:))
Some have said you go all the time, and I go as much as I can:) I love getting away form this crazy life, but always enjoy coming home!  I am thankful we are at a place in our life where we can pick up and go, we have paid a price for that freedom:) Speaking of going, PCB is calling our name, I hear it! That is another thing about my job is I can do it from any where in the world and usually do better while I am gone, then run my legs off to make it all happen when I get back:) Just the way I roll!
Hummmmmmmm well the inspection is still going on......soooooooooo, I am running out of things to talk about:) Yes I know that is unheard of for me:) Excited about what God is doing in my Children's life, Sean and Sarah are buying their first home on 10 acres, I love it, its about 25 minutes away, cannot wait for them to get in!  April is still at home and working at the hospital, love having her home for awhile, she has always been such a joy to my life! Pray for her to know God's will for her life, I am wanting her to go back to school, which she can through Baptist Hospital, but she needs to want too:0 I just pray for her and let it stay in God's hands, He has no Grand children:)
My Lovie Luv is just too sweet, she is truly a God send in my life, even though she is a dog and it requires my time, I love her, she is like a little blanket when she sleeps by me, she just cuddles!  I think one of the most loving dogs and for sure can be the most spastic dog we have ever had, she will steal you heart!  Well guess I will quit rambling and do something else:0 HUGS and have a wonderful day!

WOW! Where did Sumer go?????

Life is flying by it seems.  The Real Estate market has been so busy, I have worked some long hours since coming back from vacation, but it is paying off, will close over a million in Sept. and have closed a lot already in August, have not added them up, but its been a great month!  I am excited to keep my production up, I love the income but I love meeting my own expectations too:) Meeting my goals, by the end of this month I will have closed 52 deals which is major in this business, by the end of the year I should average closing a deal every four days!  I love when I can add that to my stats! It sure helps in getting new business!  God is blessing our hard work and pulling deals together for us, Thank you Lord!

We went to Hannah's this last week, Steve went up Wed, night, I went Thursday night, Jack went with Steve, it is so nice to watch the kids just play forts, hunting, on the trampoline with the chickens, shooting snakes....EEEEEKKKKKK!  They are out side from day light till dark and come in hungry and ready for bed.  So wholesome! They have their building that they got the shell form Southern's and then they built it them self, so proud of them, Hannah has her home looking so nice, you could eat off the floors! Plus she had all her laundry done, which was major, when I go I always help her with laundry, I like doing it, this time she had it all caught up. Steve and Mark worked on the four runner, it is getting ready to be sold so they can buy a tractor for their land, Hannah has had it since she was sixteen:)

I am trying to post pics but their is a pop up add on my photo link, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! May have to go off and then add them:((((  We are on our way home this am, have loads of work to do, listing appointment at 3:00 pm and lots of paper work on five offers form Thursday and Friday.

All is well in our household, Alexandria has settled in at ASU and loving it, Alicia and Bob are missing her:( the kids who go to school started this am, all looked so cute in their pics! I will post when I can:)

I do not have Anna's yet, Cole and the other Averitt girls are still at home and Luke man:)

As for me, I am still going trough some heart hurts but God is being faithful to me, all I can say is so be it, its all in God's hands.  I have missed Journey Church for two Sunday's straight and I really miss it and the touch God always gives me when I am there. Looking forward to our fall schedule and home group meeting again.  I have enjoyed a bible study I have done at the McKimmey's house on Heaven lead by Pastor John Sammons, it has been so good, the last night of it is this Wednesday.  I will miss it, but have loved the book and the study, meet some new friends in the Lord!

Wow I just looked up and we are in Conway! Yea almost home, there is no place like home:) I am looking forward to my visit with Connie and Larry in Sept., Steve will love having his golf and fishing buddy again!!  My motto is " I work hard so I can play hard "..........then my next new words for my life are "So Be it"  Goes along with the Serenity Prayer!   Hugs hope you all have a great day!

My dear friend  is having Vickie May Ibrahim her surgery today for breast cancer, please lift her up in prayer, this is Derol and Ann's daughter.  Also  Missy who lost her husband and has three boys and Jennifer Ezell who lost Denny a year ago and has four children, my heart hurts for them today.  Hugs to all!

Heaven

Some title for a blog when I have been on vacation for a week:)  I am going to a bible study on Heaven, I just started it and was behind in the study so I caught up on vacation, it is such a neat thing to focus on Heaven, I have never really thought about Heaven much.

It is easy to reflect on God and His Majesty when I am at the ocean, it is so vast, as far as you can see, its the ocean, the waves, they go on and on and on forever, just as our life does.  In this study it teaches you about what Heaven is like as far as the Bible states which is just a glimpse, my friend Sherry has always been excited about Heaven and ready to go, I never understood it, but I am starting to understand, with this study:)

The first day on the Beach I fell sound to sleep on the beach chair for a few hours, thankfully I had the umbrella up and was shaded, when Alicia came up she woke me up because she said my mouth was pulled to the right and she thought I had had a stroke, but Steve said no, she has been snoring:)) All I know I was the most relaxed that I can ever remember, and I have NEVER fallen asleep at the pool or Ocean, maybe dosed but never just out!  The only time I did that:)  I did go out every day and just read and studied, and relaxed, no shopping, did not even go to Pier Park or Destin Outlet Malls, it was probably the most relaxing vacation I have had, except for a cruise:)   There is a park we went to one day, it is St. Andrews Park, a very serene place, you pay eight dollars a car to drive in, we did not walk it all, it has a Alligator park too, and yes there were Alligators!

I love this pic, these are the children of the families that each had condos in PCB too, I need a tree like this with all my grand babies in it!

 

 

The ocean was beautiful there, had a Jetty the kids snorkeled on, saw blue crab, lots of marine life, and dauphins, the

tour boats came and people swam with the dolphins, we also saw ships going through the channel, we sat higher up then the ocean and there was a wonderful breeze, the boys played base ball when they were not in the ocean!

 

I did go to lunch with Steve one day and ate Baked Oyster's and they were ohhhh so good!  I did go to the ice Home Made Ice Cream Shop and had Peanut Butter ice cream, it taste like peanut butter fudge!

YUM YUM!

 

It is always good to be home, and today was probably one of the best sermons I have heard, Alex preached on Generational Faith, it was so good today and will be so good!  My heart is so heavy with some personal issues I am going through that is life changing for me, some very hard decisions I am having to make that will make a Generation impact on my family in which I would of never thought I would be in this place, and my heart is breaking, so please pray for me to obey and hear the Lord in these matters.  Its hard when you have to make the best decision for yourself, as a mother, wife, daughter your always making the best decision for others in your life and put your self on the back burner, but sometimes in protecting yourself you have to make hard decisions that will alienate others in your life. You know it is best for all concerned, but very hard.  It reminds me of the time Jesus said, leave everything and follow me, do not look back, never thought how hard it is to let things go in your life that you love dearly, but it is, so keep me in your prayers:) I am a peace maker and always have been, try to make everyone happy with me and do what ever I can to do that, but as an adult I know that is not healthy.  That's enough about that:)

 

We have had a busy week in Real Estate in PCB, we listed two homes and wrote a offer and presented a offer trying to work it out, I do admit it is easier to be here to do that, but with all of the technology you can do it from anywhere, and I have actually learned to do the new program we have in real estate and sign forms digitally!! YEA!! This week will be major, esp. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!  I am also getting my sweet Lovey spaded on Wed. so I hope all that goes well, I have never had a sweeter dog, she really lives up to her name and for sure is a God send in my life, she is so comforting to me, even though she is so much like a child, she gets into everything, she is so little she just hops, walks on everything! We love her, she has won our hearts!

 

Can't wait to run and see Hannah for a day, and see all they got done this week, they finished their bld. and had four new baby chicks!! I always miss my babies when I have not seen them, I will get Amelia and Sydney this Thursday for awhile, Jill and Alex had a close friend of their family pass away from a car wreck, keep them in your prayers too. Then I need to see Cole and Anna, before school starts! May have to have a bunking party for grand babies!  Hugs to all and to all a good night!





One more go to sleep!

You can not even began to know the hours Steve and I have worked this week, I was still recovering from being sick, on Tuesday just bottomed out, came home laid down then finished out the days work.  I honestly can not even remember how many offers we have written and homes we have listed,  right now we average a closing every five days with the ones we have sold, and steady being blessed with more solds!  It is exciting to see how good the agents I have hired are doing too, they are getting it!  This week we have had to  hire one of them to help us, a bright  smart young man, you only have to tell him something once and he can remember everything!  In Sales meeting Tuesday I was telling about a home and he remembered all the details for me, I forgot what a young brain was like:)  I can not even believe I am going to the beach in the morning, I am so needing that time, I have two books, one on Heaven and the study book, I am going to a bible study on Wed. nights and that is the study, I am going to just sit and read and soak up Florida sun and do nothing!  I may not even eat, that's how tired I am, but we all know I will go straight and get peanut butter home made ice cream and then go to Dusty's and eat Oysters asap!  LOL who am I kidding........

I will have Steve's computer and I can not blog from it, something about his security setting, so I will take pics and tell you all about it when I get home:)  Miss April will be here to hold the fort down and f course Jared is next door, hope he mows, our yard is awful and we could not get it done because no time and then it rained all day today, so there you go!  I even thought of taking a break from FB, but I enjoy that too much, plus I will still be working but its so much easy working from the PCB office

 My lap top and mobil phone I  can work from anywhere in the world!

 

SO if I have your home listed, know I am taking my calls and trying my best to get it sold! Actually I do a lot of business when I am at the beach:) Never fails, I think I am way more relaxed, something about the ocean does that to me:) Puts me in a happy place:)  Today has been a hard day for me, I have some struggles going on that I can not share, so if I come to mind please pray for me, I am letting go of some hurtful things that I no longer need to carry around:)  I am ready to just let the Lord deal with me, to look to Him for my needs and focus on Steve and I, do what is best in our life for us:) I am so thankful God gave me Steve!  He is a rock in our marriage and keeps me balanced, I may not agree all the time, but I have learned to listen to him, I have learned the hard way:(  SO I really am looking forward to some beach time!



  I am ready for work:))  Hugs and hope all have a GREAT week! Thank you Lord for providing this time at the beach!