Let Us Give Thanks

On this day of celebration there is much to be thankful for. I am thankful for a generous and magnanimous God who provides all our needs, I am thankful for the men and women who are serving and protecting our country while we celebrate in our homes, And I am thankful for a loving Family and multitudes of great Friends. HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone! Join me in thanks and enjoy this wonderful opportunity to share in the blessings bestowed upon you.

Great Advice!

I received this in an email the other day. As I read it I became more and more impressed with the message. Unfortunately this inspirational message was just a hook to get me to consider investing in a partially complete resort in Costa Rica! Well I am not asking you to buy any partially developed swamp land in Central America but I do like Joe's message. What follows is copied from that email, absent the seedy investment op., edited for clarity...enjoy :-)

From Joseph L Flores, published 1991 in American Treasures Magazine

Winning should be a long term goal, not just a temporary want. A wise man once declared that “winning is an all time thing-not just a temporary want”. You see, winners win by habit even when they appear to be the losers. Winners focus on their goals, and refuse to let false urgency distract them from their path. St Paul wrote “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”. Clearly, evil comes in many disguises, yet should never be allowed to distract us from our dream. Instead, we should overcome circumstances through dedication to our dream, accurate strategies, mastermind associations, and most of all a fervent life with God. Winners understand that “by the inch it’s a cinch - but by the yard it get’s hard”, yet most people grossly violate the inch by inch law and defeat themselves before commencing, because they look at their dream as though they should fulfill it all right now. This misconception discourages potentially great people from committing to attainable dreams that could benefit themselves and others. I know from experience that you can make your ideas a reality even though you “seem” to have nothing to begin with. Don't “see” your temporary circumstances as though your temporary is conclusive! Remember, eyes that truly see, always see achievable potential. Look both to your dreams and God as the source of strength and courage to conquer painful circumstances along your path to ultimate victory! Allow me to reinterpret St Paul “you have the power to, and ability to, overcome any hindrance with appropriate efforts”. You see, the way to be great in all your tomorrows… is to be great right NOW in all your today’s, one inch at a time. “He who walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools destroys himself,” King Solomon said. No one becomes great immediately or without growth pains, but rather greatness and destiny already reside within you and eagerly await your instructions! Please accept your own invitation and hunger to experience the rewards of accomplishment. The benefits are too many and too intense to be described, it’s greatness unveiling layer by layer exploding mere life into LIFE! Giving you LIFE’S absolute best right NOW in this moment, while truly experiencing, tasting and relishing all that LIFE offers in the right here and now. “Losers find a problem in every answer – winners find answers in every problem, losers let things happen – while winners make things happen”. Destiny within you is urging you to accept LIFE'S challenge to excel! Isn’t it time to reconnect to God and unleash your true potential? Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger nor faster man, but sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can…Excel by habit, and I’ll see you at the top….. Joseph L Flores

Retired 64-year-old woman shoots 2 holes-in-one - CharlotteObserver.com

Retired 64-year-old woman shoots 2 holes-in-one - CharlotteObserver.com

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Tar Heels, fans enjoy star-packed reunion - CharlotteObserver.com

This was a truly special event to witness in person, especially for a die-hard, lifetime Tar Heel Basketball (yes, I capitalized it!) fan. To see all the great figures in the history of Carolina Basketball in one place with 22,000+ screaming fans gathering for a charity event was something I will never forget.

Tar Heels, fans enjoy star-packed reunion - CharlotteObserver.com

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Something to Consider...

I subscribe to a newsletter by LWLWorldwide - Life Without Limits - and this was in today's offering. I though it was poignant so I thought I would share it with you. It makes you think, doesn't it?

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Something To Consider...
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Washington, DC, Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007.

The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After 3 minutes, a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried to meet his schedule.......

4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:
A 3-year-old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

LWL Worldwide, Inc., 2533 N Carson Street Suite 3-L, Carson City, Nevada 89706, United States
http://lwlworldwide.com/index.php

10 Things We Hate About Wireless Carriers

10 Things We Hate About Wireless Carriers

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Some Tips On Navigating Charlotte's Real Estate Market

You do not have to look very far to see or hear something or someone telling you how bad the current Real Estate market is today. Believe it or not, there are still transactions occurring! People are buying homes, Homeowners are selling homes, Lenders are lending money. Really! This market has changed some dynamics of transacting Real Estate but hasn't stopped the Charlotte Real Estate market from functioning. Here are a few tips, suggestions, ideas, and thoughts on how this is occurring.

If you are selling a home, MAKE IT STAND OUT! With the plethora of options for today's buyer it is of foremost importance that your home absolutely has to me memorable. Seriously consider hiring professionals to market your home. A Realtor and a home-staging expert can pay dividends above and beyond what they charge. A properly staged and priced home will sell quicker and closer to your listing price.

If you are buying a home, CONSULT A REPUTABLE LENDER FIRST. One inescapable casualty of this current housing downturn has been the availability of "easy money." I do not believe anyone now, with what we have seen, would argue that changes had to occur in the lending guidelines. With these changes the need to consult with a reputable lender before beginning your search will save you time, money, and heartache. The loans have changed, the requirements for qualification have changed, and savvy sellers are asking for pre-qualification letters before accepting offers to purchase. The last thing you want to tell your family is, "I am sorry but we cannot afford that home." Devastating.

If you are a move-up buyer, LOOK AT BOTH TRANSACTIONS AS A WHOLE. If you have to sell your current home in order to buy the next home you are actually in a pretty good position if you consider the savings you can receive on the purchase of your next home. Price your current home as aggressively as possible by taking into account the savings you will be getting (versus the market value) on the next home. Many people can actually finance the difference into the next loan.

If you are buying, CONSIDER NEW CONSTRUCTION AS AN OPTION. Builders are feeling the effects of this downturn just as badly as individual homeowners. Many builders are offering terrific incentives for you to buy a finished home, an inventory or 'spec' home. Depending on your particular situation and the builder's willingess to negotiate the savings can be well into the tens of thousands of dollars. Consider partially completed homes as well. In those cases the builder might be willing to add extra options that would dramatically improve your quality of life.

If you want a real bargain, LOOK AT SHORT SALES AND FORECLOSURES. People with flexibility, patience, and some sweat equity can realize some great bargains buying a home that is in, or approaching foreclosure. One word of caution, though. Buuing short sales and foreclosures is not for the weak of hear or stomach. Many homes are in terrible disrepair or damaged by malicious homeowners before eviction. Another thing to consider is the process required to secure one of these 'bargains.' Banks must approve all short sales. This process alone could take weeks or months. Foreclosures are sold by bid. You could fall in love with one home and be outbid. If you are considering jumping into the world of bargain hunting via short sales or foreclosures I would urge you to consult an expert. A Realtor or Attorney can assist in navigating the process of bidding on short sales and foreclosures. Lastly, be ready to get to get your hands dirty - or hire someone to do the work for you!

What are your tips for navigating the choppy waters of the Charlotte Real Estate market? What challenges have you experienced?