God's Grace is Sufficient

This is one of those days when I don't want to appear overly excited but I feel like there is a lot of dancing going on internally with praises and shouts of hallelujah.  I'm not even mad that I feel violated someone took it upon themselves to browse through my zip up portfolio and have one of my accounts locked out which I found out to my dismay today.  Lord I just ask that you bless the perpetrators with what they need to get on their own grind.  I know you will abundantly provide if we put our trust and faith in you. 

Today is one of those days I want to have posted in the history book.  A day when God brought his believers together for his greater good.  What God has brought together let no man put asunder.  Let the Lord's will be done.

On today I saw first hand how God is continually at work.  When we fall short or can't do anything to make a situation better for ourselves or someone else God can touch it and make things happen greater than we can receive.  God is good.  When things are going on in and around you he is right their in the midst of it all.  He doesn't drop the ball.  He's the one who recovers fumbles and takes the ball and makes a touchdown and he runs towards the field goal of the team that needs it the most.  My oh my how he can turn things around.  His goodness and kindness can open doors we never imagined would be opened.  It is not in no man's time it is in God's time.  His perfect will can and will be done.

Lord I thank you for the blessings you know you bestowed upon this world today and every day.  Thank you for your greatness and tender mercies.  You are the Great I Am. The light and the resurrection to lead each and every one of us to a better today and and even better tomorrows.  Thank you!

Everything may not be going right.  There can be storms to the east, storms to the west, turbulence to the north, and drowning to to the south but it is comfort in knowing God is in the midst of it all.  It doesn't have to be physically going on it can be spiritually happening.  Life can send us some weather we have no control over but rest assured God is always in control.  As long as God is piloting my path I am redeemed.  The reprieve comes in knowing you, God, you are constantly in the midst of it everything.

Prayers go up and blessings pour down.  It doesn't happen once or twice it seems it happens every day which is ever so nice.  Lord praise for you will continually be in my mouth.  Thank you for letting warriors come together for a battle to serve your divine purpose.  Good plus good is better than great.  Thank you for letting your children come together on this day according to your will.  Amen!

There are those FACEBOOK posts I really love!

Okay gone are the days where someone needs to text message or email you with funny videos and text messages.  They can just post to FACEBOOK and share with the masses.  The messages go on and on and on.  No need to tie up someone business cell phone or business email account with a lot of ramblings they just don't have time for.

My preferred medium is to read messages via FACEBOOK.  I wonder how many people who use email for personal purposes one day may even decide to shut down their email accounts and read all their messages via FACEBOOK?  Most often when I read FACEBOOK messages I look forward to receiving something of  a personal nature.  When I read my email or look at my phone I am more often looking to see something of a business nature. 

One FACEBOOK post I read today on a friends wall I am posting here.  A blog is a great medium for lengthy posts.  I see FACEBOOK is now allowing posts up to 63K. So I imagine I will find some really great posts longer in length for those FBers who like to write.

Here goes a post I find worthy of sharing.  Being a single mother for so many years I know how important it is to try and raise your sons to be men.  Seeing things from a male perspective is what a young man needs.  I posted a woman version a while back when I first started my blog.  The funny thing is I got the woman post off a website for a male who felt like there were some things all women needed to know.  I sure a woman probably originally drafted the post.

Here goes:

‎10 THINGS THAT SEPARATE A BOY FROM A MAN:


1. A BOY keeps a password on his cell phone while a MAN is confident enough to say "baby can u answer that for me"!!...


2. A BOY runs the streets to chill with his friends while a MAN is enjoying time with his woman planning ahead for their future!

...

3. A BOY complains about spending too much time with his woman, a MAN plans

vacations & getaways because he is wise enough to know tomorrow isn't promised!



4 A BOY has pride after arguments, a MAN has heart & emotions (and can apologize)



5 A BOY beats on his woman, a MAN holds his woman!



6 A BOY screams gold-digger for the simple things a woman wants, a MAN screams, " I could give you no less!"



7 A BOY tells his woman all the things she does wrong, a MAN acknowledges his woman's hard work and supports and lifts her up!



8 A BOY tells his woman she is sexy, & a MAN tells his woman she is beautiful!



9. A BOY will sit back and let his woman take care of him, a MAN will work 4 jobs and sacrifice his wants to take care of his woman.



10. A BOY will read this & think this is about him & a MAN will read this & thoroughly acknowledge what he needs to fix in his relationship.

Yes.  Ten years ago friends would have blown up email inboxes with such a post.  Thank goodness for FACEBOOK!

Have a great day!

Lynne

Happy Thanksgivings Everyone!

I am especially thankful I have a high speed internet connection again.  Over the past few days I have been using a dial-up connection exclusively.  I can just say I can get stuff done in a matter of minutes that it was taking hours to do on a dial-up.  Dial-up didn't seem so bad when it was the only option available in my home years ago.  After using a high speed internet connection of any type going back to dial up is painstaking.

I am thankful for the experience because it made me realize how much things in our every day lives can be taken for granted.  Things sometimes progress so rapidly and so well and we get to a certain plateau in life and forget to give thanks for everything.  We forget about the obstacles we have been able to overcome often times too quickly.  It is not a matter of dwelling in the past but appreciating the past and like the old adage says "not forgetting where we come from."  Not forgetting where we come from can apply to our personal lives, our professional lives, are family life, our educational pursuits, or our financial positions.  There is so much which impacts each and every life.

Thanksgiving is always a special day which serves as an annual reminder to stop and give thanks for friends, family, and fellowship.  Moreover, a reminder to stop and give thanks to the Lord for all he has done and continues to do.  He puts angels amongst us to help us through our most troubling times.  I don't know about you but I know my God has never failed me.  I've been mainly self-employed since January 2006 and it has not been easy.  It is a challenge I wanted to take on when I was married years ago and to take it on as a single person with no financial backup was very daring to say the least.  The market has changed from the boom it was when I ventured out on my own and it has been only by God's grace, goodness, and tender mercies that I have been able to survive at all.  Especially when I got sick in June of 2008, the market started heading south overall in real estate.  It has been tough but it has been God's grace and goodness that I have been able to preserver. 

When others have strayed away because of my hard times God has stayed faithful.  A friend in need is a friend in deed.  I am thankful that I will always have a friend in Jesus.  If I am broken in spirit, down-trodden or need fixing I lean not to my own understanding but let go and let God have the helm.  Like one of favorite all time spirituals says it best "The Battle is Not Yours It's the Lords".  This year is the first year in my 48 year existence that I have filed a formal complaint against anyone.  Normally I do something the devil won't do and just let a bad situation go.  I'm praying for peace still for the party not to be aggrieved and get the reprieve he deserves because everything was done in good faith.

It is only by the Grace of God that so many of the modern amenities we enjoy today have come to fruition.  I am sure most will agree no one man has orchestrated connecting people, places, and things together to make this world what it is today.  No one man caused this nation to be in its present state of affairs in one day.  All the worlds problems will probably not be resolved in one day or one term.  We miss the mark when we put all our faith in one man.  All our faith, hope, and trust should be placed in our Almighty God to bless man to do accomplish the impossible.

If it was not for early engineers and pioneers we wouldn't have the telephone.  Without the telephone I would never have had dial-up internet service, without dial-up internet service there would never have been someone's desire to have faster internet connection speeds which brought about high speed internet service.  In all things I'm thankful for the journey.

I'm especially thankful on today that in my 48 years the way my family prepares candied yams has never changed.  A skillet, a stick of butter, a pack of brown sugar blended on top of the stove to desired consistency (not juicy and not thick) to make the syrup to pour over the already peeled and baked sweet potatoes cut in half and laying in the baking dish waiting for the juicy goodness. Then baked in the oven for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Scrumptious!  One of my all time Thanksgiving favorites.  Enjoy your day. 

Dumb Rocks Break Windows of Opportunity

I'm keep this one short.  I could probably vent for days on this topic.  I remember when I used to play the clarinet.  I had played ever since I was in elementary school. 

During my later years playing the clarinet some time in middle school or high school I was participating in a regional event.  I'll never forget when I was at rehearsal and I was playing on one of what I considered my golden reeds the Mitchell Lurie 4-1/2 Reed.  I used my allowance to purchase them from the music store.   The conductor stopped the band and looked right at me and I asked me to play my part and I did.  Then he asked the young lady sitting next to me to play her part and she did.  Then he asked me what type of reed was I playing on and I told him very proudly.  Then he asked if I had a RICO 2-1/2 reed.  And I was like yes I have a box of those in my case.  He said play with the 2-1/2 because your intonation is way too much better than hers. 

It took me a while, years, to be able to be proficient enough to play on my golden reeds.  All my practice efforts I felt like where knocked down in a brief statement. 

Lately I'm beginning to feel like that when it comes to technology related issues.  There are people setting policy and procedures everywhere on a daily basis which impacts technology.  I don't know a person or place which is not impacted this day and time by some form of technology or technological device.  I could just scream at some of the legislation, policy, or procedures put into place recently in regards to the use of data from some portals.  Furthermore, the policy and procedure in regards to the display of data you have paid to access on some sites.

I don't know a website designer or developer who sets up a site to not have it optimized to do everything they have had time to think up and implement.  Most often there is a lot of stuff they want to implement but don't have the time or resources to do it all.

Well, then there comes a big wave of help from folks setting rules and regulations as to what you can and cannot do.  I don't know whether to thank them or be upset that some of the pages it took me years to refine to a point where I am proud of I can no longer utilize. 

Technology is a big ticket item.  Look at how much some web portals have made and are making with the use of technology.  People are using it.  One portal brags over 350 million registered users. 

I remember years ago businesses, organizations, clubs, any structured group would do a feasibility study prior to implementing new policies and procedures that would impact a major percentage of its member population.  I'm just offering those who are looking to make technology decisions do a feasibility study to solicit feedback from your members as to how they feel the change will impact them. 

The changes I have seen implemented lately in some mediums as far as technology makes me want to sit on my hands.  What good is it to have the ability to create and implement dynamic, interactive content on a website if regulation, policy, and procedures over regulate what, when, where, how, and who you can and cannot utilize data.

Well I said this was going to be short and in actuality it is a lot shorter than the three drafts prior to this one. It only took less than an hour but I could vent for days on how not to hinder the efforts of others who use technology very well to pacify those who don't have a clue what a dynamic web page even is.

Our Family Veterans

I can recall the Veteran's in my family back to my Great Grandfather Walter Clayton Cowan, Sr. who lived in our home when I was a child.  I have his Social Security card which was issued back in 1938.  It was the first year Social Security Cards were issued. 

Back then I did not understand his plight.  He wore a green jacket all the time.  In his last years he was a recluse and stayed in his room a lot.  The only time he really came out was when me and my brother would knock on the wall closest enough for him to hear and take off running to try and get him to come out the upstairs bedroom.  We would knock and then run.  Most of the time he would just ignore us.  One time he was waiting for us to perform our antics and scared the living heck out of us.  He was in an adjacent room and waited on us to do our mischief then leaped out at us.  Fortunately the doors in the upstairs were Jack and Jill style where my brother took off in one direction and I took off in the other direction screaming.  It was one of the only times I ever saw him standing.  I think he died of a broken heart because his wife preceded him in death.  From all accounts I've ever heard she was a loving and warm person and they were very close.


My grandfather served in World War I.  He was with our family until his final days which were spent in a VA Hospital with throat cancer.  It was the saddest day of my life when he passed.  I never met anyone as loving and as genuine as my grandfather.  He had lots of friends and family who surrounded him most of his years.  He was a warm and genuine person as well.  He would always look out for his grandchildren.  The only time he got riled up about anything is if you messed with one of his grands.  And then he let his no-nonsense wife handle things while he stood back.

My father was a Navy Veteran.  All the military men on my maternal side are Army Veterans.  

It's the great men and women who served this country and fought to protect it and its citizens because of their love for family, home, and country.  Their efforts span for generations and leave long and lasting loving memory of their honor. 

I came across a website today and if you're looking to give back to those who served you may want to check it out it is Serve.gov.  Thank you to all who serve and all the family members, friends, and others who support their service to our great country.

My Inexpensive Treat

Every once in a while I like to treat myself to something special.  During these economically trying times for me it has been few and too far in between the little treats I've been able to buy myself.  I'm hoping for great success with my real estate endeavors.  It seems my website is getting some hits but I want the conversions.

The last time my website enjoyed a great amount of hits on a consistent basis I enjoyed more real estate closings.  I'm tired of being frugal.  I'm looking forward to the opportunity to spend money again. Maybe not like its water as before but at least like it is a slow leak.

I'm really missing getting my hair, nails, eye lashes, pedicures and all the other pampering I love to get on a more than regular basis done on a regularly scheduled basis.  I've learned to skimp on spending.  I've learned to buy products I never ever otherwise would have ever even tried.  The big reason is price. Over the past week I have been seeking gainful employment once more.  I'm looking to at least get a well paying part-time position doing something to help me during the lean times.  Especially to assist with covering the world of fees involved with being self-employed.  My future goals are to invest more in real estate anyways.  I want my computer related services company to be a growth venture.  I'm hoping one day several of the domains I've purchased will be worth their rank in gold.

 I signed up for the VirginiaGetOnline.com initiative and got a new domain via that for free "WebStylesVA.com" for my computer related services company.  I put a link on my website to the initiative.  If it's free it's for me and I hope others can get online and reap the rewards as well.  

Any successful marketer knows you have to at least keep up your promotions and advertising campaigns during the lean times. It is important to keep your image out in public as much as possible so as they get better it will not require starting from scratch again.  

I figured out the ePropertySites.com website where I post all my listings to offers a free website as well.  The direct domain is lruffin.remarkableagent.com but I have a domain entitled BuyHomeAuctions.com pointing to it.  This was a calculated decision in that most buyers (which I need a lot of) normally start their search off with "Buy Home..." to the tune of millions per looking at keyword popularity.  So I pointed it to BuyHomeAuctions.com to capture buyer interest.

Over the past couple of days (see chart above) I've been real pleased with my website metrics.  Additionally, I've been pleased with the performance of my blog activity.  Two of the blogs I have written most recently on here and ActiveRain have gotten some attention.  Now out of all the blogs I've written I was sort of surprised those two seem to be the chosen ones sort of speak. However, in this online world you never know.  A lot of times it is the words which are trending which seem to get the most Google Juice.  Whatever it is I'm thankful.   I have been trending links to "Trunk or Treat" activities, ideas, and local information which I'm sure is the reason for the increased web traffic as well.  Even though it required a lot of time revising ads and online advertising campaigns it is definitely a treat to my efforts are having some success.

We know some treats costs and others are free. It always seems those free ones often times have the most value intrinsically.  I am truly thankful and grateful my LynneRuffin.com website has escalated to seeing one of its best months ever in site activity.  I see I really need to take the time and design a good lead capture campaign.  I need to incorporate a lead capture form where the leads come directly to me.

A special treat of the week is the pair of earrings I purchased today for a dollar.  They are very trendy.  I went to get them as a pick me up.  Shopping is always a pick me up.  New things always offer a treat for hope.  Additionally, even though it was cold today I used one of my coupons for a free ice cream cone as a treat today.  

It being so close to Halloween I'm just thinking treats, treats, treats.

Have a Happy Halloween, I hope its all treats!!!

Lynne

Putting the Movers and Shakers on Pause

In my opinion, from all that I have observed in the news, on the radio, in real life interaction there is a strong disconnect between the corporate office employees and the field employees.  For instance, when you meet and greet people from the corporate side of an organization it is completely different from meeting someone in operations out in the trenches. 

It is such a huge disconnect.  Show me any very successful company where prospective employees are knocking down the doors to get in and I'll show you a company that is getting it right.  Too often in my days I have heard someone say they will do anything to keep a good person down.  Tell the other employees not to speak to them, don't carry on any conversations with them, not give them any promotions and other derogatory stuff.  My concern is why can't they use that energy for good.  Why not uplift people in the areas they are strong?  Put personal differences and perceptions aside and concentrate on the positive things which help to move the business forward. 

I would be truly amazed to hear someone be labeled as always getting it right, great customer service skills, takes time to listen to our customers and our customers concerns, shows up on time, goes to lunch and returns on time, leaves timely.  Never complaining about having too much work to do.  It seems to at times be the norm with society conditioning us to be bottom dwellers rather than looking to be grateful, appreciative, praise, and offer our assistance to those on the way to the top.  Again, get over the drama of wanting to keep a good person down.  Learn to deal with your own inadequacies and shortcomings without spreading the misery to others.

One thing companies fail to realize is employees need to feel some type of empowerment, worthiness, and positive morale to succeed.  Let an employee feel they can help to make a difference.

The common thread which normally links an employee to a corporate 9 to 5 giant is usually a manager.  The chain is no stronger than the weakest link.  If you have a weak link between the field staff and the corporate staff it shows.

I feel sorry for employees who have to endure the misery of working under a miserable boss.  This goes industry wide no matter what type of business concern it is.  The corporate people normally only know and recognize the people at the management level and above.  Seldom do they take the time to get to know the contributions and abilities of the people who are making it happen day to day in the business operations.  In most cases it's beneath them.  Most organizations don't practice 360 degree evaluations so the dilemma continues like a bad cycle with an infinite loop.  The manager is empowered to keep treating the employees under her control like crap and continually gets away with it no matter how many complaints are filed none are actually addressed to the point where it makes a difference.  The manager is like "oh well."

Oh well it is a shame and a travesty.  As a manager and a leader they need to realize it is their job to keep things under control.  To provide a stress free environment which is conducive to working in lieu of an environment promoting hate, discord, and discontentment.  The bottom line is a good place to look to determine when things work and when they don't. 

We see regional managers, general managers, regional coaches, and area coaches all designed to promote and encourage other management employees.  Seldom do we see titles set up to empower the employees working at non-management levels of an organization.  How often do we see employee coaches, employee care coaches, or anything to train, inspire, and motivate every day employees to go from ordinary to be extraordinary?

Why don't large corporations get the big picture?  The companies with the highest retention rate are those who encourage and motivate their employees to succeed.  When you see a high turnover rate at a particular location that is clue #1 that something is not right.  Why don't employees at some locations ever excel?  Why do employees at some locations always meet promotion standards and others don't?  When is the last time you took a hard look at your organization and the key players to see whether or not a change is forthcoming in order for your business to be more successful?

My challenge for all people in authority is to casually ask their subordinates some key questions:  "What are you doing to motivate and empower others?"  "If you were not around tomorrow for some unexpected reason who have you trained under your supervision to carry the load?"  "When was the last time an employee told you they appreciate you for being a great leader?"  "When was the last time you even stopped to ask sincerely "how are you doing today"?  ""How are you resolving issues with retention?"  "What is the number one gripe other than salary your employees have about working here?"  "Do some employees feel you show favor?"  "In what positive ways are you making a difference?" 

Taking stuff for granted costs time, money, and other human resources.  Just allocating five minutes a day to inspire, encourage, and motivate your employees and team to be successful will save time with having to advertise, promote, and recruit for new employees.  If you're wondering why no one is applying it is probably because those old employees taken for granted have already told their sphere of influence with probably related industry experience "you don't want to work there and all the reasons why."

Local Real Estate Trends for Top 146 Most Searched Cities on REALTOR.com

Local Real Estate Trends for Top 146 Most Searched Cities on REALTOR.com

Just Drawing Closer to God

Ever have those weeks when it seems the devil has gone into overtime?  Well I can definitely say this past week has been one of those weeks.  However, I am so thankful that before, during, and after it all, today starts a new week my God stepped up to the challenge.

I am the type of person who I don't want for much.  I take my blessings as they come.  I am a very skillful person when it comes to computers, I use my computer expertise to promote my businesses and myself.  The one thing I don't do is use my knowledge, computer access, or privileges to deter the efforts of others.

The sad thing is some end users for some reason don't realize when they are updating a database online the database can log when the change was made, what user made the change, and the IP address of the computer the change was made from.  My background includes creating, maintaining, and troubleshooting databases, mainframe systems, and other applications.  Heck I received outstanding job evaluations from all the years I taught beginning, intermediate, and advanced database systems.   Step up against one of my students and you about to get served.  I have trained employees I have supervised and students on how things are done.  Most applications keep a log file.  You can even set up something as basic as an Excel Spreadsheet to keep a log file.

If you ever receive a Word Document from a consultant you best believe they can track all changes which get made to the document and who all you send it to.  The number one reason why I don't forward chain letters no matter how adorable is because there are sometimes scripts behind those pictures which infect computers, track information, and it just leaves you open to malicious computer attacks.  I definitely don't open the ones where all I see is the text part forwarded and then you have to click on an eml folder to see the actual message.  It is just not going to happen.

This past week when someone became ingenious and started deleting some of the marketing materials out for some projects I was working on I felt the devil was doing the two step.  The devil was getting his dance on.

All it took was making a phone call to verify it right in front of them.  Oh the look on their face was priceless.  Yes all it took was a call to an IT support person on the phone.  I wanted the villain to hear how simple it was for the IT person to look up in their system and speak the truth about when the change was made, by whom, the date and time.  Need I say more?

My thoughts are why do companies keep people with so much hate in their heart that they would stoop to the lowest lows to try and hamper all the hard work of others?  My prayer is that they will shake loose from the devil and let God prevail in their lives.  Yes it is nice having money, control, or any other thing you may feel unscrupulous and unethical actions get you.  Can you really take pride in stuff like that?  I know some haters do.

All I can say to her is I am thankful I serve a true and just God.  As long as I have the favor of God to wake up each morning and begin in serving his divine purpose I'm healed from past hurts and indiscretions.  Divine Intervention is the best kind of prevention.  It will take hold of you when the devil won't let you loose.  When it is placed on my heart to check this or check that all I can do is say thank you Lord.  Some of the biggest problems I have ever been able to solve was from your divine intervention entering my thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere.  It is truly amazing what divine intervention will do for you.

To all the workers of iniquity the only thing I can say is the end is at hand.  When it comes time to meet my maker I can say Lord I haven't been a worker of iniquity but a true servant in wanting to help versus hinder.  Now I will admit I have let go of the practices of being a foot soldier for others.  I am trying to walk on my own two feet without the heavy burden of carrying others who don't want to carry their own load or contribute in a meaningful way to mine.

I'm thankful and more importantly I've been blessed.  It doesn't cost a dime to call on him.  No one can interfere with the line of communication between you and your higher power.  Vengeance is mine saith the Lord and I'm glad I don't have that ball to carry.  He'll place the wisdom on someone's heart to call you out and make your wicked ways known.  His people may suffer but they won't suffer long.  All it takes is the faith of a mustard seed.

He promised never to leave me or forsake me and I'm holding on to that promise.  I may be hungry but God as my witness I've never taken food off your table.  So why do it to me?  Some places my spirit just won't let me eat from.  I don't eat wickedness, I don't eat fornication, I don't eat disfavor, I don't eat hatred, I don't eat jealousy, I don't eat vices which are bound to destroy like drugs, I don't eat corruption, I don't eat a lot of things which I know are unhealthy for my spirit.  I have too much on my plate already to add unwanted stuff I know I don't want to eat.

Again I pray for you and rebuke all your negative attacks in the Name of Jesus.  I'm hungry to be a Christian.  My purpose is to do unto others as I would have them to do unto me.  If my purpose was to do unto others as they did unto me you would be out back.  You are no match for me.  I have never had any respect for a bully. I am able to let go and let God.  Yes I can fight but the battle is not my battle to fight it's the Lord's.  I know some things happen to see how I react.  My reaction is that of forgiveness because apparently you just don't know no better.  And I hope this incident has taught you that you are not smarter than me just more wicked and conniving. 

I pray peace come over you.  I hope you gain the strength to deal with your demons that are perplexing you to act in such deceptive manners.  Hatred is unbecoming our God is Love!

Amen!

It All Boils Down to Common Sense is Just Too Common

I remember each year my mother would start a Christmas Fund account for me so I would have money to buy gifts with for the holidays when I was very young.  I remember the hard copy glue bound coupon savings books.  I would tear off a tab for each monthly deposit and have space to write in the date and amount deposited on the tab.  It would allow me just enough to allocate how much I was going to spend on each person on my gift shopping list.  It was at a local bank which is now known nationally by a different name after several name changes and corporate mergers. 

It is amazing how we get all into titles.  I think the reason why I could relate to the fund the most was because it had a name.  It was not like dropping money into a regular savings account.  This account was special.   A special savings account which to me had a lot of meaning. After having done it the first time I was looking forward to starting it on time the next year and following years.  I can even remember having a Christmas Club account after my children were born.

One thing perplexes me.  With home ownership playing such a vital role in the economy haven't the banks ever started and promoted an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) or Down Payment Fund account?  Don't most all their members aspire to be home owners one day.

There are so may types of funds which exist in society.  W have college funds, we have retirement funds, bond funds, mutual funds, 401Ks, IRAs all with a underlying purpose to help people save. 

As a real estate agent, one of the things which I see is sometimes difficult for buyers is to come with the funds needed for their contributions to begin the process of committing to purchase a home.  Let's face it this economy hasn't made it any easier.  There are lots of households who have someone unemployed or underemployed in this economy which has made saving for home ownership even more difficult.

All the hype from some legislatures that if buyers can't afford the down payment then they basically don't deserve to buy a home anyways. Home ownership programs always seems to be one of those items of fresh meat for the chopping block. 

Why not look at things from a whole different perspective.  Housing is going to be around for a long time because people have to have somewhere to live.  People get paid most often via direct deposits to some type of account because not too many paper checks are issued any more. 

My thoughts are why can't banks start housing funds which allows their members to contribute a small portion of their pay amount each payday until the consumer has enough saved for their earnest money deposit and down payment for a home. 

I'm really surprised banks don't offer a housing fund savings account of some type.  Who do consumers go to when they are looking to finance their home?  A lot of times a bank. 

One of the number one excuses I hear is "we don't have the money" when it comes to earnest money deposits and down payments.  Banks have money but can't lend it if the buyers don't come up with their earnest money deposit, and down payment.  Sellers are looking to get paid and deposit their proceeds into the bank or roll them over to their next house to offset the loan for their next house. purchase  Do you see the bank losing in this picture?

The bank has the opportunity to communicate with the buyer before, during, and after the home ownership process.  Why aren't they taking advantage of it?  Well it seems the bank cannot get beyond praccticing the way they always have.

To conquer new markets they need to stay active an competitive.

What I propose is banks start a housing fund savings account.  Use proactive solutions to retain current members and attract new members.

We know titles work. When funds are set up and designed for specific purposes masses are drawn to them for their name or purpose alone. 

It seems banks would benefit greatly having funds set up to help prospective buyers (who I will refer to as consumer) save for home ownership.  The consumers earn interest on their investments.  As the consumers home ownership fund investment grows and they earn interest it seems as if it would peek the banks interest in wanting to get the ball started with the consumer getting qualified for a home ownership loan.


After the buyer purchases a home the bank can then begin offering more creative products like a home repair fund, energy efficiency account fund, disaster recovery fund, rainy day fund and other creative products to keep consumers interested and loyal to their bank.

Banks need to come current with the times and offer creative products to help sustain this economy.  Doing business as usual is sending the housing market into the toilet.  I feel if the banks took hold of their part of the housing market and optimized their role and the effectiveness of their role it would help to stabilize the market. 

Consumers who are hard-working, want to own their own home, not getting any type of government assistance need options made available to them to not only encourage home ownership but need to have the tools and resources in place to help them get to home ownership.


I think I could right a post everyday using one of the phrases my Grandmother would say.  Mess up and she would have a phrase for you.  The post today would always remind me of when she would say "common sense is just too common, some people ain't got the sense God gave them."

Grandma's Admonition: "Stand On Your Own Two Feet!"

"Lady, are you crazy?  This is my life we are talking about and you have been counting days?"  I remember my son looking back at me and saying in disdain.  He was taken back by my having counted the 585 days from his arrest until his sentencing trial date was established.

Little did he know I started counting the day he was born.  I counted on him being successful.  I counted on him being educated.  I counted on him being a good strong man.  I counted on him being a man of character.  I counted on him being a man of promise.  I could go on at least 585 ways I was not only counting but counting on him.

Later in life I realized the count ultimately was going to be based on his choices.  It wasn't easy but my imaginary scorecard seemed to be coming more and more useless everyday.  As  I felt the pain I gradually began to withdraw.  I was hurt by his decision not to complete high school.  I literally had to curse him out to go and get his GED one morning.  He got up and went and took it and passed.  He had the aptitude but there were so many excuses.  I brought him five cars.  I didn't want him to end up a statistic.  There is nothing I wouldn't have done for him to see him become successful.  He had a totally different vision of success in mind.  He was bound and determined in obtaining his success the way he felt he should go.  I must say he had some encouragement from the peanut gallery (low life bums and scums who didn't mean him any good).  I'm not seeking vengeance so I won't mention their names here.  They know who they are.  I've never held my tongue with them.

Well in retrospect the day my son asked me if I'm crazy is the same day I think it hit him like a thousand  midnight he was finally going to have to stand on his own two feet.  He must have realized it because that day he had shared with me he had to fire his lawyer in court and represent himself or he would gotten more time.  I wasn't there.  The whole criminal justice process was just too much for me to bare.  I went to his initial court date and I lasted through that.  I couldn't take no more.

This is the child whom at the age he was at the time I had spent his whole life looking forward to the day when he would be graduating from somewhere, anywhere with highest honors.  I read to him from the womb.  I was there at his beck and call.  Every field trip he went on in primary school I was there right by his side.  I was there when he got up to get ready for school each morning.  I was there when he would kneel down on his knees and pray each night.  I was the one who brought him his first pair of Stride-Rite shoes.  I was the one who brought him his first book.  I was the one who brought him the first set of cards for his baseball card collection and basketball card collection.  I was the one who brought him his first Sunday suit to wear to Church.  I was the one who threw him party after party every year on his birthday.  I was the one who brought him his first video gaming system.  I was the one who brought him his first video game.  I was the one who brought him his first television.  I was the one who brought him his first computer.  I was the one who brought him his first, second, third, fourth, and fifth vehicle.  I was the one who fed him, I was the one who clothed him, I was the one who kept a roof over his head.  He was the one everyone deemed as my favorite child.

Whenever someone wanted me to do something to which I may say no they would always send him to ask me.  I will admit there was always something special in the way he said "Ma" which made my heart melt.  It just always seemed the words  came with a whole lot more love and affection.  He very rarely said or asked for anything.  He definitely wasn't a whiner.  Thank goodness none of my children were whiners.

Well when it got to the point of his seeming lack of ambition I put him out my house (with a thirty day notice of course).  I was frustrated about the people he chose to be a part of his life. I wanted his friends to be Rhodes Scholars and not road scholars.  Street bums who think they had all the answers to life and their doom and gloom should be the plight of everyone else.

I always considered my son to be an intelligent individual.  He was an excellent musician.  I had always wanted him to pursue his music and do positive things with his life.  It seemed the forces working against me won out.  They were there for him when he got home from school.  They were there in his ear telling him he didn't want to work as hard as his mother always did to have nothing.  When I would ask him what was wrong with his eyes he would tell me it was his allergies.  Now when I look back at some of the photos of him over the years, I can see where his addiction began.  At first I always thought it was the camera taking a bad pose.

Lord knows my son being another statistic in the war on drugs hurt me to my heart.  A heart pain of massive proportions not capable of being measured because my heart hurt to bad for me to raise my hand to indicate the level of pain.  I was sickened to a point of unbelief.  It caused nausea, it caused headaches, it caused body aches, it caused back pains, it caused mood swings, it caused withdrawal, it caused me to be bed ridden, it caused helplessness, it caused hopelessness, it caused fatigue, it caused loss of speech (my throat hurt too bad from crying to talk), it caused blurred vision from the tears, it caused skin rashes from the stress, it caused hair loss from the worrying.  When I did get sick for real several people realized I didn't seek help because I was wanting the towel to be thrown in.  Then that same month my father died and my son was at the funeral and later that same month my son began his incarceration. As far as business successes I was riding high.  I had worked so hard I got top listing, top sales, top closed, top agent overall for the quarter based on production.  My personal failures were riding an all time low.  I had a man in my life for the season and wasn't looking for a long term relationship just someone to console me as my world was falling apart.

My children were my world.  I had dedicated critical time, energy, and resources into them not becoming statistics but being more successful than I could ever had imagined.  I was their mentor (so I thought), I was their motivator, I was the one guiding them.  I was the one who loved them.  I was the one who cared.  I was the one they could come to.  I was the one who spent hours upon hours teaching them to read, teaching them test taking skills, teaching them to write, teaching them to be articulate, taking them to Church, teaching them life skill in hopes they would be well rounded upstanding citizens.

The sand just got too hot for me and I took my feet out of the sand.  I can surely say the Lord has been carrying me all this time.  I am truly thankful he didn't give up on me.  I have been self-employed since 2006.  I just needed more solitude in my life to deal with all that was going on personally.  Even when working I was fortunate to have gone from a temporary to a very challenging management position in the midst of all my personal turmoil.

He carried me through my sickness, he carried me through my pain.  Hitting rock bottom is an eye opener to the fact that the sand is definitely too hot to lay around in.  I'm walking in the sand again now.  The season of my life has changed and the walk is a lot cooler.

I am thankful for the eye opening experiences I have encountered over the last month.  And most importantly over the last week.  I'm reaching out more to learn more about what it means to be incarcerated.  What happens after incarceration.  I could choose to wallow in self-pity.  But I rather choose to stand on my own two feet.  Be accounted for and make a difference.

When I got home from being  hospitalized in June 2008 when everything else was happening, I didn't know why God chose to let me keep living,  The only thing I could remember prior to being put under sedation was my son standing at the hospital bed with tears in his eyes and I could see the pain on his face.  Even though it was pain ridden I felt the aura of his prayer over me.

When I got home from the hospital and laying in my bed I prayed God would let me see his purpose for letting me survive.  Now I see from recent enlightening experiences life is not just about survival it is about thriving to make a difference in the lives of others.  Don't limit myself to my children being my world but to expand my horizons to reach out to others.  Our God is a selfless God and to be more Christ like there is a need to be more selfless.

The admonition of my grandmother any time she saw any sign of weakness in me was to iterate "stand on your own two feet, put all your faith in no man" is hitting real close to home.

Open House: Celebrate Fall | Century 21 Blog

Oh at times how I wish I was more domestic.  They have some great ideas for Open Houses in October on the Century 21 Blog for Sellers.  Too bad they include something I don't do:  cook.  Hey I'm single and my baby is 25 years of age.  I've retired from cooking.  Seeing an article like this is greatly enticing me to bring my cooking skills out of retirement.

Now tell me this doesn't look scrumptious!

Open House: Celebrate Fall Century 21 Blog

If you plan to incorporate any of these ideas into one of your open houses in the Hampton Roads area this October be sure to send me an invite.  It just seems so festive.  I know the aroma would just be delightful.

Internal Havoc Over Internal Controls, Is It a Policy Issue?

One of the things which has always perplexed me is the vast amount of dollars expended on technology each year by local, city, district, state, political subdivisions of the state, public service agencies, government agencies, public service agencies, and etc..  The issue which perplexes me the most is with all this money expended why can't all these systems talk to each other?  It is not an argument it is a recommendation.

It would greatly improve the level and quality of services they provide to their citizens. Imagine how frustrated someone is who when they start a new job an agency like Child Support Enforcement is alerted within three days they now have a new job.  In turn Child Support Enforcement can immediately begin collection actions.

Can you imagine their same frustration when this same technology can't send an alert nor makes any type of adjustment when they get fired or laid off?  Then what is even more discouraging is when they get a job at a lower wage because in this economy it is all they can get and their payments are not adjusted accordingly.  After thousands upon thousands in arrears can you understand their frustration in not wanting to work anywhere?

Now this person owes a certain dollar amount in arrears and their driver's license is no longer valid.  Now they can't get to the lower paying job which is not conveniently located to where they live.  Okay they can pay a few dollars to get to work one way and probably walk back home because making minimum wage and having two-thirds of their check going to child support they now cannot afford to use public transportation both ways.

Do the people who are sitting making these policies in an air-conditioned office making a decent salary with retirement benefits care?  If they cared would there be so many cases escalating to this magnitude?

Some agencies act like it will almost take an act from a higher power to get these systems to communicate to do good for the people they label as the deadbeats in society.  Why should they look out for the underdog when they are the big dog?

They can communicate via human interaction but to communicate via technology would require legislative approval.  It's too bad communication with the citizens they are put in place to serve doesn't require a Memorandum Of Understanding or a Memorandum of Agreement for citizens to be treated with basic respect of persons.  The deadbeat person normally has to kiss butt to try and get anything resolved.

A valid system, as a basic part of its integrity, should be designed to work fair and equitably for all involved parties.  Not to wreak havoc on the ones with the less resources to defend themselves.  All it does is increase the caseload for the applicable agencies which gets out of control and then they complain about not having enough funds.  Systems designed to work for the common good of everyone with the least amount of human intervention required work best.  It frees the case workers time up to do other things.

It is great some agencies are doing 360 degree evaluations on employees.  I think it would be even better if they included doing 360 degree evaluations on their technology and its processes.  You can cover the human factor to the bone but how is your technology working if you take it out of the context of people it should work full circle.  As the leader of any organization have you checked to see if you are spending crazy money on troubleshooting and maintaining old legacy systems?  Can all that money be used to provide new systems which are a whole lot less costly?  There are newer and less costly  systems which not only house data but provide more meaningful measurement tools, planning tools, operational effectiveness, citizen input, increased collaboration, and less headaches for everyone. You're causing your citizens a grave disservice. If you're providing statistics off raw data with no integration into modern systems.  Your citizens deserve your technology working for them in a full circle (360 degrees) as well.

There should be internal controls in place to ensure everyone is being treated fair and equitably.  Systems of today should be designed to address everyone and automatically generate exception reports which get handled by a chain of command and documented in the system.  There should not be a breakdown in opportunities available to everyone because their is a unnecessary breakdown due to human control.  Too many citizens are still complaining they are not being treated fair.  Are you listening?

One case in point is one person who doesn't have the resources to write a blog was incarcerated for non-payment of child support.  The arrears were for approximately $4,000.  The person had to remain in jail and was placed on a work release program until the arrears were paid.  A friend paid the balance of the arrears so the person could be released.  The work release job was insufficient to cover the mandated monthly child support payments and it would have taken about eighteen months to cover the arrears.  The cost of being incarcerated was deducted off the top.  Any court costs, fines, and fees were being extracted first as well.  The interest accumulating on the unpaid support balance and the additional support being added on during the period of incarceration at the same rate.  Cumulatively the person was in deep water without an oxygen mask.

Thankfully there are angels among us and the arrears were caught up.  A receipt is issued and has to be presented as a condition of the release.  Now the arrears are paid an adjustment can be granted.  The adjustment is granted and agreed to by all parties.  The person is laid off the minimum wage job and has no income.  A hold is placed on the child support account.

Later the person finds out not only were the child support payments not adjusted but they also do not have record of the $4,000 in arrears which had to be paid as a condition of release from the jail time they spent.

Some of these systems just leave way too  much room for corruption at the level of commingling.  It is a travesty. Now the person gets dragged back into court for non-payment of support owing five times as much as they originally owed and who cares?  Who is going to listen? The case is continued by the agency until the "right" judge hears it.

Then we as a society wonder why people have substance abuse problems.  I think if I was caught up in a situation like that it would drive me to drink.

Now I'm wondering why in a technology age like today the local newspapers don't have a technology section addressing critical  issues like this which are affecting people.  There is enough going on to have a news article of this nature at least weekly.  They go after the cases  individually in the hundreds of millions of dollars but don't address the cases which collectively add up to this type of money makes no sense to me.

It always makes me wonder who is doing who.  You never know so you have to sort of be careful as to what you say and in what arena you say it in.

One thing an old friend told me is I should get into politics.  He had a female friend in politics and his words to me were she didn't have anything on me.  He says I'm a strong black woman and she is where she is because of reasons unrelated to a political agenda.  He only knows because he drove her and the guy she was having an affair with around. Of course according to his account he was never involved with her intimately.  No. I'm not standing on my head in belief of that right now.  They apparently didn't realize he received an award as "most talkative" in high school.  A whole other matter.

If I were to hold a legislative position I wouldn't be waiting on my constituents to present issues I know need correction.  In fact if I worked for an agency and we had crazy problems I would be trying to implement policies and procedures to live in the solution versus living in the problems.   I would be just asking for the support of the people I serve to help me make a difference for positive change. Not only during election or budget times but all the time.

Too often politicians rely on the reports presented by the different organizations.  They don't get out in the trenches and ask the citizens, especially those who are undergoing the same problems a lot of the people in the system are having how is the system failing you and what improvements would you like to see?

They go to the people who are "pleasant" to hear the traditional "oh nothing."  Their round table discussions, panel discussions, and audiences are full of the yes people.  The typical "A" students who are well-educated, versed, and poised.  Most people with a stance know they are unwanted and so they don't attend town hall meetings, civic meetings, conferences designed with the appearance to help a group of people.  They know beforehand it is all a front to keep funding going and not a medium for change.  When an audience is severely under represented by the population of society affected by their issue it sends a loud message in and of it itself.

I serve a risen savior and I pray for change one day.  The sooner the better then once people are uplifted and feel the system works for them everybody can celebrate.

When You Don't Know You Don't Know

I was having a discussion earlier with a family friend in regards to the challenges of substance abuse.  I was mentioning I have a hard time conceptualizing why people choose to use uncontrolled substances when those who are required to take controlled substances regret having to take them.

When you see people at two different ends of the spectrum it makes you wonder why?  Then I also wonder why this country has spent so much money fighting a cause which is only getting worse?

It makes me further wonder why all the money spent towards drug enforcement, drug addictions, drug rehabilitation centers, cost of jails to house people for drug related offenders, drug users, drug everything are not spent towards providing cures for those people wanting to be cured.  Why can't the money be spent on  people who are looking to be cured so they can do something more functional with their life?  People who are suffering with a sickness, disability, disease or condition for which there is no cure and who desire and often pray for the strength to just be better medically.

Divert drug industry dollars towards  medicines, medical research, and cures for those individuals who have a disease for which they want to be cured.  Spend money providing wheel chairs, medical devices, and medical beds, and medical support to those who need rehabilitation not because they are engaging in practices they chose to engage in but to those who are victims of medical circumstance.

Yes I'm sure a lot of people may disagree with me but I don't think locking addicts up is the key to resolving anything.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the more money which has been spent on drug enforcement the worst the problem has gotten.  All it requires is a few dollars worth of gas to ride around and see the side affects on the community as a whole the impact the use of  uncontrolled substances have made.  The towering jail facility, how many people are housed there for drug related offenses?  The outreach centers, the  clinics, the homeless shelters, the rehabilitation centers, the community service boards, the parole offices, the sheriffs serving arrest warrants, the addicts asking for change all over, the smoke houses, the gathering holes,  people sitting on the street curb handcuffed, business establishments where you see the employees outside getting high on their break. The drug problems in today's society have escalated out of control.

The most disheartening thing of all is when the drug users and drug pushers are incarcerated together it is just providing a networking opportunity for them to meet and greet more contacts.  How is this helping?  Case scenario someone goes to jail over a minor drug offense.  They don't even have to luck up to meet more people who do more of the same they were incarcerated for.  Is it any wonder why the problem has gotten worse instead of better.  Am I missing something?  Can my ignorance be cured?

I'm taking baby steps to learn more about substance abuse.  Years ago I lost a close friend to substance abuse.  Not that the person literally died but to me it seemed like their soul died.  I just said point blank until you become saved and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and I see the change in you step on.  Nowadays it seems the number of friends a person has with that archaic style mentality is slim to none.

It took me years to realize I didn't get invites to parties because there are a lot of professional people who have addictions too.  They are not going to invite you to a party where everyone is using if you don't use.  Thankfully by the grace of God I don't care.  I would rather not get in where I fit in among a crowd of sorts. My friend base is very limited.  It is not because I don't like people.  Most often it is because don't like the fact I am not a user.  I've seen some good people die way too young with massive heart attacks because they were heavy drug users.  Drugs don't discriminate.  They show no respect of person.

I say scrap all the drug enforcement initiatives as they exist today and make a difference.  Spend the money towards things which will lead to growth, job opportunities, technological advancements, academic achievements, and medical advancements.  Why throw good money out to bad?  Drug addiction is not something you can throw money at and think it is going to go away.  Locking folks up with addictions is not going to bring about a cure for them or society.  It contributes greatly to the ills of society.

Most often it is not even going to cause the person to lose their taste for whatever substance they have acquired a taste for.  It seems to be similar to a smoking addiction.  No matter how high the cost of cigarettes they find a way to buy them and continue to use them.

Tell a smoking addict to stop smoking because their second hand smoke is harming others more than it is harming them.  After mentioning it, to me it would make better sense to incarcerate someone who smokes cigarettes damaging other peoples lungs moreover than incarcerating a drug addict who is just destroying themselves.

How can you deal with a person's addiction by locking them up in a cage?  What does that solve or resolve?  

The money would be better spent on sending them a check to live life.  Often times you can't meet a person more sociable and friendly than a person who has a substance abuse issue.  I remember growing up as a child when I grew a great disdain for the smell of alcohol.  I couldn't stand it when an alcoholic would get in my face with a drunkard smell all over them.  I especially detested the ones who got so drunk they spit as they talk.  On the flip side I would rather see more of those types of people than the escalating number of people addicted to uncontrolled substances today.

The bottom line is an addict is not going to be cured until they decide within themselves they want to be cured.  Just like the old saying goes "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink".  You can do things to entice them to do different until you are blue in the face.  Until they are ready to make that change it is just not going to happen.  Point blank and simple.

Why not help those who are looking for change.  Why not help those who are suffering a lot of pain and cannot afford the controlled substances they need to take.  Why not help those who helped build this country and make it what it is, namely our elderly citizens, who don't have adequate health insurance, food, or resources to live a decent and respectable life they worked hard for all their lives for.

I just don't see continually throwing good money out to bad.  Drugs have become and industry and an enterprise and most importantly it has become a travesty which has escalated out of control which will be written as part of future historical accounts.

I felt like venting today because when issues hit close to home they hit close to the heart.  

Bad News Prelude

Well believe it or not this morning started off with my reading a great news story about Trump's purchase of a vineyard here in Virginia.  I think it is great news. 

For some reason my thoughts drifted downwards.  I guess it may be because I really like Donald Trump and hearing of yet another accomplishment he has attained only sounds that "Yay" off internally.  I like success stories. 

Unfortunately, one thing comes to mind each time I hear about The Donald nowadays and it is around all the claims of non-support by him of Our President Barack Obama. 

It is so hard to swallow that two of the men I admire most for their accomplishments and achievements do not have a warm fuzzy friendship.  It is truly disappointing that two of the most well known figures in our great country cannot form an amicable friendship to better the state of the present economy. 

If I could ever have the pleasure of saying anything to The Donald it would be to set aside his differences and concentrate and get together with our president and work on their common goals which will benefit the country as a whole.  Show the public you not only have business power you have people power.  The Donald is in a position where he can definitely make a difference universally.

Operating a vineyard here and bringing more jobs to Virginia is wonderful!  Hail to The Chief of the Business World.  By being in Virginia "where it really all began" for our United States of America he is closer in proximity to the White House.  The phrase "where it really all began" keeps resonating in my mind since I read the article because I've heard The Donald use that phrase a time or two I think on his show "The Apprentice" when presenting a challenge to the Apprentice Candidates.  Hands down it is one of my absolute favorite shows of all time.  My challenge to The Donald is to let it all begin in Virginia with you forming a truce with Our President and helping America to continue to recover from its economic woes in a way so positive most people would find hard to absorb. 

It is undeniable you are making great strides towards actually continuing and increasing employment opportunities in American with your latest venture.  One venture I would like to see is President Obama, The Donald, and Bill Gates at a meeting for a power agenda for the Americas.  It can happen.

Last Quarter of the Calendar Year!

Well we are coming into the home stretch.  This is the last quarter of the 2011 calendar year.

If you are in sales you probably are focusing heavily on what your total sales volume for the year is going to be.  I hope everyone ends their year on a bang.

Me personally, I am hoping a lot of buyers will finally decide it is a great time to buy a home before the year is out.  To go ahead and take that plunge into home ownership.

If you are looking buy a home, give me a call today.  I can sell any house with any sign on it in Virginia.  You can reach me direct at (757) 717-9929.  I want to finish this year on a high note.

I normally work from home. When I am not at home I am normally out in the field trying to prospect for business.  It is best to reach me via text or cell phone at (757) 717-9929.  Later in the evenings and at night you can catch me direct at my residence at (757) 855-2514.  My lifestyle is mostly all work. Since I've been mostly self-employed since 2006 it has been my routine.  I work day and night so I take calls at all times of the day and night.

I can really use the business.  If you are looking to buy a home give me a call.  I have about 23 years experience in the housing industry.  I have worked in both the private and non-profit sector of housing.  I enjoy working with clients from all walks of life.

Now is one of the most affordable times ever to buy a home.  Interest rates are low and home prices are as affordable as they have ever been.  Give me a call today.

You can search all the properties available via the Multiple Listing Service in Hampton Roads directly on my website.  Remember!  I can sell any house with any sign on it in Virginia.  Even if you see a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) home you are interested I can assist with negotiating offers on FSBOs as well.

If you like technology like I do you can send me a text message to 7577179929 or an email to lynneruffin@gmail.com.

Make it a great day!

Lynne

Lynne Ruffin
REALTOR
Century 21 Nachman Realty
1512 E. Little Creek Road
Norfolk, Virginia  23518
Phone:  (757) 717-9929
Email:  Lynne@LynneRuffin.com
Website:  www.LynneRuffin.com

God's Covenant in Full Color Effect

Did anyone see the double rainbow in the sky tonight?  Well I did thanks to being at the office and it being pointed out to me.  I was inside on the computer.  I was happy to go outside and capture the sight.

It reminded me of the word "promise".  The story of Noah.  After reading the passage it made me aware of something I never recall reading before or never read with understanding.

Anyways, I'm thankful for the Double Rainbow.  It is a double reminder of God's promise never to destroy the world by flood again.  How fitting after a day like yesterday when men lives where taken at the hand of other men.  It is almost seems like wearing a wedding band, or some other symbolic gesture to remind you of the promises you have made no matter how crazy things get.  A very touching reminder.

I recorded a video of  the part of the rainbow my camera captured.  It did not pick up the double rainbow as well as it shown.  It barely picked up the double rainbow at all.  I saw where other people have tweeted, posted, and shared their experience witnessing the double rainbow as well.

Genesis 9 (King James Version)

Genesis 9

King James Version (KJV)

Genesis 9

 ¹And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
 ²And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
 ³Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
 ⁴But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
 ⁵And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
 ⁶Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
 ⁷And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
 ⁸And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
 ⁹And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
 ¹⁰And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
 ¹¹And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
 ¹²And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
 ¹³I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
 ¹⁴And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
 ¹⁵And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
 ¹⁶And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
 ¹⁷And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
 ¹⁸And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
 ¹⁹These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
 ²⁰And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
 ²¹And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
 ²²And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
 ²³And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.
 ²⁴And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
 ²⁵And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
 ²⁶And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
 ²⁷God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
 ²⁸And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
 ²⁹And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

Now I know there is probably a scientific explanation for the appearance of the rainbow as well.  But it is outside the scope of my scientific readership.

Thank you Lord, Amen!

A 13 Year Old with a Whole Lot of History!

When I logged into Google today, September 27, 2011, I saw the Doodle for today was a theme indicating it is their 13th Birthday.  My goodness how time really does fly.  I see they are ranked #1.  How many years?  I don't know.  I know they are one of the #1 sites I go to every day. Do you remember how they used to look?  Well I used the WayBack Button on Alexa's site to help me reminisce.  Does the screen shot below bring back memories?

Just recollecting over how many ways Google has helped me in my real estate profession.
Google Maps - I remember using MapQuest, Yahoo Maps, and then for some reason Google won out hands down and I can't tell you the last time I went to the other sites for maps.  As Google maps came on the scene and went through some iterations I began using Google Maps almost exclusively at some point. 
Gmail - I use Gmail to receive my email on my phone because I can never get the settings or it could be because of the 24,000 emails on my domain name email acccount.  I can get the all the new messages forwarded right to my Gmail account and read them on my phone.  They sometimes hit my phone before they hit my own email server.  It is a big time saver and helps me to reply back very quickly to my clients and business associates from wherever I am.  Gmail all keeps a conversation thread. How sweet!


Google Apps - I love all the Google apps on my Android phone and desktop.  I can sync my Google calendar and that's one of the apps I like the most.

Google AdSense - I hope to get a check one day!  It's been five years and I'm getting close. It helps to bring more visitors to my website I'm sure.

Google Analytics - I can see what part of the world people view my website from.  It details how many views they get and other data to assist with improving my online marketing.  One day I plan to use this feature to its full potential.  I am still getting use to the new interface
.
Google Alerts - notifies of my information I want to receive alerts about like my name, my company name, some of my competitors, etc.  It is like having my own in-house damage control and PR staff.  One day I hope to be exciting enough or successful enough where I can get some good juicy stuff to read about me.
Google Search - the main reason why I ever started really using Google in the first place.

Google It - it's a term I use when people ask me a question it has saved me countless hours of time.  Especially when assisting my granddaughters with history projects, science projects, and homework in general.

It's Google's 13th Birthday today and I sure do appreciate them!

Contests and Sweepstakes | This Old House

I was online today, September 25th, 2011 and saw a link to this Sweepstakes entry. If you like sweepstakes like I do you may want to enter this one.

Contests and Sweepstakes | This Old House

I bookmarked their page because it appears they have some articles which I definitely can find interesting enough to read. The first time I ever recall visiting this site and with having an older home I can definitely see this site coming in handy.

Thanks to the Twitter who Tweeted this post on Twitter today.  I would say I hope you win but I want to win!

By the way, when I was looking for the url to post in this blog I found another sweepstakes via an ad on the site, a link to www.Havertys.com for a sweepstakes they are having.

I love the idea of entering on line and not having to go through the snail mail process. 

Good luck! 

Lynne

Green-Eyed Monster Epidemic

As a child I remember asking for more and more ice cream all the time.  I loved butter almond ice cream.  The local ice cream parlor had my favorite and it tasted homemade.  

I remember we had a ice cream churning machine where we would sometimes have homemade ice cream at home.  Now wishing I would have paid attention.  That was some really good ice cream too.  

Well if I ever my grandmother felt I was over indulging she would say "greed is a green-eyed monster".  You know grandmas would always preach as long as you have your basic necessities you are fine.  However, I was normally an extremist, competitive, and had to have what I felt was everything.  My mother's favorite term for me was always the "B" word.  And did I care?  No.  As long as I got what I wanted I didn't care what anyone thought about it.  Hey I was notorious for telling anyone to kiss my derriere.  She often referred to me as selfish, inconsiderate, and ungrateful "B" to boot.  I say “referred” because she would be ranting it to my grandmother as if I were not present in the room.  The thing was as my grandmother used to always tell my mother “if you create a monster you have to live with it, you’re the reason she’s the way she is”.  I used to just ask for stuff to see how far my mother would go.  She would get furious at me but she would get it.  She didn't want her children to want for anything.

Well fast forward numerous years and along comes three people who would change my perspective on life forever.  I am a true believer there is a reason for every season.  Nurturing my children taught me life was not always about me and the things I wanted.  If I had not had my children I admittedly would have been ruthless.  My eye was on the prize of success as I had defined it.  My agenda after having my first child was to graduate from college, go to graduate school for information systems and then law school.  Do a CPA and a law degree and become a monster of a corporate lawyer specializing in cases involving business mergers and acquisitions.  I was always taught to take no prisoners.  Don't get me wrong I was always generous at spirit.  Most often I shy away from people because when I get too close I want to help, and help, and help.  I am one of those who will give and help beyond fault if I don't brace myself.

The topic I chose to write about today if you haven't already figured it out is "greed".  Greed is definitely a green-eyed monster.  Green may be attractive, however when you throw greed in the equation it becomes a whole product.  

One thing I've been witnessing over the last several months and at other times in my life time is how greed consumes folks.  How folks apparently unbeknownst become green-eyed monsters.  They want to use other folks as their foot solider.  They wear out a person using up their skills and abilities for their own self gain never giving anything back.  Once they use you up then you are of no value to them anymore.  I hate to see people fall victim to this syndrome but it happens.  

I've seen what appears to be the monster green all over so many folks lately it is pathetic.  I am not saying it in a judgmental type fashion but as a matter of practicality.  I don't know if it is the state of the economy or what it is.  You have folks who talk about and demean others for the mean green.  Folks will try and throw in stuff totally unrelated to the business at hand for the mean green.  Folks will divert other people leads they’ve worked and earned to other people for the mean green.  Folks will overlook everyone available within eyesight and call in someone from a distance for the mean green.  Folks will tell people you don't work there anymore or they have not seen you recently when you're sitting right in the room with them for the mean green.  Folks will show favor upon others and disregard those who have worked hard and earned their prospects for the mean green.  Folks will tell others not to talk to you you're too smart for the mean green.  Folks will get envious and jealous and form clicks for the mean green.  Folks will sell you out for the mean green.  Folks will try and tarnish your image for the mean green. Folks will work behind your back against you and smile in your face for the mean green.  Folks will disregard how snaking your business, snaking your clients, snaking your opportunities will affect you for the mean green.  I wonder what my ancestors who used to use the phrase it is a dog eat dog world would say about the antics to acquire the mean green today?

Well I'm glad lessons of greed where instilled upon me when I was younger.  I am thankful for all the Sundays my grandmother would drag me off to church by my ear if she had to just to instill upon me the basic values of treating folks with dignity and respect regardless of the mean green.  I'm thankful for the Christian-based mentors along the way who were successful and always challenging me to make money and don't let money make me.

Now green is good to have.   I won't eat anybodies cookies because I am not a green-eyed cookie monster.  Are you?  

When I get my green I want the mean to stand for meaning.  I want it to mean something special to me that I keep my head lifted up high and be thankful for.

Stay prayed up, stay blessed, there is no testimony without a test.

God grant me the serenity 
to accept the things I cannot change; 
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; 
Enjoying one moment at a time; 
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it; 
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life 
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

In loving memory of