About Laclede County, MO

I am getting wimpy.

At first I thought it was old age - I did turn 40 this year, you know.

But, I think I have decided it's not the age, it's the location.

Having grown up in Naperville Illinois, about 32 miles south west of Chicago, we had some cold, wet winters. The wind would not only blow, it would whip. The snow would not only fall, it would keep on falling. And, once you had snow "up North" it stayed until spring.

I've lived in Missouri for almost nine years. Seem strange to type that - the time has gone by so very fast. The first year I was here, people would tell me not to worry about the weather - it was constantly changing. It didn't take me long to figure out: they were right! The weather here in South Central Missouri can change in a matter of minutes.

One of the first years we were here, it was 72* on Christmas Day. We washed the car outside and the neighbor was riding her horse in our pasture. That same year Ray golfed more in January than he had the June before!

Earlier this week, the temperature was in the 60's. The leaves are almost all gone, but for the most part, the grass is still green.

So you can imagine I was a little miffed when Grandma called about twenty mintues ago: Tell the kids to look out the window, snowflakes are falling!

What!

Snowflakes!

Granted they are not sticking to the ground, but they were falling none the less. Just the word itself sent a shiver over me and made my toes cold!

They have stopped now. I can hear the cars outside on the wet pavement. We have a very light drizzle.

My husband had to remind me, Deb, it is almost December 1st.

Okay. So. Your point is?

I love my four seasons and that is what I have here in Missouri. But, I have to admit, I am getting a little wimpy when it comes to Season No. 4: winter. Or maybe wimpy isn't the right word. Maybe just spoiled!

Snow was never a thought at last weeks Lebanon MO Christmas Parade.

I had no idea there was such an event: The National Geographic Bee.

Since 1989, the National Geographic Society has been hosting a Geographic Bee for students. First the students compete in their classroom or homeschooling group. One winner per classroom/group. Then the classroom winners go on to compete at the school level. One winner per school / homeschooling group. That winner will then take a written test, with the top 100 scores going to the State level Geographic Bee. One state winner will go on to national.

My daughter won her classroom round and this week participated in our school level competition. Many of these questions I could easily answer. But I have to admit, many of them, I just shook my head, thinking "I have no idea." Good thing Google is a co-sponsor of the Bee, as we relied heavily on the Internet to verify answers.

While my daughter was eliminated after the end of the third round, it was a great experience for her.

She can stand up in front of a crowd - in this case her school peers - with confidence. She picked up some geography knowledge that she otherwise would not have known and we were able to interact together to look up answers and facts.

Here are a few questions for the preliminary competition study guide:
Are you smarter than a 6th grade Geography student?

An important side note: Geography receives NO federal funding. While geography is a required subject in our schools, the No Child Left Behind Act does not fund this subject. We typically hear about those subjects that do receive funding: reading, math, science, teaching American history and foreign language assistance programs.

Affordable Homes and Foreclosure Tour

Date December 13, 2008
Time 1pm - 4 pm

The Affordable homes and foreclosure tour is meant to be a no pressure, fun and educational afternoon centered on answering questions regarding home ownership. We will provide rent v/s buy scenarios, and share tax advantages associated with home ownership. We will have refreshments while we visit 4 homes currently on the market. 2 of these homes will be bank owned foreclosures. We will talk about the advantages and pitfalls associated with buying a bank owned property. There will be a lender, a certified home inspector, and an appraiser on hand to provide education and answer questions. Pete Spencer, Broker/Owner of Realty Executives of Lebanon will be guiding the tour with help from his partner, Broker/Owner Julie Allen, we anticipate everyone will have an enjoyable time.

Itinerary
1:00 Meet at Realty Executives of Lebanon, load the Luxury Shuttle
1:10 Depart for home #1 - Education - Agency relationships
1:20 Arrive at home for viewing and refreshments. A lender will give a short presentation on rent v/s buy scenarios.
150 Depart for home #2 (Foreclosure) - Education - Foreclosure process
2:00 arrive at home for viewing - Education - What to look for in a vacant home
2:20 Depart for home #3 (Foreclosure) - Education - Buying a foreclosure, what to expect
2:30 Arrive at home for viewing - Education - Resale, appreciation, and equity
2:50 Depart for home #4 - Education - The contract and earnest money
3:00 Arrive at home for viewing and desert. A home inspector will give a short presentation on the importance of a home inspection. An appraiser will give a short presentation on FHA/VA/USDA requirements for a home.
3:40 Depart for Realty Executives of Lebanon - Education - What to expect from your REALTOR - Questions and answers
4:00 Arrive Realty Executives of Lebanon - Depart

Sign up for the tour!

I've been romping around in the Rain tonight and recently read Katerina's post: Contest Time! Win With Your 20 Million Dollar Listing Presentation! Updated!

Two lines in that post really caught my attention. They beat to the heart of something I've been mulling for a few weeks now:

Remember, you must visualize and be prepared for your dreams to come true.
Before you can receive you must believe ...

Every time you listen to the news, listen to a talk radio show or pick up any newspaper, the news is all the same. Doom and Gloom.

Yesterday it was Meet the Press, this morning it was The Today Show.

The American people have lost confidence in their government.
The people have lost confidence in the economy.
It is a Buyer's Market.
Real estate prices have not bottomed out.
There are no jobs, don't bother to look for one. Companies are not hiring.
The economic down turn will last another 18 months.

Negative, negative, negative. Every media outlet in this country, every moderator in the land, the message seems to be the same.

How many times do you have to hear something before you believe it to be true?

The Law of Attraction at work on a grand scale!

Why does the media continue to tell us, the American people, we have no confidence? How do THEY know?

I do not believe the down turn of Wall Street represents the majority of the American people.

Why can't the media try spreading a little good news?

Why can't the media try visualizing a POSITIVE America?

Why can't they encourage POSITIVE thoughts for our country?

Why can't they have FAITH in the POWER of the American people?

Do they not understand, before we can RECEIVE we must BELIEVE?

Lebanon Missouri played host today to their Annual Christmas Parade. The Saturday before Thanksgiving traditionally kicks off the holiday season in Lebanon and Laclede County. The theme for the 2008 parade: Believe in the Spirit of Christmas.

The Laclede Country R-1 Marching Band (Conway Missouri) was one of over one hundred entries in the parade and one of five school bands. This was the Conway's first appearance in almost five years in this particular parade. They did not disappoint.

Director of Bands, David Taylor and his students took home 1st place for the "Best Drum Major" and 1st place for "Best Color Guard." Additionally, KJEL Radio broadcast the parade live on 103.7 FM - calling the Conway group "a very fine looking band."

Congratulations to Mr. Taylor and the Conway Marching Band!

For more information on Conway Bands, visit their new website: www.ConwayBands.com