Debbie DiFonzo - Lebanon, Marshfield, Buffalo Missouri Real Estate

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

Ezard Elementary School in Conway Missouri - The 6th grade class has been learning about "going green."

They've talked about the environment, recycling and using items in unusual ways.

Their latest assignment? Trash Art.

• Use at least four items/things from around the home that otherwise would be thrown away.
• Think "outside the box"
• Try to avoid paint.

This morning, boxes, tin foil, tooth picks, soup cans and straws invaded the upper hall. The creativity of the class was impressive!

How can you re-use items that would other wise end up in the trash bin?

My daughter, Ashley, used a variety of items in her "Old McDonald's Farm" including: toothpicks, a cracker box, straws, a paper bag, wrapping paper, a potato chip container, a cup and, to hold the fence up - her used bubble gum!

Chelsey used a Sunny D bottle to make her Christmas Tree!

Karissa used bottle lids, a toilet paper roll and a make up case in her master piece.

Josie used pencils, soup cans and a cereal box.

More Trash to Treasure!

Candy Man by Mackenzie

Leaning Tower of Sweets by Christoper

My words of wisdom have fell on deaf ears for years...

     Buy land, I would say.

          Buy land, I still say today.

Over time, I have received a lot of strange looks and eye rolling. But today,
United Country Real Estate released some interesting statistics:

Rural land (non-Urban) values have increased by more than 27 percent, since 2006.

Based on United Country's closed land sales data, the national price per acre average increased from $1,691 in 2006 to $2,142 in 2008.

When compared to a roughly 35% decrease on Wall Street since 2006, land investment has become an attractive option.

What does this mean, exactly?

If Investor A put $100,000 into the stock market back in 2006, he would have roughly $64,000 today - perhaps even less based on the closing bell this week.

If Investor B put $1000,000 into land on that same day back in 2006, his investment would be worth approximately $127,000 today - 
perhaps even more based on which part of the country he invested in .

Dan Duffy, the CEO of United Country sums it up nicely:

"What makes land an even more attractive investment is that unlike Wall Street investments, land can actually be used and enjoyed
 for recreational purposes such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, vacationing
 or as a source of additional income by purchasing cropland or hunting leases that allows them to receive cash rents."

The old adage is true: They aren't making any more of it!

I love land and never tire of it's beauty. I'm not sure how many people can say the same of Wall Street!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Debbie DiFonzo, GRI, SRS, e-PRO
Broker/Owner

United Country VIP Realty
417-532-2031 Lebanon, MO
417-468-5900 Marshfield, MO

Serving Laclede, Webster, Wright and Dallas Counties in South Central Missouri

 

Today, Teresa Bell, a Nutrition Program Associate with the University of Missouri Extension, brought FOOD POWER to Ezard Elementary in Conway Missouri.

FOOD POWER is a elementary grade level program designed to teach students the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.

Using an interactive exhibit, the students used Pizza to learn how food comes from a Missouri farm, into their body, to ultimately give them the energy to grow and play.


Farmer Tammy started the groups on their 45 minute journey talking about the "parts" of a pizza.

What is the base? Dough - and what is that made of? Flour, which comes from Missouri wheat. What's next? Sauce, made from Missouri grown tomatoes. What must go on our pizza next? Of course, cheese, made from the milk of Missouri dairy cows. Toppings? Ground meat from Missouri beef; sausage from Missouri pigs.

The groups continued on to talk about how milk and cheese start with the cow and end up in our tummy's.

On through the mouth, stomach and small intestine.

The day was deemed a success, with over 400 students learning and experiencing FOOD POWER. We decided the only thing that could have made it better: samples of  yummy Missouri pizza!

** Food Power is a program offered by University of Missouri Extension in cooperation with the Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Environmental Sciences. It adds unique activity-based experiences to the University of Missouri Family Nutrition Education Programs funded in part by USDA's SNAP.