Shelton, WA

Last weekend I had the dubiuos honor to be the MC for the Mason County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner held in Shelton, Washington.

Our Key Note speaker was Rob McKenna, the Washington State Attorney General. He was excellent and delivered a speech that was Positive, insightful and upbeat.

I have to say that with all of the news media harping about all of troubles we are facing as a nation it was refreshing to hear that it may not be as bad as they are saying. It is all in how you look at it.

Washington State currently has a deficit. BUT... this is factoring in increasing spending and adding new programs. The facts are that the revenue for Washington State is marginally increasing by about 2% over last year. It is all about what you do with what you have, not what you wish you could do with what you don't have.

It was refreshing to hear straight talk coming from a politician. McKenna's message was clear, if we are prudent, not only can we endure within our means, we will not have to find ways to make up the difference. (Like raising Taxes!)

Our state economy is doing well compared to other regions of the country and if we act responsible with what we have, there is no reason we will not be able to continue to grow and prosper.

It is all in how you look at it.

P.S. Rob Mckenna would be an Awesome Governor! Check him out.

Maybe you can make your mortgage payment today, but can you next month? Does it feel like you are running out of options? There is help.

I have been searching sites today to see what there is out there to help struggling home owners. There are many sites out there and a lot of advice being thrown around. It is hard to sift through it all to find what is best for you. Depending on your situation there may be several options.

One that I think is worth considering is loan modification. It may not be a permanent fix, but it should be able to buy you enough time to figure things out. I am providing a link to the site so that you can decide for yourself if it is an option for you. Loan Modification may be the answer.

One thing to look out for is the length of the contract. If the loan converts to the average interest rate in 5 years it could end up being a higher payment than you are comfortable with. For now though, and without a crystal ball it would buy you some time. If you see that it may not be a viable option in a few years when the loan adjusts you can sell. I would however not wait until the last minute. Chances are that you will not be the only one with this idea, and it may once again be a Buyers market and be a challenge to stand out enough to sell in time.

If you have any questions or need more information please visit Dinah, Michelle, or Ryan At The NorthwestLife.com

This is one of my favorite photographs taken by one of our local Doctors at Mason General Hospital. I wish I could take the credit. Even more I would love to travel to all of the exciting places that he does with National Geographic. What a great experience. He took this picture first hand and it is so clear it is hard to tell if it was upside down or not.

What special people do you have hidden in your community?

Sometimes life does not treat you fairly. You wonder what could possibly be next. Then you find a bright moment. A hug from your child, a beautiful sunset, a playful cat, a inspiring article. Your out look may change. It is all about what you focus on.

I will admit that I could be a little more upbeat, and try to see the bright side a little more often. If you are feeling a little down I will share something that perked me up.

Unless you take the time to think about it every day is really an opportunity not a requirement. You can make anything out of your day and you have been fortunate enough to get one today. There are people yesterday who did not get this chance.

We are Lucky, We can be happy, and We can make our day into anything we want!

Island Lake on a cold winter's day. The sun is out and everything just seems to sparkle. I think the colors have even more life in them.This area is a wetlands and it is wonderful to come by in the spring to listen to all of the frogs. In the evening just as the sun sets natures sounds pull you in. The trickling waters croaking frogs, & crickets singing can make it feel like a world all it's own-