-777 Thank God it wasn't -666

For the past couple of weeks I have been glued to the tv flipping channels from MSNBC to CNBC to CNN. This last weekend most of America was sitting on the edge of their seats to see what would happen with the "bailout bill" House Republicans and House Democrats were assuring us that the bill would pass. Many folks on "main street" upset about this. Them Monday the bill was rejected. Stocks plunged!

There was a sense of fear and panic. Then today something interesting happened the Dow gained 485 points. All kinds of speculation as to why such a rebound. I heard many reporters saying it is because there is still hope that a bailout will happen when the house reconvenes on Thursday.

My personal opinion, and I say this somewhat jokingly, is that there was such a rebound today because the number of points the Dow fell 777. Isn't that Heavens number? I can only imagine what would have happened today had the Dow fell 666 points!

Watch out Chris you have some RC driver competition!

Michael loves to do whatever daddy is doing, lately Todd has been into his RC cars. Here is a little clip of Michael in action.

Thankful Thursday

I decided that I am going to start doing a "Thankful Thursday" spot. Every Thursday I will list 5 things I am thankful for. Here goes;

1. The listening ears of good friends
2. Uplifting music (thanks Cindy)
3. People that come and go throughout life
4. Blogs (I have learned so much about people through the things they blog)
5. The ability to make a difference in my world

Insane in the Membrain

"Most of the economists agree that the problems we are witnessing today developed over a long period of time,'' Bush said, citing an influx of money into American banks that enabled Americans to get easy credit - some getting home loans, some new business loans. "Unfortunately, there were also some negative consequences,'' he said, citing "easy credit'' that led to "excesses'' and "bad mortgage decisions... Many borrowers took out larger mortgages than they could afford.
"Eventually the number of new houses exceeded the number of people willing to buy them... Borrowers with adjustable rate mortgages... were stuck with homes worth less than expected, along with mortgages they could not afford... These defaults had effects well beyond the housing market.''

I have heard that insanity can be defined as doing the same thing again and again expecting different results.

I find it insane that President Bush recognizes that the economic crisis we are facing was caused by the fact that credit was extended to people with far less than perfect credit histories on properties that were valued at far greater amounts than they should have been. And now he proposed that the United States Government do the same thing.
The national debt is at $9,794,167,845,969.82, seems to me that creditors need to put a halt on this consumers credit.

I miss Grandma Woffinden

Yesterday was the longest saddest Sunday I have had in a very long time. The day just seemed to drag on and on. When it was finally 6pm all I could think of is how I wished I was at Grandma Woffindens house.Every Sunday all of her kids and grandkids would come to her house and she would always have hot rolls or some tasty treat that she made and we would play games and visit.

She was truly an amazing woman. She had so much love to give. I was a step-granddaughter, but she never made me feel like I was anything less than her own granddaughter. I learned so many things from her, quilting, crocheting, baking, I really wish that I would have learned how to make her bread. It was so yummy! She had a baking day once or twice a month. She would get up extremely early and start the bread dough. Then spend the rest of the morning baking loaves of bread and tons of rolls. She would freeze some for herself and then she always gave our family some bread. It was the absolute best bread, especially toasted then topped with some strawberry jam!

In the summertime she would sit out on the drive in her lawn swing watching her little tv and crocheting. Her hands were never idle. A neighbor lady would come and sit with her and the two of them would brag about their grandsons. It was so funny because Grandma would tell me what Elaine had said about her grandson and Grandma would tell me how much better Aaron was. LOL Aaron was the apple of her eye. It was so cute how proud she was of him.

I am so grateful to that woman. She really helped me through the roughest time of my life. I love her and miss her terribly.

The Dow Jones up 400+ today

So, I have never paid much attention to the stock market or the economy in general. When I heard talk about foreclosures being at record highs I just thought it was a good opportunity for real estate investors. Then Monday September 15, 2008 happened. Lehman Brothers went bankrupt, Merril Lynch sold to Bank of America and AIG was on its way out. I was actually in a state of panic, reading reports and blogs and trying to find out everything that I could about what was happening. In my mind I pictured another great depression and saw us growing food in the front yard and wearing worn out boots. I was really hoping AIG would be able to pull $85 billion out of the air. I am so glad the government stepped in.
Then Wednesday the Dow fell another 450 points, I was actually watching the stock market channel most of the day, and tears streamed down my cheek when I saw it drop below 10600 not that we have any money in the stock market. But as you may know neither Todd nor myself are currently employed and if the economy falls, I don't see us being able to find work.
President Clinton was on the stock market channel and gave an excellent explanation as to why the government needed to "bailout" AIG.
Today the Dow gained 400 point and I felt a huge sense of relief. Though who knows what will happen, homes are still going into foreclosure.
So family. . . what is our plan? I want to make sure that if we experience the "grapes of wrath" that we lean on each other.

What am I getting so worried about? I need to just calm down and take it "one day at a time"

Gratitude

So I was talking with Cindy today and she reminded me about gratitude. I decided I would make a small list of what I am grateful for.

Of course first on my list is my wonderful husband and beautiful child
I am grateful for my family. . . extended
I am grateful that I have shelter and a comfortable bed to sleep in
I am grateful that I have food to feed my son
I am grateful for the hot shower that I get everyday, we had our hot water heater go out for a couple days this past winter and it was pure hell
I am grateful for the abilities I have
I am grateful for Michaels smiles, and giggles and his dance moves
Today I am very grateful that I am not a CEO of a large bank


Denis Waitley:

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Some video of the RC's

This is the first attempt to add video to our blog. So, as in Chris' blog, I chose to use the RC video that we had made at the Bleazard Family Reunion.
Noelle recorded this one....



Chris recorded this one....

This was taken after nap. . . I just didn't get it posted that day like I said I would. OOPS

A year ago.....

Look at this kid! This was taken a year ago when we went to the waterplay park at Kennewick Library. I cannot believe how much he has grown! I put this up because Cindy called today to ask how to add a picture to her blog and I needed to add one in order to walk her through it but all I have on the computer is old pics. So later I will go out and get the camera and take a picture of Michael when he wakes up from his nap and then you all can see how he has grown.