Helping Others!

 

Join me in helping others!

 

The Piñon Project

The Piñon Project Family Resource Center helps over 3,000 families and their children in SW Colorado every year.

Piñon Project programs include an Early Learning Center, early childhood education and parenting programs, youth services programs (Mentoring and Sources of Strength), Emergency Assistance Coalition (homelessness prevention), Access to Health programs (Eating Smart Being Active) and Family Programs (Successful Families).

Mancos Giving Tree

Christmas trees displayed around town have ornaments to choose from. Ornaments provide the option to buy gifts, food, or help pay utilities for families in need.  Drop off gifts or checks at my office, Colorado Ranch & Home Realty 145 Grand Ave in Mancos.

Salvation Army

Have you put money in the red kettles?  The money raised here in Montezuma County stays here and helps with food, utilities, clothing and emergency shelter. 970-564-4228.

Good Samaritan Center

Can you put together a nonperishable food box?  The Good Samaritan Center food pantry is located in the “pink building” at 30 N Beech Street Unit C, in Cortez, CO. They are open 12pm-2pm Monday-Thursday each week for curbside pickup of food boxes.  For more information go to goodsamscortez.org

Turning our hearts toward home!  MancosHomes.com

The Right Smell Can Help You Sell Your Home

Every home smells like something.  It could be the fish you just cooked last night or the cookies.  People can remember smells with 65% accuracy after a year.  Visual recall, on the other hand, is only about 50% after 3 months.  During one of our realtor tours several years ago, I went into a home that had such a strong cat odor. I still remember it like it was yesterday.  All of the realtors walked in the door and immediately went outside.

If you are going to sell your home, the deep cleaning you do will help with the smells.
~ wash pet beds and clean litter boxes then put in garage
~ put muddy boots in garage and in a bag
~wash curtains
~have carpet professionally cleaned

So what kind of smells help sell your homes?  Just don't put a freshener.  Some of them, are too potent and are offensive.  I suggest simply cracking a window.  If it's warm outside, leave the door open.  Fresh air is just that fresh!  Research also shows that homes that smell of lemon, orange, vanilla, pine, cedar and cinnamon can help you sell.  You can put a few essential oil drops around the home or use a diffuser prior to a showing.  Just remember to turn off the diffuser.  No one wants to see a diffuser, since people might think "what are they trying to cover up?"

You want the potential buyer to linger in your home, so I suggest baking cookies and having cups of water for them.  Leave a note that says "Enjoy".

The Heart of a Mother

Today is the first Mother's Day, since my Mom died.  Been super hard, so I kept super busy.  Hike at dawn, church and then unpacking stuff from my parent's home.  The above picture was a simpler time.  My kids were little and we did lots of adventures.  Now they are off creating lives of their own.

The heart of a Mom is quite unique and the good thing is that everyone can learn from it.  Whether you are a mom or you tend to "mother" your co-workers or friends, God designed us with a mission.  No matter what curve balls life throws at us, I know that I have a God that has the final word.  This is why I talk with God throughout the day, and try to keep my eyes focused on Him.  Yes, the devil is a liar, and tries to rob me of my peace, however I have God on my side.

My Mom was an excellent listener.  I'd call her several times a day to vent and she wouldn't put in her two cents.  I know that she prayed for me and my kiddos daily.  My Mom's love was consistent and never based on my actions.

I was with my Mom, my best friend for the last chapter of her life.  I saw her strength as she organized her affairs and she even planned her funeral and wrote her obituary.  She did the dirty work, as unpleasant as it was so that her kids wouldn't have to.  Now that's being selfless.

I hope I will be more compassionate to the people who are difficult, slow to speak, and love others for just the way they are designed.

Happy Mother's Day.

Let's talk real estate. Did you serve??

All you need is love....but

Do you have a will?

A will is the last gift you will give to your family.  It's a legal binding document that gives you control of what happens and what won't happen to your estate.  You spell out exactly who will watch over your children, and your assets.  It is a gift since it will make the whole process of dying easier for your loved ones since they know your wishes.

There are software programs that can walk you thru it just as easy as Turbo Tax.  You can also go to a lawyer or just google it and you will find many options.  Make this a priority.

Christmas Memories

What are some of your best Christmas memories?  Were they when you were a child?  Was it a toy or an experience?  For my family, Christmas is all about tradition and being together.

As a child, my grandmother Nanny would pull up in her old white Ford car to our back door and pop the trunk to unveil it stuffed with presents.  The excitement my two sisters, brother and I had was pure joy.  Of course Nanny would come with her famous Christmas Coffee Cake for Christmas morning.  Christmas Eve was celebrated with  a traditional Mexican dinner of queso, chips, guacamole, red & green enchiladas, tamales and lime sherbet for dessert.  YUM!!   It was always followed up with opening one Christmas gift.

Christmas morning, we would wake around 5 and get my parents up.  We opened our stockings and then Daddy, would play Santa and hand out the presents. We opened one at a time, taking the time to experience each persons joy while they opened their present.  Mom would prepare a wonderful dinner of shrimp cocktail, artichokes, prime rib, baby potatoes, rolls and for dessert a cranberry torte.

This year my sisters and brothers came back home.  We all hadn't been together for Christmas in decades.  Mom is 88 now and her health is failing. Daddy died two years ago so we have all changed roles.  My sisters and I cooked then after dinner husbands, boyfriend and my brother cleaned up.

Christmas Day before dinner we went on a hike up Bernal Mesa, quite the hike, while Mom and my daughter stayed inside.  Spending time together reminiscing about the past, hope for the future, and scrambling up to the top of the mesa will not be easily forgotten

Christmas for me is about being with my family and remembering that my life is centered around my anchor, Jesus Christ.

May you hug and tell the people that are close to you that you love them.