Long Days

Some days retirement looks so appealing, to be able to clean the garage and then putter in it on projects, clean the boat, get the motorhome in good condition, trim the plants.

But instead this morning I rolled out at 5 am after going to bed at 1 am this morning.  I took a friend to the airport, then back to Hayward to deliver a flower to my special Ying, then do a reinspection, then race to Stockton for an early arrival, then Lodi for an early arrival and then River Bank for an early arrival.  God blessed with safety and I'm enjoying driving the diesel bug again, 42 mpg and so comfortable with heated leather seats, great sound system and perfect heater, nice and a blessing.

Had great conversations this afternoon with Ying using WeChat, a system that allows for the translation of communications.  So I speak into the phone what I want to say, it turns my words into text, then when Ying receives the text a few seconds later she pushes two places and the words are translated into Chinese, same for me when she writes to me, amazing and free app.

But I suppose it delays the learning process of a new language, we also have a translator on our phones so when we ride along in the car I have my phone on my knee and when I speak to her in English she hears it in Chinese.  It is good for English but not so good for Chinese, often when she speaks it does not recognize what she has said and I never learn what she meant to say but still it is a great help.  Her English is better every day and my Chinese remains stuck to about 4 words.

I'm heading to bed now, it was a great day of work and safety as I drove and texted verbally, listened to a great book and talked to many people for business.

Sending love to all and asking for your prayers that God will guide Ying and I in our relationship, sometimes rocky and sometimes very sweet, not easy to fall in love when you are my age or even her tender age of 46, she looks 35 which makes it even more difficult out in public, people think she is my daughter, she does not like that at all.

Take care my friends and family,

Tim

Rainy day in California

Blustery night, heavy rains and wind sent gates and fences leaning and swinging. 
My day started with a walk to the park where we were all hurrying to get back home in the warm.
Had a rare sunday appointment at 10 in Walnut Creek, rains were incredibly hard on the way but were less so during the appointment, still not a lot of fun, very wet and so glad Ying insisted on a new coat for me, it came in so handy with a hood and all during the work.
Then drive back to work in the office, do my laundry and get the office all arranged for the week, now I have tight appointments for the next two days that will involved hundreds of miles and many inspections, amazingly many are sales at this time of year.

So thankful for work, for my friend Ying and for my family.

Keanna and I went Christmas shopping this evening and then to dinner, fun stuff but so cold and windy.  Loving driving the Bug with its strong German heater and great 42 mpg for long trips, that coupled with low diesel prices means less money out for travel.

Now to bed and to be ready for a very long day tomorrow, God is good to us, not always easy to understand but always there with His incredible love that amazes and inspires us to love one another in the same manner.

I long for a day when I will no longer be alone, after 8 years of it I'm through with doing everything solo but I know God knows best.  I wasted a year and a half pursuing Ellen in Ghana, I will never know for sure but I'm pretty sure it was a scam to see how much money.  Morning after morning I woke to believe she was flying in that day only to have another issue that cost money arise.  I have a hard time with waking up now, tend to be very discouraged when I first wake.  It was never like that before Ellen and the scam so that is a bitter pill to deal with.

Love life though and even have Christmas lights strung across the garage now. 

Sending love to all,

Tim
Please pray for Ying and then for me that we will find the right path for the future. She is an amazing woman with a heart of gold and an honesty that is so open and refreshing.  Oh that I could be as good of person as she is!

Finally a good deed

Today is Steve's birthday and what fun they are having this evening with a few friends over.  Nikki is looking great with her loss of more than 60 pounds, amazing really.  So very proud of her and she is sticking with it faithfully.

Today I inspected a home in Antioch, then drove to Martinez to see another, then hit the road for Rocklin, a long trip for sure.  I arrived on schedule at 1 pm, picked up a young man from Hong Kong named Moses and we left for the SF airport, We arrived there at 4:15 and since Moses did not fly out until 6:15 we had plenty of time.  We found his gate and he is on the first leg of a long trip, this trip to Japan will take 16 hours and then a 4 hour flight to Hong Kong afterwards.  He is a nice Christian boy with a beautiful girlfriend who helped see him off today. He is so funny, he says they argue every day no matter what and wonders if that is normal.  His English is so much better than when he came a few months ago, I picked him up from the airport then and drove him to Rocklin to Sierra College at that time.  His mom is fighting cancer and he is so happy to be going home to see his beloved family.  Once I left the airport I found a daunting GPS warning that it would take 3 hours to get home, then Nikki called to remind me of Steve's birthday party this evening, the trip was faster than the warning and before long I was enjoying pizza and German Chocolate Cake, wow was it good.

The home was filled with kids, friends and good cheer.  How I hate to come home alone and even though I got to talk to Ying via WeChat, a very good system where you can send photos and messages, even make phone calls.  That was nice but not the same as being together.

Will you pray for us, that we figure out the next step of our future if we are supposed to have a future?

Love to all

Tim

Another day

Sort of down tonight, trouble domestically with my friend and I know I have failed to love her like God wants to have her loved.  Ever feel like that, you just know your love is filled with selfishness and is not a pure love like that of Jesus.

Today I started in Antioch, perfect home with delightful older couple, then to San Francisco to see a home for an estate and a value of last year in September, then to Hayward to see an overpriced condo and then finally home.

I picked up the green diesel bug from the shop.  Sad experience, I had taken it for tires and the owner offered a nice new 4 wheel alignment on his fancy equipment.  Before they got through with it they had caused over $800 in damages and so for the last two months the car is sitting in the garage.  So today I decided I need to drive it.  Now it is great and I can enjoy doing my work with this very nice car again.

Ray, my neighbor was kind enough to drive me there last night to drop the car off and to pick up the Civic and drive it home tonight for me. 

Now I'm tired so am heading to bed now.  Many miles with God's travel mercies, I never stop thanking Him for keeping me safe and sound as I drive.

Just now I was able to have a short phone call with my special lady and it was so nice and tender.  Now I can sleep better, the day ends well.

Love to all

Tim

challenges of life

This evening I'm writing because my friend Judy checked up on me to see if I was pushing daisies or not.

I'm still here and heading to bed right now.  Tomorrow its Antioch, San Francisco and then Hayward before coming home to work.  That will be some traveling.  I finally have bitten the bullet and am having the diesel VW worked on, I took it to a place for tires and they did a wheel alignment but in the process destroyed several things under the engine that will now cost over $800 to get fixed, really very sad to deal with.  I've waited two months and driven the other car but its transmission is starting to fail.

My personal life is very challenging right now and I could not begin to tell you what comes next.  I've learned so much about myself and how selfish I've become since Nan died, just living and making decisions all by myself, not listening to others.  Now its affecting my ability to build a relationship with a woman I care deeply for, Ying She.

I can use your prayers for guidance and God's blessings.

Good night

Tim

How can I say this

In blogs over the past 8 years I have often asked for prayer.  Tonight I am once again asking for your prayers.
I am in a relationship that means a great deal to me, its not an easy one and has challenges.  God knows all and I am simply asking if you would just ask God to guide Ying and me as we work through important decisions in the next few weeks.  She is an amazing woman, comes from a large family in China and is the most caring and considerate woman I've met in a long time.  But not all is easy either, our languages are different and our cultures are so different.  Things we speak of openly here are shrouded in silence in China and sometimes its just the opposite as well.

she is just an amazing woman and I hope God sees fit to bring us together.  Only time and His leading will guide us through the near future.

Please pray that Ying will have strength to deal with the challenges she is facing.

Thanks so much.

Tim

He passed

A few hours ago Jason called to say that he had passed the BAR.  Since the end of July he has worried about the outcome and now he knows.  All of his hard work has paid off and he is now legal to practice in California.  His boss intends to make a place for him to work in San Jose instead of commute to Emeryville every day.  In the next few weeks he and Jo have to move to a new rental, their place has been sold and they have to move.  So there will be lots of turmoil in their lives, at least Jason not passing bar will not be one of the factors.

We are very thankful to a loving God who watches over us all.

I'm thankful too, last night I was able to see Ying for awhile and that was so enjoyable.  Every time I get to see her I enjoy her more and as we sat before the fire last night and she tried on her new boots it was just fun to munch on an apple and relax together.

Sending love to all tonight,

Tim

Life -- challenges

Good evening family and friends,
I just ask for your prayers tonight, that God will guide me as I finally grow past some areas of selfishness in my life that need to be overcome.  I've not prayed this much since the time of Nan's illness.
I have a friend that is very special to me and in about a month I'll know more that the future but I've discovered I dislike being alone very much, my friends and family are certainly kind to take my calls right now which are quite selfish

Please pray that God will guide in Ying and my life and help us determine if we are right to move into the future together.  She is a great cook and on her cooling I lost 11 pounds and never felt better, fruits, nuts, vegetables, salads, rice and all kinds of greens, great soups and just terrific new things.  All very exciting.

Will you pray that God will guide every step for us?

thanks

Tim

Rear fun

Is seeing Keanna run the Turkey Trot 5k today and do very well with 7 minute miles!

Braving the fog to see the family cheering her on!

Relaxing for a Sabbath breaking the 16 hour work day routine of the week.

Seeing those we love made stunning achievements and positive changes in their lives.

Life is precious, especially in light of Paris and its unbelievable evil.

Love to all tonight,

Tim

With family

The day started with my taking Keanna to join her cross country running class from school at Roundhill park.  Once past the parking lot the trail goes straight up the side of a small mountain, the kids, about 35 of them all ran with their teachers for an hour. Keanna does well with this and so I walked the hour while they ran it, beautiful fall day and perfect weather, fun to see all the kids stretching their efforts and accomplishing good things.  Plus the hills did not kill me and I feel great.  Then Keanna wanted lunch and that was very good, a big baked potato with vegies over the top and a nice salad, then it was enjoy the afternoon and then this evening I joined Kallie and Nikki where we enjoyed the fall festival at the gym of the Adventist Church in Tracy, they do a great job every year and this year was perfect for Kallie.  Got to see my friends, enjoy a nice time, shot some photos and it was a good way to spend the evening.

Friends from China have been telling me how much family means to Chinese people and I sure see what they mean, there is really no one like family, common feelings, history and kindness link us together as one.

I do ask for your prayers that God will guide in my life.  I know the only way to happiness is by finding God's will, He loves perfectly and He knows the best future possible for each of us.

Love to all,

Tim

Challenging days

Good evening family and friends.

Work continues to dominate my life along with my personal adventures.  My life with Ying is never a sure thing.  She is my dear friend that I've been enjoying a relationship with for about 2 months now.  She is a very bright and intense woman with a loving heart and so much compassion, she is also very much a strong women and sees things a certain way, we have traveled, worked side by side and learned a lot about each other but we are not yet communicating as well as we should.  I just found a translator that will let me type in English and it translates to Chinese, then I can print it off and either mail it to her or hand it to her to digest.  How I wish I could locate a Chinese woman who could help me understand how my Chinese friend thinks, how she sees things and how I can do a much better job of communicating with her.  I often just blow it totally and then I'm afraid to try again for fear I will make it worse.

I enjoy being with her so much but rarely do I get to spend much time.  Please just keep Ying She in your prayers, that God will bless and guide in our friendship and future.

I'm working very long hours and driving hundreds of miles each day, Steve is doing a great job of helping with write-ups and perhaps one of these days clients will pay us again, its been a long dry spell and we need money, having a young woman in your life also requires a bit of money here and there.

Well I'm off to bed now.

Love to all and please pray that God will guide Ying and Me in our conversations and actions.

Tim

Incredible week

Good evening,
Not sure really why but the last two weeks have been so busy with appraisal orders, I'm not past the total for last year and its just November now.  God is being very good to me and I thank him daily.

Between my personal life which is struggling and hopefully moving to a better place and the incredible amount of work, its overwhelming.

My health is great and my most recent experience with my friend helped me lose 11 pounds.  her cooking was just incredible, excellent and so healthy and when we traveled she has food along, apples, peaches, even potatoes she has prepared and yams, a few nuts and Romain lettuce too, just the most amazing experience to be with someone so tuned into anticipating your every need, neck rubs while I drove long miles and even sang beautiful Chinese songs in her soft voice, Needless to say I'm hooked.

Tomorrow I'm off to see Jason and family at his church where Timothy is being dedicated to something, not sure what but I'll be there to find out, then potluck afterwards.

A few days ago I had the chance to see Jewel and she was looking so good for 95 years old, pretty amazing and what a great life she lived.

Hope your weekend is good, that God blesses you in a special way and I ask for your prayers right now.  Important decisions are close and I just ask God to lead all day and every night as I kneel by my bed.

Love to all and care for the one near by while you have that one nearby.  Life is uncertain for all of us.

Tim

So the week ends

Friends touch our lives in special ways, this week two friends touched me, first Wes was able to take my mess and turn it into a tax return and on time.  God blessed in that I was able to actually pay my taxes on time this time and I'm so thankful for that.  Wes is always so gentle and just not shake his head and groan when I show up with my pitiful attempts to be ready for his work.  Thank you Wes.

Secondly I heard from Sylvia and I was so delighted to learn she had finally let the green Odyssey move to someone elses driveway and in hers is a newer version.  I was glad to hear that now she drives in a safer, newer and more comfortable van and with the girls she takes care of every day the power doors make the tasks just a little easier.

So Sylvia good job and always glad to hear from her.

As usual my personal life is far from settled.  I have a wonderful friend I have been spending a lot of time with, language is challenging since she speaks beautiful Chinese but only partial English yet at this point, fortunately in this world there are great translator apps for our smart phones.  No they do not do a perfect job and it seems just when my friend is really anxious to speak her mind the phone fails to capture her words, seems to do better with English than Chinese but we communicate just fine.  I'll next see her on Sunday and I can hardly wait.  Yes she is younger than me, isn't everyone younger than me??  And to make things more complicated she looks at least 15 years younger than her actual age.  Last Sabbath we were at Tahoe for the day and ended the day on a dinner cruise on the MS Dixie, it was magic, great music from a live bank, beautiful scenery which she captured with dozens of great Ipad photos and then a dinner that was unusually good, all in all a perfect day and a safe trip back afterwards.  She woke once to catch me nodding and let me tell you I heard about that and she did not sleep again until the trip ended.

After so many years of being alone for everything no being alone for many things seems like a huge blessing and feels so good.  Only God knows the future but I'm enjoying the present.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Staying busy

Sorry I've been away for awhile but there have been some changes in my life lately that are very meaningful to me and have taken my available time.

I am so thankful that right now I'm ready to finally go to bed, its been a very long day today and Tax day is now past, great news once again.

God is good to us even when we are not so good to ourselves it seems.

The orders continue to roll in and I'm so thankful for it, yes I do like to be busy and to crank out work.

Hope your live is doing well and that you are enjoying fellowship, friendship and the mystery of life.

Take care my friend and keep doing your best,

Love

Tim

Experience of a lifetime

I'm on my way to bed right now, I'm going through an experience in my life that I can't talk about but I sure could use your prayers because God knows all and He cares so deeply.

As of a few minutes ago my heart rate was back to normal, in fact a little below normal at 49 while I was sitting here working.

Tomorrow is a huge day and my friend and I will see 5 properties and spend a lot of time on the road.  I hope this is a good idea.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Still here

Good morning,
Whoops, there goes the heart again, over the weekend I think due to some missing meds that have been very good for me my heart rate increased up to 145 from a normal about 80, I've got an email in to my cardiologist to see the next step.  I got back on the med last night and that was very good.

I have a dear friend who I've been spending a lot of time with for the last two weeks and can only hope and pray that God will be with us guiding us.  Her English is in the learning phase and my Chinese is in the very start of learning. Yet she is kind, gentle, hard working and a delight to be with.

I always appreciate your prayers so much and please keep them up. 

Tim

yes

I'm here and working as usual.  The last 24 hours have included some extra nice moments and I'm thankful for them.  I'm also thankful for safe trips in the car, for Jason having a birthday today and for life in general.

There is so much I'm not willing to say here just now but life is very good and super interesting right now with challenges and rewards too.

Orders keep coming in and I'm so glad for that.

Tonight is cooling off well so sleep should be very good, was awake some last night, got hold of some Root Beer that evidently had caffeine in it, I was wide awake for hours last night, that part is not too fun.

Love to all

Tim

Good evening

So life stays busy, and wonderful grandchildren certainly keep things interesting and amazing.
Tomorrow evening I head to San Jose, meet my family there and we have dinner and then see the Lion King, a live play in downtown San Jose.  It will be magic and we are sitting in the orchestra seating.  This was Jason and Jo's idea and I think it is incredible.  A nice break from the routine of seeing properties, meeting wonderful people and then doing the paperwork that is required. 

Tonight Jessy came to assist with getting the office manager system up top date so I can get ready for the tax man.  yes it is important to know what I actually took in last year in income and without her help I would not know.  She is an amazing woman and is very bright, just sits down and makes things happen. 

Steve has been helping write up appraisals lately and he is so excellent, young people today are amazing in what they can do and how fast they do it.  This Saturday afternoon will be Keanna's final performance of School House Rock, a really good play that she has done 9 performances in.  Hundreds of people from the community have enjoyed these plays and Keanna is learning valuable lessons about performing day after day.  Kallie justs get in the car and the seat belt on and she is singing her little songs, what a joy to just feel their energy and their intelligence.  Amazing really.

So I'm happy, tired and ready for rest tonight but so very thankful to God for His ongoing help and leading.  Ellen is getting ready to make another attempt at getting a visitor visa, not easy to come by in Ghana where many people want to visit the US but many of those visiting want to slip unnoticed into the underworld and disappear.  So they are very careful in giving out these visas.  We just pray that God will guide.

Love to all

Tim

A busy Sunday

how good life is yet it races by so fast, Mia is 4 now and a wonderful little person.

here is something she made for me for grandparents day.  I want to share it with you.

 

Is that great or what?  The entire time with her was like magic.  She is such a well organized little person, we made her bed with sheets, blankets, pillow case and then she laid down for her rest.  so cute.

 

Hope your weekend had moments of joy.  My brother Jerry and Donna have a new niece born today, Donna has been there at the hospital all day, Nothing like a new little baby to change everything for all those around here.

 

Busy week coming up for this old man, to thankful to have work.

 

All my love

 

Tim

Dear Friends and Family

Today:
up at 6:30
At first appointment in Clayton 8:17

At Mia's Grandparents day at 10:30  high point of the day!! What a sweetheart!

Second appraisal appointment at 12:20 in Santa Cruz

Drive to Sacramento airport to pick up a life long friend at 6 pm

Third appraisal appointment at 6:30 in Sacramento

Dinner at Mini's Café

Drop friend off on way home at hotel

Home at 10:30

God is good, no close calls, traffic from hell, talked to friends, listened to great books and drove about 370 miles today.

Bed - now

Good day

Busy day, usually I work in on Sundays but today I drove to Gilroy to see a new home under construction, the back to Hayward to see one that has sold and then finally to Dublin to see yet another one.  finally I'm home and ready to rest.

since I fell I've been battling getting my arm to heal up and stop bleeding, I'm busy and active and the arm is gradually healing up, I'm keeping it open now without a bandage so it can breath.  I only had a couple times today when I brushed it against something and I found it weeping again.

The chest and rib cage is a different matter, I wonder how long it will take for every sneeze or cough to cause less pain.  Today I had to lug my ladder around and that was not fun to lift and feel my chest at the same time, Bummer.  Oh well God is good and gives me enough strength to do the work I need to accomplish.

Now its bed time.

My friend Ellen and I have arrived at a crossroads in our relationship and I'm making plans to fly there to meet her and just determine if we are on the same track or not.  I wish I had God's insights into everything but I know He opens doors and closes them and we both seek His will repeatedly every day.  This morning she was in church and prayed for guidance, we talked a couple times today and are trying to work our future out, right now its unclear but in a few days it will become much more clear I believe.

Please pray that God will guide us.

In love

tim

Nice surprise.

Busy day, 1st one in San Lorenzo at 9 but traffic was light, then back to San Ramon at 11, cute 5 month old baby girl, smiles and laughs, then to lunch at Taco bell and then back to the office to do emails and fix things, then to Tracy for a ranchette, great people, daughter was delivered by Dr. Ahn, small world.  Then Olive Garden for soup and salad and now home.

So much to be thankful for.

Tomorrow is worship in Tracy, can't wait.

My body is gradually getting better, left all bandages off the arm today and the skin is doing well at recovery, rib cage still hurts when I move or laugh or cough but better. Tomorrow morning I walk the 3 miles again, its time.

Sending love to all, what a great family I have, every one a character, no followers, all leaders and they are great kids, so very proud of the parents and the kiddos.

love to all

Tim

challenging day

Good evening family and friends,
I've had an interesting several days as I deal with the pain of bruised ribs and an abrasion on my arm that is healing slowly but continues to leak a little as it heals.  Such a large area of skin was peeled off that it is taking some time to rebuild and with my thin blood due to blood thinners that does not help either.  I've been able to continue to work as usual.

Today my friend in another country went to the embassy to have an interview for the visa we need so she can come visit here.  From all the stories you hear and read about there being millions of illegals in this country you would never know it for the ordeal they put her through,  they were pretty much persuaded that she never intends to return to Ghana so they insisted that she have a large amount of money in a Ghana bank in a savings account, that she have several medical tests and they even looked at communication between she and me in her phone as they wanted to make sure she had someone to look after her while she was visiting here.  They questioned everything repeatedly and finally she was told that she could have a visa once she has taken care of everything.  So we are sort of praying and just thinking tonight.  She is not a rich woman so finding a lot more money for her savings account will be a challenge, her mom is recovering in her little business from the flood so has no extra money, so now we just wait on God to see how He leads us.  your prayers that His will be done would be appreciated.  I'm glad that immigration is careful in who they give visitor visas but when it is someone you care about then it hits close to home.

I've been able to work today generating completed appraisal and I've enjoyed the cool weather, what a huge blessing it is.

Sending love to all, God is good and He is good all the time, oh that we could learn to love like He does.

Tim

update

It was an interesting week, on top of my normal almost frantic efforts to keep up with appraisal work often working until 1 or 2 in the morning this week had me getting the motorhome ready for its rental which started today and will last until Sept. 9.  The motorhome is going to Burning Man with a group of people I trust completely.  They are paying me a fair rental amount and I wanted the motorhome to be working well for them.

So this week I purchased new coach batteries, 2 six volts that provide power for the lights and all the things that need power in the living area.  I purchased a new ceiling fan as the last one was broken repeatedly by other renters in the past. The new one has one knob which opens and closes the vent but the process of taking the old one out was not simple, on Friday morning I was on top of the motorhome working for nearly 3 hours removing the old one, glued there for the past 13 years and then installing the new one.  When I came down the ladder I failed to get firmly stable and started to fall back, about 6 feet away I finally went down tearing the skin from about 2 inches of my left arm and hitting the concrete hard enough to hurt something in my chest. 

I've finally been able to see a doctor and nurse this afternoon and I'm in much better shape now with a professionally wrapped bandage and advice to take it easy.  This morning I got up early and knocked the last of the dust and dirt off the coach, washed the windows and then prepared the contract.  They came about 11 to pick it up and brought me 100 ginger snap cookies, so good and I really do not need these cookies and gave me a check.  About 1:30 they drove away having relearned all the systems and confident in their control of the coach.  Now I pray that God blesses them with safety and an enjoyable week.

At 3 I went to Kaiser and met the doctor and nurse and got fixed up, the nurse was really great and we talked about family, they just added 900 sf to their home in Apply Hill so their grandmother could live with them but be on her own, they have 2 girls and the girls enjoy having her so near. It was a good reminder that there are so many wonderful people in this world who are doing their best to maintain their families.

I had dinner at Round Table tonight, the salad was great, the pizza was a bit greasy but all is good.
Now I'll write one appraisal and then head to bed, dead tired, every part of my body that moves is sore from the hard work on the top of the coach and then from the fall.

So thankful to God that I did not break anything.  I feel blessed.

Love to all,

My friend has an appointment this week in Ghana with the embassy re: her visa.  I just pray that God works with immigration and that I can finally meet her.

Tim

praying our way through the day

Not sure how God's switch board handles all our requests and thanks but I do know that when I'm at a door, I need the key to work and it won't open prayer opens the door!  Over and over again I've found that to be true and I'm thankful for that.

Today found me stuck in a long line of traffic as workmen fixed Vasco Road, that little hold up put me behind for the rest of the day.  I say a big one in Blackhawk, love that place, then a tiny one, a condo in Concord and a very sweet lady moving back to Romania to be with her mom, place was really cute.  Then on to a ordinary home in Pittsburg in a not so great part of town and then to Starbucks for a grilled cheese and decaf over ice.  Then to measure one here on the lake for a friend and then to a very nicely updated home for an Arab family over in the new end.  Home was beautiful and the last appraiser did them no favors, too bad, nice people.

Then to Kaiser for insulin needles and finally home to work which I will start now.

Love to all, very busy, Lodi Honda at 8 in the morning to get a recall so the air bag won't blow up and kill me.

Tim

Late night here in the office

My dear friends and family,

Today was long and intense, great people, nice properties and so many miles driven.

I'm very thankful to God for the work and for a safe day.  I'm so tired tonight and it 1 am but I just got a report shipped out that was needed today.

Feeling pretty good, lots of work to do, God is good and all the time.

Sending love to all, best group of people in the world, that's how I feel.

Love

Tim

Licensed for another two years

Today just in the nick of time the new license arrived, I thank a very Loving and Caring God.
Today has been a day of mercy, I turned 67 today but actually celebrated life yesterday  with my kids and their kids.

Today I was asked by a friend in Hong Kong if I would be willing to meet young Moses at the SFO airport and drive him to Rocklin where he will be attending college.

so I did just that, I left home about 1:30 and arrived in time at the airport but his plane was delayed, through broken English he had warmed me that it was delayed so I cooled my heels for a bit and then met him, we found his luggage and we drove to Fairfield where we had Panda Express dinner, not that good really and then arrive in Rocklin about 9 pm, Traffic was brutal, he was so tired having just flown here from Hong Kong that he slept most of the way.  He is a very nice young man and I know his mom appreciates my help, she is a good friend with my friend and both seem very thankful.  So I could to do something good, feels great tonight.

Love to all

Tim

A different kind of Sabbath

Good evening
So this morning found me walking to the park and greeting nice people out with their dogs.  Then instead of church I sat in the sun proudly watching Kallie, our 7 year old, as she played her heart out on the soccer field, could not tell you who won, no one cared but the girls were kicking, running and doing their best for the full time.  Kallie came off hot and I think pretty happy.

For me then it was off to meet Bob for lunch, his son was down and the three of us ate a huge bowl of salad and had soups with too many sticks of bread at Olive Garden in Stockton.

This evening after a brief nap in my chair in the office I had dinner at Subway, a great 6 inch wheat bread sandwich with the vegie patty, tomatoes and lettuce, a Broccoli and cheese soup and a bag of low fat chips along with a iced tea combined with lemonade.  The food was great and I enjoy the friendship of the owner, a great family man from India.

Then it was a short shopping trip to Safeway and the few things came to $67.  Wow.

Now unwinding here at home, spoke to a friend in Ghana, Ellen a couple times today and enjoyed that a lot, also took at call from Helen in Malaysia and that was an amazingly clear phone call for free using What'sApp, an app for a smart phone.  Plus I've been texting my friend in Hong Kong, I'm going to pick up a young man at the SF airport on Monday afternoon and deliver him to Sacramento where he will attend college.  Glad to be a friend and help, its my birthday, the 10th.  I'm praying that my license renewal will arrive on Monday, the 10th or I'm out of business until it does appear, not good!  my fault, I did not file the papers soon enough!  Now I pray and wait.

Love to all and please pray that I will have a clear mind how to make the right steps for my future.  I'm thankful every day for home, food, work, cars and most of all for family, what a family! Tomorrow we all attend the A's game as a family, all nine of us.

Tim

Another day no more dollars

I'm waiting for two things at the mail box, always money to cover the expenses that go with living and working in California and right now my license renewal from the state.  I was way late in  filing for the renewal but I'm just talking to God about a quick turnaround on the license.  It would be nice to stay in business past the 10th.

This afternoon a couple nice orders came in, I jumped on both and managed to get both scheduled, I saw one this evening at 6, it was one of those perfect homes, tile and carpet, perfect Stainless Steel kitchen with slabs of granite, more bedrooms than anyone could ever want and just a nice place.  Selling just under $700,000 and probably worth it in the Brentwood market.

Jason and Jo with little ones are traveling back home today from their trip to Seattle, they are having a good time and seeing lots of exciting things, up the Space Needle twice, the fish market, museums and Seattle from the water, a rare and good experience. Tonight I think they are in Ashland and please join me in praying that they make a safe trip back home.

Loving life even though it is bit dull and very lonely.  I'm so thankful as I walk my  3 miles and recount my blessings, wonderful friends in various parts of the world who I talk to every day, great family, a home and a job I enjoy except when I don't enjoy it.

A great church family of the worlds best people and friends that seem to always be there.

So sending love to all,

how nice to be able to talk to my brother almost every night, we keep in touch

Tim

Lunch

had lunch today with Jason, Jo, Timothy and Mia, it was a total blast.  These kids are really amazing and can hold a perfect conversation, eat nicely and are just great to be with, good job Jason and Jo.

Tomorrow the family will start to enjoy their time after Daddy Jason is finally finished with the three grueling days of the State Bar.  I pray that God will bless them on their enjoyable time together as they visit special places

My afternoon was spent in unbelievable traffic, it took about 3 hours to get home from downtown San Jose and then I had to quickly do research and head to Elk Grove for a rush, wow I've been in the car a lot today and so thankful for good AC and a nice ride.

Not sure if church is going to happen tomorrow or not, have not heard anything from my girls so don't know their plans.

At the end of this week I'm very thankful for very good special friends who keep my life enjoyable, for a very precious family who keep things interesting and for great clients and friends.  I've managed to lose my best client and I'm praying that God can help me with that one.  Summit Funding is a great organization and I hope to work for them again soon.  Right now a new company HVCC Appraisal ordering is keeping me pretty busy and I'm thankful for their orders.

Sending love to all, enjoy the Sabbath, God's special gift to busy people.  Please love that one you are with, today.

Tim

Jason finishes the Bar

It was a relieved but weary son who called this afternoon after completing the final day of the California State Bar Exam.  Jason is just very glad to be done with it and now waits for the November letter to arrive.

My day was spent praying for Jason, seeing 4 properties, experiencing some serious heat outside and enjoying lunch at Burger King, a vegeburger and this evening after a 7 pm appointment a senior citizen portion of whole wheat pasta at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

Now I'm sleepy and so ready to rest.

Love to all and heartfelt thanks for your prayers in behalf of Jason the last three days.

Tim

Jason makes it through day 2 of the Bar

Another day down for Jason, he reports that the material is very tough to deal with and he is just hanging onto hope that he is doing well enough.  He is certainly taking this very serious and giving it his best.  I know he appreciates all the prayers from you and his many friends, family and well wishers.

I know he is certainly on my mind.

I received a call this evening from the company that is creating Nan's memorial.  He reports that they have located the basic granite and it ends up being a couple inches larger than we intended at no increased price, that is great and I was so happy.  One piece of the granite is not going to arrive for 30 days but at least the whole process is now started and on its way to production.  I think Nan would like what it is being done.  I know it will make visiting her graveside much more pleasant than trying to locate her location without a marker.

Today has been busy, saw two properties today, one in Concord this morning and then the second in Tracy this afternoon in the 100 degree heat, a very nice home offered by the Klem company, they always do a good job it seems.

Now its bed time once again, so thankful for the basics, a home, food, work and a world of good friends, great family and excellent clients.  And  a God who cares with a love that no human has ever touched or even come close to.  I see His advice and counsel every day and I know you do too.

Please pray for Jason, tomorrow is his last day and he needs to do well tomorrow so the outcome in November is positive and he and his precious family can begin to live again.

Love to all and thanks for caring

Tim

The State Bar

Good evening,
I know one family that would appreciate your prayers this evening or tomorrow.  Jason faced his first day out of three days in Santa Clara Convention Center today as he began to take the State Bar examination which will allow him to operate as a lawyer in the state once he gets word in November if he passed the exam or not.

This morning as I thought back over our family history it became very clear I needed to spend time at Nan's graveside, how proud and anxious she would have been today over Jason and this challenge.  So I went there and just spent time attempting to relate to the great love Nan had for her children and grand children.  Nothing was more important to Nan than her family and she was always there when Nikki or Jason needed her.  How she loved to search for things that the grandchildren might want or need, how she loved in her final months just to see the family and spend time with the people she cared about most in the entire world. 

As I was there at her graveside I just decided today was the day.  I drove back home and did a bit of research, the wonderful young woman at the cemetery has been so helpful, I finally decided on a firm in Antioch, Martin Memorials and called and then drove there to meet with Mr. Martin.  Together we made decisions about the white granite, the photo we would prepare, the wording we would use and the style of the slab and upright piece of granite.  There will be a vase drilled into the granite with a stainless steel sleeve and words that I think really capture Nan.

A woman of class, of faith, of devotion, of energy, of substance.

Across the top it will say simply wife, mother and grandmother.  It will have the same photo as was on the front of the funeral brochure.  I hope Karen Cress still has the photo somewhere as we need the jpeg of that photo.

So all in all I feel good about the work I did today and the event of Jason's taking the Bar started the process.  The cost is significant and I can handle it right now due to the volume of work that God has blessed me with this spring.

Hopefully this memorial will be a fitting tribute to a woman who created this family with her devotion and love to her people always.

Sending love to all tonight,

Tim

Sunday completed

Hi Family and Friends,
Last night I finished up a course that I have to have done so I can apply for a license renewal. I went to bed a midnight, the next thing I knew it was 9 am this morning.  I've not slept that long for a very long time, wow it felt good.
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Then I walked my 3 miles and at breakfast / lunch about noon.  Worked this afternoon doing appraisals and office stuff and now I'm ready to crash again, earlier tonight.

In the morning I'll apply on line for my license renewal once I get the certificate from Allied Schools and then pray for a quick turn around on the license.

I'm so thankful for great friends, for life and for opportunities to enjoy living in America, this country is in a mess but its still better than most other places.

So tonight I'm sending love to all

Tim

Good evening

Dear Family and Friends,
Can I tell you about my great kids?  Nikki has taken on a new challenge at a local health club and is eating some very healthy food, exercising until she nearly drops and has dropped 10 pounds already in the first few days, wow, I'm so proud of her.

Jason is continuing to study 12 hours a day in preparation for taking the State Bar next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  He and Jo moved to San Jose a few years ago leaving behind their precious MBA home with its view of the Monterey Bay and the calm beauty of the MBA campus, he left behind a teaching position and enrolled in Golden Gate Law School which is located on Market Street in downtown San Francisco.  So for three years Jo has taught at the local Adventist church in Milpitas while Jason commutes to the city to attend law school.  A few weeks ago he graduated at Davies Hall in San Francisco.  Now in a few days he will face the hardest test in his life.  If anyone was ever ready and faithful about learning the laws and material it is Jason.

So both of my precious kids are facing very serious challenges right now in their lives and I could not be more proud of them both, amazing kids and their mom would be so very proud of them for what they are doing.

Today I've faced a very challenging set of appraisal problems.  The worst was an appraisal that ended up with Chase and has long funded.  Yet they are continuing to seek more data and explanations.  Today was the last day or the loan would be returned to the broker, a very serious challenge.  God was good and helped me overcome my total fear of trying once more to solve the questions they kept bringing up.  At the very last minute a sales lady called back from the tract office where the home was purchased 2 years ago and had exactly the data that helped a great deal with the appraisal.  I just pray that the appraisers at Chase see it the same way.  Ellen was praying for my morning and we stayed in touch with a text now and then, it was a real lift to my spirits.

I am thankful for a safe week, I've driven thousands of miles seeing properties in as diverse places as Dixon, Vacaville, Rio Vista, Tracy, Stockton, Lathrop.  After awhile these properties tend to run together in ones mind, only careful notes keep everything straight.

Sending my love to all,  I see your prayers for wisdom always,

Tim

Helping out

Dear Family and Friends
So this day has been interesting.  I'm trying to walk my 3 miles every morning and I've added a little to it now to make the walk end in the park, a nice touch.

This morning even though I was early was warm but it felt good to be back out there.  About 2 years ago I was in the battle of my life dumping weight fairly fast.  After I got down to about 175 I backed off and started to be more normal again, not good as over the last year I've let it slip back up some, certainly not to where it had been but still up instead of down.

What I want is to be 165 and right now I'm 194 so I have a ways to go.  Things I've done today, had a lot more water than coffee, at lunch at Diggers I had a wrap instead of two huge whole wheat buns around my garden burger and cottage cheese too.  My drink was Arnold Palmer, a combo of ice tea and lemonade which I find to be really nice.  So no buns and lettuce instead, just a little thing but last time it was a lot of little things that lost the weight, for months I walked 3 miles every day no matter what, rain or shine but then when the business go busy again I let the miles slip away and ended up only walking the 3 miles one day last week, for me that does not work well, I need more exercise as I sit so much for my work both in the car seat and in the office chair too.

This evening I had an ear of corn with spray on butter and a few pinto beans, some avocado and tomato on a slice of wheat bread.

Yes I would love to dump my gut before Ellen comes home and yet I do believe still that she will come home but she made it very clear today that whether I have a tummy or not does not matter to her and that takes some pressure off, makes me want to lose the tummy even more but for me and my health.

So today I've seen three properties, one is written and delivered and that was for a friend so it feels good.  Met the nicest young black couple today and was impressed with their 15 year old son, who is already 6'1" now and is very very tall.  Super nice kid.

so that is about it, long day, great friends, great food and so thankful to God for His love and guidance, protection and care.

Sending love to all

Tim
ps  had the girls tonight as their mom was out and their dad had a late night at work, they are so interesting to observe, they are so bright that you only have to mention something once and they get it, they read books so fast one can't keep up with them, just great to have 4 of the nicest kids ever as my grand children.

Working my way through a lonely Sunday

After getting to be with family yesterday at Kallie's award ceremony it seems very strange to be alone today, not really that much fun.

I've talked to friends and that always helps so much but just being alone in this big house gets old at times.

Church was great yesterday and Olive Garden soup and salad was nice too.

Today I've seen a property located about 3 blocks away, got paid and the money is already making its way to the account via square reader, a device that plugs into my phone and captures the credit card information, pretty amazing.

The house is an original, older than mine and shows its age but has a great setting on the lake.  I came home and wrote up the appraisal and its already on its way to the client.  Felt good to do that for a change.

Life is good, just different than what I expected I guess.

Love you all

tim

Good Sabbath

Good evening friends and family

So up at 8, walked three miles, had oatmeal banana and strawberries, went to church and listened to our pastor tackle a touch subject.  In my 10 years I would not have touched his subject but then I think times were a bit different.  I felt he did fine, not sure of the best answers to some of life's touch questions but I am very confident that God knows, loves and cares.  I've felt God's help in such powerful ways over the last few months and in spite of my failures I do confidently trust God's help and protection.

I enjoy attending the Tracy church very much.  I happen to think some of the worlds most precious people are there, people I have know most of my adult life and who I have great respect for, not because they are perfect but because they are God's children and care about our church family.

I have been blessed with some very special people in my life, Dolly, George and Yvonne, Dick and Becky, Bob, Kim, Angel, Bob and Sue, Sylvia and her precious mom, Wes and Nanette, Pat, Judy and many others including the new pastor.

My life has been a challenge since losing Nan almost 8 years ago.  She was a solid good woman who was a great human being, loved to shop, was wild about her little ones and cared about the Tracy church very much.  Why she had to go I have no idea and I don't even try any more to figure it out.

I do know that a person can love someone very much and still find a new loving relationship with someone new and I'm exploring that daily.  I ask for your prayers that God will lead in a powerful and loving way giving me the guidance I need always.

Tonight I send my love to all those who might find time to read these words,

Love

Tim

Big day

Going to bed late tonight but with so much accomplished! Grateful to our Heavenly Father for His protection while I drove to Antioch, then Suisun City, then Martinez and then back to Discovery Bay

had a chance to take Kallie to swim class this morning, she is doing great.

What a great day really, hard work, in the sun and not all of it was easy but still this evening with Jessy's help I have several reports out in the last few hours, feel so blessed.

Sending love to all

Tim

Great talks with Art who is traveling back from an extended trip in their new motorhome, my brother who is continuing to recover from his knee replacement and other dear ones to me that I love to talk to every day.

Great 4th

On Friday afternoon I decided I would do something totally different.  I loaded up the motorhome and drove 300 miles to my brother and sister in law's home in Weed, CA.  I had an incredible time visiting the family, enjoying the beauty of the area and what excellent food we had.  A game of Mexican Train lasted in the wee hours on Sat. night and it was so fun with the family all teasing each other as the game progressed.

at 4:30 on Sunday afternoon I loaded up and left to come home, having almost no traffic and driving 60 I averaged just over 10 mpg for the 600 mile trip, God gave me a super time and a safe time with no getting sleepy, just drank water and kept it going.  Stopped once each way and this morning I cleaned up the motorhome so its ready for the next time.

Very thankful to a caring God for His leading and protection.  How good God is to us all, He just cares and loves us so much.  How fortunate we are to be His children.

Sending love to all,

Family and friends make the world go round, just lost a class mate who showed so much courage and faith in her battle and it has been wonderful to see class mate give her support as she dealt with the final months and then days.  I'm proud of those people I went to high school with, a great bunch of people.

Good evening

Another day and several more dollars, grateful for work, home, food, family and a loving heavenly Father.

Today I started at a nice place in Brentwood in the 55 and over community, then on to San Pablo where I inspected a very clean duplex property and with great tenants and owner too.  meeting them was a delight and the property was very decent.

Then I headed to Fairfield where I inspected another nice property, had the biggest concrete parking area and patio I've ever seen.  This was 34' x 117', that is a lot of concrete let me tell you, looked like you could land a small plane there. Clean and very large the home stood out in its neighborhood of other large homes.

Then it was make my way home and I enjoyed the new book I'm listening to, its a spy thriller and that sort of keeps one awake.  I had crackers and a mocha with me to take the edges off my hunger.  I found an ARCO with $299 fuel, that was nice too.  Then a Starbucks with a drive thur and a grilled cheese waiting, so good and too big really for someone just riding around in a car but it was nice.  Home safely to find a decent check in the mail box too.

Then I went to work at home and have gotten the office sort of in order now.  But when I went to send out an appraisal I discovered the server at the software company I use in the south is down so no maps in my appraisal, I had to send it without a couple pages and by morning it will back up and working again and then I'll send the amended appraisal in.  not the ideal but there is no way to reach the server people and besides they know they have a problem, I'm guessing and they are scrambling to fix it.

Life is moving forward, one boring day after the next but its better than the alternative, pushing daisies!

Love to all, new orders came in today and that is a blessing for sure.

Tim

Friday night and all is well

So another big week has drawn to a close.

I'm home from an afternoon appraisal in San Pablo, a little town located next to Richmond.  What I found when I got there was a little house and a garage next to it with an extra unit built on the upper floor of the garage.  So do we have a duplex really? Or a small house with an inlaw unit?  What form do I use?  Not sure this evening, will have to consult with my client to get it straight.

I hope your week has been meaningful to you. Mine has been OK in spite of being very hot, weather wise, cranking through many difficult appraisals, dealing with the realities of more and more government intrusion into my profession.  We get to make fewer and fewer decisions, most are controlled by rule books now, written to be so restrictive its unbelievable.  Oh well, tonight I don't care, I'm thankful for safe miles driven, for work and pay, for health, for walks around the lake and for family interactions that are great and meaningful.

I'm also thankful that Ellen has managed to find used items to make her home livable again and on Sunday she and her mom are going to reclaim their home from the aftermath of the flood, it will take awhile before it feels like home again but they are bravely trying and I respect them for that.  Meanwhile we are trying every way possible to obtain the visa from immigration so she can visit me here and we can see if what we think we have by phone calls and messenger contacts is real when we are face to face.  I pray hourly for God's guidance and am prepared to follow His leading, God is the creator of love, relationships and our future.  I am persuaded that if we knew how to really love in the same manner that God loves our world would be much different and our own relationships would be much more clear and warm with less friction in them.  God's love is quite different from ours which so often is tinged with selfishness and self serving.  Its so true that God is NOT finished with us yet.

Love to all

Tim

Good evening

This week has been extra fun for me.  I've been taking Kallie to her local swim classes at the community center here in Discovery Bay, They have really great teachers and she enjoys learning all the different strokes and in general learning how to SWIM.  Keanna hangs around with me or reads poolside.  Then this morning we did Dollar Store because Jim, my IT guy was here installing a new server, the old one lasted 11 years, not bad really for a device that runs day and night every day of the year.  It took him much longer than he had hoped, Microsoft can be difficult to work with but tonight it is all done and working well, Jim is a little richer and I'm much less concerned about system failures.

My friend Ellen is working this week to find used furniture for their little home that was wiped out by the flood a couple weeks ago, the home is not clean and ready for them to come back so today Ellen was going from merchant to merchant to located items she could afford.  Tonight when I spoke to her she was tired but felt she has been led by God to a lot of important finds today and the things had all been delivered to their home.  She is hoping that they can move back in by Saturday and I hope so too, they are all wearing our their welcome living with other people as guests. 

Today was a full workday for me and now I'm off to bed. Tired and ready for a full nights sleep.

Love to all, prayers for the dear people in Ghana, hundreds are putting their lives back together after the 20 year flood did so much damage.

Good night

Tim

A long but good day

One never knows how the next day will be for sure.

This one has turned out to be long but good.

Walked,
Keanna and Kallie came to visit, shopped, had lunch out, watched Kallie swim, did an appraisal with a very nice family and good work in the house, had a great subway dinner tonight with whole wheat sandwich with vegie patty, soup and low calorie chips.  Perfect meal.

And a very nice discussion with the girl making the food about being vegetarian, she because she does not like any living creature to die so she can eat, I get it.

Now to bed but thankful for new orders, safety and a great day with two very bright and interesting young ladies, Barnes and Nobles will not be the same after we bought the place out! Or so it seems.

Love to all, life is good

Tim

Weeks end

Good evening family and friends,

Well the family is starting to come home, Steve drove to his mom's house today which is way down south, he picked up Kallie and now they are back safely.  Jason has been hitting the books about 12 hours a day while Jo and the kids are visiting Denver and points in between, tonight they are in Salt Lake City visiting friends and are heading back soon.  Keanna is home again and has just confirmed that she is ready for Sabbath School in the morning so that is great news for me.  I love to see the girls visit Sabbath School and I do dearly love Tracy, a very special church filled with special people.

My week has been hectic but my health is good.  I'm still behind tonight, trying to get things completed but never have enough time it seems.  I have two helpers who write things up partially from time to time and I logged order 300 this afternoon, all of last year only say about 370 orders so the pace is faster this year.  Plus each appraisal takes much longer now, thanks to the government stepping in with their ability to ruin a profession and not even be aware of it, so I work about twice as long doing an appraisal, make about 1/3 less than I did 10 years ago and that is the state of my profession. Any appraiser who could quit has already done so. which leaves people like me without the ability to retire but still not having the energy of being young and having a ton of expertise to apply to each assignment.  Lets just say that I go to bed every night knowing there is a lot more to do that I've not gotten to during the day.

Jessy came this afternoon after her regular job and wrote up two, then we went to Big Al's a local place for breakfast, the food was good and she went home full and happy.  I appreciated her help so much.

So I'm happy, am sending my love and appreciation to all family and friends,

Love to all

Tim

Working and feeling the heat

Today was Mexican owner day.  I started the day at a home there no English was spoken and that went OK, perfect little place in every way.

Then I went to Hayward to another place where some English was spoken, better than they realized and it was a very nice property, then back to home for office work until now when I crash in bed.

So I work and sleep with nice times on the phone with my friends and family and I'm so thankful to not be alone in this old world.

Now I rest and send love to all,

Tim

Back at it

Good evening family and friends,

Tonight my family is spread all over, Jo and the kids are in Utah someplace for a couple days, Jason is in San Jose working hard preparing for the bar at the end of July,  Steve and Nikki are here and at their jobs but Kallie is with Steve's mom for a week on a horse ranch which she loves so much, Keanna is with family in Grass Valley or Lodi I think.  I love it that everyone is getting to do their thing.

My friend Ellen is tired but satisfied with having directed a group of family, friends and paid workers who have cleaned the mud out of their home, a few things could be saves but most everything was lost, photos, DVDs, clothes, furniture, all those things that make up a home, gone, wiped out.  As of this evening their home is clean and so is the cosmetics shop where her mom runs a business.  I just called her this morning and we spoke for only a couple minutes but it was so good to hear her musical voice with the west Africa accent.

I spent the morning in a car repair place waiting to get some problems with the green bug repaired.  the last shop I went to for a 4 wheel alignment ruined several parts and caused a mess.  So now it will be many dollars in repairs to get it right again.

Finally I was on the road again and ventured to Trilogy, a 55 and over community in Brentwood.  The home I inspected by totally beautiful, the people were so kind and solid.

The day turned out just fine and I am so thankful for God's blessings on all of us.

Much love to each of you

Tim

Family

So nice to spend the day with Jason, Jo, Clayton, Timothy and Mia.
This is a great family, we had lunch at a wonderful place, then spent some time in the cool buildings before heading back to their non AC dwelling, amazingly they have learned how to use the fans really well and it was pretty comfortable.

The kids are great readers and are so pleasant to be with, just a great experience.

Tomorrow Jo and Clayton take the little ones on a road trip for a few days and Jason will hit the books, the classes and tests for 12 hours a day as he prepares for the state Bar which is the end of July, he is taking the whole process very seriously and I just pray that God will bless him and he can pass the first time, it is one of the hardest tests on can ever face and he is taking a special course with instruction every morning of the week, over 2000 multiple choice questions, SAs nearly every day and just cramming the information about all parts of the law into his memory.

Now I'm back home and have enjoyed having a nice phone conversation with my friend Ellen this morning, her afternoon and then as I was driving home from San Jose we talked using messenger nearly the entire trip, tomorrow morning she will be in church to give praise and thanks to God for His help, this week they have worked day after day to get her mom's cosmetics shop clear of the mud from the terrible flood that hit Accra.  The shop is now totally clean and ready for new stock on the empty shelves when they can afford it.  Getting it clean was a minor miracle and many hands helped do it.

They have now started on their own home which was also hit by a flash flood during the middle of the night, they are not completed with it yet but have made much progress.

They appreciate our prayers as they try to get back on their feet after the floods, the worst in 20 years per Yahoo and Google, the photos there are heart breaking the filth and trash on the streets is unbelievable and yet it continues to rain most days, many night they have no electrical power so life is not easy there.

Sending love to all

Tim

Good evening

Once again I had to fight my way through a warning message about the blog not working but now I know I can get around the message.

Busy day and diverse.  Drive green VW today only to hear a strange noise, went my my VW mechanic and he wants to see it on Monday, CV boots are broken for some reason, makes no sense at all, not a good sign and not sure of the cost to fix.

Did some work and then got new orders, that was a very good sign for the business and I do thank God for the work.  I've already seen one this evening and it was a perfect home in every way, great people too.

Not sure about girls for SS tomorrow, will have to find out in the morning I guess.

Sending love to all and so thankful for God's rich blessings.

Tim

having trouble

I'm having a lot of trouble getting a blog message out right now, not even sure if this one will get out.  Things are good, life is normal, kids made it back from Disneyland safely and for that I'm thankful.

Jo is completed teaching her school year and is planning a road trip somewhere, Jason is working 12 hours a day preparing for the Bar exam at the end of July.  He needs our prayers so much.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Life is interesting

Big event in Discovery Bay, McDonalds catches on fire.  The deep fryer caught on fire and closed the whole place down for a few hours but they scrambled and its going strong again tonight, amazing, a hint of smoke is the only way you can tell it happened

I've been very busy doing appraisals, thankful for the work and the chance to meet nice people, work with good people and try to keep up. Last night was a late night getting the appraisal out so tonight I'm about to turn in for the night, tired and need to catch up a bit.

Tonight Jessy was working here and she suggested we do sushi, we did it the other day and I learned that there are vegetarian things one can order.  Tonight I had some deep fried vegies, so good and then some rolls with tofu and different vegies and so good.

Now I'm off to bed, this morning I made oatmeal but had to leave for an appraisal that was earlier than I remembered so I never got to eat it after all.  O well I had crackers in the car and a Starbucks Mocha, low fat version and that was breakfast. 

Life is good, I feel good and I'm very thankful for life every day when I wake.

Love to all

Tim

Kallie turned 7 on Sunday, wonderful party at Tracy Pump it up, good people and good facility, clean and well run, she had 15 guests and it was really fun.

So life moves forward

Every day is a new adventure or a series of very boring experiences linked by chains of misery.  Actually my life has some of both, lets face it working 6 days a week for at least 12 hours a day can get to a person after awhile.

Today I inspected 3 properties and Jessy has two of them already written up tonight, what a great helper she is.  The work we do now is much harder than it was a few years ago, the government has intruded and with it comes piles of extra trash they require.  All of the appraisers who can quit have done so and so people like me with no other profession to rely on stick in and try to do their best.

Tonight I'm just very tired, long day, quick meals, a cheese sandwich at Starbucks, a quick bowl of cereal in the morning, a package of crackers and some water here and there, not terribly satisfying to say the least but I'm surviving just fine so far.

So sending my love to all, just praying very hard for a visa that could change my whole life in the next few days.

Thanks for your prayers, God is good and He knows best.

Tim

Really nice worship hour today

This morning I woke early enough to do the 3 miles around the lake, then shower and head to church.  Imagine my surprise and delight to discover that Michael and Beatrice had their new little girl at church today, only born this week that's pretty quick work.

The worship hour was presented by the Tracy SDA school and it was a really great musical.  For one thing the sound was perfect, Bob's mike really helped a lot and the kids were terrific, so cute and they sang so well and performed really great.

Potluck was good and it was so fun to see our dear 90 year old mom get her cake and eat it too.  Sylvia's mom is a great lady and she was in perfect form today, What a great example of high quality womanhood.

So sending love to all this evening.

tim

had a nice phone call with my friend today in Ghana and learned many things about the culture and country, they do not have it easy there, right now the power is off over half the time over parts of Accra and yesterday a high wind blew through and blew down a little tree in the front yard, taking a bit of the shade with it.

At last

I was so thankful to pull into the garage tonight, home safely through another day, another week.  Its a great feeling to know people actually pray that you will have a safe time on the road, that they care about you living a long life, very nice!

Its been a big week and I'm thankful for the work that God has given me, I'm thankful for a place to call my own and family and friends,

I'm glad that Jason graduated and is on his way to a few profession, he has certainly earned it and his family has been there every step of the way.

I've not heard yet if I get the girls or not tomorrow, I'm guessing not.  they have busy lives for just being 12 and 6.  Nikki and Steve give them every opportunity to learn how to do new things, they both swim well, they know tumbling, gynnastics, drama, dance, music and a host of other things too, soccer, baseball, basketball...

I do pray that you have a good weekend and holiday, love the one you are with and do it well, you never know.

Love to all

Tim

Jason's big day

Dear Friends and family,

This morning Jason graduated from Golden Gate Law School with his JD.  He is now a lawyer, to practice he needs to pass the state bar and he is preparing for that now and for the next month.  It was a very proud moment and brought some tears to my eyes, I know his mom would have been so proud of him and his huge accomplishment.  It was a magic day, Jo, Timothy and Mia were there to enjoy the event as well as friends.  Later we all went to lunch at a great place Jason and Jo had found, it was great food and considering we had 12 of us in SF the price was reasonable as well.

So I'm pretty tired tonight, fought traffic for hours and enjoyed talking to my friend on the way home, it helps pass the tedious hours in non moving traffic.

Now to bed, love to all and thank you God for allowing us to have such a son as this, a good guy, a family guy and now a new profession, one that he and his family have sacrificed greatly to achieve.  We all thank God for His wonderful blessings on us.

Love to all

Tim

Long day but safe

For those of you that think having your own business is total bliss, well you might want to think again,  Now I would not change a thing, I love having my own business but when you do it really is a real challenge, to try to keep your clients happy, to try to meet everyone's expectations and to be motivated always to work smartly.

Today was a success day, lots of work completed and shipped out so going to bed tonight I feel good.

Sending love to all,

Tim

Solid Sabbath

My dear family and friends,

Great day, 3 mile walk this morning, worship service with great sermon, good singing, nice seeing friends like George and Sylvia even if in passing.

Spend afternoon with Keanna, had lunch at BJ's in Brentwood, tonight as the sun set I managed to make the edged start and trimmed my poor front yard, many weeds died in the process!

Now to bed,  Love to all, great phone conversations with Ellen today, amazingly the people are so angry at the power outages that are hitting nearly every night or day that they took to the streets today, what was so shocking to me is Ellen's quiet and middle aged mother, owner of a cosmetics shop and solid citizen took to the streets today to protest.  Ellen told me that a textile company just let 1400 people go because of the power outages, her comments were so true, where will these people find money for food, for rent, for survival?  The power outages hurt everyone and move from neighborhood to neighborhood.  At least half of the nights she goes to sleep without power in her home.

please pray for the people of Ghana and the leaders that they get this solved soon.

Love to all

Tim

A big week

Not sure just how many miles traveled this week but am so thankful they were safe miles.  Ellen always prays that I will be safe when I'm driving, I think she feels this way because she does not drive and considers all those miles on the open freeways a risk to my life, she is probably right  and I'm glad for her prayers.

This morning I inspected a little home in Albany, a great lady and very interesting was the owner, a film editor for mostly documentaries she was very interesting to get to know. The surprise was a little inlaw house in the back, now to find other sales of homes in the area with inlaw units, that is the challenge.

Tonight I attended a concert by Keanna and it was so enjoyable, that kid has some real talent and loves to be up front before the lights and an audience.  So great to enjoy and spend time with the family.

This week Jason completed law school!  His mom would have been so very proud you can just know it.

I know I certainly am proud of the hard work the whole family, Jo, the kids and Jason have put into this next step for them.

Sending love to all,

Tim

And the rain did fall

I had just finished telling Ellen in Ghana that it  probably would not rain again until fall, she was mentioning that the skies looked like rain for her as she hurried home after working in her moms cosmetics shop for the day when I looked outside.  I was in Burger King having a vegeburger and salad and discovered that it was pouring outside.  I had already completed the appraisal of a nice little place in Union City and was heading home, Ellen urges me to make sure I have regular meals so I had stopped for a quick intake of food.

Later I told her about the rain and she thought it was very funny, by then the rain had stopped in Ghana but of course she was getting ready to head to bed, she is 7 hours ahead of me here in PST.

I met a very nice sales lady today who handled the purchase of the little home, it sold for over list price of course but there are comps so support, a good thing.  She speaks Mandarin and the people at the house had just arrived from china only 5 days ago so spoke no English at all.  She was a perfect translator and it all went very smoothly.

Coming home in the hard rain was almost impossible, I left at 11 this morning and did not get home until 5 tonight, lots of time spent on just one appraisal, bummer.

Tonight Kallie was in a swim meet here in Discovery Bay so I've been there for much of the evening, she is doing so well with her swimming and loves it and knowing what she is doing, its a big deal, over 100 kids are enrolled in the swimming program here in Discovery Bay and at our local community center pool, very nice, they sold a few hot food items to all of us watching and enjoying our kids and grandkids.

Now I'm home trying once again to catch up with the work load.  Tomorrow night Keanna has a major choir event with the choir she sings with so that will be very nice to enjoy.  What great fun the grandkids are!

Love to all

Tim

Long day

Its 12:47 and I'm just now finished with my work to the point where I can head to bed for a much needed rest.

This has been a day of challenges, some of the affects of the government intruding into our appraisal world came home to me today and its another big learning experience, not fun but can't be avoided at all.

I've been in Mountain House this morning and Bethel Island this evening, two widely different homes but each special in its own way.

Had a great time with Ellen this morning when I finished the appraisal in Mountain House, she had just finished her day running the cosmetics ship for her mom in Accra Ghana and was beat, lots of customers today.  Always great to catch up with her and share moments.  Outcome of this relationship is unknown at this point.  She is working on getting healthy after a bout of Malaria, will get checked out tomorrow by her doctor and then will start working on the visa, getting all the paperwork submitted through the internet,  Then its up to God and the officials to decide.

We would always appreciate your prayers that God's will be done in our lives.

Love to all tonight, morning really.

Tim

Sabbath

Good evening
This has been a good day!  Walked this morning and got the great chance to speak directly to Ellen as she rested after working all day cleaning house and doing the laundry by hand, going to the market for groceries by taxi and preparing meals.  She was tired and our minutes talking were really nice, felt like she was next to me, the sound was so clear, she is very witty, laughs and has a voice with an accent that is like music, I really like her voice but she thinks it is too high and no pleasant, she is wrong. 

Since the girls were busy today I ended up listening to our pastor give a very good mothers day message, he is a good guy and a pleasant speaker as well. Then it was lunch at the Spaghetti factory and an afternoon that ended up with Ellen reaching me by Messenger, its a form of texting back and forth but one can dictate into the phone and the words appear on the screen and then you can send them, we talked about 30 minutes and when she left to go to bed at her midnight, 7 hours ahead of me I was at the door to Amber's hair salon for her to pretend I needed a hair cut, don't really have much hair left now.  I'm working on getting my mustache and beard back again so Amber trimmed it properly and I can follow her trim on a day by day basis to keep it growing in nicely.  Then I had dinner in Brentwood with Nikki and Kallie, great fun and Nikki approved of my beard and mustache and now I'm home.

It feels so strange to go a whole day without doing appraisal work.  For the last few months the pressure to perform is always there and tomorrow is a vital day but I'll walk in the morning putting my fitness first and then cram all day getting work completed and out the door.

I want to just say that I feel God is so good to me personally.

Love to all,

Tim

God is so faithful to us

Ever stop to think about how many times God has blessed your life in special ways, like the car that is changing lanes as you start to move over and then you see the car and avoid a splat on the highway, about a nail in your tire which you discover before it is too late.  My thoughts about God have worked their way through lots of different transitions  as I was young, married, children, Nan's cancer, wrong answer by God to our hearts begging for a cure, coping with loss, again this weekend coping with the ideal mother gone way too early. No mothers day to celebrate for me personally.

Nice surprise today as I was measuring a home in Antioch, phone rang in my ear and it was Ellen from Ghana, had the nicest time talking for a few minutes, a real lift to the day, thankful, hopeful, cheerful and a nice break in a tough work day.  No matter what she never complains, the power goes off nearly every night in her home and is often off for entire days, government mismanagement and the people are growing more and more unhappy over it.  She often takes cold showers because the water is heated by the electricity when it is on but again no complaining.  Recently the PG&E people turned my gas off as they were installing a new gas line to all the homes on our block, they forgot to turn it back on and the next day I had a cold shower, suddenly I could understand what she goes through nearly every day.  But God is good and friendships are very special and precious.

Looks like I do a solo to church in the morning, Kallie wants to spend the day with her dad, Keanna is busy doing something.  Life is good my friends.

Love to all,

Tim

busy

My dear friends and family,

This is probably some of the busiest days of my entire life, so much so that I rarely stop to smell roses anymore or even trim them in my yard.  Up to nearly half as many orders so far this year and all of last year. Ellen just tells me to be grateful and to thank God and she is right, to easy to complain instead of just work smarter.

Life is pretty good, so thankful every day to back into the garage and know that I had another safe day and that I'm healthy and blessed beyond what any one deserves.

So tonight I'm sending love to all and asking if you would remember my friend Darla, a high school friend who is in the battle of her life now with cancer.  Today thoughtful people sent her a desert which she loved, a lot of very thoughtful class mates from Laurelwood Academy.  Great people who know how to love!

Thanks so much

Tim

A great day

Many high points today

Sabbath School with friends as Kallie enjoys great team leaders.

Jason and kiddos join us so they all enjoy  children's church with wonderful friends who lead out.

pastor preaches good sermon

Red Robin for lunch, good food

3 pm Cinderella play in Byron with Keanna a great actress throughout the whole show

Dinner at Subway

Jason and kids head home

Had enjoyable phone calls with Ellen in far off Ghana and she told me to chill with family, to have a great family day, she was so right.

God is so very good to us and family means everything!

Holding on

My dear family and friends,

What a rush life is right now, its a blur of new orders, racing from one property to the next to finish up inspections, fighting traffic and working with helpers that try their best to get product out the door.

This evening at 5 I saw a 5 acre property in Livermore country that is selling for over a million dollars, has a view from every side of the house but is sure not a fancy place at all, however the fireman buying the house is going to do great things to the property so I know its in good hands.

Ellen reached me after the inspection was over and for her it was past midnight, she is still battling cough and headache left over from the bout of Malaria and even the medicine she takes to cure the Malaria leaves her sleepy and tired.  She is so far away that there is little I can do to help other than encourage her and pray for her.  I do enjoy finding out what has happened in her life.  This evening the power had failed again, it often does where she lives so her phone battery was down, talking on messenger really runs the battery down, faster than doing anything else on the phone, so she could not reach me but then the power came on late in the evening, she let it charge for awhile and then chanced that she could reach me, it was a fun few minutes before I had to shoot comp photos and she needed to go to sleep.

I've been working since 5 am this morning when a client from S Carolina forget the time difference and called me waking me after I had gone to bed at 12:45.  So once again it was a very short night and for me there is no hope of going back to sleep once I'm awake, there is so much to deal with work wise.

Sure looking forward to driving the motorhome to the church campout this weekend. I've got my ticket for the site and will have Kallie along to enjoy her time there.  How will I find time to get loaded and ready?  I have no idea, God help me.

Sending love to all

Tim

God's blessings look a lot like work

This morning I turned in at 1:35 and then woke at 5 and rolled out at 7.  Long day and short night but so thankful to have health and to have the company.

Today I came down and finished the report I was working on last night, a tough one located over in Wilton with 24 acres, a barn, an inlaw unit and a view of the Cascades.

Then today I drove to Walnut Creek, Berkeley, Clayton and then got stood up, the man did not appreciate the fact that I was running so late, although I have plenty to do it still hurt to be turned away and much of the reason I was late had to do with what other people did and the terrible traffic that swarms everywhere it seems.

Got home and realized that I needed cat food so back out to Safeway.  Kids called this evening, anniversary for them and they were off to the movies, would I watch the girls, it was nice to relax for a bit with Nikki's fine mashed potatoes, so good.

Went back to Kaiser for the 4th time today to try to pick up meds but to no avail.  Now I'm out of heart medicine and I sure hope I don't get hit with a racing heart as a result.

Now to bed, sending love to all,

Tim

working and thankful

headed for bed now, started at 6 this morning and other than dinner tonight with Nikki and Kallie been working the whole day.

Ellen is out of the hospital, her Malaria controlled and she is feeling much better, I'm grateful to a loving God for His healing for her.

Had a busy day today and thankful for a bed to now fall into.  Life is good but its so busy with the low interest rates right now.

Tomorrow Jessy comes to help, that will be wonderful, she is a brilliant writer and helper.

Love to all tonight,

Tim

Startling developments

As I write this evening my best friend is in the hospital battling Malaria, she went in last evening but I only found out today,  She was visiting a village in the countryside and picked up a bite that developed into full blown Malaria, she is told that she will need to stay 3 days.  Please pray for my friend.

I've been working very hard today, I thank God for work to do and for the strength to keep at it.  I'm going to pray and fast tomorrow morning and will continue to do so each morning until Ellen is released back home.  I reached her by phone this afternoon and we had a good time encouraging each other.  she is brave but sort of scared too I think.  She has not had a bout of Malaria in many years so this came as a shock but her condition worsened last night so she was admitted.

Can I ask for your prayers for my friend that she will recover quickly and be back at the cosmetics shop she operates for her mom.

The weather is so pleasant this time of year, no heat or cooling is needed so its cheap too.
Tomorrow I go out and see several properties, I just keep going and cranking them out since the rates are really good for people now.

I hope things are good in your life and that you make sure to love the one you are with all your heart and soul. 

Love to all

Tim

Life with its challenges

This evening I'm very sad, I hurt a close friend deeply today and I'm hoping she can forgive me.

Rod did a super job with the worship hour today in Tracy SDA Church.  He is a very good man and so open and honest. 

Enjoy lunch with Bob so much today, great food and wonderful fellowship.

Enjoyed dinner with Steve and Nikki and girls at Strings in Tracy and then a visit to the Game Stop next door where we came out with a Xbox 360 I think they called it.

Tomorrow is a huge day for getting work completed.

Please pray for my friendship, its a bad thing to hurt someone's heart.

Love to all

Tim

Spring is here

What a beautiful day today, warm enough to run AC in the car and yet cool nights to help one sleep.

Oh how busy it has become here at the office, orders coming in droves and while I'm very thankful I still have to figure a way to get everything completed on time and not disappoint my dear clients, that is a really challenge.

I trust that your weekend is good for you and I so encourage you who have people you value in your life let them know, reach out and pat their back, if a spouse, a kiss or a nice surprise for breakfast or dinner, just take care of relationships while they are there, it helps to avoid regrets when they are no longer there.

God is good to us and He knows how to love in a way we can only dream of.

My love to you tonight

Tim

working

Well this has been a busy day with lots of work on my desk still.  Now its bed time but I do thank God for His help today with some challenging things.  My profession has changed so much recently, gets tougher all the time and yet they pay us less at the same time.

I feel spring in the air and my allergies are coming alive too, no fund.

I have the most wonderful family and tomorrow is Nikki's birthday.  I can sure remember when she arrived in this world.  I was so awed by this precious little person who suddenly went everywhere with us, Nan was a very good mom and did everything right for Nikki but still Nikki was all baby at first and needed everything.  We lived in Carmichael and I remember how full the house seemed to get with all the baby equipment, I remember the first trip we made with baby and the car seemed to be overloaded with needed items.  What joy and she has been joy to my heart ever since.  Now she gives joy to her little girls, passing it on.

happy birthday sweet Nikki

Love

Dad (Tim)

Great family day

So this morning I walked the three miles, took the poor old dog who is slowing down rapidly now but can still make the hike.  Then breakfast and then to Nikki's house where we drove to Sacramento. Kallie was involved in a Song Pom event at the convention center, a big deal with hundreds of groups competing, performing.  Some cheer leading groups, some dance groups with Pom Poms.  That is Kallie's group, they dance with pretty costumes and pompoms and they won a best of show banner.  Then we went back to Stockton for diner at the Spaghetti Factory and some donuts at Krispy Kreme, have not been there since before Nan died so its been a long time, wow are they ever good.

So it was a really nice day with family and catching up with what Kallie has been doing all winter.

Very fun and a blessed day.

Love to all

Tim

Long hours

Good evening,
Been at this since 6 this morning without a break, very tired and very happy to be about to hit the hay.

Saw properties in San Pablo, El Sobrante, Pleasant Hill, Moraga, Vacaville and ended in Oakley.  I have some new help and Barry met me at the property in Oakley.

Jessy came tonight which was wonderful and helped with writing up two reports.

While I'm very glad to have the blessings of work I have not been able to keep up so that causes a huge stress plus one company SolutionStar is unreal in their conditions, every time I submit a report a new reviewer rips it apart over again, I'll not be working for them in the future, just not fair at all what they do, interesting I can work for many companies and the reports are accepted but when it hits SolutionStar they find dozens of mistakes, its how they see their job, found out today that the people doing the ripping of my reports are not even appraisers, so I think I may be able to survive without this company in my future.

Hope your life is going well, love my family, love life and I'm so thankful for God's blessings, safe driving and wonderful people in the homes I visit.

Love to all

tim