Abby's Summer Visit 2009

Abigail's first attempt to operate the computer. You gotta enjoy her spirit! She's one of a kind. Abby, Amy and Dale came to visit recently during the Barber Motor Sports races in July 2009.

We were so excited to spend a few days loving on our grandchild. Abby is growing so fast, and she's so much fun, we can't wait for her little brother or sister to come along (due in February 2010).

Abby is very active, she crawls extremely fast and gets into soooo much! Of course, we realized immediately when she was but only a couple months old that she would be active, cause her legs never stopped.

We are so blessed to have her in our lives as well as a caring and loving mother and father - they really do take great care of her, we just wished we could see them a little more often. I do speak with her every week so she doesn't forget my voice, eventually she'll talk back with me given more experience and time.

Courtney and I are planning a trip to Houston, TX in September to celebrate Amy's 27th birthday and to visit with Abby and her extending family. I'll take a lot of photos, and we'll have loads of fun.

Summer's Almost Over!

Wow! Where has our summer gone? It was just May and we were up to our armpits in a wedding for our daughter (Courtney), now we are starting August. School starts tomorrow and my son Caleb is not looking forward to it - only because he enjoys his vacation time soooooo much!

Caleb will be entering into the 4th Grade this year and attending the Middle School for the first time. I think he's a little nervous but he'll be ok. We actually went to the school today and registered Caleb, so he was able to meet his teacher.

Caleb thinks his teacher will be very sweet!

Consumer's Beware of New South Federal Savings Bank!

Consumer's beware.....I have found that dealing with New South Federal Savings Bank has been a tremendous disappointment. Many around the nation have experienced a difficult financial time especially those with higher interests rate on their homes or perhaps many have recently lost their jobs and have had little to no luck finding alternative work and if they have the pay is usually much lower than families are accustomed to.

My story is not much different. I was laid-off as well and re-gained work making a lot less than I am accustomed to meaning that we as a family needed to make some financial adjustments in our lives. Since the Obama administration was freely giving tax dollars to the large banks, and other financial institutions I felt that I as a taxpayer I had the right to request that my very own mortgage lender for a "loan modification" based off our financial needs.

Well not only did my mortgage lender fail miserably but they have don't even have the facts surrounding my mortgage correct. My story begins with my request for a loan modification at the end of February 2009. After discussing the request for loan modification with a New South Federal Loan adviser I received an email with all the necessary documents to complete, pretty much the same paperwork as if I were seeking a new mortgage with the exception of documentation proving my financial need.

Well I faxed the documents during the last full week of February 2009 fully completed to the number supplied by New South Federal using Office Depot at a fee of over $14 because there were so many pages. I was told that it would take approximately 30 days to process and that I would be contacted. I did not contact New South Federal until the 3rd week of March 2009 to get a status on the processing since funds were becoming tight by the day....

I was transferred on numerous occasions before I finally got the correct department and they advised me that they did not have the paperwork. I informed this mortgage lender that I had indeed faxed them all the documents at their request at a fee of $14 (I was pretty much irritated at this point). The mortgage agent told me they would look into it and in fact she did. She called me back within the day to advise me that my documents went to their offices in Boston and asked me to fax them directly to her. You guessed it, I was pretty hot....I had already paid to fax on one occasion, told it would process in 30 days and no action had been take on my request.

I ended up faxing everything again to her after signing up for "MyFaxCentral" so I could fax using the internet, again costing me monies. I was advised it would take another 30 days or so to process. I asked the mortgage agent to call if they were missing anything since my need was getting critical. Again, I did not hear anything for another 30 days (3rd week of April) then, you guessed it.....they called and informed me they were missing a document and asked me to fax it again.

I was getting mad by this time, I faxed over the document again that they were requesting that has now been sent to them 3 times. Talk about inept!!!

Well, didn't get another call until you guessed it another 30 days when they were looking at it again and noticed they had never received this 1 document again!!!! Then New South Federal gave me an ultimatum that if I didn't get that document to them with 7 days they would have to close my request!

I began speaking with other lenders at this point and am happy to say that I did get the re-finance I was seeking and oh by the way you can't get approved on a re-finance if you've missed a mortgage payment in the past 12 months....keep this one in mind.

Of all the nerve, New South Federal Savings and Loan sent me a letter to advise me they had terminated the request for loss mitigation due to a "surplus of income", say WHAT? Then in the next paragraph, quote "Please be advised that your account will be sent to our Collection or Foreclosure Department so that we may start legal actions. It is urgent that you contact our office within the next 10 days to prevent any foreclosure activity from being processed on your account. Your account is currently due for the months of: June 21, 2009" and understand this letter was dated June 15th, 2009.....so let me get this straight they are going to foreclose on a loan that isn't in default????? My next payment isn't due until tomorrow? WOW.....

Just had to get this nightmare off my chest and hope others might benefit from my experience with New South Federal Savings and Loan.

Economic Times Are They Really That Bad?

It really depends on your perspective, after listening to Dave Ramsey this weekend it makes me realize that money is truly the root of all evil and WE have made it that way. We SERVE money way too much!!! I am just like most Americans, we are suffering financially due to a recent loss of a job and new found employment that resulted in a much, much lower income level.

You guessed it, you make some immediate changes to your living habits due to necessity to make the lower income work in my household. Fortunately for me I have a wonderful, supportive spouse that is extremely hard working and does what ever is necessary....

I sometimes learn a lesson the HARD way. I've made great money over my adult life but didn't retain or save it like I should have and now I'm regretting it big time. I'm now in a position, thru my own mistakes to counsel my children in their affairs, however they are young adults and are prone to NOT listening. I've surmised that I will need to coach them but constructively and do it in such a manner not to be offensive and appearing to be in their business but more out of love and concern, compassion. If they choose not to heed my advice then they will need to make their own mistakes.

I'm still struggling with my own circumstances now but I'm more determined than ever to be in a DEBT FREE position very soon. It will include great SACRIFICE, but guess what no matter how great, it can't compare to the ULTIMATE sacrifice that was offered up for me and you! Like I said before, it definitely depends on your perspective. And remember, turn your financial stress over to HIM cause He can't handle it if you don't give it to HIM and you'll be stress free!

Let it A-loose!!!

Ok, in other words - SET IT FREE!!! No really, just set it free. Once you set it free, think of it no more....

Forgiveness is required, that is if you ever expect to enter the gates of Heaven! Do you really think that Jesus will forgive us and cleanse us if we hold grudges against those that have done us wrong or hurt us? The answer is pretty simple - NO.

Forgiveness is a very difficult thing. It takes a lot of soul searching, reflection on the bigger picture and the admission that you yourself are not guiltless in your own transgressions against others. Once you come to this realization forgiveness is much easier.

True forgiveness lives and breathes in your very heart. Once you've forgiven someone you should feel at peace and free. Can you image how much less stressful our world would be if we could all simply forgive? None of us are perfect and we will cause others pain whether intentional or not - what matters is how we respond and the sincerity around our own admissions.

Forgiveness is a great medicine for your spirit and soul, give it a try I assure you that you'll be at peace and feel much better. If you find it extremely difficult to do so, guess what - you can always call on Him to for help, cause He's always there for you.

Who Do We Turn To In Difficult Times?

I hope we can all answer this question by simply stating "Our Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ"! Consider a few suggestions that we often overlook in our busy lives. We often lack seeing the big picture and the easiest answers when confronted with "doom and despair" situations, ok - maybe a little dramatic. Consider the following:

1. How about "Pray first" instead of last when we feel like..."nothing else to do but pray at this point". In this we would keep a personal and healthy relationship with our Father.
"but in everything, but prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phillipians 4:6

2. How about "Checking our Attitude", because we wear our emotions on our sleeves for all to see and we don't realize how that may affect or touch others negatively in our lives.
"...sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." 2 Corinthians 6:10

3. Don't Worry! It can't be God's problem if it's still yours!!!! Let go of it and give to Him.
"who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:27-34

4. Let's be Content with what we have!!!
"Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Feeling inspired today and wanted to share these thoughts. I struggle each and everyday with these exact issues and hope that these thoughts may encourage or remind you that the big picture is not so BIG at all we just make it appear that way!