Thankful

     This was our Thanksgiving weekend. All 3 sons were home.

     We went over to a house we were working on and everyone made a Christmas tree. It is handy to have saws and a nailer.

     Its Thanksgiving this week and a time to look back over the year and see what you have to be thankful for. All our sons and wife and future wives know Jesus as their savior. What more could one ask for? God is faithful to each generation.

     It has also been a good year for our business. We purchased or are in the process of purchasing 8 houses this year.

     This one the outside was in good shape, but the inside was a wreck.

     This house was a total mess outside and inside.

     Here we had a quick fix inside but it needed siding.

     This newer home needed floors upstairs and sheet rock torn out and replaced in the finished basement.

     We have not even started on this one. It needs everything. It may look like we bought it cheap, but it will cost a lot to fix.

     Here the owner had started a rehab. The house was gutted. We have started putting up drywall and closing or replacing windows.

     This one we started on Thursday. Interior is painted and the carpeting is torn out. Screens are gone from the front porch. The water is turned back on and the leaks fixed. Hopefully a finished date before January first.

     This one we close on this Wed. It will be next on our list to get fixed. Perhaps by Feb. first and then we can go back to the 2 that need a lot of work..

     I used to say it was not what happened that matters but how you tell the story. All of the houses we bought this year were cash deals. Every time we could get a better deal because we did not need an appraisal or financing. Sounds great doesn't it. We had cash on hand to buy 8 houses this year. 

     That is only part of the story. We could buy the house for cash then put a mortgage on it or another house to have the cash on hand to purchase the next house. Yes we were cash buyers but that was never the whole story.

     This Thanksgiving season if you are looking at everyone around you and thinking "those folks have a wonderful life that is way better than mine." you may not be seeing the whole story. Everyone has difficulties and burdens. Some are just easier to see than others. We all have a clear picture of what our own lives look like but only see what others allow us to see of their lives. Some tell a pretty good story when the whole picture is not so pretty.

    This season of Thanksgiving don't look at the show those around you are putting on to convince the world their life is perfect. Look for the blessings God has given you. In my past I have to say my greatest blessings were what at the time seemed like disasters. Thank you God for the disasters in my life. If you happen to be in a season where you do not see many blessings, That may turn out to be the most blessed time you ever live through.