What was the most surprising gift you've ever received?

Thinking back to what was the most surprising gift I have ever received would be tough. Thanks to Twittermoms and Target, I have a chance to reflect on the answer to this one. I have been remembering many things from the past but, one was amazing. My little brother was born and he really was a gift from God. See I had given my dad the mumps and that had made him sterile. So, he really was a surprise we received. But, that's not all he went over seas and we did not hear from him because of a black out. Some time after that we received a call that he was coming home. He could not say when or why just wait. Weeks went by no word then on Christmas I tried his cell phone and he answered it. I was SO happy that my baby brother was home at last. Thank God for that.


I could also think of many other surprising gifts like the first Christmas with my son and the biggest tree I could buy. It barley fit it the hallway so, I had put it against the stairwell. There the ceiling was over 100 ft. My son's eye's were full of aw and you could tell he was so excited his little feet keep moving about.

A few years after that, I had my mother down for a week stay. Our town had only forty houses or so, when it snowed it basically shut down the town. I remember my mother waking up in the morning and looking out at the white covered valley in peace. I was so, happy she was able to see what I had fallen in love with. Since, then I have bought more pillows for the rest of family.



Having so many people share their homes and family with us since we were so far away from home. To buying gifts and baking cookies and making good memories with us I am so grateful for all the love received these years.

What is your most memorable time? Enter at TwitterMoms!

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Home-Buying Strategies

Just getting married and looking to buy a home should wait for the second down turn. This could occur between next year and for the next few years to come. Waiting and continue to rent untill prices come back to higher levels. Buying a home then the rates will be down for a 30 year mortgage.

Trading-in homes are likely to continue to decline or remain for the next decade. More affuent households may find that they can afford a larger home eariler in life as the prices in this area fall. Appreciation potential maybe less for some years to come so, plan on years before another move.

Deflation of the Education

This weekend, the Empire State Building was lit in Cambridge blue in recognition of the 800th Anniversary.

We mortgage our house to get our kids in the best schools. Truth is that the very best schools and their higher costs don't tend to pay off. Education costs are getting so high that it is hard to justify them in the long run. It may be better to just put the costs of private college into a long-term investment fund for your kids. They could be millionaires by the peak of their careers just on the investment fund doubling every ten years.

Education can be delivered at a lower costs through a combination of online programs, in-classroom programs, and interships with companies.

Why do we need sprawling campuses with elaborate landscaping, buildings, libraries, etc.., in an Internet world? Why should students be restricted to teachers and experts in a local area when they can have video and interactive feedback from around the world from the best experts, peers, and blogs?

Since the dramatic decline in our economy and the combination of a decline in enrollments from job losses. It is likely that this may create an actual fall in higher education costs, or at a minimum, slower rate of increase.

#quotes HS Dent