Happy New Year... Let's start '09 out with a bang.

Hey all,

I know most of us are breathing a big sigh of relief that '08 is a memory. The New Year holiday is a time to reflect on all the great things we lived in the past twelve months though. I won't bore you with all the details... if you're interested, scroll through the past few months of blog entries to see why '08 was full of great changes for Kelly & I.

Although the house is jammed these days with kids and stuff, it is a far cry better than the empty house we've had for the past 5 - 7 years (for now anyway :0)).

Bella was asked to skate at a boys hockey team practice that was short a few players over Christmas break. When she got there Mema Kelly discovered they were skating with Chris Draper. She did very well with a little help from David & Kelly... Grampa as usual was pretty much useless on his skates. Got a few good pics though.

Christmas was very nice... we all pared back on the gifts a bit but it was the best Christmas in a few years having the whole family back for the holiday. We kept the Christmas Day tradition alive having dinner at Kubla Kahn, even though Jessy ditched us heading to Chicago to ski with Anthony that afternoon. Anthony made it up to me by getting me footie pajamas though... all is forgiven :0)

I'm sure I'm not alone in making New Years resolutions... The biggest one I made is the one about not breaking my new years resolutions before January is over. Naturally I'm going to eat better, exercise and lose a little weight, be a better husband, father and grandfather, and focus very hard on making my real estate business excel past the last three years.

Fortunately I can keep the first few without much outside intervention. The last one is going to require the same gracious efforts of all of you as usual, and possibly a little help from above :0).

We're days away from a new president, and economic issues and global unrest loom over our heads. Ronald Reagan understood like no one in recent history that a happy population is a prosperous population. My wish for the new year is for all of us to find the happiness and peace within us, so we can fight 2009 back into prosperity.

Real Estate is starting out well so far... We were able to end 2008 strong, and I'm working with several buyers currently, and some of my listings are seeing pretty fair amounts of traffic (even in January). A good first quarter is a great way to set the stage for the remainder of the year...

Thanks again for your referrals, I promise next month to publish a blog with substance :0)... stay tuned, and have a fantastic 2009.

Merry Christmas...

Well, I considered a You Tube video this year, but just ran out of time to make it. Besides, it is a little awkward reviewing it later on and the kids think I'm a nut case anyway :0).

It's been a very busy month for me in the real estate biz. I've worked with several buyers in the last month, and am currently working with a couple more in time for the Christmas holiday. I've had a couple showings on my listings as well... people are still moving.

I have a four year streak on writing up Purchase Agreements on the night before Thanksgiving... Just goes to show if you don't take time off around the holidays, the business can be there.

We are still slow in comparison to years past, and the market is still lagging. Hopefully our new government will spark our economy, and the auto makers will get their cash soon, and our economy will get a jump start. Here's to great things in 2009.

The family news is probably going to take up a bit of blog space this month... hope you don't mind.

Dave Lauren & Bella are doing great. Bella has her first sled and we're anxiously waiting the first good snow so we can make a great snowman, and pull her around the yard. I even had to blow and bag the leaves so we don't wind up with a "hairy" snowman.

Daves job is going well, he's settling in and enjoying it.

Jessy was just accepted at Beaumont Hospital for her final semester internship. She is moving back home mid December to finish her education. Almost finished... now if we can just find someone to sublet her apartment in Kalamazoo, we'll be great. It's a houseful but it should be great having everyone back home for a while.

Anthony came in and stayed for Thanksgiving... naturally we spent just about every night playing Presidents and knuckleheads (thats the p.c. term for what the college kids actually call it :0). He has pretty much convinced me that I can't live without the new iPhone... can't wait until my latest phone contract is up. I think I'm all over it. You can tell the measure of a football man when he comes to your town and maintains an air of politeness even while watching your home town "team" get their butts handed to them on Thanksgiving (again)...

Kelly is on the mend with her back issues... the MRI shows she has a compressed disk. She started physical therapy a few weeks ago, and it seems to be working. Still no hockey for her, but she's not pushing it. David is helping her with all the decorations. Not sure which one is the bigger "Clark Griswold" of the two of them. She loves the decorations, and he had the boxes out of the basement three days before Thanksgiving (might be a record).

To finish, thanks so much for another successful year in the real estate business. Your help in these tough economic times are greatly appreciated. Thanks for thinking of me and recommending me to your friends and family... always appreciated.

You're calendars are in the mail in the next week or so. If you don't receive one, it may be that I don't have your mailing address. If you don't get it by Christmas... feel free to call me and I'll make sure my records are straight, and get one right out.

Thanks again, and Merry Christmas to all

Dave, Kelly & the Fam