Happy Ostern everyone...

While I was with the family yesterday celebrating the defining day for Christians around the world, someone asked what the word Easter meant. In keeping with last months definition, I figured i better look into it. That's what old age does to you, you start to actually get concerned with things you've never given much thought to.

There are two relatively accepted potential origins of the word Easter... as with many holidays, it looks like there is a pagan root to the word as well as one not associated with the pagan term.

Eostre - was a pagan Anglo-Saxon Goddess. The mythical figure is said to have been the goddess of the sunrise and the spring. The direction of the sunrise, East, is named for her. In Norse mythology, the name is spelled Eostare. Another considered the Norse/Saxon goddess of spring is Ostara. Eastre is believed to be an ancient word for spring. -OR- Another idea involves the history of the Frankish church (Germans who settled in Rome during the fifth century). There the celebration of Christ's resurrection included the word alba, which means white (the color of the robes worn during the resurrection festival). Alba also meant sunrise. So when the name of the festival was translated into German, the sunrise meaning, ostern, was selected, likely in error. One theory is that Ostern is the origin of the word Easter.

So there you have it.

We also celebrate April Fools day in our house... It has become a little tough around here to fool anyone since they all live so darn far away. Phone gags just don't have the same flair. I am always a little nostalgic for a couple of the pranks I pulled on the kids this time of year. Like the one year I stopped at Little Caesars to pick up a couple empty pizza boxes on my way home from work. As I drove by the kids playing in a neighbors yard, I raised the empty boxes and slowed down so they could get a good look... they raced me home that night, and needless to say, Kelly & I had to pack the fam up and take them out for pizza that night. They still get a chuckle out of it though... memories.

Oh yeah... what about real estate? Well it has been very busy lately. Mortgages are getting tough to obtain, and the first time home buyer credit expires in just 25 days. If you want to take advantage of the credit, this is literally zero hour... call me today.

FYI, Senate Bill 395 was introduced in Michigan recently, it requires property tax assessment notices to be sent to property owners at least two weeks before the meeting by the local Board of Review. Last week, the Bill passed out of the Senate, and is now awaiting a hearing in the House Intergovernmental and Regional Affairs committee. This bill would allow us property owners sufficient time to gather the required information necessary to fight our assessments. I'll keep you updated on this one.

For the family... all are doing great, Jessy & Anthony are starting the countdown to the wedding (late July). Looks like everything is in order. Dave Lauren Bella & Austin are doing well, Austin is growing... what an eater. I had a three day stretch with him wrecking my shirts while I tried to burp him... I think I'm leaving that task for the professionals from now on.

Kel & I have had the motorcycles out a couple times... the recent string of great weather has been very encouraging. Golf and softball, look out, here we come.

Thanks again for all your referrals, I appreciate you passing my name on to your family and friends. See you in May.

The Ides of March...

Thankfully I only post to my blog once a month. Do you realize how tough it is coming up with interesting stuff to post that often? Notice I'm 3 days late on this one... mainly because i've been busy, and procrastinating.

I was thinking this morning about March sayings, and I've already posted about in like a lamb out like a lion stuff, and probably way too much St. Pattys info (as if there could be way too much St. Pattys info)... so the Ides of March came to mind... then I thought, what the heck are the ides of March... here's the research :0)

The term idūs (ides) originally referred to the day of the full moon. The Romans considered this an auspicious day in their calendar. The word ides comes from Latin, meaning "half division" (of a month).

The ides of March is the name of March 15 in the Roman calendar. The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C.

Whew, I got that off my chest :0)

I mentioned earlier that I have been busy this month. Thanks to you and your referrals, this has been the busiest first quarter I've had in the last 8 years in the real estate business. I'm sure part of the business uptick is due to the first time home buyer tax credit that expires soon, but I'm thankful for the head start into 2010.

Speaking of the credit... it is 10% of the purchase price up to $ 8,000 for first time buyers, and $ 6,500 for buy up buyers, and it expires April 30th. As of this writing you only have 58 days to write a Purchase Agreement, so call me today.

On to the family... This has been a pretty exciting month for Clan Hendo... in fact I am already prepared for the grief I'm going to get for headlining this months blog with the Ides of March.

Mema and G-Diddy are proud to announce the arrival of Austin James Henderson on February 23. He was 8 lbs 14 oz. and 20 inches long with a pretty good amount of dark hair. Lauren and Austin are doing great, and the family couldn't be any more proud... we now have 3 generations of Hendersons in Troy. David now has 2 options for the hockey/baseball/football player in the family.

Kelly was on a business trip to Florida and arrived at the hospital from Metro at about 5:30 pm... Austin arrived at 6:30. He's a good listener out of the gate... Kelly told him before she left to hold off until she got home. Bella is adapting very well to helping mom with baby chores, but I think she's going to follow my lead on only helping to change "certain" diapers. In fact if she's followed my example at all... she might just avoid all of that scene.

Anthony and Jessy came in for the weekend to hang out with the family to enjoy Baby Austin. I've posted a few pics to check out.

As always... thanks so much for indulging me on my blog... Thanks also for all your referrals. Your family and friends are my family and friends.

See you in April, maybe I'll be posting some motorcycle photos by then.