Forget For Sale By Owner

Three Cheers for Robison & Company, the MLS, and Kent Sorenson, the real estate agent who recently sold our family home.  Being a previous real estate agent, I decided to do it myself with good signage, fancy color flyers with a photo of the house. It was even posted it on Craig's List and the KSL's want-ads.  But, after three months of non-stop calls from numerous agents, investors, potential rent-to-own parties, I tired out.  The decision was made to put it into the hands of a real estate friend.   This home was sold in ten days and is expected to close by month's end. 

Along the way I was impressed with various parties involved such as: the online "Docu-Sign", a professional inspection company, up-to-date status reports, email documentation of all paperwork and more.  The whole process was smooth and worry free.  Next time I will put the sale of my properties in the hands of professionals it is worth the cost.

Sewing Angels and RS Sisters Souper Service

A recent Sewing for Service on a 'Souper' Saturday event combined two religions, Catholic and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with many loving hearts in producing much needed supplies.  Bereavement dresses and blankets, pj's, hats, quilts and much more were made as neighbors joined together with fifteen sewing machines and hundreds of busy hands to help those in need.    The completed items were donated to the St. Martha's Baby Project in Ogden.  The idea came about when  Rebecca Nichols and the her neighbor Pat, of the Sewing Angels talked about a joint effort. 

Pat Bergeron, who coordinates the Sewing Angels group, meets every Monday morning after mass bringing supplies to work on various projects.   This group of sisters and friends saw a need and decided to make a difference in their retirement years to share their talents and time serving the community.   The group of 22 women and a few men have been together for nine years as they share their talents with nursing homes, the Christmas Box House and veteran centers to name a few. 

Rebecca invited her LDS ward's Young Women and Relief Society sisters to the joint event.   Rubbing shoulders as they worked together, these two groups also made new friends while sewing, singing and souping together. 

The Three Bags Full Award goes to these ambitious saints for doing the right thing.

Salute to St. Louis

A Three Bags Full Award goes to the City of St. Louis for being the first to officially welcome our troops home with their 'Welcome Home Heroes Parade'.  Friends, Tom Appelbaum and Craig Schneider decided to honor our military troops by asking the mayor to host a parade through downtown St. Louis.  What started as an idea grew to thousands as residents from all over attended the event.  Generous donations of $10,000 from Anheuser-Busch and $7,500 from the Mayflower moving company made it all possible. 

"Veterans have sacrificed so much for the safety and well-being of St. Louisans," Mayor Francis Slay said. "This is a chance to demonstrate our appreciation for them." 

 Army Maj. Rich Radford along with 600 veterans many having served numerous tours of duty, marched in the parade and were touched to see the support by so many in such cold weather.   Lining the streets were people waving flags, clapping and holding signs saying "Welcome Home" and "Thank You Military Men and Women."   Marching bands, politicians and even the famous Budweiser Clydesdales joined the troops walking the route.  

With 6,500 Americans killed to date, a 'Reading of The Fallen' at the Soldiers Memorial in the downtown area was presented until each person's name was read.  91,000 military continue to serve putting their lives on the line to keep the world a safer place.  Thank you for your examples.