Debe Maxwell, CRS is hosting the ActiveRain Challenge the month titled "November 2022 Thanksgiving Gratitude Challenge".  This will be an easy challenge for me, because I have MUCH to have gratitude for.  For this challenge we get to write one blog per week for this month.  My first blog was about my beautiful granddaughter, and my second blog was about those who have given me encouragement and support in my career.   This third blog is for the gratitude I have for the sacrifices my parents made for me and my brothers and sisters, to have an opportunity for a better life.  Most of you reading this blog have heard some of what I am about to write before, but it is very appropriate for this months ActiveRain challenge. My Family came to the US from the Azores, Portugal in 1960 when I was ... 11/17/2022

Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progres... 11/14/2022

Debe Maxwell, CRS is hosting the ActiveRain Challenge the month titled "November 2022 Thanksgiving Gratitude Challenge".  This will be an easy challenge for me, because I have MUCH to have gratitude for.  For this challenge we get to write one blog per week for this month.  My first blog was about my beautiful granddaughter, for this second blog it will be focused on the gratitude I have for those who have helped me succeed as a Loan Originator. First and foremost the number one factor in the success of my business, has been my faith and reliance on God to see me through whatever comes my way.  From the very first day in my sales career, God has been a part of it.  My faith that God will guide through life and business, has given me an incredible peace of mind to know no matter what, Go... 11/12/2022

Today is Veteran's Day 2022, A Day To Honor Our Veterans, and our Men and Women who are serving in our Armed Forces.I hope that everyone takes a moment out of there day to say thank you to either a Veteran they know, or one of the Men and Women presently serving.  It only takes a minute to do this, but the impact and meaning it has on the one you say thank you to is greater than you can imagine. Those who have served our country did so willingly and without expectation of anything in return.  They did it for the honor of serving the land of opportunity, and to secure the freedoms we enjoy.Many restaurants throughout the Country will be honoring our Veterans with free meals, and discounts.  So let us join all the organization who are honoring our Veterans today and show our appreciation ... 11/11/2022

Debe Maxwell, CRS is hosting the ActiveRain Challenge the month titled "November 2022 Thanksgiving Gratitude Challenge".  This will be an easy challenge for me, because I have MUCH to have gratitude for.  For this challenge we get to write one blog per week for this month, and my first blog will be about one of the biggest blessings in my life, the birth of my one and only grandchild, Elizabeth.This amazing blessing in my life was born Eight years ago on July 13, and brought a special joy into my life that words cannot even begin to describe.   She has truly given me a new appreciation for how much I have been blessed with.  To say I am grateful for having her in my life would be an understatement, it goes far beyond gratitude.  She has added a new meaning of gratitude and purpose to my... 11/04/2022

Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progress... 10/31/2022

Carol Williams, Aura Alex, and Leanne Smith, are co-hosting this month's ActiveRain Challenge "Blogging Success Stories".  Most members have blogged about blogging successes they have had with increasing their business by reaching new clients through blogging.  However, for me my blogging target audience is not new clients, it is Realtors.While I have developed new clients through my ActiveRain blogs, developing new clients is not my focus, my focus in developing new referral partners, which in my case is mainly Realtors.  Through my blogs I have been able to show my experience, and knowledge of the mortgage industry.  This in turn has made it easier for me to develop Realtor relationships.  There are Realtors who refer their Buyers to me because we got to know each other through bloggi... 10/31/2022

Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progress... 10/22/2022

Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progress... 10/15/2022

Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progress... 10/08/2022

Fall Has arrived in Connecticut, which means it is time for me to begin my Progression Of Fall Colors series I started Ten years ago.  This is a series I hoped to continue for many years, and have been able to do so far. The first two years the pictures were of a farm which is only about a minute walk from my house.  Eight years ago I decided to change the location for the 2014 Progression Of Fall Color Series to a lake about 5 minutes from my house on RT17.  I tried that location for two years, but the colors were not as good as I expected them to be.  So six years ago I decided to change locations again to a site at Lyman's Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  But once again that site did not produce the colors I had hoped for, so three year ago I decided to keep it simple and do my Progres... 10/01/2022

This month Eileen Burns and Kathy Streib are hosting the ActiveRain challenge for September titled Crazy Real Estate Agent Stories - September Challenge.  For this challenge we are challenged to tell a story about the craziest situation we have been a part of during our career in Real Estate. I have been a Loan Originator for 18 years, and my craziest story happened within the first year I was a Loan Originator.  It is about the craziest closing I have ever been involved in, in fact I have not had a closing since then that even comes close to this one.This crazy closing was in March of 2005, at 9:00 a.m., at the buyer’s attorney’s office.   I showed up a couple of minutes before 9:00, and the closing had already started.  As I approached the conference room the closing was being held in... 09/14/2022

September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget!  It is a day forever imprinted on my heart and mind.   September 11, 2001 is a day each of us has a special reason why this day will forever be remembered.  September 11, 2001 is a day we will not only forever remember the vicious attack on our country, but also a day to honor those who lost there lives.  It is a day for us to reflect on the memories, and thoughts which went through our mines as the events of September 11, 2001 unfolded 20 years ago. I have shared what I remember most about 9/11 before, and have made a commitment to share this memory each and every year on September 11, so today once again I am fulfilling that commitment with this blog. Below is my special memory of that day, it is an event which hit close to home, and w... 09/10/2022

We are supposed to get rain this Labor Day afternoon, so our normal plans to sit out on the deck and grill some steaks, will have to be altered a bit.  Also this Labor Day my youngest son is in Baltimore visiting a friend, and my oldest son, daughter in-law, and gorgeous granddaughter are now living out in Bonney Lake, WA.  That leaves just my wife and I, which is OK with me because I am looking for to just vegging out, and getting some extra rest, while watching the much needed rain come down.Hopefully the weather is better where you are, and you can enjoy everything you have planned for today.  But whatever the weather and plans you have made, I hope you make sure this is a safe and happy Holiday for you and your family!!!Happy Labor Day 2022!!!  09/05/2022

Ray Henson and Margaret Rome are the hosts of our ActiveRain contests/challenges this month.  The first part is the Truth or Dare questions below.Questions         1.  We all go on vacation to get away from it all and have a great time, but I want to know, what vacation day was your worst? In the beginning of July of this year, my oldest son, daughter in-law and my gorgeous granddaughter came for a visit from Seattle, WA for 10 days.  On the 7th day of their visit I came down with COVID so my time with my granddaughter was cut 3 days short.     2.  What would be your bucket list vacation or, if you have already taken it, tell us about it?  Pictures encouraged.It took 58 years, but 5 years ago I got to go back were I was born, the Azores.  It was an amazing vacation, and I hope to do it ... 08/23/2022

This month Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho and Endre Barath, Jr. are hosting what is the most patriotic ActiveRain Challenge I can remember ActiveRain having.   The titled of this month's challenge is  'Ole Glory Coast to Coast' - June ActiveRain Challenge.  For this challenge Mark and Endre are asking us to post photos of different local flags and tell a little bit about them.For my first entry I choose two flags which fly at the two most prominent building in my town, Middletown, CT.  The first is at our City Hall and the second was our County Superior Court House.   My second entry into this month's challenge, was of the flag flying at the front of my my home, which I am proud to fly the American Flag at our home year round. My third bonus entry is of a farm adjacent to the subdivi... 06/29/2022

This month Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho and Endre Barath, Jr. are hosting what is the most patriotic ActiveRain Challenge I can remember ActiveRain having.   The titled of this month's challenge is  'Ole Glory Coast to Coast' - June ActiveRain Challenge.  For this challenge Mark and Endre are asking us to post photos of different local flags and tell a little bit about them.For my first entry I choose two flags which fly at the two most prominent building in my town, Middletown, CT.  The first is at our City Hall and the second was our County Superior Court House. For my second entry into this month's challenge, I am chosing my home.   The Souto household has many reasons to be proud of our flag, and we are proud to fly the American Flag at our home year round. As many of you know ... 06/14/2022

This month Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho and Endre Barath, Jr. are hosting what is the most patriotic ActiveRain Challenge I can remember ActiveRain having.   The titled of this month's challenge is  'Ole Glory Coast to Coast' - June ActiveRain Challenge.  For this challenge Mark and Endre are asking us to post photos of different local flags and tell a little bit about them.For my first blog I have chosen two flags which fly at the two most prominent building in my town, Middletown, CT.  The first is at our City Hall, and our proud American Flag is flying along with three other flags such as the POW-MIA flag, and our state flag.  Also along side it is a replica of the Liberty Bell.The second photo shows our proud American Flag flying at our Superior Court House, and it is flying al... 06/10/2022

Today is 2022 Memorial Day In Middletown, CT.  Memorial Day is a day our Country has set aside to honor the fallen men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, and put their lives on the line to ensure the freedoms we have.Memorial Day has also become a time in past years, where families get together for parades, picnics, and family fun. These gatherings were limited last couple of years, and the customary local parades were canceled because of the COVID-19 Virus.  However, this year all the customary activities will be going on again, and hopefully there will be a lot of participation.  I for one will enjoy marching in our local Memorial Day Parade, and later spend time with family.My message this year is one I request every year.  Whatever you do today I hope a part of your day ... 05/30/2022

This month Kathy Streib and Carol Williams are hosting the  "May ActiveRain Challenge; Getting to Know You." For this challenge we are asked to answer 21 questions which Kathy and Carol have put together. This challenge looked like a fun, so I have decided to participate, and provide a little more information about me. So here goes. 1. What was your first job and what did you learn from it?I worked in a factory while in High School making plastic tubing large as for a plastic hose, to as small as plastic tubes used for infusions. The equipment that extruded the plastic tubes produced a lot of heat, and there was no air-conditioning. Room I worded in got very, very hot in the Summer.2. How long have you been in the real estate or related service industry? 18 Years3. What is your biggest ... 05/30/2022