Mesa, Arizona Real Estate - Teri Ellis - Homes Arizona Real Estate

I love capturing moments of places I visit. Since I've joined Active Rain, I've become even more aware of the scenery, clouds, trees, flowers, and - whatever. Don't you love those long winding roads with the sky so close you could almost touch it? How about those clouds. Here's just one view of many on the road to Show Low, Arizona. That's only two hours and 40 minutes, almost 7,000 elevation, and a much cooler climate than Mesa, Arizona!!! Great day trip, and a beautiful place to visit.

My Speechless Sunday photo - Clouds With Endless Views!

 I think all of us love clouds! It's just something about their shapes, their seemingly pillow-like puffiness, and their beauty! I remember lying on the grass looking up at the clouds and guessing what the shape was! I do the same now with my grandchildren to entertain them in the car.

This photo was taken along highway 60 North from Globe to Show Low this past summer during our monsoon season. I love the view of the curving road heading to? where? who knows?

This is my first post in the Cloud Group! Just discovered that one! Enjoy!

Tomorrow, on Christmas Day, 2009, many will be celebrating with their families and with their loved ones.

I want to personally wish all of you Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful, happy and prosperous New Year in 2010!

I know many have and are struggling, but remembering the precious reasons for this holiday can rejuvinate our spirits and help us to push forward.

I wanted to find a video that I felt would reach and touch our hearts this Christmas season. I suspect most of us have seen this, but I still managed to have a lump in my throat after watching the story of the "little Girl's Christmas Wish Comes True."

Have you ever tried to take a drink from a fire hose?

Reading from Active Rain is JUST like trying to take a drink out of a firehose!

This week, I have been skipping around reading different posts by different Rainers just trying to get some insight into who's HERE!

My subscriber list is HUGE, and I comment and exchange conversations and ideas back and forth with them on a frequent basis. I have noticed, however, that many of them have "disappeared" from the Rain. I miss them!

Lately I've been trying to find new (to me) bloggers to enjoy and to share. Now that we have over 168,673 members (as of this moment in time), it feels like a HUGE mountain to climb. BUT along the way, I've found interesting people, great looking blog posts, and some new friends.

So? what do we think? How many Active Rainer's will be here next year? How many more will I know?

Wordless Wednesday provides me with the opportunity to share some of my favorite photos I've taken. This one is one that I took of a wild flower on one of the many trails along the Mongollon Rim in Northeastern Arizona, a day trip from Mesa! I fooled around with the options on my camera and came up with the background blurred and the flowers clear. I hope you enjoy the picture! This is one I've actually printed and framed.

I just wanted to take a moment and share our Arizona weather with all of my friends across the United States! I love roses, and when they bloom, I'll bring one or two or three into the house and put into a vase. It's been in the 70's this week, and here is one of my favorite rose blooms. Welcome to Arizona! I was experimenting around with the background. I truly don't know how this one turned out so well. 

Reciprocation is Important to me, BUT!!!

As my readers probably know by now, I typically stop by for a visit and a comment on one or more of their posts - just to reciprocate. I find many new people that way, and depending on the content of the ten posts I can view by scrolling down, I may or may not subscribe or comment.

Truth be told, if all I see are market reports, especially just a bunch of numbers and all on the same day, I move on. I think sharing market reports are a good thing, and heaven knows, we're all here for our own reasons. My reasons include marketing, but also networking, socializing, learning, and sharing. I find I'm more drawn into the individual writing the blog if some of their personality is included in their posts making them more "relatable" to me. I love the personal experiences, the stories and the massive amount of knowledge shared here on Active Rain.

So, if all you do is post market reports, and don't engage me, your reader, I probably will whisk right by. Nothing personal - I'm just sayin.....

Do you have a motto for 2010? I admit I am not a "goal" setting woman. I write lists - lots of them - of "stuff" to do, but I don't make a written goal like so many of you do!

Since a "motto" and a "goal" seem different to me, I thought I would write a motto for myself - kinda like a "vision statement," and see if that works for me in 2010!

After thinking about it, I picture in my mind where I want to be at the end of next year - a vision of me! I am envisioning this as I write this post. So, the next step would be: how do I get there?

1.  Write it down - where do I want to be (physically, career wise, financially)? Or, another could be, what do I want to "be," or "who" do I want to be? Make it simple....just two/three words, or a sentence at most.

2.  Move forward - take your first step, and always, always, keep that vision or motto in your mind. Put your vision statement on your refrigerator, or on your monitor - wherever you can see it, constantly reminding you of where you plan to be at the end of the year. I have sayings that I like, quotes that I like pasted everywhere because of their personal meaning to me.

3.  Do it! - every day, every week, every month, remember that vision. Keep picturing yourself where you want to be and just do what it takes!

I'll share just a couple of the personal "me" by the end of the year. I have a combined vision for my end of 2010! This is the "personal."

1.  I'd like to become more compassionate
2.  I'd like to learn to "listen" better
3.  I'd like to be more "patient" with others.

If I write compassionate and listen on a note on my refrigerator, it helps remind me to be more patient! It also means that just looking at the note and doing nothing helps me not at all.

So, you see, these are "action" words....takes action on my part to make them happen. AND it takes focus and taking those steps forward.

What about you? What/where/who do you see yourself at the end of 2010?

A few days ago, Brad Andersohn - the leader of the pack - presented a great idea. His post "Feed It Forward" was apparently a hit - because (drum roll please) - someone (whose name shall remain anonymous) sent me a gift certificate for $10 for any restaurant on the list of choices in my area! Awesome!

Can I tell you? I wanted to "hug" this individual just because it made my day! How cool that someone thought enough of me to give this special gift! Of course Active Rainers are so generous: with their time, their knowledge, and more...but this is above and beyond.

So? My immediate thoughts went to: "to whom can I feed it forward?" I'm still thinking, but I thought it would really be cool to share our stories about Brad's very seasonal and special way of paying it forward. Come on - jump in, the water is warm! Very!

Oh, and BE SURE to read his entire post! He has a really neat story in there that I just know you will love.

I have to tell you what this is about! While we were in Chicago attending our grandson's graduation from the naval academy, I took my camera - duh! As we walked the streets of Chicago and took the boat out to see the skyline, and rode the water taxi, I took a gazillion photos. This is one I plan to upload on Flickr. This is just one of about five photos of the flowers. I LOVE tulips and poppies. Enjoy!