For Unto you a Child is born

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.... So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, and angel of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord...

Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

"Glory to god in the highest,

And on earth, peace goodwill to men!"

Spoken by God, recorded by Luke.

Dec 18 in Des Moines

Three things for Sat. Dec. 18.

International Answer the phone like Buddy the Elf. Spread a little cheer and answer your phone "Buddy the elf, what's your favorite color?" I wish this was on a weekday so we could answer our business phones this way too!

Downtown Farmers Market is this Friday from 11:00-2:00 and Sat. from 9:00AM- 1:00 PM at 400 Locust St. More than 120 vendors will gave you a last minute opportunity to buy locally made items for gift giving.

Free concert at the Orange Planet in Pleasant Hill. Jordan & Jessa Anderson will be giving a Christmas concert Sat. evening at 7:00 PM. Jordan & Jessa are musicians based out of Nashville. Jordan is a native of Altoona. You can hear a sample of Jessa's music on her website.

If real estate is on your Christmas list, the Eisenlauer Team will help you shop.

Bill -770-244 Bob 979-2883

Pleasant Hill - Hill of Lights Celebration

This weekend is the 24th annual Hill of Lights celebration in Pleasant Hill. It starts Sat. morning, Dec. 4, with Breakfast with Santa at the Youth Center at Doanes Park. Now this is THE most authentic looking Mr. & Mrs. Santa that you will have the opportunity to have a picture taken with. Don't miss it. Bring your camera. 8:00-11:00 A.M.

Family Fun Night from 5:00 - 7:30. Free Bingo with lots of prizes, reasonably priced food and refeshments.

Sunday from 1:00-4:00, come back to the Youth Center at Doanes Park for Make and Take Christmas ornaments. Fun for the whole family.

Bus Tours - the city bus has a capacity for 24 people and can be reserved for groups of 10 persons or more. Call Rick at 208-8214. This is available any weekend in December.

There is also a Giving Tree set up in the lobby of the library. Anyone can bring slightly used winter clothing, canned goods, new or knitted hats, mittens and more under the tree. Donations will be accepted through Christmas and till the first of the year.

They're not Santa Claus, but they can help you with your housing wish list.

Bill 770-2455 or Bob 979-2883

What to do this weekend? Plenty!

East Village Promenade is from 5-9:00. You can shop, ice skate, carol, eat. Santa will light the tree at the Brenton Plaza, fireworks over the river at 6:15.

The largest craft show in the state will be at the Iowa State Fairgrounds this weekend. Friday, Saturday, Sunday - at the Varied Industries Building.

Four Mile Elementary has their annual Craft Show this Sat. Nov. 20 from 9:00-3:00 am.

One of the two winter Downtown Farmers Market is today from 11:00-2:00 and Sat. from 9:00 - 1:00 at Nollen Plaza.

Where and when is your favorite craft show or hoiday event? We'd love to know.

Tell Bill or Bob so we can attend your fave.

Bill 770-2455 Bob 979-2883

Update on Foreclosure Notices in Iowa

Cara Heiden, co-president of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage of West Des Moines talked about foreclosures last week in the Des Moines Register. She says foreclosures need to move forward. "In general, no one is being foreclosed on who shouldn't be." She says that Wells Fargo borrowers who lose their homes have not paid mortgages an average of 16 months. Does that make you think the process needs to be streamlined? Can you imagine living in your home for over a year and not making a payment? You could, conceivable, save up a good chunk of cash and buy the next house on contract. Or you could be irresponsible, neglect maintenance, tear up the property, put tenants in and collect rent, be your neighbor's worst nightmare..for well over a year.

The Business Record reports that one in every 896 housing units in Iowa received a foreclosure filing in October, compared with one in 79 housing units in Nevada, the national leader. See how fortunate we are! Polk County had 428 foreclosures in October. Realty Trac vice-president, Rick Sharga, says "The numbers probably would have been higher except for the fallout from the recent 'robo-signing' controversy."

As always, we can take the lemons and make lemonade. Those foreclosed houses are going to make someone a good home. Maybe you?

Bill 770-2455 Bob 979-2883

Real Estate and Trust

A headline in Sunday's Register read "mortgage fallout erodes lifetime of trust and confidence." It lists several areas of blame. I think I could make my own list, just citing common sense. No document loans? Drive-by appraisals? Nothing down? Why did any of these things ever seem like a good idea? And now the latest debacle - robo-signing foreclosures. The register article calls it "the most blatant abuse of trust yet. But it is also the easiest to fix. All the banks have to do is go back and actually do the work."

Another Register article from Nov. 3 quotes co-president of Wells Fargo Mortgage in Des Moines, Cara Heiden, "Home ownership is still valued by American families. When families own their own home, they feel rooted, they're safer, children do better in school, with higher rates of high school and college graduations. Housing is critical to the U.S. economy, contributing 15-20 percent of our country's (gross domestic product).

That's a lot of good reasons why home ownership will continue to be the American dream. Despite the "bumps in the road", it's a good time to buy real estate. The interest rates are still at all-time lows. There are plenty of homes to choose from. The prices are right. Mortgage interest is still deductible. AND the Eisenlauer Team are Realtors you can trust.

Bill 770-2455 Bob 979-2883

I think that I shall never see...

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer

This pin oak tree is in my front yard, and as I left home today I thought of this poem. When I look at this oak tree, I see our family's history at this address. The tree was about 5' tall when we moved in. John was 5 years old. As you can tell - we've been here for awhile - about 12 years. I'm amazed at how strong that tree has grown in 12 years. Inside the leafy branches is a hoola hoop that has grown taller than we can reach. John and Dillon got it stuck there about 7 years ago. A year or two later 2 golf balls on a cord got tossed up there and are now part of the time capsule. Two summers ago, I asked John to trim the small tree in our front yard. This wasn't the tree I had in mind. He trimmed it anyhow, all the lower branches he could reach with the step ladder. So it's a litle misshapen. The next chapter in our family story is a grandaughter. So now the lower branch holds a swing that she enjoys. The tree is just changing from green to red. The pin oak does not loose its leaves till spring, a unique characteristic. It's started producing acorns now, so squirrels are plentiful. The tree itself is lovely, but my memories that grow with it are even more precious.