Tragedy In The Real Estate Community

Today we learned that Beverly Carter Real Estate Agent from Arkansas was killed. After searching for her and finally arresting the suspected kidnapper, the police were able to find where she was located. Her body was found in a shallow grave 25 miles from her last known location, where her car and purse were found. It's a terrible tragedy and I feel so bad for her husband. She told him where she would be and when she didn't come home he reported it and the police started their search.
I try to think about what I do when showing homes. I think about how many times I may have put myself in dangerous situations? How many times have I walked into a home first? How many times have I not told anyone where I would be? How many times have I not brought my gun with me? How many times have a met a client at a property before actually meeting them? How many of my clients know where my home is? What am I doing to protect myself? What am I doing to protect my clients?
These are all the things I need to review in my head to remind myself to be more diligent. To remind myself that not everyone in the world is genuine.
As Real Estate Professionals we are just thinking about what we want to do to help someone find their dream home. Or sell their home. We are not thinking about the fact that we don't really know who we are working with sometimes. In the moment where someone is calling you excited about purchasing a home, you're not thinking about "what if this person wants to kill me?" You're thinking about everything that needs to be done to make the purchase run smoothly.
I've been making my mental list this morning and writing things down to try to come up with a better plan to make sure, even though I'm there to find everyone their dream home, that I am ready and willing to protect myself.

1) Pre-qualify them with a lender: then you know their credit has been ran and you have that lender looking out for your safety as well. AND you have SOMEONE who has their name, social, address and everything about them.
2) Leave the addresses of homes you are showing with at least 2 people plus someone in the office: This allows 2 different people the opportunity to check on you throughout you showing day.
3) Text/Call my 2 people when leaving each home headed to the next: They can track your movement that way.
4) Keep my cell phone at the ready to be able to hit that emergency button: Automatically connects to 911 so at least the line is open and they can dispatch police.
5) NEVER SHOW A STRANGER HOMES: Face to face office meets are necessary so that someone else has seen the face of the person you are showing homes to.
6) If you absolutely must show a home without an office meet (like one of your own listings someone called off the sign) it's a texting day in age: at least have them text a copy of their DL so you can have it and leave it with your 2 people.
7) SELF DEFENSE COURSES RETAKE THEM!!!
8) Concealed CARRY IS A MUST!!! No matter if it makes the client uncomfortable. Find them a new real estate agent.
9) YOU ARE FIRST!! THEY ARE SECOND!!! Show homes only during the day. Set your hours, if they can't work with you during those hours YOU DO NOT NEED THAT CLIENT!! You cannot possibly help everyone.
10) Know your surroundings! Look for every possible exit and retreat from the property before you show it. Never walk in the home first.
11) THIS IS YOUR LIFE AND YOUR BUSINESS MAKE IT SO! Do it your way. Or don't do it!!

Food for thought and I'm going to keep revising my plan and perfecting it. Stay alert stay alive. Now I'm not saying this is the norm because it isn't every one of my clients has been amazing. However, my gut NEVER lies to me. There's been a couple times in my real estate career I have given showings and clients to men in my office or a team because I didn't feel comfortable taking that client out. And when my gut says "Bran, this is not a good idea, something is not right" I LISTEN. 

so what am I doing then?

The mind is a terrible thing to waste... it always stands out to me, it always has. But the reality of the situation is I just cannot grasp why this seems so crucial to me, yet I'm so bla-zay about it. I mean seriously... what. am. i. doing. with. myself. right. now. that. has. any. relivancy. over. life? When am I going to pull myself out of this rut that has become my day to day? When am I going to stop letting nay-sayers hold me back and finally grab onto the firery reigns of hell and go for it? When am I going to start realizing my dreams and full potential? When am I going to stop whining about what I can't do and start living what I can do? When am i going to wake the hell up???

When will I ever get there? This is my pity me for the moment blog... but I don't live here... why don't I live here? Because I'm damn better than that, and for all the stupid shit I've been through and done in my life, it seems that I've done a few things at least right and that must count for something... right? 

I just can't imagine what it is I'm suppose to take away from turning on this computer and logging into a blog that I haven't touched since January 2, 2014? That seems odd that at this very moment in time I would find it necessary to take myself here to remember what it actually looks like and what the last thing I may have posted was. Looks like the same old same old, but for some reason I feel like I have something to say... and it feels like something that every one should get the opportunity to hear me say... oh I know, I now have goals and ambitions... we will see if my argumentative brain has any discouraging words to crush the fire I feel inside... like its my time... I gotta do something....

Stay tuned... I don't have all the answers yet.... but, I have cool shit in mind....

2013 Year In Review

Another year has come and gone and I can't help but wonder where the time goes? It seems to move much faster the older I get and I'm not happy with that. But I had a very good 2013 as did my family and I thought I'd take a moment to share it with all of you before my dementia kicks in and I forget it all.
Lets see.... 2013 started with a New Year's Eve party since Andy and the rest of the 110th had finally returned from Afghanistan in December of 2012. Yep he's been home a year and there's no deployments on the horizon (knock on wood). I got to spend time with some of my favorite girls and we had a blast, did up the New Year right and rocked in 2013. 

Shortly after the New Year started, my dearest friend Jean had a stroke. It was very scary for everyone. Normally I wouldn't put her business out there like this but it's important for me to share with all of you the signs of a stroke and how you might be able to save someone's life. I was able to get Jean to the hospital in time for them to administer TPA Drug (which can reverse the effects of a stroke if given within 4 hours of the stroke). In hindsight I should've called 911 and I should've done it when I was on my way to her house and she could not communicate with me on the phone. It took her a couple of weeks in the hospital and a few months of therapy to be fully recovered but she is doing better now. I'm thankful to have her and Dylan in our lives.


Momma (GMA Toni) came to visit us in March, she tried to leave, ended up having to catch a plane right back to Colorado Springs from Dallas on the day she left due to massive snow storms that basically attacked the entire northern US.

It's VEGAS BABY!! I took my first ever girls get away vacation! I went to Vegas with my Bestie Jeanie. I couldn't believe I went anywhere without my kids!! Andy did really well the entire week I was gone and they all survived! It was my first time to Vegas and I had a blast! Did some gambling, drank a lot, acted like a tourist, stayed up all night, slept very little and just enjoyed everything about it. We went for NASCAR weekend of course so not only did I go to Vegas for the first time but I also went to my first ever NASCAR Race! I got to see Dale JR. race it was awesome! There is nothing quite like the rev of car engines and them zooming by you, and there is for sure nothing like NASCAR Fans!!!

The rest of the Spring saw cool temps and us getting ready for summer. Baseball season for Billy and Dylan was great! They played a really good season and only lost like 3 games.

 Nelson came to visit which we enjoyed. He got here just in time to watch Billy play at SkySox Stadium for Little League.

Colorado saw another devastating fire happen local to us. Many wild fires happened but the Black Forest Fire hit very close to home. We helped Jean pack up her home and come stay with us for a few days as everyone was uncertain which way the fire was going to travel. 500 homes were lost. Many people were displaced, but Black Forest has started to rebuild. 

This summer we visited Missouri. We spent time with Grandpa Dickie and Grandma Gail who had just moved back to MO and bought a big house with lots of land for the kids to play. We had a lot of fun! Well, minus that snake I ran into leaf blowing. That was not fun. We also went to Ben & Amanda's for 4th of July.

After returning home to Colorado, we packed right back up and headed for Mississippi with Jeanie & Dylan to visit Aunt Carolyn and Aunt Kathy. While in Mississippi, we took an over night trip to Nashville, TN and saw Uncle Donald and Aunt Kristen. This summer was full of vacation and fun times We had a summer to remember for sure.

Grace reached huge milestones this year! She started kindergarten and turned 5 years old!

Emily also had a big year as she turned Sweet 16! And got her driver's permit at the end of this year.  It's crazy for me to think that this little girl of mine is becoming quite the young lady, is a junior in high school, is driving and will graduate next year! Who Knew? 

The boys are doing great as well. In fact we're all doing pretty well. 

Andy works a lot as usual. We see shift work again, which we all hate but we survive. 

I got my real estate license in July. I decided to take some huge leaps in my career this year. I made a move to a new company called Z, Inc., in September. It is a venture capital company and business consulting firm. It's the parent company to Eco Cabins LLC, which I've been left to my own devices with. You'll have to check out our websites and FB pages to learn more about that. I love both companies and all the other opportunities that have been made available to me through the move. In November I decided after much thought and consideration to transfer my real estate license to a new company that I thought would help me better build the future I am looking to for myself and my family. Nextage Realty Pikes Peak Properties is where I now call home for my real estate license. With my moves I took my first ever business trip and have been enjoying the crash courses in business management, building and marketing I've received over the past few months. 

We saw good friends leave us this year. Particularly Starre and her family moved away. Jean G. and her family moved away. And Rachel and her family moved away. That is the part of the Army I never really can get use to, it's always sad to say goodbye. I miss you ladies.

In November, I had to take a rush trip home to NY. My Papa passed away and next to my Nana that is the hardest thing I've had to go through. I take comfort knowing that he is with her now and they both watch over me from Heaven. I know they are quite proud of the woman I've become.

The end of the year was easy peasy. We celebrated Thanksgiving with friends, we enjoyed our Christmas together as a whole family and we rang in the New Year excited as ever about what our next year holds. I hope this finds all of you well and enjoying the first couple days of your new year. 

"Give Me Revelation"

I've always considered myself someone who believes in a power greater than myself. Some people call it the Gods plural, some say it's Mother Nature, some say it's aliens, for me it's always been God. I was taught God created everything, the earth, the Heaven and that someday when I die I would go there, I would see all the people I've lost in my life and who wouldn't want to believe in something that incredible? When I was young, I was baptized as a Catholic and made First Communion as many young kids do. I was afraid of God at that time in my life. I was afraid of this great big church and I was afraid of the great man in the robe we called Father Hartnet, our Priest. I was afraid of that confessional and saying ALL OF THOSE Hail Mary and Our Father Prayers as penance for my sins. I went astray from the church. When I was 15 I lived with a pastor and his wife, they are awesome people. I got saved, I told everyone I believed that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that through his death I am saved from my sins. Ah, seems lovely, but in all practicality as a teenage girl it didn't really mean a whole lot in my heart. I still did what wasn't really considered "Godly". I drank, I smoked, I had sex (before marriage), I cussed (like a sailor), I did drugs and I really didn't give a crap what people thought of it. I did all the things I had been told would get me a one way ticket to hell. But I had been told that as long as I believed that Jesus died for my sins that I would be forgiven and get into Heaven.
For many years I strayed from religion. I didn't have a desire really to build my relationship with God, I didn't really know if I believed in my relationship with him? I couldn't fathom why he would ever let anything bad happen to me if I was this child he loved so much? I went through so many trials and tribulations and all the while I thought I could do it on my own. Or I would pray to God only as a last resort instead of making it my first choice. There are so many things in my life that I let get in the way of me building a relationship with the only man in my life that will never forsake me, never leave me, always lift me up when I fall, always stand by my side when I walk the road of life with my head up, and the man that will carry me when I feel like I just can't go on anymore. Ah, you would think I was talking about my husband and to an extent my husband does those things for me, and God says he's suppose to do those things, but men are imperfect and he just can't be every single thing I need in my life at every moment in my life. The only man in my life that can do that is God. Ah, and where has God been the last however many years of my life I was doing all the things I shouldn't be doing? He's always been there for me, it's just been up to me to call on him. I still stray from religion, organized religion scares me. Someone telling me how I should be Godly or how I should be a Christian doesn't work for me. Someone telling me the Bible instead of allowing me to read it for myself, scares me, because are they really telling me what the Bible says? Someone telling me that I must attend church, that I must give 10% of my income to the church that I must go to Bible Study, that I must have my kids baptized or see them burn in hell is FREAKY!!! Who wouldn't RUN from the Lord with all of those conditions placed on you? Statistics are showing these days that many people are turning to Atheism and away from Christianity and why? Because of the lip service Christians provide. You know the Christians that attend church on Sunday and judge the rest of us who, drink, smoke, wear jeans in the house of God, spank or yell at our kids, and do other things they think are wrong. Just for the rest of us to see those same Christians screaming in the parking lot of the local Walmart at their kids. I'm a believer in if you talk the talk you should walk the walk. Now, you're asking me in your head what I'm talking about because you know I cuss, you know I yell at my kids (a lot), you know I drink, you know I like to have fun and you know there are a lot of things in my life that judgmental Christians wouldn't approve of. I'd be lying if I said I am running the path of the straight and narrow and that I'm never going to say the F word again and I'm never going to lose my temper with my kids and I'm done having a drink with dinner or going out with friends. And do I really need to add liar to my list of judgments that God will ultimately make on me? Yes I am saved by the Grace of God and the death of Jesus Christ, I am worthy and I get Grace for free, I don't have to "earn" it. God wants me to walk the path he has set for me, that he decided for me before I was born. But he knows I'm human, he knows I will stumble and fall he knows that I'm not PERFECT and he loves me anyway. And he says to me that if I confess my sins to him they will be forgiven. And now you're thinking... that sounds good, but your God forgives a guy who murders someone as long as he confesses it? Not exactly, God says that when you ask forgiveness you have to truly believe it in your heart, and that you're not suppose to do it again. So just saying yeah, I'm sorry I killed that guy doesn't get you your ticket into heaven.
Where am I going with this blog? Here's where........ It's about me!! Yes I'm being selfish (imagine that), but I'm being selfish in a different way. What do I mean? I mean recently I decided to attend the base chapel (air force base here called Peterson), I took my kids on their retreat and we had a good time. Then I went to Church a bit, then I tried the MOPS Group then I tried PWOC then I got sick, then I made excuse after excuse not to go to church or do any of it..... but this little voice inside me kept telling me I needed something, I needed some strength and I needed to figure out where it was going to come from. So I went to church, and the voice got louder, it said what do you need? How can you be strong for your family if you yourself are not strong? How can you convince others to have faith in you if you have no faith in yourself or anything else? Then I saw Pat. Pat is one of the Chaplin's wife and she is a minister herself. She told me I should try the PWOC (Protestant Women Of the Chapel) Group again, that they were just starting a new study and she was teaching one of them. So the voice got even stronger, and I thought but its early and I don't want to get out of bed that early.... but the voice said "you need this" so I went... and I went again and now I've been going for a month straight. And the voice inside me is even louder, and stronger!!! I've been reading my Bible. I got The Message Bible as a gift and it reads more like a story instead of verses with all those thees and thines etc. I can't understand in King James. Now, for some people King James is the only Bible to read but for me that doesn't work. Some people love hymnals, but for me Christian Contemporary and Rock is the only way to listen to music. And you know what, I'm listening to that voice a lot harder now. It's making a difference in my life. Little differences many people won't notice now. For example I'm cussing less (that doesn't mean I've stopped) but b/c of my changes and my new feelings toward God, I just don't feel right swearing. And when I do, I really honestly stop and think ew, I shouldn't do that, I don't need to do that, Lord I'm sorry and I'm really trying hard to be better. I've tried to stop yelling so much at my family. It's hard, they push my buttons and anxiety and anger are some things that I need to work on as I continue to build my faith but I'm actually making a serious effort to not yell so much. Some of you will be skeptics and I don't blame you, I too have been a skeptic of what having faith can do for me in my life. But I've found a place I belong, I'm not judged, no one cares if I wear jeans to church, and while they miss me if I don't come, no one says you must attend or judges me for not being there. I'm okay writing my check for what I can afford as an offering and signing it instead of feeling bad if it's only $5.00. I'm blessed. I truly believe that I am blessed and that is all I can offer you if you are skeptical of me right now. I know I'll stumble, I know I'll fall, I know my FB posts and blogs won't be all rainbows and roses but I also know that as I grow my faith the more peace and wonderful things I'll have in my life and the more at peace with myself I'll feel. That's why it's about me. It's about this relationship I want to have with God, it's about this feeling of peace I want to have, you can't even imagine how great I feel right now? I can't even explain it? So the title of my blog is "Give Me Revelation".... at the bottom of my blog is a song list and there is a song of this same title. For me music and song lyrics are how I relate life.  So here are the lyrics b/c this is how I have been feeling for so long and things are finally beginning to make sense to me..... Have a listen...
Revelation by Third Day
"My life, 
Has led me down the road that's so uncertain
And now I am left alone and I am broken, 
Trying to find my way, 
Trying to find the faith that's gone
This time, 
I know that you are holding all the answers
I'm tired of losing hope and taking chances, 
On roads that never seem, 
To be the ones that bring me home

Give me a revelation, 
Show me what to do
Cause I've been trying to find my way, 
I haven't got a clue
Tell me should I stay here, 
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I've got nothing without You
I've got nothing without You

Has led me down this path that's ever winding
Through every twist and turn I'm always finding, 
That I am lost again (I am lost again)
Tell me when this road will ever end

Give me a revelation, 
Show me what to do
Cause I've been trying to find my way, 
I haven't got a clue
Tell me should I stay here, 
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I've got nothing without You
I've got nothing without... 

I don't know where I can turn
Tell me when will I learn
Won't You show me where I need to go
Oh oh
Let me follow Your lead, 
I know that it's the only way that I can get back home

Give me a revelation, 
Show me what to do
Cause I've been trying to find my way, 
I haven't got a clue
Tell me should I stay here, 
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I've got nothing without You
I've got nothing without You

Oh, give me a revelation... 

I've got nothing without You
I've got nothing without You"

Ah, A new year has arrived. While I'd like to believe that I will blog more this year, I am not making any promises that I will probably break.


Last year held some exciting events for the Brown Family. We FINALLY sailed off (or flew off rather) that terrible Island of Oahu (that I do kind of think about fondly from time to time now). I miss my Ms. Liz & Mr. Charlie, Sherrie & Phil and of course my Barb & Dave (who have since gone back to Germany on their next adventure), but not before visiting us in Colorado for one good Patron night :).

We had a house built for us (over the phone) here in Colorado Springs and closed it in June 2011. We love it, it's amazing, it's big and it's just perfect for us. Five Bedrooms, finished basement w/rec room, loft for Andy and I with our giant flat screen and Lazy Boy Recliners and 3 1/2 bathrooms, kitchen with island and a decent sized fenced in yard. Not to mention a view of Pike's Peak. It's just wonderful.

Andy got a new truck shortly after we bought the house, well the same weekend actually. It's a Titan he loves it, it's perfect for him and as he says, it's the only thing he owns that is just his.

My brother Donald got married to his long time sweetheart Kristen Wiltse this summer. I demanded that I get off of that damn island in time to be there for the nuptials and my loving husband made it happen. Thankfully I had some extra help from Momma Gail with the kiddos and we got to spend some time in MO with my Sis-in-Law Amanda & family and of course the Webb's and Gowen's. It was cold in MO when we got there, well I thought it was, everyone there just figured I was crazy. I did forget how excruciatingly painful and HOT it can be in TN that time of year though, and even though it was just the end of May, it felt like mid July! Lucky for us we got to TN just in time for the cicadas to hit and they were EVERYWHERE!! It was quite the experience. We got to visit with Nelson too while we were in TN, but shortly after my brothers wedding, he too packed up his life and moved to GA where he got offered a job he couldn't refuse. My brother and his bride had quite the lovely wedding though. I am so happy for them.


After closing the house we headed straight up to NY to get my LEO BUDDY and to see my BABY BABY Sister Amber Jean graduate high school. She looked lovely and I'm so proud of her. HHS has a new auditorium, it looks nice, it was very strange visiting one of my old Alma maters. As much as I miss my family, I don't miss Upstate NY very much. A big thanks to my sis Ang and her hubby Jim for letting us stay a few days and for taking care of my big fat ass dog! Even though, I think it's your fault he's fat now.

We headed back to Momma Gail's in NE, she knows that I couldn't possibly thank her enough for all that she did this summer, keeping the kids, driving half the country with me, but I'll say it again anyway, you are much appreciated.


We moved in finally at the very end of June, right after celebrating our 9th Anniversary and my 34th Birthday.. Yeah I turn the big 3-5 this year.. scary! The kids have adjusted well, made friends and seem to be enjoying their schools. I think they are all happy they are in different schools from each other this year. Can you believe my Emily is a freshman and Billy isn't far behind? Furthermore can you believe that Grace will start school in the fall of 2013?? CRAZY!! Aiden is in 2nd... man where does the time go?



We've had a few visitors already. Mom and Aunt Margo came to visit and painted all of the kids rooms while they were here. We love them, and thank you both for all the time and effort you spent. It never goes unnoticed.




Ms Liz visited us too!! Although, I feel your visit was ENTIRELY TOO SHORT, I was glad to spend time with you and thankful to you for making me look amazing for the Ball Andy and I attended.


I'm looking forward to many of you visiting us this year.


We've been prepping for yet another long separation from each other.. cheer up peeps, don't be sad, we're out of Iraq now and that's one less war zone for us to be in... although I'm not thinking it would be to far fetched to say we could end up in some others? This separation won't be quite as long as the last 4 have been, there will be no R&R, which may be a blessing, since we won't have to say 2 goodbyes. Yes he is headed over the ocean and of course you all know since this is the Internet, that's all you get here. We are very happy to be part of a line MP Company again. I decided to join up into the FRG again. I started as a POC but you guys know me, I just think things have to be better than okay and families deserve to have a really great FRG, so I volunteered to be FRG LDR after a little while. Some other awesome ladies have also volunteered their time so I'm excited about it. I really do enjoy helping other families like mine. Plus I've already made some really great friends that I would trust with my kids lives. And, I like our Chain of Command, they seem level headed, committed to the soldiers and their families and determined to have a successful mission. I actually TRUST THEM!!! I'm not easily impressed but it seems this company is going to do good things. Lord knows they've been training and prepping like crazy.

Speaking of the Lord, I've strengthened my faith a bit this year. I have a long way to go yet, but I've started to go to church. Peterson Air Force Base has a great contemporary non-denominational Christian service on Sundays. The kids and I went on a retreat with the church and we loved it. Had a blast, met some great people. I still have a hard time getting fully involved, I'm a bit gun shy considering I had stepped away from church and religion for so long. I think that's why I like this service, b/c most of the people attending are military so we have a common bond there, and it's not you must be a Catholic, or a Protestant or a Methodist or whatever... you can just go and BE and listen to the message, and talk and walk with God how you feel comfortable without judgment. Plus I get to wear jeans to service so that's great for me too and they don't care if Grace gets antsy or loud lol.

I'm content right now where I am, where we are in our lives. 2011 was a crazy ride. I'm excited to see what 2012 brings for us. We will celebrate BIG THINGS this year. Andy and I will be married 10 YEARS this June, some of you placed bets we wouldn't make it past 6 months.. did you ever pay up??? I will turn 35 and while it feels like I'm getting old, at the same time, I'm realizing I need to grab my life by the balls and embrace the now, because I still have a LONG way to go before old age puts me in a grave. Billy will become a teenager at the end of this year. Emily will be 15 which is old enough for a permit in Colorado apparently? SCARY I KNOW!! Aiden and Grace will celebrate another year in their beautiful, carefree young lives.


That's all I have for now, I'm sure I'll post some bitchy madness over the course of the next 12 months but I'm hoping to also bring you some laughs and good things to report.




Until we meet again dear friends, I wish you love, happiness, peace and contentment in your own life, and I wish us both many many more years of friendship with each other. LOVE TO ALL.