BethAnn Long REALTOR, e-PRO

It was as if it was planned. At 11:00 am on Thanksgiving day 2008 , a gentle snowfall begins. Setting the stage for a perfect holiday. Just enough snow to make you glad you are inside with people you love. Our relatives from California and Florida are giddy at the sight. The locals, still recovering from last winter -grin and bear it. The ski bums are hooting and hollering- Let it SNOW!

Whatever you think of snow and winter, the first snowfall is magical. It can put you almost in a trance when you watch the snow falling so silently, gracefully.

My daughter came home from our family rehearsal today (we are giving a benefit concert) and went straight for the snow pants and made a 5' tall snowman in 20 minutes!

A good book, some hot chocolate and I know why I am glad to be a native of the great northwest.

Winter...so beautiful...so cold, so magical. So long.

I am blessed to remember only one Christmas in my lifetime to my recollection, where there was no snow.

Snow forts, snowmen, sledding, snow angles...ready or not, IT'S WINTER IN SPOKANE!

A magical shopping experience awaits you in Downtown Spokane WA. Nov. 28th-Dec. 23rd you can shop at both Santa Express and Venessa's Village and benefit the invaluable service that the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery provides. http://www.vanessabehan.org

This has been an incredible experience for my children since they were little. They get to shop for their friends and family members with a "Santa's helper", and even wrap the gifts all without mom and dad, so it's kept a secret! The items at Santa Express are very affordable only .50 cents to $7.50! You also give them a budget and a customized shopping list before the enter the enchanting experience. Now they have Vanessa's village for grown ups too! Brilliant.I hope you visit Santa Express and Venessa's village this year to do your Christmas Shopping. This is such a worthy cause. And to think your shopping can actually make a difference for families and children in crisis.

HOURS: MON-SAT 10am-8pm Sun. 11-6 Nov. 28-Dec. 23rd 2008

Located :Downtown Spokane Skywalk Level (Crescent Bldg. corner of Main and Wall)

See you there! Ho Ho Ho!

Blog by: BethAnn Long, Realtor Spokane WA www.bethannhomes.com

Dear Friends,

You have a rare opportunity to help change the lives of families in medical crisis, by just enjoying an evening of music!

What an easy way to make a true and real difference in the lives of seriously ill children!

Imagine how difficult it would be to have a seriously ill child. Maybe some of you have had this experience, and truly understand how foundations like Starlight can make a difference during the ongoing stress of having a hospitalized child. If you don't know what Starlight is, allow me to give you a quick intro. There are wonderful organizations that grant wishes for terminally ill children. While this fills a huge and precious need, Starlight was formed to provide ongoing services for chronically, critically and seriously ill children from diagnosis through when they turn 19. While these children are not terminally ill, many of them suffer for years, as do their families. This means many of the families use the services of Starlight for several years. Starlight also focus's on the needs of the siblings and other family members of the sick or injured child.

Please take some time to visit www.starlight-washington.org where you can learn more about Starlight and order tickets for " Emerald Legacy, an evening of music with the O'Neill family".

CONCERT IS SAT. NOV. 29TH AT 7:30 PM AT THE BING CROSBY THEATRE IN SPOKANE WA. (VIP EVENT IS AT 5:30)

For only 20$ you will enjoy a once in a lifetime concert featuring several professional musicians from the O'Neill and Long families. We truly hope you will join us in benefiting this worthy cause, and enjoy a night out for yourself!

•· VIP Prefunction at 5:30 includes a silent auction, wine tasting, small bites by the Laguna Café' and premiere seating at the concert. Tickets 50$ ea.RSVP for prefunction by 11/21

•· ONLY 20$ for concert only, general admission doors open at 7pm

• For our VIP event, we have AMAZING SILENT AUCTION ITEMS! Including:
• A trip to NEW YORK with New York Nicks package!
• A deluxe Seattle Mariners Package with accomodations, game tickets and dinner out!
• A stay st the beautiful Elkins Resort in Priest Lake!
• Deisgner Home Decor items shipped from Africa
• Several goodie baskets with everything from pet lovers and spa lovers in mind!
• River Park Square Shopping Spree!

So much more...

We hope to see you there : ORDER TICKETS ONLINE FOR EMERALD LEGACY CONCERT AND VIP EVENT:

www.starlight-washington,org

A couple years ago, our office formed an "AGENT COUNCIL" that meets twice a month. Our office, Tomlinson South Inc. has seen a lot of fruit from this approach. All agents who would like to come are welcome. We meet with the broker and managers to discuss our needs, customer service, marketing ideas, market issues, and any thing else that we feel would be of value to our clients. This forum keeps our firm very fresh and keeps communication channels open for all.

We have had some wonderful breakthroughs, brainstorming sessions, and created a new agent handbook, mission statement, planned client appriciation events, and service projects. It is a wonderful way to boost the team spirit and let each person know they are valued.

MISSION STATEMENT: (Tomlinson South, Inc. )

• Mission:To serve our community with the highest degree of excellence.
• Vision: To enrich the lives of all the people we touch.
• Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Service, Leadership, and Compassion.

I am so proud to be apart of this incredible company. We are the number one residential agency in Spokane, WA.

BethAnn Long ~ Realtor, e-PRO 509-362-4607

In this hyper -technological, overly busy, over stimultated world, I often find myself longing for the simplicity of days gone by...

Golly gee I sometimes wish I was June Cleaver. Or even a cave-person. Did they have it better or does it just seem like their lives were simpler? How can we create simplicity in our 2008 crazy lifestyles?

Sometimes, I feel like this: "Stop the world, I want to get OFF!!!"

But rarely do I really slow down. I love life, and I thrive on being busy and engaged. But I do long for a time when people were not staring at a screen half the time. I do wonder what it would be like to go back in time to when things seem to move at even a slightly less rapid pace.

I bet June Cleaver would argue that OUR lives are simpler with technology. Hmmm...

I guess that leaves me to make some choices to unplug, unwind, and embrace some good old fashioned down time.

Take a moment today to embrace a little simplicity. To truly notice a child. To read a good book. To take a breathe of outdoor fresh air. I don't really want to go back in time. I just want to remember some good old fashioned values of family, faith, and friends.

Life is precious, Time is not a given, and simplicity is a choice, and a skill we can learn.