Ups and Downs of the Market

With the Dow Jones and S&P 500 going up and down with no one really knowing what is happening, it’s easy for fear to make its home in our hearts.

I have quite a different view of the market though. When mutual funds and stocks plummet, I see this as an opportunity. Yes, I know it is affecting my 401K. It’s also a good time to look for stocks that are of good value.

The Apple Company “has achieved the status as the most valuable company in the world” according to an article in TechZone360.

Another article in SeekingAlpha states that “Apple will be the most valuable company in 2012.” Very interesting.

I remember a few years back, our son told us to buy Apple stock. Back then, the company was what I considered stodgy — not really going anywhere. The iPods had just started to come out. Stock worth? Approximate $19 a share. At end of day today, a share of Apple stock is at $365.60. At one point in July, an Apple share was $404.  If only …

Opportunities still exist to purchase Apple stock along with other stocks that have good (low) P/E ratios.

So — don’t fear. There’s nothing we can do about it anyway. Don’t sell low unless you have an absolute need for the money today.

Worse case scenario — you lose all your money. You’ll still have your life and (hopefully) loved ones that surround you.

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[amazon_link id=”B002PXVZ40″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Money (1-year auto-renewal)[/amazon_link]

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Puerto Rican Hot Chocolate

I’m always on the hunt for good hot chocolate — even on hot Minnesota days. I can’t explain it …  When I visit my sister, she pulls out a bag of Chocolate Corte. The chocolate is ground up (molido) and all you need is a mug of warm milk and 3 tablespoons of the chocolate. A quick heating on the stovetop until it reaches the right temperature completes the process.

Chocolate Cortes

A Puerto Rican man, Don Pedro, started the company called Chocolate Cortes in an effort to elevate the Caribbean cacao to a “position of respect and envy” around the world.

Good job Don Pedro!

 

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Green Ash Tree

I ran across this small branch of leaves which I believe belong to the green ash tree.

Green Ash Leaf

I know the leaves are definitely from an ash tree and compared it to the white ash tree. The leaves on the white ash tree have more “leaflets” on the branch. The black ash tree also has more “leaflets” on the branch.

So my Dear Watson — I would like to deduce that the leaves are from the Green Ash Leaf. Anyone please correct me if I’m wrong.

 

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Best Time to See Deer in Minnesota

My husband and I went for a walk this evening around 7:00 p.m.

Trees

Up ahead, I noticed a woman who had stopped and had a large camera with her. She was taking a picture of a doe who was on the roadside eating. We stood still for awhile. The doe would lift its head up and look at us every now and again. After awhile it leapt away.

During this hour walk we saw several deer. I hadn’t realized that they come out before dusk to feed.

Note to self — always bring your camera on walks with you.

 

 

 

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Minnesota Breaks Record

This year, Minnesota broke another record — the most humid summer. It has also been one of the top rainiest summers. I think we get more sunshine in the winter than in the summer — judging from one winter/summer here.

The rain is very different from Seattle rain. In Seattle, one has a drizzle with cloudy skies. In Minnesota, the rain comes down hard and one gets wet quite quickly.

We’ve had 3 trees affected by the constant rain and a small mudslide onto one of our parking strips.

Rain … I do like but I think it’s a little much this year.

Rain in Minnesota

 

 

 

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Growing Up With Spiritualism – Part 3

When I was about 5 years old, we lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex in Chicago. On this particular day, we had company over who were going to spend the night — my cousins and their parents. With night approaching, the three or so cots were pulled out and arranged side by side in the living room.

Two to three of us children crawled into the cots. The adults were in the kitchen and us kids were squirmy. It was a hot and dark night so the windows were wide open.

Suddenly, we heard flapping. What could it be? More flapping sounds were heard. Squealing kids could be heard and parents rushed toward the living room. A light came on. Immediately my mother yelled “Put the sheets over your heads.” Fear was in our hearts but obedience rose to the occasion.

Something landed on my head. I lay still, very still and too afraid to move.

A broom, a plastic bag and alcohol — those were the items used to kill and catch the bat that was flying through the air of our living room.

Bat

My mother believed the bat was “sent” to us so by someone who intended evil for our family — it was considered a bad omen. She kept it in the plastic pouch until about 15 years ago.

A long time to keep a bad omen.

 

Image from: www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1521″>Image: maple / FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></p>

 

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Depression in the Bible

Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!

Isn’t that the truth? When you consider life and what we toil for? It all seems in vain. Are all of our actions meaningless? We work for money to buy things — clothes, food, houses, cars, boats, stocks and bonds … for what? Eventually we die and whatever is left behind goes to someone else — the government, a family member, a friend or to animals.

We work — someone else inherits. And on and on it goes. The Bible not only speaks of the meaningless of life but also of people who struggled with depression. A son of King David had everything — houses, land, children, women, food … and yet his mind was finding everything in life futile.

I saw that wisdom is better than folly,
just as light is better than darkness.
The wise have eyes in their heads,
while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
that the same fate overtakes them both.

Then I said to myself,

“The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
What then do I gain by being wise?”
I said to myself, “This too is meaningless.”
For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered;
the days have already come when both have been forgotten.
Like the fool, the wise too must die!

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.  Ecclesiastes 2:12-19

Ouch! This guy must be really down. Or, perhaps he was aging and was starting to figure our what matters in life. A reading of the whole book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that the people in the Bible were just like us — all struggling in their existence.

The author eventually makes the point that we mustn’t keep our eyes on the things of this earth. Everything here appears meaningless. Our focus must be on the things beyond this earth. A better land — one with no selfishness, no complaining, no suffering, no aches and pains, no DEATH (I like that one).

Otherwise — all we have is non-existence.

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The Tongue

Words — they seem to have an impact on what we think of ourselves. They can help or hinder, bless or curse, uplift or tear down. Using one small piece of our anatomy — the tongue. The tongue helps us to make sounds that make the words come out.

  • Thank you
  • I enjoyed the meal you made
  • I like the shirt you’re wearing
  • You have a nice smile
Words can have us walking with our heads lifted up high all day or they can leave us with low self-esteem.
  • That color doesn’t look good on you
  • I don’t need your help
  • You are ugly
  • I don’t like having you around
  • Have you considered joining Weight Watchers?
We should pause more often before we speak to make sure our words will uplift instead of tear someone down.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  James 3:5

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A Balm in Gilead

Balm — a substance, oily and sometimes fragrant, that often has medicinal value.

This world needs a balm. The older I get, the more pain and suffering I see. Is it because I’m older and more cognizant of my surroundings? Am I more in tune with people than when I was younger?

We are responsible for a lot of what happens and is happening. Our poor choices cause harm to us and to others and yet we continue the cycle. Whether it’s environmental, emotional, physical, political — the people on this earth need healing. I need healing.

Sometimes when I can’t sleep, I read, pray, or sit quietly listening to my thoughts or turn on my iPod and listen to music. My heart aches for people who are suffering — death, physical or emotional ailments, family breakups, marriage dissolutions. Who are we kidding? As much as we would not like to depend on each other, we need each other.

Is there no balm for this earth? When tears fall from my eyes, I look upward to the heavens and ask “How much longer before You return and Your promise of no more suffering is finally fulfilled ?”

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  Revelation 21:4

There is a Balm in Gilead …

Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.

If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus and say, “He died for all.”
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.

Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge, He’ll never refuse to lend.
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.

Make us whole Lord Jesus. Make us whole.

 

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