Way To Go Mom!

I know this is kind of long, but check it out. My mom has been working so hard to get this program moving. It's so amazing, and it's really happening! Congratulations Mom!

Homes for helping hands

By PATRICK O'BRIENStaff writer
COEUR d'ALENE -- School teachers, firefighters, food service workers, workers in manufacturing -- the very people working in the community beside you -- now have increased opportunity for that fundamental piece of the American dream: home ownership.

The North Idaho Housing Coalition, in partnership with Copper Basin Construction, has created a program to assist families that have good credit and a steady income with the up-front money necessary for buying a home."If there is anything that comes out of this discussion, in my mind, it is the business of holding hands," said Linda Davis, Copper Basin sales director and NIHC board member, "It's a tremendous cooperative effort that is pretty unique in the country."Davis explained that the collaborative program helps the community in an ongoing cyclical nature. Beyond the empowering benefit for individuals and families purchasing their own home, employers benefit from having a local and motivated workforce. Home purchases further increase the demand for new home construction. Perhaps most importantly, potential homeowners are required to give back to the community through volunteering with a nonprofit or charity of their choice."It's not a handout, it's an opportunity to make this community a better place by doing this community service called 'Deeds of Distinction,'" Davis said.North Idaho Housing Coalition began back in 2006 and early 2007 when executive director Lori Isenberg, together with Kootenai Perspectives, facilitated several workshops with city and county officials as well as prominent business members to address the problem of workforce housing in Kootenai County. From the beginning, Copper Basin Construction founders Steve White and Greg Gervais were committed to the cause."It was really the willingness of Copper Basin to put some money in and put some homes in and come up with these ideas," said Lori Isenberg, executive director of NIHC. "This is a priority for the community ... we have got to get people in homes, home ownership is important."Gervais agrees
"The ability to provide workforce housing for the community and the businesses that are here, helps make a more stable and economic climate for the whole county," he said.North Idaho Housing Coalition, which registered for its 501 (c) 3 status in February 2008, will see its first participants, Steve and Michelle Bowen, move into a new home in February of next year."It's going to give us ... the security we have been looking for, for the past eight years," said Michelle who added that it had been a long and frustrating process to find an affordable home for her family of five.Monies donated from Copper Basin Construction to North Idaho Housing Coalition assist buyers with the cash needed to purchase one of the Copper Basin homes. The expense is recorded as a "soft" second mortgage against the property, but no interest or payments are required.Homeowners have three ways of paying off the loan: By refinancing the original mortgage, buyers can pay off the loan directly as soon as they are financially capable.For homes purchased between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009, a $7,500 first-time homeowners tax credit, available from the federal government, can be claimed on the purchaser's income tax return. Davis said she was particularly excited about the credit, as it would allow repayment of the second mortgage in a matter of months, thereby recirculating cash back to NIHC to assist other families.In the third scenario, owners sell their homes, repaying the second mortgage to NIHC, in addition to a ratioed share of the equity."The idea is simply so that when the money comes back to the coalition, they can help somebody in the same way that they helped you," Davis said.While not everyone may be at the financial juncture to qualify for the second mortgage program, Davis and Isenberg said NIHC is committed to aiding people wherever they may be on the journey to home ownership. In addition to the community service component, NIHC requires participants to take a first-time homebuyers educational program.Mountain West Bank and Panhandle State Bank are also partnering with the North Idaho Housing Coalition to set up the mortgages and can work with people who have imperfect credit."The lenders from the different institutions ... are collaborating on these loans so that no one gets lost. If there is a better program at another institution, send them over there," Davis said.Additionally, NIHC works with the lenders to get people into mortgages with a monthly payment similar to their rent. Based on a six percent, 30-year fixed loan for a new home costing $129,900, payments could be as low as $780, according to information provided by the coalition."We want this to be a positive, positive, positive experience," Davis said, "positive with your loan, positive with your counseling, and positive with your education.""I think one of the things that we've certainly liked about (NIHC's) approach and why we're willing to step up and support it is, it's not just you either fit or you don't," said Copper Basin President Steve White. "It keeps (potential buyers) engaged with somebody ... to get them there. If it's not today maybe it's six months, maybe it's a year," he said."We don't want 'no' to be an option," Davis said.For more information contact Lori at (208) 665-9922 or Linda at (208) 755-3637 or go to www.northidahohousing.org.

Steven's Around

We have been so excited to have Steven around the last few days. Since starting at Paul Mitchell he's been working 6 days a week, and we miss him a lot. So, we stuffed everything we could into 3 days of having him home. And of course by stuff, I mean decorate for Christmas and do little else.

Cooper must have been waiting for his daddy because he started crawling today! He's not getting far before he falls, but he's doing it! It's so bizarre to think that this is something that he has completely figured out on his own. By the way, Cooper started when Steve and I were sitting on the couch and Steven got so excited he said, "Hurry take a picture, It's crawling!!" Thank Tim.

As described in my previous post, we've begun to venture outside into the cold. We met the McCoy's at Riverside Park to watch them ice skate. I didn't think I should skate since I'm pregnant, and Steven didn't think he should skate since the 3 elements of ice skating are

1. Something Cold

2. Something Hard

3. Something Sharp

We were so happy to get a chance to see the McCoy's! We miss them so much since they are in Arizona at Medical School. We are so amazed at you guys!

Back to work Monday!

Traditions

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a peaceful and happy day.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, during which we were totally able to relax. Steven and I left the cooking to my mom, (who left the cooking to the Resort), and we left our Spokane dinner to Dan, Sydni, Staci, and Marsha. We started over at the Davis household. We had a great time with the kids, and watching various sports and the movie Wall E. Cooper had a rough day with teething and cried most of the day. It was difficult for me, if I have a preconceived idea of how I expect or want something to go, it's difficult for me to change that idea and feel fulfilled if it doesn't go that way. So, in this situation I had imagined Cooper lovingly playing with cousins and family, which happened about 10% of the time. So, I was frustrated.

Then, when the food arrived at the house, we all dug in, it was amazing. It wasn't long before I watched Steven quietly walk to the diaper bag and take some Benedryl. Poor guy had a reaction to something, not even sure what, and while the rest of us had Thanksgiving dinner together, he was busy trying to make sure he could still breathe. So, again, I began to feel bummed that things weren't necessarily going to plan. Steven was okay after a while, but he was so sweet. His main concern was not to ruin anything, and later told me it was one of the worst reactions he's had.

So, we packed up and headed to have dinner with the Spokane Clan. Dinner was amazing, (Steven got to eat!), and it was so fun to be with more family. I learned an important lesson that night about all my frustrations. That morning my mother-in-law (hereafter referred to as Marsha) opened her turkey to prepare it for dinner, only to find that it was rotten. With I imagine no complaints she jumped into her car and drove around all Thanksgiving morning looking for a new one. When I heard this story I was first disgusted, and then impressed. What an awful thing, but she handled it. After hearing this story I resolved to do better with adapting.

(The 10% of the time, Mason took this picture)

Watching the movie, lots of hard work happening..

So. Friday morning rolls around and I think...I'm going to start fresh today. So, I pull out all of the Christmas decorations and get to work.

It was really fun. I got a lot done with some interspersed help from Steven. He instead chose to Unleash the Force. I was trying to hurry so we could meet Mom and Dad Davis downtown Cd'A for the Christmas Parade and Fireworks. I was so happy to see that as I decorated it started to snow. So classic right? So, I was working on wrapping the banister, which seemed to take about 5 million years. I finally get everything down, garland, lights, bows, and then when Steven finds the extension cord and plugs it in for me, half of it doesn't work. (Beginning of my downhill) So, I quickly think "Adapt", so I outwardly say, I'll fix it later, and inwardly say, Crap. Onward!

So, we get everything loaded and downtown. When we get there we unload stroller, blankets, and coats and mittens and boots for Cooper. As each layer gets put on, he gets unhappier and unhappier. We don't even make it halfway to our destination before Steven is carrying him, and I'm frustrated because he isn't all toasty in the stroller.*Note: At this point it isn't snowing, it's raining and snowing. So, cute mom trying to make the best of our extra time which is usually spent with hot chocolate blankets and laughter, suggests all kinds of fun things, and each bombs in it's own way. Coopers losing it, so I bend down to make him a bottle from the WARM water I packed (amazing right?), and I discovered that I forgot the actual bottle at home. Not adapting. Not adapting. Steven suggests everything under the sun, including him driving all the way home and back, so that I can stay for the fireworks. We're soaked, hungry, and I'm frustrated that things aren't going according to my plan. Needless to say, it was a pretty miserable elemental experience, but I learned something from Dad towards the end. We're trying to get to the park, and Dad says, "Why are traditions important? We've been coming to stuff like this with you kids forever. It's hardly ever been enjoyable for your Mom and I, but all you kids remember in the end was that you were a little cold, and that you saw fireworks and had hot chocolate. Meanwhile, all we heard was that you were hungry, cold, and had to go the bathroom. But, it's the tradition, you remember the hard ones more fondly when you're older."

So, I thought back to our family traditions and recalled a dropped Thanksgiving Turkey, a knocked over Christmas tree, Abby marching up the Clarkston hill Christmas Eve, and so many others. It's totally true. I remember the difficult ones more.

I learned such an important lesson this weekend. Even though the experience was absolutely miserable, I will always remember it. Always. Thanks Dad.

Brave Enough?

I did some Thanksgiving shopping today, it totally snuck up on me. I tried to trick Steven into going shopping with me tonight, but he didn't fall for it. So, I of course expected the crowds and everything, but about halfway through the excursion I realized what was happening. (When I say excursion, I mean excursion. Target, Costco, Walmart)

I realized that the stores were so crazy because they have about twice as many people working. Not working on helping people, but working on getting ready for shoppers coming on Friday. I waited in a Walmart traffic jam FOREVER because all those poor employees were trying to set up and match prices from the ads in the paper. They all had their own copy of the ad, and they were totally wrinkled and written on. I'll never forget delivering newspapers in Orem on Black Friday. Mobs of people were lined up everywhere. It's crazy to me.

Are you brave enough to shop on Black Friday? Do you wait all night outside, hide stuff in the store the day before? Or are you like me, and not even leaving the house on Friday?

It Seems Only Fair..

I have been given a wonderful gift, and it only seemed fair that I pass it on. My mother-in-law has some genius gift for finding awesome books. I've learned that if she recommends a book to me, I'm going to love it. So, I thought it only fair that I pass on these recommendations, considering that we all are usually looking for a good book.

I'm not going to give anything away. I loved it, and chances are you will too.

Book #1

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Check it Out!

Self Control

Self control...I have it! I am only letting myself post 5 pictures from our family pictures. It's hard, believe me.

I just wanted to shout from the mountain-tops how amazing Randi is. I hate having my picture taken, it makes me incredibly nervous. But Randi helped me laugh my way through the actual picture taking experience. Also, I have never enjoyed looking at the end result before, and I could have looked at all of the pictures for hours, but Steven made me put my computer down. So, I adore the pictures, I adore Randi.

If you have toyed around with the idea of family pictures, please call her. She does amazing work, and she is often traveling, she might be in your area and you could miss her!

Link to her website here!

Thank you Randi

Magnificence

So, Steven has a really big open house this evening... and asked if I would please buzz his head this morning, so that he looked put together. Mid-buzz my clippers died. We both looked at each other with a look of panic. The saddest part of the story is that it took us both about 20 minutes to realize that he works at a hair school, and by some miracle someone there might be able to fix it. So, here he is, in all his glory.

My husband, the beauty industry...who knew?!