I was going to include some photos of the house, but I've got to get the external hard drive hooked up (photos stored externally) so I'll try to post some later. It really is a gorgeous home, and such a peaceful place with all the nature and woods around it.

Update 8/19/08: The episode was so popular HGTV is airing it again Aug. 31 at 7:00 a.m. Wow, a rerun in just five weeks! I wish I hadn't been so vocal over the years about not mixing business and family. I'd love to be my uncle's agent ;)

I don't usually blog about religious topics, even though my faith is an integral part of my daily life and core being; however, today's sermon On Being Tired, was one with which many of us can relate, regardless of religious background or beliefs, so I thought it worth sharing a few key points.

Dr. DeBevoise noted that much of our seeming tiredness today comes not from physical exhaustion but the demands placed on us [and that we place on ourselves}. It's the difference in being physically tired versus something that makes us feel tired. Things that make us feel tire include discouragement, frustration, failure, tension, worry and disappointment.

So how do you overcome being tired all the time?

"Energy comes from commitment and we get tired when we feel like what we are doing does't matter" he told us. I know that's often true for me. I seem to get tired much quicker sitting at my desk cleaning out emails than rushing around handling last minute details before a big event or promotion. The former takes no physical energy or strength yet it's the latter that gets me energized.

Dr. DeBevoisie suggests handling tiredness by telling the truth to God about what is making you tired: that big deal that fell through, or the friend that let you down. He reminded us that prayers [about] exhaustion and defeat are also prayers or renewal and strength. My interpretation is that you acknowledge the things that are bothering you, ask God for help is getting through challenging times, and then move on (personally I like to acknowledge the blessings as well as the challenges).

I guess I won't be taking a nap this afternoon after all :)

I use text messaging on a regular basis, for both business and personal communication, and have found it to be invaluable.

The article is well written and Etan really did a great job capturing the parts of my response that were (in my mind) a bit disjointed. It's nice to be quoted accurately but then, he's a pretty sharp journalist so I'm not surprised.

Between client projects, lots of exciting new work, and travel, my own (Elizabeth Charles & Associates) work always gets back burnered. I fully understand the old saying "the cobbler's children have no shoes."

Twitter has become my new favorite app and it's so much quicker and easier than blogging. I can make a quick comment or two and voila! It's uploaded. It's easy to use and since the capacity is a whopping 160 characters max per post, no one expects a long drawn out commentary. You get straight to the point. And it's a great way to expand your current network and grow your business.

Follow me on twitter: wkurtz.

My client Casey Wohl, author of Girls Getaway Guide to Orlando: Leave Your Baggage at Home, has the same mindset. In fact, she's posted a great list of tips for having a fabulous Valentine's day, even if you're single.

Today, I'm no longer single. I'm happily married. In fact, 10 years ago today, Valentine's day took on an extra special meaning for me. That's the day my husband and I got married. We didn't intentionally plan to get married on Valentine's day, our church was booked on the date we first considered. So we bumped it up a week; still booked; OK, try the week before that...voila'; it was available. Valentine's day just happened to land on a Saturday. Caught up in the excitement of getting married, it slipped by both of us until meeting with the florist who said "your roses are going to be much more expensive that day."

As my husband joked when we realized the magnitude of the situation (the church coordinator actually had couples ask her to see if we'd switch dates with them), at least he'll never forget our anniversary! So, here we are at the Ritz-Carlton celebrating with a few days of R&R (ok, and just a few emails) and looking forward to what life has in store for us over the next ten years and beyond. Whatever it is, it will continue to be a wonderful journey.

Happy Valentine's Day!