FAMILY REUNION - Weekly Summary for Active Rain "Family Ties" Group - 11/30/07

As most of you may already be aware,  I co-founded a group called Family Ties back in September, along with my friend Adam Waldman.  This group is currently moderated by me, Adam, and Paul Slaybaugh. 

The group was started about two and a half months ago, and we continue to grow at a nice pace.  We went from 133 to 147 members this week  and from 550 to 643 posts.  We are currently the 11th most active group on Active Rain!  Thanks to all members for helping make that happen! 

Welcome to all new group members.  Thanks so much for your participation.

Here is a selection of my some of my favorite posts to appear within the group over the past week or so, including one of my own this week.  If you like any of the posts below, please consider subscribing to the author's blog.  You will not be disappointed, I assure you.  I subscribe to all of the bloggers included here.

Isn't It Cool How Sometimes We Just Know?  by Shannon Lefevre

Shannon's touching post was a natural fit for Family Ties.  It is memorable, poignant, and relatable, with a dash of her terrific personality. 

Holiday Lights in the Red Rocks: Sedona AZ   by Paul Slaybaugh

I felt like I was with Paul and his family as he painted a wonderful picture of their getaway to Sedona.  You may know Paul as the resident AR funny man, but this shows Paul's other side, as a dedicated husband and father.

A Warning to Parents ....MySpace Hoax Turned Deadly by Lisa Ryan

Lisa provides a stark reminder to all parents about the dangers of unmonitored internet use by kids and teenagers.

Buying a Home and Building Relationships for Life  by Kathleen Vetrano

Kathleen discusses the benefits of home ownership that extend beyond building equity - time spent with family and neighbors.  After reading this, you may want to make a trip to see Kathleen and her family!

So Many Faces In And Out Of My Life  by Adam Waldman

Adam weaves a vivid mental picture of his last day of high school in this first-of-four in a series using the lyrics from Billy Joel's "Say Goodbye to Hollywood".  This is a great trip down nostalgia lane.

Families That Are Stitched Together With Love... Seldom Unravel   by Karen Anne Stone

Karen Anne is a kind and sensitive agent, and she tells the story here of handling a delicate client situation with grace and integrity. 

Lessons from Mr. Magorium   by Sarah Eubanks

Although I still haven't managed to see this movie, Sarah's post made me committed to seeing this one with my kids.  Great lessons for all of us.

Bragging on My Son and A Dance Party, too! Can it Get any Better?  by Jason Crouch

I shared some info about the new exercise program that we are working on with my son, along with the soundtrack from our latest family "dance party".  Hope you like it!

If you haven't joined or even visited the group yet, here is the description that I wrote there to give you some idea of what we are all about:

First question: Is this a fan club for the 80's sitcom? No. I just wanted to think of something memorable for this group. This is meant to be a fun place to escape the daily drama of the real estate industry. Please feel free to post any family stories or lessons here. We envision this as a great place to share funny stories about kids, marriage, siblings, parenting, or anything family-related. Posts may relate business to family life, or they may be about striking a healthy balance between career and life. Welcome to Family Ties!

So come on over and check it out!  We're like one big happy family in this great group!  If you aren't visiting this group, I can assure you are missing out on some terrific writing.  I look forward to seeing you there.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks!

Here are November's group wrapups, in case you missed any of them:

FAMILY REUNION - Weekly Summary for Active Rain "Family Ties" Group - 11/9/07

FAMILY REUNION - Weekly Summary for Active Rain "Family Ties" Group - 11/16/07

FAMILY REUNION - Weekly Summary for Active Rain "Family Ties" Group - 11/23/07  

JOIN FAMILY TIES RIGHT NOW