Perception

 I have written about my wrestle with perceptions before. 

I find myself re-visiting this topic and, maybe, with more insights than I had before. I just gave a speech, where I found a different way to explain the reality of perceptions.

I asked the audience to look at this picture. 

I shared how some people will look at this picture and the first thing they will notice is the dirty, muddy, road. I have a friend that is allergic to everything and not about ANY creepy crawlies. I would bet my hard-earned money those would be her first thoughts. 

Some people will get excited OR nervous about what could be at the end of that road or driveway. Will they need to make a decision? I can feel the anxiety building.... Will the view be so spectacular they are left in awe? (Two different perceptions right here.)

Some people will be drawn to the light, which then allows them to appreciate ALL that the light is shining on. It may cause them to truly study the picture and the beauty in it. 

What is the truth? All of them and none of them, all at the same time. We form our perceptions based on our life experiences. EVERY perception we make as humans if from a limited vantage point. Therefore, how great would it be if EVERYONE moved through life knowing that there is moRE to EVERYTHING. I think we would see more second chances, more conversations, more respect, and A LOT more grace for one another. 

One of the many things I have wrestled with in business, is the general perception of others. The perception of the general public, my clients, bidders, non-profits, family, and friends....the list could go on and get broken down even more, in some regards. I wrestle with it, even though I KNOW the above..... That there is moRE to everything. There are things that I don't see. There are things that I don't understand, and the same for others. 

Over the years, I have had to learn the finesse of living with the one overall truth, which is that: Our perceptions are reached by our own experiences, which are true - BUT, all of our perceptions are limited. Thus, not the ULTIMATE truth....which is the only one that really matters. I think this is one of the major reasons grace, mercy, and forgiveness are so important to God and are in so many of His messages to us. Our perceptions will ALWAYS (until maybe when Jesus comes back) be limited. That is a fact. The more wisdom He deposits in us, the more we will know, and (most likely) need to ask forgiveness for. 

I could write a book about the role perceptions have played in the growth and restructuring of my business. However, what I REALLY want to leave you all with is this truth....this explanation. As you see changes happening around you and you feel the feels on whether or not you like it, whether or not it's "right," whether or not it is "fair," whether or not it was "handled properly," JUST REMEMBER - everyone's vantage point is different and NONE of them see the full picture. 

I am a firm believer that The Holy Spirit ebbs and flows at God's command. I am also a firm believer that The Holy Spirit is mysterious and thorough in His movements. I promise you, that our God knows each one of us so intricately. He knows how hard certain things are for us to let go. He knows our hearts in such a way, that He removes what we will not. He cuts the rope of what we keep hanging onto. He places just the right people in our path at just the right time, and removes the influence of persons, places, or things that are NOT part of His plan for our lives. So much of it won't make sense, but we want it to. 

It is why grace and mercy and forgiveness are bypassed for judgement and condemnation so often. We want to understand. We want to make it so. We want to have some handle on why things are the way they are. Yet....this is why He asks us to Just. Have. Faith. in Him. We can't. He can, and He LOVES us so incredibly and fully....WAY more than we love ourselves. Buck Up Baby! & have a little faith. You know what you know, but there is SO much you do not. Trust Him. 

Also...be sure to put perceptions where they belong. Rest in God's truth and the wisdom He has blessed you with. Doing this files off the rough edges that brush against you when experiencing the limited perception of others. 

A Legacy of Deep Respect & Gratitude

The auction project we are currently working on is for the Pagel Estate in Ganado, TX. We've been blessed to get to know and work right along side this family. We have also had the pleasure of enjoying the beautiful property, where this estate is situated, which will also be up for sale via the auction method of marketing on September 7th.

I like to share the backstories on our estate projects, to give our readers and bidders a glimpse into the life of the people and families associated with these estates. Louis & Louise Pagel were two small business owners that were very active in their community. He ran a sheet metal business & she had a sewing business where she sold fabric, sewing novelties, & made clothes and quilts. Working closely with their children, they have shared numerous stories with us, with so many exemplifying their love of fellowship, helping & being part of a community.

Both had their businesses in Ganado, which they later moved to Edna. While running those businesses and raising three children they also found time to allow the local Girl Scout Troop to hold camp on their beautiful property every year & hosted a many get togethers where Louis enjoyed cooking! Louis served as a Deputy Sheriff for Jackson County & enjoyed cooking for his colleagues.

They were very active in the Masonic Lodge & Eastern Star chapters they belonged to, as well as their church. I can tell by talking to their children that they valued family, had a sense of humor, & just really liked people. Another feeling I get from working with their children is the gentle strength they must have had. The kind of strength that speaks through actions versus words & a love and respect for people that solidified that strength. I never had the pleasure of meeting them, but I imagine they were the kind of people that listened to everyone they met & showed them respect, whether they saw eye to eye on everything or not. Something else that seems very apparent to me is that they didn't necessarily place a value on things, but more so - what those things brought and did for them in their lives. For example: it's not the money she spent on the fabric, but the time, energy, & dedication to her craft & the appreciation for what she knows can be created with the fabric by her or anyone else that has similar gifts & abilities. Everyone's story matters & I feel blessed to play a small part in theirs.

An online auction for the personal property associated with this estate is currently underway. It will start closing at 6 PM on Saturday 7/28/18. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ITEMS. There are numerous items that were accumulated over their lifetime including wonderful vintage fabric, tools, primitives, firearms, quilts, cedar chests, & so much more. Pick up will be this Sunday & those interested in the real estate you will be able to preview THIS Sunday between 1PM & 7PM.

The real property is also up for auction on September 7th. The real property consists of the home place with 5 acres adorned with 99+/- mature oak trees on the property & at least 2 pecan trees and a 1432 square foot house. An additional 7.48 acre tract is for sale at the intersection of HWY 111 & FM 1593, both having ag exemption. More information on the properties can be found here. These properties are separated by the public boat ramp and are minutes away from Lake Texana. Not to mention situated an hour or less from popular fishing destinations such as: Port Lavaca, Point Comfort & Port O'Conner; approximately half an hour from Victoria; 2 hours +/- from Austin, San Antonio, & Houston (about and hour and a half).

House & 5 Acres

House & 5 Acres

House & 5 Acres

7.48 +/- Acres

7.48 +/- Acres

7.48 +/- Acres

Estate situations can be difficult, but what better way to share the love and legacy of a family than to let items take on a new life and be shared with those that enjoy & appreciate them? What better way to bring fellowship back to the place that once was home to many gatherings?

Buck Up Baby! Check out the auction by visiting this link or downloading the "Buck Up Auctions" app for free to your smartphone. Information for the real estate can be found here. Once you click on the property of interest, look under the large picture & click the "Documents" tab for more info, including the full terms and conditions.

Buck Up & Bid! Bid! BID!
God Bless!
Heather Kaspar, NAA, TAA, REALTOR, GRI, ABOR, HAR
TXL 17037

Confusion & Trust

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!

So....I felt the need to post :). Not a whole lot of interesting stuff has been going on lately. Well....it may be interesting to you, but it's somewhat FRUSTRATING for me. I thought I'd enlighten you (a little) on just a little bit of what I'm dealing with.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the AUCTION industry, world, realm....whatever you wanna call it. I'm intrigued & really ready to PLUNGE myself into it, more than I already have, BUT....it's not like I can just quit working. While A LOT of auctioneers make a GREAT living....it didn't happen over night. I know a lot of you readers don't know me personally, but I'm the kinda gal that WANT'S IT & I WANT IT NOW :). I'm also the kind of gal that's willin' to work. I'm not sayin' that I'm the most FANTABULOUS, EXPERIENCED, FAST-TALKIN' AUCTIONEER.....b/c I'm not; but I know that I put ALL I've GOT to GIVE into whatever I need to LEARN about. So I want to DO MORE than what I'm doin', but I've gotta make it make sense.

I've had a bit of a hard time just tryin' to understand what is the "RIGHT" thing to do. I've been VERY BLESSED to have met some just AWESOME auctioneers that have AMAZING credentials & experience & ARE WILLING TO HELP ME. Sometimes.....they all want you to go in a different direction than the other, BUT you RESPECT ALL of them. Rightfully so....They've all gotten where they've gotten from hard work & payin' their dues. There are LOTS of avenues an AUCTIONEER can take. More than I EVER had thought about before I started this journey. One AUCTIONEER that I am ever so grateful for told me....."Your way too early in the game to know what "direction" you want to go in." It's weird....I knew that, but I had gotten all wound up b/c I didn't want other auctioneers I know to think that I didn't VALUE what they said & listen to them. I have been advised by a couple of people, to focus on a certain type of auction & not others. They aren't trying to slow me down. They just want me to make sure I align myself with the "right" people in the "right" fields & help me as much as possible. Here's the thing. I AM A PEOPLE PLEASER. I don't want to disappoint anyone. Some of these fellas don't KNOW me. They KNOW they see DRIVE & SMARTS & GRIT & all that jazz in me, but they've JUST recently met me. SO....with that in mind. If I just use my HEAD & ask their advice if I don't know if something is good or bad for me, make MY OWN decision, based on what is BEST for me - then I've shown that I VALUE their opinion & have made the BEST decision for me. I'm not sayin' get involved with an auctioneer that has a crummy reputation or anything. I still need to use my BEST JUDGEMENT & prioritize things the way they ought to be prioritized.

I've been a PROFESSIONAL for quite a while now, maybe not an AUCTION professional, but a professional. It's time I BUCK UP &  start actin' like one. It is no different. You take what you can from EVERYONE. Boy....I learned that lesson years ago when I was learnin' to ride cutting horses. I will digress....briefly.... We were at our cutting horse trainers & another Novice rider was trying to tell me how to "tune" my horse. Well....I thought I only needed to listen to the trainer. BOY....Did I get a butt-chewin' from my DADDY. I mean...I was respectful & listened to the novice rider, but was a cocky little SCHEISTER later on the way home. I'll just say.... NEVER AGAIN... will I discredit ANYTHING from ANYONE.

Anyways....I grew up thinkin' that the MORE EXPERIENCE you get...the BETTER you'll be & that you can LEARN a little somethin' from EVERYONE. RIGHT NOW... I want to be a GREAT Auctioneer & OPERATE with the VALUES & MORALS that I have. It'll take some time to be a GREAT one. But let me tell you....when you get that HONOR.... you'll have helped businesses, organizations, individuals, and numerous up & coming auctioneers and will have well-earned the MASSIVE amounts of RESPECT you'll have from other people & auctioneers. I can tell you one thing....I sure wish MR. WALTER BRITTEN was still alive. That fella has been dead & gone, quite some time (God rest his soul), but he's such a BIG DEAL people are STILL talkin' about him!

Here's the cover of Mr. Britten's Book.
I've heard Auctioneers from all over Texas talk, good talk, about Mr. Britten: from Abilene to Corpus Christi ,  Houston to El Paso. ALL I have to say is WHAT A LEGACY!!

Back to me figurin' out what's the "right" thing to do...To me, it seems that if somethin' seems "fishy"...it probably is. Stay away from it, ask advice, & use your head. If I want to learn more about cattle auctions & car auctions & antique auctions & energy auctions  & real estate auctions & equipment auctions & you get the point...then I'll take the steps I need to, to do that. Learnin' never hurt anybody. I just have to be sure that whateverI decide to do makes sense. If I'm NOT gonna make any $$ doing it - is the experience worth it? The answer will vary. I know how to make those kind of decisions. Momma & Daddy didn't raise no dummy :).

Like I said....I ENJOY it! I'm NO SUPERSTAR,  but I have talent & ENOUGH SENSE to know that I don't need to WORRY about doin' the right thing. I just need to DO it. I need to be cautious & do what makes sense & I feel comfortable doing. MAN! I can be pretty darn good at OVERthinking things.

Anyways....I'm not sure that this post has helped anybody, but ME. I hope I at least ENTERTAINED you with my CrAzY, OVER-thinkin' self. Go be with your SWEETIE, or your BABIES, or your AMAZING FRIENDS! SHARE the LOVE today!!! BUCK on UP & Keep on readin'! More tales to come. Believe me....DULL moments don't tend to travel with me.