Just 2-1/2 blocks from popular Francis Park this all-brick 2-bedroom ranch will feel like home when you walk in. Situated on a friendly street with many new residents, block parties and social events have become the norm. The living and dining room at the front of the house feature a wood burning fireplace, unique for its ceramic tile accents. The bedrooms are segregated from each other, which makes a great roommate combination or a home office away from the master. Master bedroom features a sitting area and ample closet space. You'll find yourself entertaining quite a bit to show off this gorgeous newer kitchen with an abundance of maple cabinets and countertop space, sharp-looking black and stainless appliances and a breakfast bar that faces into family room so you can eat a quick bite & watch the game simultaneously. The newly carpeted family room features lots of natural light from the windows surrounding the wood burning fireplace with an exit to the patio.  St. Louis Hills is known as a safe, walkable community with 7 churches in walking distance, schools, 2 parks, locally owned shops and restaurants.  Check it out today!  

SALE PENDING. Okay, well it's not really for adults only, but it got your attention!  This house is for grown-ups who like to entertain!  Private rear yard in a cul-de-sac gives you a sizeable fan-shaped yard with no backdoor neighbors and no back lawn to cut! The new owner could be someone who enjoys entertaining on the ground-level deck with just the flickering of tiki-torches, the smell of seared steaks, a cold brew and several close friends around a fire pit.  Plenty of curb appeal continues inside this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath 2 story with rear-entry garage; the turn-around is big enough for a game of 1-on-1 basketball.  You get all the amenities of neighboring Chesterfield but the lower taxes of Ballwin! Just 10 minutes to The Pointe Rec center for Ballwin residents; it’s a slice of heaven on 12 acres with state-of-the-art facilities to keep your mind and body in shape. With the money you save buying this house, which has a new roof, furnace, air, water heater, and newer kitchen, you’ll be able to spend more on steaks and drinks for your parties. Nothing to do but move in and unpack!  Don’t you deserve a break today?  

FHA Approved, just 3.5% down. Adorable 11 yr old condo with vaulted ceiling makes it feel so spacious and airy. Updated color scheme throughout. Besides covered parking just steps from your unit, you get an entry foyer rather than walking right into the great room. Large eat-in kitchen has loads of cherry-stained cabinets on gorgeous 18 inch ceramic tile floor. Very nice newer appliances including dishwasher, microwave and refrigerator w/ice maker. The roomy balcony/deck can be accessed conveniently from kitchen when you want to BBQ, or just step out with your coffee in the a.m. Generous sized bedrooms at opposite sides of great room each with their own bath makes a perfect roommate arrangement. Contemporary paint colors and decorator lighting throughout. Spacious laundry room near the entry foyer comes with W/D and slop sink. Newer A/C. Private storage room located on first floor. Close to Grant's Trail, a 14 mile paved greenway for biking, skating and running. Excellent schools! 

Perfection-plus in this beautifully updated 2 bdrm 4 bath townhome in Parkway South schools with its own private backyard and finished walk out lower level.  Loads of south and west facing windows brings in natural lighting and sunshine that can’t help but make you happy!  If you like to entertain 4 or 40, this can accommodate handily with a very open floor plan and room for people to spread out on two levels plus a covered deck off the living room and the patio off the lower level.  Lovely kitchen with plenty of cabinets and gorgeous new Silestone countertop & sink where the cook never misses the action in the living areas.   Upstairs find 2 generous bedrooms featuring dual sinks in the private master bath and additional full bath for the 2nd bdrm.  The newly carpeted walk-out lower level is spacious with a wet bar and full bath, plus plenty of storage.  Backs to woods but you have your own privacy-fenced yard and hot tub!   

Ready to move up to a premiere street in Southampton where your family has room to spread out? The appeal at the curb continues throughout this gorgeous home and is sure to bring rave reviews from friends! 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, main floor family room, lovely modern kitchen, outdoor entertaining area, plus garage and carport make this a winner!  Inlaid hardwood floors, stained glass windows and a fabulous stone fireplace are the highlights of the living and dining rooms which are quite spacious for entertaining. The remodeled kitchen features plenty of 42 inch maple cabs, newer appliances, and recessed lighting with an adjacent 4-season family room to keep an eye on the kids. 2 bedrooms and full bath on main floor with 2 additional bedrooms and full bath upstairs.  Zoned heating and cooling keeps your family comfortable year round! Unfinished basement is ready for you to create a media room. SoHa is one of the hottest areas of 63109 to live; a safe, walkable community with numerous amenities like Willmore (dog park) and Francis Parks in St. Louis Hills, Murdoch Perk with great crepes and wraps, an authentic Italian grocer Manzo's nearby, along with Onesto's and a host of other great places to meet up with friends. 

Ready to move up to a premiere street in Southampton where your family has room to spread out? The appeal at the curb continues throughout this gorgeous home and is sure to bring rave reviews from friends! 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, main floor family room, lovely modern kitchen, outdoor entertaining area, plus garage and carport make this a winner!  Inlaid hardwood floors, stained glass windows and a fabulous stone fireplace are the highlights of the living and dining rooms which are quite spacious for entertaining. The remodeled kitchen features plenty of 42 inch maple cabs, newer appliances, and recessed lighting with an adjacent 4-season family room to keep an eye on the kids. 2 bedrooms and full bath on main floor with 2 additional bedrooms and full bath upstairs.  Zoned heating and cooling keeps your family comfortable year round! Unfinished basement is ready for you to create a media room. SoHa is one of the hottest areas of 63109 to live; a safe, walkable community with numerous amenities!

Woodbine Court is a well-kept secret in the city of St. Louis.  This friendly Princeton Heights neighborhood boasts 20 distinct German/Swiss-inspired homes each with unique character and the most conscientious neighbors!  This home is flooded by natural light from the many new windows & stunning leaded glass windows throughout.  The entertaining area is accented by cathedral ceiling, fireplace and beautifully refinished hardwood floor. What’s not to love about the newer kitchen with 42 inch white cabinets, plenty of countertop space and newer dishwasher, refrigerator, gas range, built-in microwave and darling back porch.  One bedroom is located on the main floor and if not using as bdrm makes a perfect office! Second floor features the master bedroom with customized walk-in closet, vaulted ceiling, thermostatically & remote-controlled ceiling fan and hardwood floor.  Dry w/o basement has plenty of storage, clean bright laundry area and newer furnace, A/C and h2o heater. Outstanding neighborhood with remarkable amenities in walking distance!  

See all photos and details for 6427 Woodbine Court, St. Louis MO  63109

Additionally, St. Louis’ growth has been attributed to small tech firms downtown, and as Mark Showers, Reinsurance Group of America’s chief information officer states, a  “vibrant IT ecosystem” is attractive to newcomers. Home buyers assess the topography of the region, not only in terms of neighborhood amenities, but also in terms of economic stability and market investment.

Among larger firms in St. Louis, 10 are listed on the Fortune 500 and 21 on the Fortune 1000. St. Louis companies like Monsanto, Reinsurance Group of America and Peabody Energy foster growth, and with that, optimism.

St. Louisans are also thrilled to shake off its reputation as inhospitable to start-ups. Entrepreneurs have organized a variety of networking, training, and financial events in the city, including Startup Weekend, a 3-day boot camp for entrepreneurs. St. Louis has joined the Founders Institute, a worldwide tech angel investor group, and a Missouri chapter of Startup America has opened its doors. Founders Institute has launched more than 400 companies in 21 cities around the world. Jay DeLong of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association says, “There is a groundswell of budding entrepreneurs, and there’s a large market opportunity that they’re seeking.”

Biogenerator, a nonprofit organization, has helped entrepreneurs like Harry Arader, founder of Midway Animal Health, a veterinary medicine firm. According to Arader, there’s no better place than St. Louis for early-stage firms.

A contender for Money Magazine’s Best Places to Live, St. Louis has caught the attention of trend-spotters at the New York Times, naming it a “city looking to the future.” The city is poised to embrace this future as home buyers are taking advantage of the city’s growth.

Carondelet’s outdoor pool includes 3 lap lanes, recreational swimming and beach-like entry, zero-depth splash pad, pre-school splash park and slides, lazy river and vortex, 2 ½ story waterslide. After a busy day of fun in the water, the Urban Eats concession stand is a great place for snacks. Carondelet also offers a variety of classes and programs for youths and adults, including special events, day camps, early childhood education, preschool, daycare, teen & family programs, and active adult programs. Sports programs include volleyball, flag-football, basketball, soccer, aquatics, gymnastics, dance, and more. There are private, semi-private, and group options for Y classes. There are a number of fitness programs and classes also, including personal and weight training, yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, and the newest craze, Y Cycling (an instructor-led cycling class and cardio workout). The Y’s camps offer traditional, CIT camp (Counselor in Training), Aquatics, Sports and Fitness, Going Green Camp, Art Camp, Boys Will Be Boys, Girls Rock, and Dance Camp

There are three membership types: metro, adult, and family, and membership benefits include unlimited access to the facility, over 75 free, land-based fitness classes, free towel service, free health and wellness consultations, child watch services for household members, teen hub access, free family events, open gym and swim time, low rates for classes and programs, free wireless, unlimited guess passes, and A.W.A.Y. privileges (Always Welcome at YMCAs).  

The ECE Center (Early Childhood Education) focuses on socialization, education, and self-reliance. All child care staff members are certified by the state and receive extensive training. School Age Child Care (S.A.C.C.) provides learning opportunities for K-6^th grade youths before and/or after school through licensed programs. The YMCA of Greater St. Louis is involved with Child Care Alliance, National Association for the Education of Young Children, Missouri School-Age Child Care Community, St. Louis Youth Provider Network, Child Day Care Association, St. Louis Partnership, and United Way.

The Carondelet Y also participates in a corporate wellness program. Hundreds of St. Louis employers have partnered with the YMCA to improve the health and quality of life of their employees.

Carondelet Park, location of the YMCA, is the city’s third-largest park, and includes Horseshoe and Boathouse Lakes, picnic grounds and pavilions, and sports fields and courts.

Curb appeal is just the beginning here! Sellers have spared no expense putting in quality renovations throughout this 2 bedroom 2 bath house and it shows! From the stunning kitchen renovation to the gorgeous  bathrooms you will be able to just unpack and entertain immediately. If you are a busy professional, this is the perfect condo-alternative with a yard and attached garage! No more than 2 steps to reach the front door or the patio and none to the laundry room on the main floor. Fabulous    custom closets in each bedroom plus a large walk-in closet in the laundry room.  Wood burning fireplace in large open living room with a big    picture window brings in plenty of natural light. The kitchen is fully equipped with stainless appliances, granite counters and custom tile backsplash. Off the kitchen is the bright breakfast room and home office with a bathroom tucked away a few steps from the backdoor, a convenience after gardening or for a roommate. Walking distance or short drives to shopping, parks, restaurants and cafes, hospitals and churches!   

Southampton offers it all! 

Aberdeen Heights

The community amenities at Aberdeen Heights include a café/lounge, fitness center, indoor pool, creative arts studio, billiards room, multi-purpose/chapel area, salon and spa, library and living room, and underground parking. There are three spacious floor plans to choose from at Aberdeen Heights. The Willow has 993 square feet and features 1 bedroom, 1 ½ bath, den, patio/balcony, great room, and walk-in closet; The Magnolia has 1351 square feet and features 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, patio/balcony, desk area, den, great room, and walk-in closets; and The Oak has 1587 square feet and features 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 patio/balconies, dining and great rooms, den, and walk-in closets.

The Glen at Aberdeen Heights offers continuum care, 30 assisted living apartments, 15 memory support suites, and 38 skilled nursing rooms, with flexible financial options. The Glen offers 3 floor plans to choose from, the Deluxe, Special, and Standard. The Glen’s assisted living includes a 24-hour emergency call and response system; tailored support plans and wellness evaluations; specialized, chef-prepared meals; personal care assistance; housekeeping, transportation, and concierge services; and wellness programs and events. Health care includes comprehensive therapies and rehabilitation; post-surgical care, 24/7 nursing, social support services; and private suites and spa services. Memory care includes the Landmarks for Living® program, which is designed to promote wellness and security in a familiar and consistent setting.

Aberdeen Heights is within walking distance to Kirkwood Park, which has an outdoor amphitheater, picnic sites, tennis and shuffleboard courts, horsehoe pits, fishing at Walker Lake, and more. The park sponsors a 4^th of July Community Freedom Festival, Greentree Festival, and the Summer Concert Series. Kirkwood Community Center, Robert G. Reim Theater, and Recreation Station Aquatic Center and Ice Arena are also on site. Of course, Aberdeen Heights is also a short drive to St. Louis’ many attractions.

Meticulously maintained one-owner 3+ bedroom, 2+ bath sprawling ranch home.  Lovely oval in-ground pool fills the entire backyard, leaving you with just side and front yard to maintain.  Entertaining is easy with an open floor plan and great circular flow from the living and dining room to the stunning kitchen.  Remodeled (’05) with cream cabinets galore, custom back splash, and convenient granite-topped center island breakfast bar on a porcelain tile floor.  In fact, the porcelain is throughout most of the first floor (except bedrooms) and is so easy to clean!  Cozy family room features a wood-burning fireplace and sliding doors to the patio.  Both bathrooms have been nicely updated.  Pool is accessible from the master bedroom. The finished lower level is huge and includes a wet bar, possible bedroom with built-in bed and desk any teenager would love, 1/2 bath and plenty of storage. This home is just a short jog to Long Elementary, Truman Middle or Lindbergh High.  Truly a lovely home! 

Meticulously maintained one-owner 3+ bedroom, 2+ bath sprawling ranch home.  Lovely oval in-ground pool fills the entire backyard, leaving you with just side and front yard to maintain.  Entertaining is easy with an open floor plan and great circular flow from the living and dining room to the stunning kitchen.  Remodeled (’05) with cream cabinets galore, custom backsplash, and convenient granite-topped center island breakfast bar on a porcelain tile floor.  In fact, the porcelain is throughout most of the first floor (except bedrooms) and is so easy to clean!  Cozy family room features a wood-burning fireplace and sliding doors to the patio.  Both bathrooms have been nicely updated.  Pool is accessible from the master bdrm. The finished lower level is huge and includes a wet bar, possible bedroom with built-in bed and desk any teenager would love, 1/2 bath and plenty of storage.  This Crestwood home is just a short jog to Long Elementary, Truman Middle or Lindbergh High.

Pending Sale: CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED—Owner has had this home pre-inspected so you can buy with confidence! This adorable move-in ready home is waiting for you!  Lovely open floor plan allows you to entertain with ease and the cook won’t miss any of the action in the living room!  Updated kitchen, baths, lighting, doors and windows throughout leave you with money in your pocket to just decorate instead!  Kitchen is open to the dining area with numerous cabinets and countertop space, plus a 3 year old dishwasher, gas range and refrigerator included.  The 2 bedrooms with hardwood floors have ample closet space and window blinds.  You’ll love being able to spread out in the finished lower level with knotty pine tongue & groove wainscoting where there is plenty of room for your big screen TV & surround sound system, plus your ping pong or pool table!  Additional room could be used as a bedroom or office and there is a newer full bathroom as well.  Fenced yard with newer concrete patio will be host to many barbecues.  2 car oversized insulated garage with is sure to please the man in the family.  

A great neighborhood convenient to Hwy 55, Loughborough Commons shopping center and Christy Greenway for biking.   New roof to be installed before closing

One of St. Louis City's most sought-after neighborhoods:  St. Louis Hills.  Lots of surprises await you in this gorgeous 3 bedroom all brick 1.5 story.   The stunning picture window in the front washes the whole room with a gentle light from its southern exposure.  The attractive stone fireplace has been converted to gas so you can have instant romance and instant warmth to spend those lazy winter days and still-cold spring days.  The floor plan is open so that entertaining is easier for a crowd and features beautifully refinished hardwood floors.  You will definitely fall in love with the 2011 kitchen remodel featuring fine-looking custom granite countertops on rich dark cabinetry.  The best part of this house is the four-season room added just a few years ago with 3 walls of windows to appreciate the joyful array of perennials in a superbly landscaped backyard. First floor features 2 bedrooms and updated full bath, second floor has been remodeled to feature a master suite with bedroom, newer full bath and sitting room.  The lower level has been partially finished with room for your desk, your workout equipment and plenty of storage.  A 2 car brick garage completes the picture.  Impeccable attention to detail and seller has spent over $80,000 on improvements in recent years.  

This is what community is all about, right here in Corona Park, a mid-century neighborhood in Kirkwood.   Mingling with neighbors in the middle of the quiet street while your kids ride their bikes all around...stroll to downtown Farmers Market on a Saturday to look over the fresh produce ...or walk to the fabulous Aquatic Center at the city park...or participate in story time at the library.  Kirkwood has what you are looking for and this house offers a central location and gorgeous updates.

Having company is easy with the generous living and dining room combination to gather large groups.  Pretty hardwood floors complement the spring time colors of crisp white and sage green.  Bright cheery kitchen has a beautiful new Silestone countertop and abundant oak cabinets and countertop space, featuring plenty of natural light and windows to watch the kids play outside on the jungle gym.  There is the convenience of the main floor laundry nearby.  What child ever plays downstairs when mom is on the first floor?  None, so this convenient main floor family room is large enough for them to spread out their toys and they know you are just around the corner.   A main floor master suite with newly tiled full bath and nice size closet is just the respite for you; upstairs find 2 more very generous bedrooms w/new windows. This is a well-loved home with impressive updates!  To view the interior, CLICK HERE  

PENDING CLOSING: This is what community is all about, right here in Corona Park.  Mingling with neighbors in the middle of the quiet street while your kids ride their bikes all around...stroll to downtown Farmers Market on a Saturday to look over the fresh produce ...or walk to the fabulous Aquatic Center at the city park...or participate in story time at the library.  Kirkwood has what you are looking for and this house offers a central location and gorgeous updates. Having company is easy with the large living and dining room combination to gather large groups.  Bright cheery kitchen has a beautiful Silestone countertop and abundant oak cabinets and countertop space, with the main floor laundry nearby.  Keep an eye on the kids as they play in the family room or outside on the jungle gym in the huge fenced yard.  A master suite with updated full bath and nice size closet is just the respite for you; upstairs find 2 more very generous bedrms w/new windows. A well-loved home with impressive updates! 

Consider this analogy:  If we both bought stock in IBM around the same time 5 years ago, and I just sold my IBM stock last month and got "X", one would naturally assume that when you sell your IBM stock today you will also only get "X", not X+, right?  If you demand X+ from your stockbroker because you "need" the money, what will she do?  She'll say, "I'm sorry, but the market doesn't care what you need, it's only selling for X."  Can you make her sell it for X+?  There isn't a market for it.  It's the same principal with a home.  Please hear me out about why I think houses are the same as a stock.  

Think about a Mutual Fund.  People buy into and sell out of a mutual fund all year long--when you buy in, everyone pays the same price on the same day or sells at the same price on the same day.   Think about your home as being a "share" and your neighborhood as the "Mutual Fund."  We need to look at how your "Mutual Fund" performed since you invested into it.  I look for nearby houses that were purchased in the same economy in which you purchased (give or take 3- 6 months) and who also just resold in the last 6 months, the same economy in which you are attempting to sell.  That gives me a bigger picture of the appreciation/depreciation an area has had year over year.  For example, if the overall average annual depreciation is -1.78% for the past 6 years, I wouldn't expect your house to sell at 3% appreciation unless you had pumped significant amounts of cash into it, but that's what sellers are consistently trying to do.  

 Next we factor in the updates, features and amenities that make a house superior to the other unsold properties currently on the market.  Often I am met with a list of updates and upgrades that a seller put into their home and they naturally assume they can add that on to the price paid to arrive at a fair asking price.  If today I bought a top-of-the-line Kenmore Stainless Steel Side-by-Side Refrigerator with water and ice on the door, paid $2,000, brought it home, set it in the garage still boxed and then changed my mind about the purchase and tried to sell it on Craigslist, what would someone pay me for that brand new refrigerator?  $2,000?  I wish.   $1,800? $1,600?  It's brand new.  There's nothing wrong with it.  But yet I would be forced to sell it at a discount because the public somehow considers it "used".   Same with a house.  What amount of money does a seller expect a buyer to "reimburse them" for used granite countertops, used stainless appliances, walked-on flooring, used paver patio, 1 year old furnace, or expensive in-ground sprinkler system?  Everyone puts money into their house--in fact, NAR states that you must invest 1/2-1% of your home's value into your home every year just to maintain market value!  

If you are serious about selling, let me show you my proven plan to get homes sold in this market and for the best and highest price possible.  

I'm Sandie Hea and I've sold over 1,000 homes in my 25 year career with RE/MAX.  If you, or someone you know is getting ready to sell their home, call me.  I consider it a privilege to share my market expertise with you.  

RE/MAX University Recognized for High Quality and Real Results

Denver, CO – Two of the most distinguished corporate training competitions have honored RE/MAX University for its high level of performance.  Training magazine has named RE/MAX to its 12^th annual Top 125 list of leading organizations in the field of corporate-sponsored training.  In addition, RE/MAX has been recognized by the Brandon Hall Excellence Awards in the category of  “Best Use of Blended Learning.”

 “RE/MAX has always placed a very high value on the quality of our training, and we have dedicated considerable resources to ensuring the success of our brokers and agents,” said Dave Liniger, Chairman and CoFounder of RE/MAX, LLC.  “We know our extensive training programs make a difference; equipping our agents to better serve the consumer, and resulting in the creation of the most productive sales force in real estate.”

In the Best Use of Blended Learning category of the Brandon Hall awards, RE/MAX was in the company of respected award recipients like The Walt Disney Company and McDonald’s.  Among the Training Top 125, were such notable corporate names as Federal Express, Intel, and UPS. 

In 2010, RE/MAX enhanced its training program, establishing RE/MAX University, following the successful 16-year track record of RE/MAX Satellite Network.  RE/MAX agents lead the industry with professional designations/certifications, with nearly 65,000 earned at home or in the office through the use of RE/MAX University.

Now distributed via high-speed broadband Internet service, RE/MAX University is a 24/7, on-demand platform that includes over 1,000 titles in its library.  The RE/MAX University system is capable of delivering HD quality video programs and online training to multiple devices such as: personal computers, television sets, smart phones and other personal digital devices.  The RE/MAX University platform is provided at no cost to all RE/MAX Affiliates.

Because RE/MAX has a presence in more than 80 countries around the world, its training materials are available in multiple languages and is distributed to international affiliates from the RE/MAX Global Education Center in Denver. Although the methodology of the two rankings differ slightly, competition is known to be fierce, and winners must link their training initiatives to specific company goals and objectives, with verifiable results.

 “Our training is both comprehensive and flexible, able to change focus with an evolving marketplace.  This is why RE/MAX agents continue to outperform their competition in a market that challenges the very best agents in our profession,” added Liniger.

RE/MAX University offers a great variety of programs, from the very latest in industry trends and designation/certification courses to customized presentations by some of the most respected trainers in the real estate industry. For information please visit www.remax.com or www.joinremax.com.
 

About the RE/MAX Network:
RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, real estate industry visionaries who still lead the Denver-based global franchisor today. RE/MAX is recognized as one of the leading real estate franchise companies with the most productive sales force in the industry and a global reach of more than 80 countries. With a passion for the communities in which its agents live and work, RE/MAX is proud to have raised more than $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and other charities. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX.  For more information about RE/MAX, please visit www.remax.com or www.joinremeax.com

About Training Magazine:
Training is a 47-year-old professional development magazine written for training, human resources, and business management professionals in all industries that advocate training and workforce development as a business tool. Training also produces world-class conferences, expositions, and digital products that focus on job-related, employer-sponsored training and education in the working world. Training is published by Lakewood Media Group. www.training-mag.com

About Brandon Hall Group:
Having worked with more than 10,000 clients globally and after 19 years of delivering world-class solutions, Brandon Hall Group is the preeminent research and analyst organization focused on developing research-driven solutions to drive organizational performance for emerging and large organizations.  Brandon Hall Group has an extensive repository of thought leadership, research, data and expertise in Learning and Development, Talent Management, Sales Effectiveness, Marketing Impact, and Executive Management. www.brandon-hall.com  

Have you ever found yourself at a loss for words when you encounter a friend who is hurting?  You often don't know WHAT to say---and what not to say.  I recall seeing a woman at the St. Louis Hills Art Fair in September whom I did not know and never saw before.  She had a scarf on her head, covering up what was probably a bald head due to chemo.  I didn't want to stare, but I wanted to connect in some way, so I went up to her and asked a question, I don't recall what it was now.  She (Karen) was so touched by that gesture I will never forget it.  She said "I'd much rather someone ask me what happened than to just stare" and we engaged in a conversation about her ordeal.

Here are some suggestions from Focus on the Family's counseling team to help you reach out with genuine help to someone in pain.

DON'T serve up platitudes:  If your friend just suffered a miscarriage, even well-meaning phrases like, "It wasnt meant to be" can be extremely hurtful.

DON'T turn someone's problem into your story:  When you learn of someone's pain, it's human nature to want to share "what happened to me one time."  Don't.  Keep the focus on your friend.

DON'T be quick to say you understand:  You might have experienced a similar loss or setback, but your friend's circumstance is different.  Listening shows you want to understand.

DO acknowledge the pain:  Always reach out and empathize.  Saying, "You must really be hurting" is a good way to break the ice and communicate that you care.

DO offer a hand:  Although you can't solve every problem, your offer of assistance will be appreciated.  Go ahead and ask, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

DO be honest:  It's OK to admit, "I wish I knew the answer to your problem, but I just don't."  In the end, simply listening may be the biggest help. 

Above all, pray with and for your friend.