Tailgates and Such

We have this problem with tail gates. They don't stay on or up or in working order, for some reason.

 I can't imagine why!

Now there was this one time when Blake's dad purchased this thing from an auction. A big fiber-board type thing with wire racks and many rolls of wire on them: a wire center from an old hardware store. I was elected to run to the farm to pick it up. It was dark and I do remember the moment when I thought I may have felt it slide back in the bed of the truck, but I truly paid little attention to it. I drove home and then hours later went back to the shop to pick up Blake. Of course he noticed that the tailgate was down, and he asked why I didn't get the wire center. I looked horrified, but when asked what happened I took him back to the exact spot where I just *knew* it was. It was splintered in the ditch with rolls of wire rolled through the weeds. Special.

And there was the one truck where I kept having the guys weld my tail gate latches back together. It would fall off in random places and I'd hear a clunk and have to stop quickly to go pick it up. 

And then more recently with our current truck there was the 55 gal. drum of antifreeze. I had it secure, or I thought so. When I arrived back at the shop, though, it definitely had broken through the hinge on the one side and had bent the tail gate such that the drum was able to be hanging about half way off the truck. 

When we got to work yesterday and my husband noticed that, out of the four junk engine heads that were on the back of the truck, there was only one remaining, I headed out to make sure they weren't lying in the road somewhere. I found only one; I'm assuming someone picked up the other two. They weren't worth a ton even in scrap. But yes, for those of you who saw me pull off quickly on the side of the road yesterday at 7:30 a.m., jump out of the truck, run across the road, pull up a duramax engine head out of the ditch and stick it under my arm, nope, I wasn't the one who lost it this time. And I'll just smile and wave if I ever see you doing something like that. I know what it feels like. :)

Approved!

For the past three years we've dreamed and tried and wished and begged and puzzled and tried some more to get a loan. They all tell us the same things: 

"You are young, just keep renting for a while." 

"You guys have no credit."

 "You have no cash flow." (I'm thinking 'What do you mean? We always have lots of cash flowing- Just no cash staying!') 

"You are a risky case."

"You have no debt? That's not good. You can't build credit that way. You have no credit card? You need to get one!"

Well thanks! We'll just keep gingerly driving through the jam packed driveway and keep struggling to keep up because we have no space to fit more employees. We'll keep working long hours to keep up and keep trying to save up everything possible so that we can keep offering a larger down payment. We'll keep applying for a credit card for Blake and keep getting turned down. And we'll keep praying that someone, somewhere will consider us capable enough of paying back a loan.

 Oh wait, mostly that is me. 

Blake decided some time ago that if a bank didn't need him, then he didn't need a bank and he'd figure out a different way of buying a piece of property. I'm just afraid that means staying here for ten more years and  we don't like that idea. And he's ok with me being pushy with banks. 

So I was.

And now I don't have to be because... We have been approved!!! 

This is probably some of the most exciting news that we've had... since... we got married?! Not that I'm desiring to be in debt, but we're ok with it for land/shop/house. Owning our own place, combined with just being able to expand and spread out and be more efficient in the shop, would be so amazing!

Life seems really exciting right now. 

Next up? 

Changes. :)

Dailey & Vincent

My uncle doesn't call me much, but when he does and tells me that there is something that I have to do, I figure maybe I should try my best to do it. 

He told me that Josh had just sent him a picture of a poster saying that Dailey & Vincent were going to be in concert right here in town and that out of all the shows he's ever been to, they were definitely the best! I was skeptical, yes, because perhaps like you, I had never heard of them. I searched them on youtube and was still unimpressed. I had intended to try to convince Blake to go along with me, but Blake watched them briefly on youtube too and well... He informed me that he is more of a Steve Earl kinda guy. 

Josh got tickets for us two to go and we figured we'd at least see what it was like. Blake sarcastically told me to have the time of my life. 

I have to say... that was the best concert I have ever gone too. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time and have never laughed that hard at a concert. The music was great, their humor was fun, the entertainment was fabulous.

(Gotta love $20 cell phones and the quality of pictures they can take!)

If you ever get a chance to go to one of their shows, please, please do it. 

You will not regret it! :)

Things I Can Not Seem To Understand

Why don't any banks seem to understand that having no credit and having no debt does not ALWAYS mean that you are a risky case?

If hot water cleans things better, why do most people brush their teeth with cold water?

What makes people think that living off the government is a good thing? If you let the government pay for your food, your health care, your schooling... and whatever else you need, then don't complain to me when the government takes more control over our lives and dictates that your kids must go to their school, for their set amount of time, with what teaching they want. You're stupid for relying on them in any way. This country was not founded on those principles and American public in general has allowed themselves to stop thinking.

Why are credit scores accredited as positive things when in reality it just is an I-Love-Debt-Score. After all, doesn't FICO stand for Financially In Complete Obscurity?!

How can some women so easily work full time and be a wife and/or mother? I'd love to figure out how someone who works all the time can still manage to keep their house clean. I feel like a slob. :)

What is it that makes some people think that being your own boss is a great thing? It's expensive, stressful, tiring, and almost impossible to get away.

Where do other automotive shops find mechanics?

How can I win with a banker?

Mostly my thoughts have been revolving around bankers, and loans, and credit scores. Can you tell?

One thing I do know: I have a promise.

Jeremiah 29:11 says

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."