Share The Struggle
Share The Struggle
When God's Plan Meets Generosity
We explore how unexpected blessings can become powerful catalysts for change when we recognize and embrace them with gratitude.
• Life often tests us hardest right before sending the solutions we need
• Comparing ourselves to ducks – calm on the surface but paddling frantically beneath
• The challenge of running a business without reliable transportation for our family and camper
• How friends Matt and Sarah from Ledgeway Farm blessed us with their farm truck, plow, and trailer
• The spiritual signs that accompanied this blessing (eagle sighting, protection numbers)
• Learning to "assess and resolve" rather than panic during roadside emergencies
• The importance of asking "Whose dream can I support this week?"
• How helping others achieve their dreams creates positive energy that returns to you
• Small acts of kindness can make enormous differences in others' lives
• Finding gratitude in challenges helps transform them into stepping stones
If you're enjoying what you're hearing, find us on social media @loudproudamerican on Facebook and YouTube, and @loud_proud_american on Instagram and TikTok. Thanks for supporting our American dream!
If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/
Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/
Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859
Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/
Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loudproudamerican
Loud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/
Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_american
Loud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtw
Thank you for Supporting My American Dream!
Have you ever had something big happen when you least expect it? But when you need it most? When you lean into these moments, they can be a true catalyst for change, and I think that's all a part of God's plan. Let me tell you something Everybody struggles. The difference is some people choose to go through it and some choose to grow through it. The choice is some people choose to go through it and some choose to grow through it. The choice is completely yours. Which one you choose will have a very profound effect on the way you live your life. If you find strength in the struggle, then this podcast is for you.
Speaker 1:Do you have a relationship that is comfortable with uncomfortable conversations? Uncomfortable conversations challenge you, humble you and they build you. When you sprinkle a little time and distance on it, it all makes sense. Most disagreements, they stem from our own insecurities. You are right where you need to be. Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. What it do, what it do, Hot diggity day. I'm a good lord almighty. Am I so excited to be back with you? Oh, it's true, it is damn true. And when I say I'm so excited to be back with you, I'm looking across the couch at you, boo.
Speaker 2:Me again. Welcome back. Hey y'all, you couldn't take it, could you? Let's just be honest, you couldn't do this one alone, huh.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's too much excitement. It's okay, honey, daddy's fine, you ain't talking to me that way, y'all.
Speaker 1:True Princess just woke up from a little nap and doesn't like the look of headphones on me. Squash on my melon. Well, folks, episode 257. Thanks for the good feedback from last week's show. I think that we hit a note. We riled some Americans up. They were getting fired up about the impending canceling of 4th of July, which we both know is a lie. That's never going to happen. You provoked that show. That was you. You got my feathers plucked. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Whoops.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I had fun with last week's show. It was a change of pace, yeah. So thanks for ruffling my feathers, getting me all fibered up. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:If you do recall, after last week's episode, we did have dinner with Matt and Sarah, and Matt had a good idea about making your own event.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Celebrating on 4th of July.
Speaker 1:We should make our own Loud, proud American event.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, a vendor event All American made Doing flags.
Speaker 1:We would need to put some thought into this and make it into Maybe next year. I think we should.
Speaker 2:I would be looking into renting a into this and make it into Maybe next year?
Speaker 1:I think we should. I would be looking into renting a fairgrounds or something yeah. You know what I mean Making a big old hoot name out of it.
Speaker 2:Let us know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think.
Speaker 2:As the influencers say, put it in the comments.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, look at you. Fancy, wow, nancy, wow, yowzer. Look at that Major shout out to all the new listeners. We've been noticing a lot of different states, even different countries, tuning in as of late. I want to say thank y'all, I appreciate you and I hope that I get to know you.
Speaker 2:We're tuning in from Maine, if y'all are looking yeah well, we're not tuning in, we're recording in Maine.
Speaker 1:We're a couple of maniacs. We're getting ready for shoot a big stretch of activity this week. We're just a couple days away from setting up a Bentley saloon, getting in the swing of things for Laconia Bike Week.
Speaker 2:We're preparing for chaos.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is when it starts to happen, which I'm not looking forward to a lot of it, but I'm looking forward to a lot of it in the sense of we need the business, we need the communication, we need the activity. You know what I mean. We need things to start happening, we need the flurry of action. So we're hoping and praying for a tremendous bike week that can launch us into the season and to get things rocking and rolling so you can catch us for all of Laconia Bike Week, which starts Father's Day weekend. So this weekend, actually, I'll be open on Friday of this week and then we're going to run all the way through till. What is that? The Sunday is like what? The 22nd or something. It's a good stretch run and I'll be open as a vendor, starting on Friday all the way through the following Sunday 29th. 29th no, that sounds aggressive, sorry you are correct.
Speaker 2:22nd.
Speaker 1:Okay, and then Friday would be. What date?
Speaker 2:The 13th.
Speaker 1:The 13th to the 22nd. That's a good run.
Speaker 2:Friday the 13th, oh my gosh, I'm not going.
Speaker 1:That's it. It's canceled. It's over, it's canceled. We're not doing it. See you again next year.
Speaker 2:And then Father's Day is on the 15th.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so my first Father's Day with two legs on the planet. My first Father's Day with two legs on the planet. You know what I mean. Like or on the soil, I should say, because she was in your belly, but that'll be different. So if anybody wants a little glimpse of the schedule, we're going to be at Bentley's, starting on the 13th and heading through the 22nd. As vendors, you can come on out to see us and check out some of the festivities. Also, on Friday, the 20th I guess that would make it I will be hosting a tattoo contest with Tommy Tattoo, Chad Chase from Venom Ink and Jimmy Snaz from Salem Street Tattoo. Or is it North?
Speaker 2:Street Tattoo in.
Speaker 1:Salem, massachusetts. Sorry, um, and formerly of ink master. I'll be doing that on Friday and then on Saturday I'll be hosting the pinup contest and, uh, then Sunday we'll kind of wrap it all up and, yeah, that'll kind of be the big foray for June. So if you're looking to to see us, see us. If you're looking to fill your closets up, if you're looking to just have a damn old good time, then you can catch us. That's about to go down. We get a lot of moving parts in the background. I feel like a duck. You ever see those little. I don't know what you call it Is it a meme or something where it shows the duck on top of the water, because you realize, when you see that duck on top of the water, like sitting on the surface, you think that that duck is just chilling.
Speaker 2:They're just gliding.
Speaker 1:You just think they're just floating, and they're just.
Speaker 2:I know exactly what meme we're talking about.
Speaker 1:You just think they're like inner tubing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But do you know what happens below the?
Speaker 2:surface. Oh, they are paddling their life off.
Speaker 1:They are working their asses off.
Speaker 2:I've seen that.
Speaker 1:I feel like a couple of ducks On the surface. We look calm, cool, collective and floating.
Speaker 2:But internally.
Speaker 1:Beneath the surface, man Behind the scenes, beneath the sheets. Did she just toot? Was that a toot?
Speaker 2:No Folsom's growling over there.
Speaker 1:Oh no, she just dumped those blocks. I paused and it sounded like she ripped a massive tooter.
Speaker 2:Well, she was your kid. Wow, shots fired. Oh the tooter, literally.
Speaker 1:Literally Goodness. Anyways, that's my analogy. Which one time I wanted to have ducks. Remember the names? I was going to name the ducks. Come on, come on, you know it. You want one of them or you want a clue? Wow, the awkward silence is great for radio.
Speaker 2:I feel like Jack Jack Daniels yes, yes.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:Willie.
Speaker 1:Nelson, jack Daniels or Willie Nelson it's the name of our ducks. So you and me are like Jack and Willie on the surface, just not Jack and Willie's. I mean. That's exactly where I went, good's what got us in this situation?
Speaker 2:Good Lord, a couple of jack offs, wow.
Speaker 1:You know what?
Speaker 2:I want to move right along.
Speaker 1:Speaking of Jacking off. No, no. Speaking of Dunkin' Donuts.
Speaker 2:What.
Speaker 1:No, I had a funny little situation arise this week. I gotta take that video and post it. I sent you the video. Should I post that like maybe a tickety talk or something? It's probably not a Facebook or Instagram type video.
Speaker 2:Once you post it on tickety talk, it'll ask if you want it to post it on Facebook.
Speaker 1:I don't know. I'm asking you internally, like personally, should I you know what I mean? I don't know.
Speaker 2:I think it'll give the people a good laugh, why not?
Speaker 1:here's the deal, folks. My mother and Paisley and I two-thirds of the women in my life we were in my dad's truck in the drive-thru line of Dunkin' Donuts Shocker, I know.
Speaker 2:Morning coffee run.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Looking for a sponsor?
Speaker 1:Yeah, we'll take it morning coffee run. Right looking for a sponsor. Yeah, we'll take it morning coffee run, local dunkin donuts drive-thru lane loaded. There's traffic out to route one. It is mayhem. We're just boot scooting along slowly like jack daniels and willie nelson on the surface, you know we're just barely gliding. And um, I'm sitting there, my mom's talking to me and I thought I saw a Dunkin' Donuts napkin fly by the front of my windshield, because you know Dunkin's has like that brownish type napkin.
Speaker 2:Well.
Speaker 1:I was like huh, Was that like a Maine tumbleweed, the old Dunkin' napkin that just went flying by? And I was like huh, Was that like a Maine tumbleweed, the old Duncan napkin that just went flying by? And I was like, huh, I don't know. Back to listening to my mom and we slowly start creeping forward.
Speaker 1:Next thing I know there's a freaking mouse sitting on my windshield wiper. He pops out from under the hood, he goes left, right zigzag, keeps running across the windshield of my dad's truck. He stops for a half a second on the windshield wiper and I reach for that sucker. I'm going to flick this mouse to the neighbors. Okay, and right as I'm going like my mom knows me so well right as I'm going to the windshield wiper, my mom yells your window's open. I panic and here's the problem my dad's windows are not like electric windows, they're crank. So I'm like oh, you're right, and I go over to the window and then it's like re-ee, re-ee, re-ee, re-ee. And it's stiff as all, get out. The thing could use some WD-40 or something.
Speaker 1:And I'm like, and I'm locking eyes with that mouse and I'm like you are seconds, Okay, Maybe a minute and a half away from me, flinging you to the Duncan Dempster by the time I get that window up enough where I'm confident that I'm not going to launch a mouse into the cab, Because I don't want a mouse running around the cab, running over the top of my baby. You know what I mean. None of this is good. Well, I missed him. I couldn't launch him. I tried running the old windshield wipers, to no success. But what I'm going to tell you is that Dunkin' Donuts is our stomping ground. They know me when I roll up, the last thing I wanted was to have to find a new Dunkin. You know why.
Speaker 2:Because he threw a mouse at them. No, through the windshield.
Speaker 1:Well, I didn't want to roll up. Finally to the window, have one of them. Kids reach out to give me a freaking coffee and a mouse, pop out of my windshield Like come out from under the hood, stand up, look at him. They scream and freak out. Maybe he lunges into the window. I would have to find a new Duncan. I would have died it probably would be on a drive-thru camera. I'd be all over Das Internet.
Speaker 2:Hey, maybe it'd go viral and Duncan would give you a sponsor.
Speaker 1:The problem is I would have had my loud, proud American hat on backwards. I wouldn't have even seen it on camera.
Speaker 2:The best thing would have been if you would have rolled up and then the poor bastard opens the window to get your cash and you hit the windshield wiper Boom and you fling him into the donuts.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, Me and my mom were just crossing our fingers like don't pop out, don't pop out. And we were in line for so long. We're like he's still in there.
Speaker 2:You had sent me this video and I was like, what are you showing me? And then, at the very end, you mentioned it and I was like, oh, so then I had to go back and watch the video again to see if I was seeing what I was seeing.
Speaker 1:I got home, I, I had to go back and watch the video again to see if I was seeing what I was seeing. I got home, I drove home, popped the hood, there he was.
Speaker 2:There he was Chilling.
Speaker 1:We have a barn cat. That's a savage. She very well could have just chased him under the hood, she could have chased him under the frame and he wrangled his way up there. I don't know, but I couldn't believe he made it, man. It was truly a close call and I can, I can wholeheartedly, confidently say that no mice were harmed in my dunk and run.
Speaker 2:Okay, if the cat got him when he got home, well, that's another story.
Speaker 1:That's off my watch and, uh, I mean I'm not gonna say he didn't have heart palpitations and maybe like suffered a massive stroke or something, because that little dude was hyperventilating when we arrived. He was not a big fan, not a fan of the dunkin run. That is my ridiculous story of the week. It is not, in any way, shape or form the reason why we're gathered here today. It is not the reason, but I thought it was worth sharing. It was the share and tell portion of the show this week, but that's not why we're here.
Speaker 1:Folks, if you listened in the beginning of the show which I assume you did because you're still here listening, so that just makes sense, right? I mean it wouldn't make sense to not listen and then just skip to like minute 15. That would be weird. So the beginning of the show I asked the question have you ever had something big happen when you least expect it?
Speaker 1:Now, people's definition of big can be vastly different for folks and sometimes something that might be big, you might not realize in the moment just how big it is, but there's many times and many instances in life where we can share stories of these times when something fantastic happened, right, a big break, an opportunity, a gift, whatever it is. These things happen and when you lean into that positive momentum, when you really just double down on that blessing, I truly feel that it is a catalyst for change. It's an opportunity to set your life in a new direction. It's an opportunity to set your sails on new horizons. You know what I'm saying? Like I think it can change direction. You with me on this, you feel me, you understand me, you got me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, give it to God.
Speaker 1:I see you over there babysitting, so I just wanted to make sure that you were still with me. But I shall babysit and so I just wanted to make sure that you were still. You were still with me. But I truly feel in life there's times when things happen and they happen for a reason, and they happen because we, we need them to happen and they're out of our control. Sometimes you can work so hard for something and then out of nowhere, boom, something different happens, something great happens. Somebody's put in your life, in your path, for a reason. All these things, like you said, give it to God. It's God's plan. Things are going to come to fruition, it's in his hands, and we recently had this type of experience and I wanted to elaborate on it for the fact that I want anybody listening to realize that when something good happens whether you feel it's a stroke of good luck, good fortune or faith, whatever it might be when you lean into it and you celebrate it, it can be an opportunity to change your direction.
Speaker 2:It can be a stepping stone to lead forward to the next good things that are going to come. This could be just the door opener of what's to come if you end up just leaning into it, manifesting it.
Speaker 1:So part one of our mission today is to acknowledge those things, to highlight them, to encourage you guys to lean into them, to celebrate them, to be thankful for them, to count those blessings. Step two is we had a recent experience and I want to acknowledge and I want to thank and I want to celebrate somebody for changing our direction, for being that catalyst, for granting us that opportunity. Opportunity, sometimes in life we don't realize that we have the ability to make a major impact on somebody. And that's going to be part number three. Be aware, look for opportunities and if you can make a difference in somebody else, then it's going to come back to you fivefold, tenfold. I just kind of want to set the scene for what we're trying to do here. We want to acknowledge big breaks and opportunities and blessings. We want to celebrate them, to get the most bang for the buck from them. I want to acknowledge and celebrate somebody who granted us a great opportunity. And then I want to make everybody aware that if you keep your eyes open and you can make a difference for somebody, then maybe by hearing how much of an impact that's made on us, it'll encourage you to make an impact on somebody else and by doing those things. It just goes hand in hand with what we've been talking about for 257 weeks. If you have a positive vibe and we're building a positive tribe positivity grows, confidence grows, good things grow.
Speaker 1:In this country right now, we need as much positivity as possible. As we're here recording this podcast, in the background we have the news on with the volume off, and it's a quote unquote peaceful protest where they're lighting cars in the city on fire. In Los Angeles they're, you know, rioting, looting, frigging Apple stores and convenience stores and grocery stores and taking people's life savings away. Because that's peaceful. There's so much crazy shit going on in this world. There's so much negative stuff in this world. Let's celebrate some positivity and if you are granted the opportunity to share and spread positivity, then do so, because all it's going to do is blossom and grow. Gotcha, all right, all right, all right. It is meat and potatoes time.
Speaker 1:If y'all been listening to Share the Struggle podcast for the past few months, you might have heard of some of the difficulties we've encountered Some of the hiccups, some of the roadblocks, some of the obstacles, some of the I can't think of anything else to say Chaos. That's a good one that encompasses all of it. Okay, you've heard of some of those things. You can pick an area of our lives and there's going to be something there that's broken, that needs attention, that needs replacement, and then, as you start to prioritize those things and put them in certain buckets and you start to figure out, what can I fix, what can I afford, what do I need to fix and how do I afford it, you start to prioritize things, shake these things out, and there's a few things that stand at the top of the list and one of those things that's been a major, I guess, like pain point for us, something that we've been being ducks about flying on the surface, looking calm, cool and collective.
Speaker 1:Underneath the surface, paddling a million miles an hour, full of chaos, because all we can really do is say, hey, I want to put it in God's hands and we're going to see how this shakes out, but that situation for us has been a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Speaker 2:And sometimes, when we would put it in God's hands, we would end up on the side of 95 at nine months pregnant, that happens. But we got there safely. So we put it in God's hands and he got us there.
Speaker 1:We always knew it was going to shake out and it was going to work out. But for people that haven't been listening long term, if you haven't been around through the years, then you wouldn't know that I've been running my old Dodge pick-me-up truck, old Red. There's many of stories, many of battle stories, on Share the Circle podcast about Old Red. It was the first and only new vehicle I've ever purchased in my life.
Speaker 1:I bought it as a young buck, took a payment that was way more than I could afford, but I made it and she's mine and I've run that stock car for about 22 years. I literally almost died in it once. I rolled it over, flattened the roof by about 12 inches. We jacked it up, cut it off, built a new one and set her free right. So that old girl has been great to me. I never thought I would see the day when I'd have to get rid of it, but if you've been listening, like I said, over the years, you've heard some issues right. There's an episode where my gas tank fell out and that thing is still in there with ratchet straps today.
Speaker 2:Oh, my God, I totally forgot about that. I know.
Speaker 1:Classic right.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:We were in Topsom and I was walking to camp and I noticed the gas tank was almost on the ground. I got underneath there pushing on it with my legs and ratchet strapped it up and then a couple of days later we blew the alternator in the same field on the ambulance. We've had some vehicle issues. Right. One year with old Red. We were leaving Windsor to get you to work and I was picking my mom up and we blew the fuel pump out of it and she died in the middle of the road and we had to leave it. And then, you know, aaa picked it up and lost it and we couldn't find our truck for 24 hours, right, yeah, later in the same week basically have a leaky fuel rail and, um, I don't remember what sensors or plug misfires were going on and we lost brakes while telling the camper yeah chris fixed that for you right in the parking lot.
Speaker 1:One time going to windsor we blew the master cylinder off the brake lines while the camper was on we've returned from one event and blew the back brakes out of it.
Speaker 2:We've had issues. We were leaving to go to one of the fairs Remember, we were towing to see Lee and I lost brakes. That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:We lost the master cylinder on the brakes. Doing that, we've had a multitude of situations with Old Red. I love her, but we've just continued to have issues.
Speaker 2:She's a 2003.
Speaker 1:The first and I think maybe only time Paisley's been in it. We were going to get sawdust and I blew the brakes out of it for the last time the old girl has. She's got more skin blemishes than Swiss cheese. Let's be honest, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and a newest one, because you backed over the tractor with it let's not talk about that right right so we're talking about blemishes here's the thing, folks.
Speaker 1:I don't want to say goodbye to old red, but I don't think she's safe for young paisley at this moment, no, and I also barely safe for us.
Speaker 1:I also don't think she should be hauling a camper anymore because on one of her last trips with a camper not the last trip, but ironically one of the greatest breakdowns we've had was hauling a camper from Osprey Valley Fairgrounds to Windsor Fairgrounds and blowing a radiator hose off and being on the side of 95 when you were nine months pregnant and the truck's overheating. And Kyle and Julia from Underdog Metal brought us some parts and we put the radiator hose and everything back together and clamped it and then limped it to the fair just about ran out of fuel. So nine months pregnant literally like a week or two before Paisley arrived we are broke down on the side of 95 for a couple of hours.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then the funny thing is-. With the camper on the truck, With the camper on it yeah, but then the funny thing is, so let's just put this into perspective. So all of this happens on our way to Windsor, fair right.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:We get her there, barely, get it all kind of modge-podge back together and then you get the call that I'm in labor and you take that bad girl down 95 at probably a buck-oh-five watching the roof rattling and everything but the beginning of that fair. We limped her there and then, she's coming home.
Speaker 1:We coasted in on fumes to the fair, literally spitting and sputtering, yeah, and then fast forward like a week and a half later and she's pinned, coming down 95 to make it to Paisley's birth. As I'm saying this, I don't think I can scrap her. Think about what we've been through.
Speaker 2:I don't know what you're going to do with her.
Speaker 1:I don't know, but that could be Paisley's go-kart.
Speaker 2:Project.
Speaker 1:I don't, I'm not sure man, I don't know, but the memories. Right now she got me to my little girl's birth and the hood latch is broke on that thing and I'm watching it come up in the air.
Speaker 2:I remember telling my mom, your mom is puckered.
Speaker 1:I said, hey, keep an eye on that hood. I don't want to spook you, but I just want to let you know I'm not confident in how well that hood's latched right now. You can see that thing just lifting.
Speaker 2:Well, we would have to open it with a tie.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the hood latch is on a piece of rope and sometimes the rope doesn't work and the rope comes out the grill and I have to roll on the ground with a giant screwdriver that's like I don't know 16 inches long to push on the lever and pull the rope Rigged.
Speaker 1:It's your dad's fault because he's the one that backed into it. Yeah, he ran the grill over, so Driving by, feel you. Just think about that. And then the funny thing is your dad had to use all red the same week and haul the camper home.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because I was. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Think about that week for that girl. She hauled you nine months pregnant to the side of 95. She got me to Paisley's birth and then your dad drove your camper home.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Like talk about a whirlwind. My dad almost ruined my camper when he got it home. True story.
Speaker 1:So the old girl. I don't know what she's got left, but we do know if we hook a camper onto her it's going to be a problem With that. Said, as far as vehicles that are currently in the driveway, we can't haul a camper with your Kia.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:I don't think we can haul the camper with the Challenger.
Speaker 2:Look rather funny.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess we could maybe weld a Reese Hitch on the Challenger. Look rather funny. Yeah, I guess we could maybe weld a Reese Hitch on the school bus.
Speaker 2:Imagine us hauling a 30-foot camper and a school bus at the same time. I think at that point you have to get a CDL. I think at that point.
Speaker 1:I've got to pray to park. Can you imagine us trying to figure that?
Speaker 2:out.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:At least your bus has a backup camera.
Speaker 1:My dad's truck is a 1500 that as soon as you put um this girl on it just squats. And my dad's truck is begging for some help at this moment.
Speaker 2:Let's be honest, when I moved it around the dooryard, I felt I felt like I was moving around with an s10. That's how low to the ground I was. I was like no, I can't. I said to you. I was like I'm not hauling the camper with this. I felt like that thing was gonna come straight through the bumper and up over me.
Speaker 1:Like that's how low to the ground I felt, compared to driving all red who's like in the sky so we can get around the things we need to do, but when it comes to three fares that are going to require the camper bare minimum, we have our first fair the week after july 4th and we don't have a way to get our camper into the fair now. We know there's enough people listening that gladly would help us let us borrow a truck or, you know, tow it for us or whatever.
Speaker 1:I know that. But we are independent beagles over here, okay, okay, like, we want to try to be able to do our own thing. I'm a grown ass man. We should be able to have the things that we need.
Speaker 1:But here's the truth, folks. When you're chasing your dream and you're trying to do something, when you're when you're tackling uh you know a business and a career for the first time, you make sacrifices and it comes with sacrifices. And one of the sacrifices that we've made up until this point, five years in the business, is that we don't have the financial freedom we once had. We don't have the financial security that we once had. I can't go buy a new truck. I can't go buy a new vehicle. When I worked for the dealership, I bought my dream car. I did those things. We don't have that luxury anymore. But it's okay.
Speaker 1:We're chasing a different dream here. You know, like our, our goals and aspirations are bigger than a vehicle at this point. Would it be nice to have a dependable four wheel drive vehicle for the family and they can haul the camper? Yes, but we got to a point where we're at a crossroads, where we need to have something I can't afford. I don't financially have the money to go buy something dependable, right? If I'm going to buy another four by four to haul a camper, we're going to be in a budget area where we don't really know what we're getting.
Speaker 1:That's a scary thing. And then you're going to settle for something to just get by for a couple of years, hopefully to then get into something that you really want. When you don't have the finances to take that kind of risk, it gets tough and it's one of those things where I look every day longer than I should at deals and scouring for things. But it got to a point where it's like you know what, we're just going to put it in God's hands and we're just going to figure it out. I don't know what else to do here and maybe for our first fair in July we can borrow something or somebody can help us get our camper there and then hopefully we just start having a good season and we can buy something by our August fair. You know what I mean. Those are the conversations we were having.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we definitely had these conversations multiple times because we know that it's crunch time, it's fair season and we got to figure out it's coming yeah.
Speaker 1:We were on a walk you, me, the baby and my mom and we were talking about vehicle plans and what we could possibly do. We got home, you were in the camper with the door open and paisley was on the bed and you guys were hanging out and playing. And I was working in the bus on something and I got a phone call from matt perkins, matt and sarah from ledgeway Farm. And Matt called in when we started chatting and he said, hey, something along the lines of are you still interested in my truck? And I said what? And Matt and Sarah recently have gotten a couple of new vehicles and Matt's trusty farm truck that they've had for quite some time. That has been a true thoroughbred champion, hauling their shack and their camper and doing all those things.
Speaker 1:Matt has been footed with the idea of selling it. And then he said you know what, man? Uh, it's just sitting here and I don't really need it. And, um, you know, I? I think that maybe you, you guys, would need it or could use it, and before I put it up for sale, I just want to offer it to you and I'm not going to share with everybody the details of the deal and all those things. But all I'm going to say to you is that when Matt was saying this to me, there was a weight lifted off of me. I just felt lighter, Like I knew.
Speaker 2:It was within our means.
Speaker 1:It was within our means and it's dependable and we know it. And I know all the work that Matt's done to it. Matt's replaced so much on this truck.
Speaker 2:He's done so much to it. In the words of Matt, anything that's bolted to it, I've replaced it. Yes, it's been their farm truck and they've taken great care of it and it's actually bigger than any of the vehicles, the trucks, that we've had.
Speaker 1:I'm going to say this I'm not going to get too far into details here, but this is a 2004 Chevy 2500 HD with under 80,000 miles dude.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's great.
Speaker 1:I can't believe the mileage. I cannot believe it. And it's a 2500. I've never actually owned a 2500.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is going to be great for hauling the camper, it's going to be great for hauling the horse trailer, yep, and to even take things further, if you guys have been listening for a while, there was times on here where I've told you I've shoveled my driveway by hand and my driveway is like three, four hundred feet. We thankfully now have a tractor. But when I go out there with a tractor, with our driveway, bucket by bucket, I'm out there for you know, eight, nine hours doing the driveway. Matt said I'll sell you the truck and I'll throw in the plow. Gave us a nine foot plow. I'll sell you the truck and I'll throw in the plow. Gave us a nine foot plow. He then called me and chucked in a trailer, a five by eight trailer, to haul the plow home. And then we got there and he had another plow blade in the back of the truck for my tractor.
Speaker 1:I honestly can't believe Matt's generosity and I can okay, I can believe it. He's done this before. He's got a streak of doing this. We're coming up on your birthday. Your birthday is this weekend.
Speaker 2:I think so yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we know. So it's on Father's Day. Okay, there, princess, you asked me what I wanted for Father's Day dinner Like I'm not going to involve you and your birthday dinner. You know what I'm saying? I saw that rope-a-dope move you just pulled on me One year ago. Your birthday. Matt shows up and drops off a lawnmower.
Speaker 2:And she's still going strong oh my God, she cuts every week.
Speaker 1:It's Paisley's favorite thing.
Speaker 2:Loves it. She loves the mower. Wait until you show her the tractor. Oh, my God, you haven't even shown her. Get a dad pouch.
Speaker 1:Oh God. So you made a comment, I think, on Saturday night, when you said I just think that we're Matt and Sarah's Make-A-Wish kids. We are. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:We're the Make-A-Wish fund for Matt and Sarah.
Speaker 1:Oh, my God, I'm grateful for every I am so grateful.
Speaker 2:So grateful. I will happily be there Make a wish. Make a wish kids.
Speaker 1:My God, I can't believe it.
Speaker 2:They're a true blessing. To be honest, they are a true blessing.
Speaker 1:It goes beyond a vehicle and a mower. They're involvement in our lives.
Speaker 2:They're not just friends, they're family. Exactly.
Speaker 1:And they are a blessing, but him doing this no joke for people to understand the importance and how much this means to our family. I have to get my mom to work 5.30 in the morning in the wintertime and when you have these snowstorms you're trying to either risk it to get out there or to clean snow to get her there. All these things right. You're trying to find something with four-wheel drive dependable for Paisley. We've already talked about all the business impacts and all those things and that we just didn't have anything dependable. This has all been weighing on me for so long. I've known about this for a long time. We just haven't been able to create the funds to make something work. Every time we get to a point of like okay, maybe I have enough money to pull the trigger on something, something else happens, right, something else comes up, and we're at that point where we keep taking these chances and you back yourself into a corner and when Matt called and he told me what he wanted to do, I couldn't believe it.
Speaker 2:I was in the camper and I didn't know who you were talking to, but all I heard was yes, yes, absolutely yes, 100% yes.
Speaker 1:And I was like I just realized what you're going to say.
Speaker 2:What.
Speaker 1:I did. Okay, something happened after this phone call. First off, before I get any further, before I get any further, I'm going to lose my shit. I'm going to lose my ever-loving shit. So when Matt was talking to me, you were in the camper with.
Speaker 1:Paisley, and you were like what's going on? And I literally put my hand up in the air. Do you remember I was talking to Matt and I had my phone in one hand and I had my other hand up in the air. Do you remember I was talking to Matt and I had my phone in one hand and I had my hand my other hand up in the air and I was fist pumping. I was like so excited. I was so excited and I just felt like, sweet Jesus, a load was just lifted and and I just felt lighter and I couldn't, um, I couldn't believe it and I didn't want to get emotional on Matt because he's probably like dude, it's a farm truck, but to us it's different.
Speaker 2:And I didn't even just think I did not, I swear to God.
Speaker 1:I take my hand and put it on the Cabela's catalog and eye to the sky, I did not even make the connection. I did not remember the time until right frigging now. I saw the look on your face and I thought you were going to say it. I hung up the phone with Matt and I went to the camper and I was telling you when I was so excited.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I called my mother out and I said I got to tell you something. And she came out and I shared the news with her and she was all excited and when she was walking in the house and I was going to the bus, you started yelling something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I saw the eagle. He was circling over the house. There was your dad telling us everything was going to be okay. I didn't even think about it until just now.
Speaker 1:I didn't either. I swear to God, I wholeheartedly, solemnly swear. I did not even think about it and we're now drawing the connection now. And I ran to the backyard just enough to see him fly off out of sight and I called my mom and she missed him. But I didn't even make that connection until just now. I did not even make the connection until just now.
Speaker 1:I did not even make the connection until now yep, you're not supposed to be crying, talking about a plow truck, okay it just goes back to like when things happen, they just happen for a reason and often happens when you need it most and, uh, I know that Matt knew Matt and Sarah knew what they were doing when they had a conversation and said we should call Keith and Allie about this truck. I know they were trying to help.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But I also know that God had a big hand in this and I know my dad was happy about this. I remember the first time Matt offered me this truck I ran up and told my dad about it because I knew it was in his wheelhouse and he was always stressed about us having a plow truck because we just killed the plow truck and he was so excited about it then and I remember him always asking about it so it was kind of a full circle and we're sharing this story and pouring this amount of energy into it for people to realize that for some of you listening it's a 2004 farm truck. For us, it means so much more. It means security.
Speaker 2:It does Like we're not, you know, in hopes I mean anything can happen, but you know we're not going to have to worry about, you know, giving ourselves two extra hours of time, time not knowing if we're going to break down on the side of the highway, like with the camper and the baby like it.
Speaker 1:it means so much like relief yeah for us I um, I hope that by people listening. First off to circle back to this. I'm 42 years old and I never expected I would have put my family in a situation where I couldn't afford dependability and security. But I'm taking chances on a business, on a dream, hoping for more, like I feel in my heart. Someday, some way, this is going to break. Like we've been saying this whole time, put it in God's hands, eventually it's going to come true, like I know it's going to happen, and I know that we have to be tested.
Speaker 1:But there's something inside of me that hurts when I realize I put my family in this situation. I feel like it's going to be for the right reason and we're going to have the right outcomes. But I haven't been this unsecure in a long time and I've never had this many people depending on me. So it's tough, it's hard, it weighs on you and this is one thing that comes off the plate that makes me feel great. But I'm emphasizing what this is and how small it is for some, but how big it is for us, for people that are listening, to realize there might be something that you can do today. That might seem small for us, for people that are listening, to realize there might be something that you can do today that might seem small for you but can be tremendous for somebody else. It's true, you never know. Just like for us, there could be something that we can do or say or give or sell or offer to somebody else to return the favor to pay it forward and you don't realize.
Speaker 1:I know that Matt and Sarah knew what they were doing, was they knew was helping us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:And I'm sure that's part of the reason why they did it, or the reason why they did it Well, Matt knows he's been there just about every figure that we've broken down and he's seen it he says you guys have the worst luck.
Speaker 2:And we're like, we certainly do, but it's just one of those things that, at this point, we just know, that it's, um, it's, it's a test of faith and it's. You know, everything that we're going through has led us to where we're at today and, you know, in every little hiccup, I constantly just hear don't give up, don't give up, don't give up.
Speaker 1:There is, you know, there is light at the end of the and we just have to put our head down and just keep grinding Amen. As I was saying, I know that they knew how much this was going to help us, but I also know that Matt and Sarah are the type of people that look for opportunities to make a difference in people that they care about, and even in strangers.
Speaker 2:I've seen it, yeah.
Speaker 1:I've had conversations. I've had conversations with Matt where he said I read my Bible today and, uh, god told me I needed to give today, I needed to help today, and he went and helped and he went and gave to somebody. Like, I've had those conversations with him. I know that's how they are. I know how Sarah is. It makes me want to be a better person. I'm emotional over this because this truly makes me want to be a better person, because Matt and Sarah could have come to us and said, hey, I have this vehicle, I think this would work for you, and they could have charged us five times what they did and we would have gladly paid it. Right, that's not what it was about for them. It's not what it was about. So you think about how many times in your life could you have done better for someone than you did? You know what I'm saying. Like it's, it's hard, it's hard to say, but being around them and the more you get to know them and these things, it makes you want to be a better person.
Speaker 1:It makes you want to do more.
Speaker 2:For sure.
Speaker 1:So I truly hope that people that are listening to this can realize, no matter how big or how small, you can do something today that's going to make a difference, and I'm trying to pride myself more in doing things that I can to make a difference. I need to get better at not getting so caught up and lost in the sauce, and what I mean by that is you don't want to get lost in your sauce, and what I mean by that is you don't want to get lost in your sauce, and for me, the definition of that is I can get caught in the swirl of my life, right Of where I have to be, when I have to be there taking care of my girl, what I have to order, what I have to make, where I have to go, and not being as present as I should be for people in my life. I I don't know the last time I picked the phone up and called somebody and said, hey, how you doing.
Speaker 2:You know what I?
Speaker 1:mean.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I gotta get. I gotta get better at things, and that's all. That being said, there's opportunities for us to make a difference in people, and it's not always like financial, you know what I mean. Like we're not in a position to, like, financially, do certain things with people, but there's things we can do. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Like.
Speaker 1:I think it comes down to to to paying that forward, and I've been listening to this new book and I'm not going to get too deep into it this week. I might peel back the onion on this topic next week. But there's a line in this book that I wrote down and it is Whose dream do I need to support this week? Whose dream do I need to support this week and this guy talks about? He basically gets to a point in life where he just keeps winning and he just keeps succeeding and his business endeavors are working and he doesn't need to work, but he's doing it because he loves it. And he often has to ask himself whose dream do I need to support this week? Who around me? Who do I know could use my help this week, and how do I need to support this week? Who around me, who do I know could use my help this week, and how do I help them?
Speaker 1:And he says that that same thing can happen for you. Right, you don't need to be like in his shoes and making it hand over fist. But whose dream can you help this week? And if you start thinking about people that are close to you, is there something that I can do this week to help you achieve something that you've dreamed of?
Speaker 1:Is there something that I can do, whether it's just listening to a friend who's chasing their dream and offering their advice. It doesn't need to be overwhelming, but there's something you can do, and the more often you program yourself to help others achieve their dreams, it's going to make it easier for you to achieve yours it makes sense it's uh, karma goes around, man, it pays tenfold.
Speaker 1:Doing goodwill pays tenfold, and I think that when you're helping others achieve, you too shall achieve, and Matt and Sarah are wired to help people achieve. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:And yeah, I just wanted to give the family over to Ledgeway Farm a tremendous shout out and thank you and turn this into a lesson and hopefully a calling for others to help and do what they can to make a difference. Maybe ask yourself whose dream you can support this week, you know, and see what you can do. But with all that said, it wouldn't be a Liberty weekend, it wouldn't be a Liberty vehicle, it wouldn't be a Liberty excitement scenario without sprinkling in a little dysfunction. We certainly had a little dysfunction.
Speaker 2:Oh, we certainly did, because no Liberty chaos happens without a little dysfunction.
Speaker 1:We had things planned so well. Matt said hey, man, I got this trailer for you. I'm going to hook that up on the truck, I'm going to put the plow in there, because your tractor is not going to be strong enough to pick that up. And everything was good. We went over everything. We left in enough time so that we could get home before it was dark, because we didn't have trailer lights and we were feeling things out Because the trailer is homemade.
Speaker 2:No lights on it is homemade, it is homemade, which is fine. Which is absolutely fine.
Speaker 1:So we're heading down 295 and baby's having a meltdown, an absolute meltdown.
Speaker 2:The next day we figured out why she was cutting two teeth Two teeth drops. Two teeth, so I get it. So that's why. But we didn't know that at the time.
Speaker 1:I called you. We were about a half an hour or so or 20 minutes in on the interstate and I called you and I said Well, before that we had stopped at the Gardner exit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and we tried to see if we could calm her down and nothing was working.
Speaker 1:So we're like we're losing daylight, we gotta, we gotta go, we have to go, we gotta go. So we got to the point of no return. We had to leave. And then I had to call you and say at what point is she hurting herself?
Speaker 2:yeah, because she is just screaming bloody murder she.
Speaker 1:I can't make this stop. At what point is she hurting herself and and like we need to stop? I don't know what else to do here. And there was a uh, like things were going great. You were home, you had the new trailer.
Speaker 2:Just ask me yeah, you were asking me like you know, how's it hauling? Do you like it like, is it good? And I was explaining to you yeah, it's, it's hauling really great. The um, the trailer, like I could see, was swaying a little bit, but that's only because there was a plow in the back and I could see the plow moving, but I couldn't feel it swaying, like it was hauling really really well. And you were asking about the truck and how everything's going. And I was like everything's great. And like you were getting ready, you're like all right, well, we'll just keep trucking. And I was getting ready to tell you like hey, if you want to pull over, I'll, you know, keep scooting and you just catch up to me if you want to see if you can get her to calm down. And no sooner did you say, all right, I got to, I'm going to go. Nope, you got to pull over.
Speaker 2:You got to pull over right now and I was like what? What's going on?
Speaker 2:Like I don't understand, like I didn't know what was going on because nothing was going on with the truck, right, like everything's going, like I'm hauling and you're like. You just blew a tire and I said what? And I see the tire shrapnel go. Never once, once, did the truck like sway in any way, shape or form. The trailer didn't like zigzag or nothing Like it, just it, just the tire just came off the rim and we just kept going Like it was so bizarre.
Speaker 1:I smelled it getting hot and smoking. Then I was like that's why I was kind of quiet and I was like, oh, and then I saw the fucking belt rip off that thing and come flying at the windshield I'm like dodging the belt of the tire and I was like no, no, no, you got to pull over, you got to pull over.
Speaker 2:And I was like why, what's going on? And you're like you just blew a tire and I was like what?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Didn't even feel it.
Speaker 1:So you pull over.
Speaker 2:Clearly we don't have a spare. No, I also don't even know if I have a jack to pick this freaking thing up. Right right, because, remind you, just as a reminder, there is a plow foot plow in the back.
Speaker 1:Probably a thousand pounds easy so in the back yeah, we're on the side of the road and uh baby's still having a meltdown also matt had already checked in with me two or three times to make sure everything was going good.
Speaker 2:He jinxed it, he reached out too many times.
Speaker 1:He was on his way to do some chores and stuff and I was like you're like, call Matt. And I started calling him and his phone wasn't working. And then I had to call Sarah and she was like you're kidding.
Speaker 2:What's wrong? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So she runs out to get matt and uh, I was like I can see her running, literally running, blew a tire out and he's like I've got one, um, I'll be right there. And uh, he had a whole other wheel to bring out to us. And uh, we're sitting there. And then, um, was it state police?
Speaker 1:yeah, state police pulled up behind us yep, and I was like here we go, and he was a wicked nice kid, Super nice. He came up and started talking to us, asked us a scenario and then he said you got a baby in the car. And I said yeah, and he said can you pull the truck forward and let's get this car over into the grass a little bit more? I'd like to get her off the road.
Speaker 2:He actually just said I'd like to get you off the road a little bit. So I actually popped out and moved the truck and we moved forward and got into the and then he said I'm going to put some road flares out for you. Yep.
Speaker 2:And I'm going to sit behind you as long as I can, and then I think maybe 10 minutes later, another officer pulls up right behind him a little bit further back with his lights on and he checked in with the other officer and they basically just sat there for probably like 20 minutes or so and then the first officer came to us and just said hey, he's gonna have to take off, but I'm gonna sit here as long as I can. You know when your friends are gonna be here, like do you have a ride situation? Um, we told him and uh, he was like all right, yeah, no problem. And I remember I he asked you. He like are you the registered owner?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, you'd be an awfully odd-looking Allison.
Speaker 1:You never know these days. You never know.
Speaker 2:In case you're wondering why he wanted to know that. Well, my Kia out there, yep, she's registered and inspected, but somewhere, some way, the of maine lost my stickers and I re-registered it online in february yeah, so I don't have stickers year, it's a 24 year on there.
Speaker 1:I did have the receipt though.
Speaker 2:So he, we asked him. We're like, hey, is this common?
Speaker 1:he's like I'm not surprised, yeah, so he was great he stayed there the whole, we were on the side of 295, not 95. Maybe about an hour and a half or so An hour and a half.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but after that officer went back to the car, what maybe? 10 minutes later, DOT pulls up with his lights going. I have to believe that somewhere, some way, it was put out there that a truck and trailer were on the side of the highway with a baby yeah, and that on the side of the highway with a baby yeah. And that's why all of the things started to happen?
Speaker 1:I would think so too. But to go back I was thankful for how nice they were, absolutely.
Speaker 2:They were super nice. I truly knew in my whole heart that everything was going to be okay, because when I got into the car excuse me, when I got into the truck to move it up a little bit after the officer had shown up, memesong Goodness of God came on, yeah, and I was like okay, everything's going to be okay. And then a little bit later, when Matt and Sarah got there with the new tire, I happened to poke my head out the window and point at the officer and saw his license plate said 444, which means protection. So I was like everything's going to be okay, we're going to be fine. This was just a freak accident. This is not going to be the running log of this and we even talked about it. Like you know, that tire had been, for the trailer had just been sitting out in the yard.
Speaker 1:And it, you know, had too much pressure in it.
Speaker 2:It was not that it like because looking at the tire, it blew out in the sidewalls. The tread looked great.
Speaker 1:Matt had a spare tire and rim but it wouldn't hold air. He had to literally go to a friend's house have the valve replaced.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And then Matt and Sarah showed up on the side of 295 with a big-ass jack, you know, compact gun, the whole thing. Matt went straight. Nascar changed a tire on the trailer in two minutes and then we pulled off the interstate at a gas station and checked everything over again before we left.
Speaker 1:Again, unbelievable man, like I didn't know what else to do in that situation. Like absolutely I you know so, so, um, incredibly thankful for for both of them and and they were both like we're sorry, like nothing to be sorry about yeah, it wasn't anything, and this is tremendous that you're here to help.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. This is unbelievable Because they could have been like we've got stuff to do, call AAA, not our problem. We pulled out of the door yard. Not saying that, that's what they would do.
Speaker 1:Not saying they would, but if somebody else sold it to you, they would.
Speaker 2:Yes, of course. Back in the day I used to tell somebody they'd be like what's the warranty on this one?
Speaker 1:I'd go oh, it's a 30-30. And they'd be like oh, that sounds good. What is that? 30 seconds or 30 feet, whatever happens first, that's the warranty, my friend.
Speaker 2:I thought it was something about taillights.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I've had a few. My 30-30 is my favorite. But yeah, it's crazy to think that little Paisley's how old Nine months.
Speaker 2:Hmm.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm Care to elaborate. Nine months.
Speaker 2:Well, when you were nine months pregnant, oh yeah, we were on the side of 95. Yeah, nine months in nine months out.
Speaker 1:Nine months out. We're on the side of 295.
Speaker 2:295. Unbelievable, it's true. It's what our life is like. Welcome to the shit show.
Speaker 1:I think that we've encountered a level of chaos and I'm going to knock on wood because I don't want to jinx myself here, but we've reached a level of chaos where a lot of things just don't bother us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this one.
Speaker 1:It is what it is. Yeah, a lot of things just don't bother us.
Speaker 2:yeah, this one it is what it is.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know what I mean. We've had so many crazy like situations. For example, I think if I went back to when the truck died and like um, triple a lost it, like that morning when the truck died we were panicked. That was a shit show, that was mayhem. We didn't know how to handle it. Nine months pregnant when that truck started blowing steam and I was like oh boy. And I asked you what the gauge is and you said they were pinned and we pulled over. I knew what the problem was, Went out there, said it's a radiator hose. We waited, hung out Kyle showed up.
Speaker 2:We were on the side of the I fixed it and we were good. Yeah, but we were sitting on a hill and we were just watching traffic.
Speaker 1:We're like people would be losing their mind over this and we're like this is kind of funny. Take some photos right here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you even recorded the podcast live on the side of the 95.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I did do a part there. I know we're just accustomed to chaos, so when this happened on Saturday, we're like, eh, bye for the course.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but did you hear what Sarah said? What Sarah said as soon as she got off the phone, matt was like I can hear Allie now what the fuck? Yeah. And I said to Sarah I was like I actually didn't.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 2:She was like you didn't, and I was like nah, I'm used to it by now it's crazy.
Speaker 1:When I was younger, I used to have meltdowns when things didn't go my way, and our little baby's currently doing that. But, she's going to learn a lot of things in life. Are going to go your way.
Speaker 2:To be honest, though, I think not for nothing, but for me in particular Matt and Sarah have known us a while since becoming small business owners. Over the last five years, I met Matt at the first fair I ever did Right while since becoming, you know, small business owner.
Speaker 1:So over the last five years. Think about mad at the first fair I ever did.
Speaker 2:Right, so within that timeframe, I personally know that I have grown. So, yes, would that have normally been my reaction? Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But because this constantly happens and I've also taken the time to reevaluate life, as we talked about in a few episodes, uh, back, I'm not necessarily letting all of those things bother me as much as they used to. Like, what? What's the point of having a freak out on the side of 95 or 295 when you can't do anything about it? Like, you can have a freak out, you can have a moment of like oh my god, like, like, what is what am I going to do? Right, but then what?
Speaker 1:Like it's um, it's weird when these things happen. I two things First thing, assess and then resolve.
Speaker 2:That's all. It is right, yeah.
Speaker 1:Assess situation. How do I resolve it? And that's it. And then you move on yeah, the rest of the, or you can scroll a marketplace. You know what I mean. Like, what do you want to?
Speaker 2:do? I'm sitting in the backseat playing with the baby, like she's playing in the backseat eating snacks, like it doesn't even realize she sees the blue lights and it catches her attention.
Speaker 1:I think even the cops were surprised, because the 444, he came to the window at one point and he was like just checking in on us, and I was like, oh you know, it's another little romantic evening on the side of 295. Yeah, he just chuckled about it. He's going to be thinking like they've got a newborn basically in the back seat on the side of 95, and they're not having a meltdown.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what is wrong with this loony tune?
Speaker 1:Assess and resolve man Assess the situation and find a way to resolve. But I know that at some point I'm going to be tested because I brought this up, but it's one of those things like roll into Matt's house for the open house, blow a freaking hose on the radiator of the bus, assess and resolve. Yeah, what are we going to do?
Speaker 2:Matt's like get off my grass. You know what I mean yeah.
Speaker 1:But it's like figure it out and even going into bike week. Normally I'd want to be way more prepared for this event than I am right now, but I know there's nothing else I can do about it. I'm going to get as best as I can and then I'm going to set it and forget it. It is what it is. It's all going to work out. Make the best of it. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. That's all you can do.
Speaker 1:But the thing is going back to the whole premise of this. When one of these true blessings comes to you, whether it's just out of thin air or whether somebody you know and care about is the one pushing it for you, you got to lean into it, you got to celebrate it, and you've got to use it as an opportunity.
Speaker 2:you have to appreciate it and you also have to thank it, like you have to be thankful for it, because there's a reason that everything your stars aligned and that situation came to fruition. Like there's a reason, like you've done the work, here's your reward.
Speaker 1:I think you have to use it as a tipping point towards more good fortune and more good luck, you know when something that big happens, when one big weight on your shoulders is lifted, then take that new, fresh approach. What can you resolve? What can you solve Right? You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:But you also have to stay humble and you also have to grip it and rip it and keep going Like you have. That takes one thing off your list, but that's not everything. Right, you know, be thankful, be appreciative and you know, but stay focused. Yeah, you know, for us in particular, like that was a huge, huge weight and it eliminated a ton of problems for us, so that's great. Those are multiple things off of our list that we had the ability to, in your case, highlight, and you love to highlight your list when things get completed. However, that list is still 10 pages long. However, those were two big things on the top of the list. Right, you know, plowing the driveway and how do we haul the camper.
Speaker 1:Yeah. There it is I don't know, I'm feeling blessed.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:And fortunate and thankful, and I just was hoping that by sharing this and sprinkling in some humor, it can, at least you know, raise awareness to people that you have the opportunity and the ability to cause and affect somebody's day in a positive way, to maybe, you know, put an emphasis or a boost on somebody else's dreams. And when, I think honestly, when you do that and you help somebody else, it feels good and it just gets a big ball of positive energy flowing.
Speaker 1:It's going to make your day better too. I can guarantee you that. And when something comes to you, when you are blessed with something, then celebrate it, lean into it and see if you can put it to good use and to multiply it, you know.
Speaker 2:And it can be something as simple as just holding the door and saying good morning to somebody. You don't know what that person is going through. Maybe that person doesn't have anybody at home with them to say that good morning or, you know, crack a smile to them.
Speaker 1:I think, every day you start off trying to do some of those small little things.
Speaker 2:Your five pennies? Yeah, but then if?
Speaker 1:you get to the point where, like there's an opportunity to do something, that might be small for you but big for somebody else.
Speaker 2:Take advantage of it, absolutely.
Speaker 1:You don't know how much of a positive impact you're going to have on somebody. And that's really the lasting message that I want to have of this week's show and hopefully, maybe today was the positive impact that you needed for your week. Maybe Today's that ball of positivity, maybe impact that you needed for your week, maybe.
Speaker 2:Today's that ball of positivity, maybe.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm feeling positive about the fact that that's about to be a wrap on this here show.
Speaker 2:I'm feeling positive, and then I'm about to get eight hours of sleep.
Speaker 1:Get it, girl. I got a little bit of typing and editing, but I think I can get close to that eight hours with you.
Speaker 2:Let's hit the hay you as long as that lady has something to say about it. You know what I'm saying she's out she is out this is my favorite part of the day. In case anyone was, wondering.
Speaker 1:I know me too snuggling her at the end of the day you usually get the bedtime snuggle because dad can't move without waking her up it's my favorite yeah it's my favorite.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's my favorite. It doesn't matter what kind of day you're having bad, good, doesn't matter, it's just the whole world just stops.
Speaker 1:It's the truth.
Speaker 2:She's so peaceful.
Speaker 1:And if you listen quietly, you can hear the bulldog snoring in the background.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's not the baby.
Speaker 1:Well, folks, 257 consecutive weeks of you, me and my beautiful wife this week. I appreciate you, yeah.
Speaker 2:Matt and Sarah, thank you for supporting our American dream. Your freaking hands.
Speaker 1:You filthy savage. That's it and that's all Biggie Smalls. If you're a Loud Proud American and you find yourself just wanting more, find me on YouTube and Facebook. At Loud Proud American and you find yourself just wanting more, find me on YouTube and Facebook at loudproudamerican Put the face page, as my mama calls it. If you're a fan of the Graham Cracker, you want to find me on Instagram or all the kids are tickety-talking on the TikTok, you can find me on both of those. At loud, underscore, proud underscore American. A big old thank you to the boys from the Gut Truckers for the background beats and the theme song to this year's podcast. If you are enjoying what you're hearing, you can track down the Gut Truckers on Facebook. Just search Gut Truckers. Give them, motherfuckers, a like too. I truly thank you for supporting my American dream. Now go wash your fucking hands, you filthy savage.