June 11, 2025

When God's Plan Meets Generosity

When God's Plan Meets Generosity
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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!


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Thank you for Supporting My American Dream!

00:00 - Finding Strength in the Struggle

14:22 - Back with Updates and Bike Week Plans

27:07 - The Mouse in the Windshield Wiper

36:54 - When Blessings Come at the Right Time

51:21 - The Gift of a Truck: Matt and Sarah's Generosity

01:03:02 - Roadside Mishaps: The Trailer Tire Blowout

WEBVTT

00:00:00.960 --> 00:00:03.927
Have you ever had something big happen when you least expect it?

00:00:03.927 --> 00:00:06.753
But when you need it most?

00:00:06.753 --> 00:00:15.489
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.

00:00:15.489 --> 00:00:19.585
Let me tell you something Everybody struggles.

00:00:19.585 --> 00:00:23.172
The difference is some people choose to go through it and some choose to grow through it.

00:00:23.172 --> 00:00:25.179
The choice is some people choose to go through it and some choose to grow through it.

00:00:25.179 --> 00:00:27.487
The choice is completely yours.

00:00:27.487 --> 00:00:33.432
Which one you choose will have a very profound effect on the way you live your life.

00:00:33.432 --> 00:00:41.113
If you find strength in the struggle, then this podcast is for you.

00:00:43.268 --> 00:00:48.027
Do you have a relationship that is comfortable with uncomfortable conversations?

00:00:48.027 --> 00:00:53.767
Uncomfortable conversations challenge you, humble you and they build you.

00:00:53.767 --> 00:00:58.765
When you sprinkle a little time and distance on it, it all makes sense.

00:00:58.765 --> 00:01:03.892
Most disagreements, they stem from our own insecurities.

00:01:03.892 --> 00:01:08.209
You are right where you need to be.

00:01:08.209 --> 00:01:26.128
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

00:01:26.128 --> 00:01:30.028
What it do, what it do, Hot diggity day.

00:01:30.028 --> 00:01:31.980
I'm a good lord almighty.

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Am I so excited to be back with you?

00:01:35.710 --> 00:01:39.775
Oh, it's true, it is damn true.

00:01:39.775 --> 00:01:47.528
And when I say I'm so excited to be back with you, I'm looking across the couch at you, boo.

00:01:48.391 --> 00:01:48.893
Me again.

00:01:48.893 --> 00:01:50.584
Welcome back.

00:01:50.584 --> 00:01:53.064
Hey y'all, you couldn't take it, could you?

00:01:53.064 --> 00:01:57.308
Let's just be honest, you couldn't do this one alone, huh.

00:01:58.180 --> 00:01:59.475
Yeah, there's too much excitement.

00:01:59.475 --> 00:02:04.805
It's okay, honey, daddy's fine, you ain't talking to me that way, y'all.

00:02:05.308 --> 00:02:13.311
True Princess just woke up from a little nap and doesn't like the look of headphones on me.

00:02:13.311 --> 00:02:14.713
Squash on my melon.

00:02:14.713 --> 00:02:18.150
Well, folks, episode 257.

00:02:18.150 --> 00:02:21.810
Thanks for the good feedback from last week's show.

00:02:21.810 --> 00:02:25.129
I think that we hit a note.

00:02:25.129 --> 00:02:27.748
We riled some Americans up.

00:02:27.748 --> 00:02:36.425
They were getting fired up about the impending canceling of 4th of July, which we both know is a lie.

00:02:36.425 --> 00:02:37.348
That's never going to happen.

00:02:37.348 --> 00:02:38.670
You provoked that show.

00:02:38.670 --> 00:02:39.111
That was you.

00:02:39.111 --> 00:02:42.045
You got my feathers plucked.

00:02:42.045 --> 00:02:42.647
You know what I mean.

00:02:44.031 --> 00:02:44.331
Whoops.

00:02:44.853 --> 00:02:47.567
Yeah, I had fun with last week's show.

00:02:47.567 --> 00:02:50.468
It was a change of pace, yeah.

00:02:50.468 --> 00:02:55.846
So thanks for ruffling my feathers, getting me all fibered up.

00:02:55.846 --> 00:02:56.669
You know what I mean.

00:02:57.581 --> 00:03:10.633
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.

00:03:11.314 --> 00:03:11.534
Yeah.

00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:13.026
Celebrating on 4th of July.

00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:16.586
We should make our own Loud, proud American event.

00:03:16.806 --> 00:03:22.075
Yeah, yeah, a vendor event All American made Doing flags.

00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.687
We would need to put some thought into this and make it into Maybe next year.

00:03:23.687 --> 00:03:24.068
I think we should.

00:03:24.088 --> 00:03:25.637
I would be looking into renting a into this and make it into Maybe next year?

00:03:25.657 --> 00:03:26.098
I think we should.

00:03:26.098 --> 00:03:28.608
I would be looking into renting a fairgrounds or something yeah.

00:03:28.608 --> 00:03:32.204
You know what I mean Making a big old hoot name out of it.

00:03:32.686 --> 00:03:33.206
Let us know.

00:03:34.209 --> 00:03:35.091
Yeah, I think.

00:03:35.881 --> 00:03:38.260
As the influencers say, put it in the comments.

00:03:38.881 --> 00:03:39.782
Oh, wow, look at you.

00:03:39.782 --> 00:03:42.824
Fancy, wow, nancy, wow, yowzer.

00:03:42.824 --> 00:03:46.286
Look at that Major shout out to all the new listeners.

00:03:46.286 --> 00:03:52.730
We've been noticing a lot of different states, even different countries, tuning in as of late.

00:03:52.730 --> 00:03:58.514
I want to say thank y'all, I appreciate you and I hope that I get to know you.

00:03:58.694 --> 00:04:06.322
We're tuning in from Maine, if y'all are looking yeah well, we're not tuning in, we're recording in Maine.

00:04:06.342 --> 00:04:07.943
We're a couple of maniacs.

00:04:07.943 --> 00:04:16.355
We're getting ready for shoot a big stretch of activity this week.

00:04:16.355 --> 00:04:24.031
We're just a couple days away from setting up a Bentley saloon, getting in the swing of things for Laconia Bike Week.

00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:25.425
We're preparing for chaos.

00:04:25.927 --> 00:04:37.497
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.

00:04:37.497 --> 00:04:37.939
You know what I mean.

00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:41.704
We need things to start happening, we need the flurry of action.

00:04:41.704 --> 00:04:55.827
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.

00:04:55.827 --> 00:05:00.447
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.

00:05:00.447 --> 00:05:01.088
What is that?

00:05:01.088 --> 00:05:02.279
The Sunday is like what?

00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:04.843
The 22nd or something.

00:05:04.843 --> 00:05:13.654
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.

00:05:13.654 --> 00:05:18.204
29th no, that sounds aggressive, sorry you are correct.

00:05:18.324 --> 00:05:18.766
22nd.

00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:21.266
Okay, and then Friday would be.

00:05:21.266 --> 00:05:21.666
What date?

00:05:22.730 --> 00:05:23.190
The 13th.

00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:25.165
The 13th to the 22nd.

00:05:25.165 --> 00:05:25.889
That's a good run.

00:05:26.220 --> 00:05:29.966
Friday the 13th, oh my gosh, I'm not going.

00:05:31.129 --> 00:05:31.569
That's it.

00:05:31.569 --> 00:05:32.430
It's canceled.

00:05:32.430 --> 00:05:33.853
It's over, it's canceled.

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We're not doing it.

00:05:34.535 --> 00:05:35.865
See you again next year.

00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:38.446
And then Father's Day is on the 15th.

00:05:38.867 --> 00:05:40.581
Yeah, so my first Father's Day with two legs on the planet.

00:05:40.581 --> 00:05:43.846
My first Father's Day with two legs on the planet.

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You know what I mean.

00:05:44.367 --> 00:05:52.165
Like or on the soil, I should say, because she was in your belly, but that'll be different.

00:05:52.165 --> 00:05:58.896
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.

00:05:58.896 --> 00:06:02.605
As vendors, you can come on out to see us and check out some of the festivities.

00:06:02.605 --> 00:06:24.274
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.

00:06:24.274 --> 00:06:25.425
Or is it North?

00:06:25.485 --> 00:06:25.870
Street Tattoo in.

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Salem, massachusetts.

00:06:26.757 --> 00:06:28.867
Sorry, um, and formerly of ink master.

00:06:28.867 --> 00:06:41.362
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.

00:06:41.362 --> 00:06:44.430
So if you're looking to to see us, see us.

00:06:44.430 --> 00:06:50.630
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.

00:06:50.630 --> 00:06:52.762
That's about to go down.

00:06:52.762 --> 00:06:55.088
We get a lot of moving parts in the background.

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I feel like a duck.

00:06:56.471 --> 00:07:00.245
You ever see those little.

00:07:00.245 --> 00:07:13.827
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.

00:07:14.149 --> 00:07:14.971
They're just gliding.

00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:17.286
You just think they're just floating, and they're just.

00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:19.447
I know exactly what meme we're talking about.

00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:21.165
You just think they're like inner tubing.

00:07:21.427 --> 00:07:21.608
Yeah.

00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:23.487
But do you know what happens below the?

00:07:23.507 --> 00:07:23.910
surface.

00:07:23.910 --> 00:07:25.720
Oh, they are paddling their life off.

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They are working their asses off.

00:07:28.007 --> 00:07:28.970
I've seen that.

00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:32.603
I feel like a couple of ducks On the surface.

00:07:32.603 --> 00:07:35.670
We look calm, cool, collective and floating.

00:07:36.432 --> 00:07:37.132
But internally.

00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:40.769
Beneath the surface, man Behind the scenes, beneath the sheets.

00:07:40.769 --> 00:07:43.262
Did she just toot?

00:07:43.262 --> 00:07:44.382
Was that a toot?

00:07:44.504 --> 00:07:46.185
No Folsom's growling over there.

00:07:46.466 --> 00:07:48.009
Oh no, she just dumped those blocks.

00:07:48.009 --> 00:07:52.634
I paused and it sounded like she ripped a massive tooter.

00:07:55.103 --> 00:07:56.766
Well, she was your kid.

00:07:56.766 --> 00:07:57.408
Wow, shots fired.

00:07:57.408 --> 00:07:58.009
Oh the tooter, literally.

00:07:58.490 --> 00:08:00.494
Literally Goodness.

00:08:00.494 --> 00:08:03.841
Anyways, that's my analogy.

00:08:03.841 --> 00:08:05.862
Which one time I wanted to have ducks.

00:08:05.862 --> 00:08:07.423
Remember the names?

00:08:07.423 --> 00:08:08.425
I was going to name the ducks.

00:08:08.425 --> 00:08:15.750
Come on, come on, you know it.

00:08:15.750 --> 00:08:20.934
You want one of them or you want a clue?

00:08:20.934 --> 00:08:28.887
Wow, the awkward silence is great for radio.

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I feel like Jack Jack Daniels yes, yes.

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And.

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Willie.

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Nelson, jack Daniels or Willie Nelson it's the name of our ducks.

00:08:37.548 --> 00:08:43.547
So you and me are like Jack and Willie on the surface, just not Jack and Willie's.

00:08:43.547 --> 00:08:44.288
I mean.

00:08:44.288 --> 00:08:48.423
That's exactly where I went, good's what got us in this situation?

00:08:48.443 --> 00:08:50.450
Good Lord, a couple of jack offs, wow.

00:08:50.610 --> 00:08:51.051
You know what?

00:08:55.431 --> 00:08:56.816
I want to move right along.

00:08:56.836 --> 00:08:57.479
Speaking of Jacking off.

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No, no.

00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:59.384
Speaking of Dunkin' Donuts.

00:09:00.506 --> 00:09:00.888
What.

00:09:01.450 --> 00:09:05.874
No, I had a funny little situation arise this week.

00:09:05.874 --> 00:09:07.245
I gotta take that video and post it.

00:09:07.245 --> 00:09:08.072
I sent you the video.

00:09:08.072 --> 00:09:10.285
Should I post that like maybe a tickety talk or something?

00:09:10.285 --> 00:09:13.404
It's probably not a Facebook or Instagram type video.

00:09:13.465 --> 00:09:16.940
Once you post it on tickety talk, it'll ask if you want it to post it on Facebook.

00:09:17.303 --> 00:09:17.607
I don't know.

00:09:17.607 --> 00:09:20.145
I'm asking you internally, like personally, should I you know what I mean?

00:09:20.145 --> 00:09:20.486
I don't know.

00:09:21.162 --> 00:09:23.501
I think it'll give the people a good laugh, why not?

00:09:24.546 --> 00:09:25.288
here's the deal, folks.

00:09:25.288 --> 00:09:39.993
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.

00:09:40.894 --> 00:09:41.715
Morning coffee run.

00:09:42.495 --> 00:09:42.715
Right.

00:09:43.375 --> 00:09:44.116
Looking for a sponsor?

00:09:44.136 --> 00:09:47.441
Yeah, we'll take it morning coffee run.

00:09:47.441 --> 00:09:48.683
Right looking for a sponsor.

00:09:48.683 --> 00:09:50.727
Yeah, we'll take it morning coffee run, local dunkin donuts drive-thru lane loaded.

00:09:50.727 --> 00:09:53.173
There's traffic out to route one.

00:09:53.173 --> 00:09:54.857
It is mayhem.

00:09:54.857 --> 00:10:03.081
We're just boot scooting along slowly like jack daniels and willie nelson on the surface, you know we're just barely gliding.

00:10:03.081 --> 00:10:18.730
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.

00:10:20.081 --> 00:10:20.282
Well.

00:10:21.065 --> 00:10:26.080
I was like huh, Was that like a Maine tumbleweed, the old Dunkin' napkin that just went flying by?

00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.250
And I was like huh, Was that like a Maine tumbleweed, the old Duncan napkin that just went flying by?

00:10:27.250 --> 00:10:30.448
And I was like, huh, I don't know.

00:10:30.448 --> 00:10:34.691
Back to listening to my mom and we slowly start creeping forward.

00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:39.792
Next thing I know there's a freaking mouse sitting on my windshield wiper.

00:10:39.792 --> 00:10:49.573
He pops out from under the hood, he goes left, right zigzag, keeps running across the windshield of my dad's truck.

00:10:49.573 --> 00:10:56.453
He stops for a half a second on the windshield wiper and I reach for that sucker.

00:10:56.453 --> 00:10:58.908
I'm going to flick this mouse to the neighbors.

00:10:58.908 --> 00:11:06.133
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.

00:11:06.133 --> 00:11:16.291
I panic and here's the problem my dad's windows are not like electric windows, they're crank.

00:11:16.291 --> 00:11:22.311
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.

00:11:22.311 --> 00:11:23.981
And it's stiff as all, get out.

00:11:23.981 --> 00:11:25.924
The thing could use some WD-40 or something.

00:11:25.945 --> 00:11:51.625
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.

00:11:51.625 --> 00:11:52.047
You know what I mean.

00:11:52.047 --> 00:11:52.466
None of this is good.

00:11:52.466 --> 00:11:53.008
Well, I missed him.

00:11:53.008 --> 00:11:53.889
I couldn't launch him.

00:11:53.889 --> 00:11:58.163
I tried running the old windshield wipers, to no success.

00:11:58.163 --> 00:12:03.453
But what I'm going to tell you is that Dunkin' Donuts is our stomping ground.

00:12:03.453 --> 00:12:09.106
They know me when I roll up, the last thing I wanted was to have to find a new Dunkin.

00:12:09.106 --> 00:12:10.071
You know why.

00:12:10.371 --> 00:12:11.596
Because he threw a mouse at them.

00:12:11.596 --> 00:12:13.061
No, through the windshield.

00:12:13.221 --> 00:12:14.806
Well, I didn't want to roll up.

00:12:14.806 --> 00:12:17.250
Finally to the window, have one of them.

00:12:17.250 --> 00:12:24.652
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.

00:12:24.652 --> 00:12:25.934
They scream and freak out.

00:12:25.934 --> 00:12:27.807
Maybe he lunges into the window.

00:12:27.807 --> 00:12:30.947
I would have to find a new Duncan.

00:12:30.947 --> 00:12:34.687
I would have died it probably would be on a drive-thru camera.

00:12:34.687 --> 00:12:36.868
I'd be all over Das Internet.

00:12:37.605 --> 00:12:40.047
Hey, maybe it'd go viral and Duncan would give you a sponsor.

00:12:40.662 --> 00:12:44.167
The problem is I would have had my loud, proud American hat on backwards.

00:12:44.167 --> 00:12:45.692
I wouldn't have even seen it on camera.

00:12:46.100 --> 00:13:00.505
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.

00:13:01.107 --> 00:13:06.100
Oh my God, Me and my mom were just crossing our fingers like don't pop out, don't pop out.

00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.605
And we were in line for so long.

00:13:07.605 --> 00:13:08.705
We're like he's still in there.

00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:14.551
You had sent me this video and I was like, what are you showing me?

00:13:14.551 --> 00:13:22.788
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.

00:13:22.807 --> 00:13:25.014
I got home, I, I had to go back and watch the video again to see if I was seeing what I was seeing.

00:13:25.014 --> 00:13:26.397
I got home, I drove home, popped the hood, there he was.

00:13:26.417 --> 00:13:27.460
There he was Chilling.

00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:28.923
We have a barn cat.

00:13:28.923 --> 00:13:29.667
That's a savage.

00:13:29.667 --> 00:13:36.749
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.

00:13:36.749 --> 00:13:48.659
I don't know, but I couldn't believe he made it, man.

00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:51.807
It was truly a close call and I can, I can wholeheartedly, confidently say that no mice were harmed in my dunk and run.

00:13:51.826 --> 00:13:54.493
Okay, if the cat got him when he got home, well, that's another story.

00:13:54.533 --> 00:14:06.802
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.

00:14:06.802 --> 00:14:12.089
He was not a big fan, not a fan of the dunkin run.

00:14:12.089 --> 00:14:16.280
That is my ridiculous story of the week.

00:14:16.280 --> 00:14:20.539
It is not, in any way, shape or form the reason why we're gathered here today.

00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:24.298
It is not the reason, but I thought it was worth sharing.

00:14:24.298 --> 00:14:30.595
It was the share and tell portion of the show this week, but that's not why we're here.

00:14:30.634 --> 00:14:37.913
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?

00:14:37.913 --> 00:14:43.475
I mean it wouldn't make sense to not listen and then just skip to like minute 15.

00:14:43.475 --> 00:14:44.076
That would be weird.

00:14:44.076 --> 00:14:51.596
So the beginning of the show I asked the question have you ever had something big happen when you least expect it?

00:14:52.736 --> 00:15:21.793
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.

00:15:21.793 --> 00:15:36.341
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.

00:15:36.341 --> 00:15:40.086
It's an opportunity to set your life in a new direction.

00:15:40.086 --> 00:15:44.681
It's an opportunity to set your sails on new horizons.

00:15:44.681 --> 00:15:45.422
You know what I'm saying?

00:15:45.422 --> 00:15:47.374
Like I think it can change direction.

00:15:47.374 --> 00:15:49.799
You with me on this, you feel me, you understand me, you got me.

00:15:50.041 --> 00:15:50.883
Yeah, give it to God.

00:15:51.650 --> 00:15:56.437
I see you over there babysitting, so I just wanted to make sure that you were still with me.

00:15:56.437 --> 00:15:57.918
But I shall babysit and so I just wanted to make sure that you were still.

00:15:57.918 --> 00:15:58.399
You were still with me.

00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:07.886
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.

00:16:07.886 --> 00:16:15.551
Sometimes you can work so hard for something and then out of nowhere, boom, something different happens, something great happens.

00:16:15.551 --> 00:16:19.182
Somebody's put in your life, in your path, for a reason.

00:16:19.182 --> 00:16:21.657
All these things, like you said, give it to God.

00:16:21.657 --> 00:16:22.519
It's God's plan.

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:54.647
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.

00:16:55.211 --> 00:17:00.852
It can be a stepping stone to lead forward to the next good things that are going to come.

00:17:00.852 --> 00:17:08.817
This could be just the door opener of what's to come if you end up just leaning into it, manifesting it.

00:17:09.699 --> 00:17:19.804
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.

00:17:19.804 --> 00:17:33.226
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.

00:17:33.226 --> 00:17:43.516
Opportunity, sometimes in life we don't realize that we have the ability to make a major impact on somebody.

00:17:43.516 --> 00:17:44.377
And that's going to be part number three.

00:17:44.377 --> 00:17:53.702
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.

00:17:53.702 --> 00:17:56.394
I just kind of want to set the scene for what we're trying to do here.

00:17:56.394 --> 00:18:00.000
We want to acknowledge big breaks and opportunities and blessings.

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:03.656
We want to celebrate them, to get the most bang for the buck from them.

00:18:03.656 --> 00:18:07.811
I want to acknowledge and celebrate somebody who granted us a great opportunity.

00:18:07.811 --> 00:18:22.236
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.

00:18:22.236 --> 00:18:26.316
It just goes hand in hand with what we've been talking about for 257 weeks.

00:18:26.316 --> 00:18:35.097
If you have a positive vibe and we're building a positive tribe positivity grows, confidence grows, good things grow.

00:18:35.371 --> 00:18:38.730
In this country right now, we need as much positivity as possible.

00:18:38.730 --> 00:18:51.933
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.

00:18:51.933 --> 00:19:02.059
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.

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.840
Because that's peaceful.

00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:07.021
There's so much crazy shit going on in this world.

00:19:07.021 --> 00:19:09.284
There's so much negative stuff in this world.

00:19:09.284 --> 00:19:25.113
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.

00:19:25.113 --> 00:19:40.281
Gotcha, all right, all right, all right.

00:19:40.281 --> 00:19:43.923
It is meat and potatoes time.

00:19:45.265 --> 00:20:06.981
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.

00:20:06.981 --> 00:20:09.915
That's a good one that encompasses all of it.

00:20:09.915 --> 00:20:12.155
Okay, you've heard of some of those things.

00:20:12.155 --> 00:20:54.233
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.

00:20:55.115 --> 00:21:13.010
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.

00:21:13.993 --> 00:21:21.134
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.

00:21:21.134 --> 00:21:23.880
But we got there safely.

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:26.172
So we put it in God's hands and he got us there.

00:21:27.114 --> 00:21:29.641
We always knew it was going to shake out and it was going to work out.

00:21:29.641 --> 00:21:41.503
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.

00:21:41.503 --> 00:21:46.241
There's many of stories, many of battle stories, on Share the Circle podcast about Old Red.

00:21:46.241 --> 00:21:50.842
It was the first and only new vehicle I've ever purchased in my life.

00:21:50.950 --> 00:22:02.499
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.

00:22:02.499 --> 00:22:04.817
I literally almost died in it once.

00:22:04.817 --> 00:22:08.320
I rolled it over, flattened the roof by about 12 inches.

00:22:08.320 --> 00:22:12.020
We jacked it up, cut it off, built a new one and set her free right.

00:22:12.020 --> 00:22:15.119
So that old girl has been great to me.

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:25.022
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.

00:22:25.022 --> 00:22:30.480
There's an episode where my gas tank fell out and that thing is still in there with ratchet straps today.

00:22:31.402 --> 00:22:33.173
Oh, my God, I totally forgot about that.

00:22:33.173 --> 00:22:33.634
I know.

00:22:34.576 --> 00:22:35.259
Classic right.

00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:35.641
Yeah.

00:22:38.269 --> 00:22:40.936
We were in Topsom and I was walking to camp and I noticed the gas tank was almost on the ground.

00:22:40.936 --> 00:22:48.852
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.

00:22:48.852 --> 00:22:50.556
We've had some vehicle issues.

00:22:50.556 --> 00:22:50.916
Right.

00:22:50.916 --> 00:22:52.721
One year with old Red.

00:22:52.721 --> 00:23:04.820
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.

00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:28.273
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.

00:23:28.413 --> 00:23:37.301
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.

00:23:38.890 --> 00:23:39.230
We've had issues.

00:23:39.230 --> 00:23:44.906
We were leaving to go to one of the fairs Remember, we were towing to see Lee and I lost brakes.

00:23:44.906 --> 00:23:45.450
That's what I'm saying.

00:23:45.569 --> 00:23:47.576
We lost the master cylinder on the brakes.

00:23:47.576 --> 00:23:51.809
Doing that, we've had a multitude of situations with Old Red.

00:23:51.809 --> 00:23:56.281
I love her, but we've just continued to have issues.

00:23:56.549 --> 00:23:58.438
She's a 2003.

00:23:59.109 --> 00:24:03.442
The first and I think maybe only time Paisley's been in it.

00:24:03.442 --> 00:24:11.336
We were going to get sawdust and I blew the brakes out of it for the last time the old girl has.

00:24:11.336 --> 00:24:14.423
She's got more skin blemishes than Swiss cheese.

00:24:14.423 --> 00:24:15.835
Let's be honest, okay.

00:24:15.935 --> 00:24:24.753
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.

00:24:25.635 --> 00:24:33.160
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.

00:24:33.661 --> 00:25:00.957
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.

00:25:00.957 --> 00:25:12.296
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.

00:25:12.296 --> 00:25:21.700
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.

00:25:22.150 --> 00:25:23.536
Yeah, and then the funny thing is-.

00:25:23.536 --> 00:25:29.237
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.

00:25:29.237 --> 00:25:34.401
So all of this happens on our way to Windsor, fair right.

00:25:34.883 --> 00:25:34.982
Mm-hmm.

00:25:35.611 --> 00:25:57.096
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.

00:25:57.096 --> 00:26:01.478
We limped her there and then, she's coming home.

00:26:01.809 --> 00:26:13.817
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.

00:26:13.817 --> 00:26:17.433
As I'm saying this, I don't think I can scrap her.

00:26:17.433 --> 00:26:19.701
Think about what we've been through.

00:26:21.412 --> 00:26:22.877
I don't know what you're going to do with her.

00:26:22.950 --> 00:26:25.332
I don't know, but that could be Paisley's go-kart.

00:26:25.814 --> 00:26:26.577
Project.

00:26:26.910 --> 00:26:31.474
I don't, I'm not sure man, I don't know, but the memories.

00:26:31.474 --> 00:26:40.356
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.

00:26:40.490 --> 00:26:42.736
I remember telling my mom, your mom is puckered.

00:26:43.330 --> 00:26:45.990
I said, hey, keep an eye on that hood.

00:26:45.990 --> 00:26:52.238
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.

00:26:52.238 --> 00:26:54.478
You can see that thing just lifting.

00:26:54.869 --> 00:26:56.731
Well, we would have to open it with a tie.

00:26:57.251 --> 00:27:14.926
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.

00:27:18.950 --> 00:27:21.303
It's your dad's fault because he's the one that backed into it.

00:27:21.303 --> 00:27:22.790
Yeah, he ran the grill over, so Driving by, feel you.

00:27:22.790 --> 00:27:23.634
Just think about that.

00:27:23.634 --> 00:27:29.074
And then the funny thing is your dad had to use all red the same week and haul the camper home.

00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.529
Yeah, because I was.

00:27:30.529 --> 00:27:31.796
You know what I mean.

00:27:33.153 --> 00:27:34.518
Think about that week for that girl.

00:27:34.518 --> 00:27:38.260
She hauled you nine months pregnant to the side of 95.

00:27:38.260 --> 00:27:43.461
She got me to Paisley's birth and then your dad drove your camper home.

00:27:43.541 --> 00:27:43.642
Yeah.

00:27:43.642 --> 00:27:46.890
Like talk about a whirlwind.

00:27:46.890 --> 00:27:48.636
My dad almost ruined my camper when he got it home.

00:27:48.636 --> 00:27:49.159
True story.

00:27:50.310 --> 00:27:51.232
So the old girl.

00:27:51.232 --> 00:28:01.351
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.

00:28:01.351 --> 00:28:09.343
Said, as far as vehicles that are currently in the driveway, we can't haul a camper with your Kia.

00:28:10.924 --> 00:28:11.006
No.

00:28:12.071 --> 00:28:14.579
I don't think we can haul the camper with the Challenger.

00:28:16.092 --> 00:28:16.875
Look rather funny.

00:28:17.135 --> 00:28:20.497
Yeah, I guess we could maybe weld a Reese Hitch on the Challenger.

00:28:20.497 --> 00:28:20.630
Look rather funny.

00:28:20.630 --> 00:28:22.623
Yeah, I guess we could maybe weld a Reese Hitch on the school bus.

00:28:23.349 --> 00:28:26.838
Imagine us hauling a 30-foot camper and a school bus at the same time.

00:28:26.838 --> 00:28:28.069
I think at that point you have to get a CDL.

00:28:28.069 --> 00:28:29.594
I think at that point.

00:28:30.175 --> 00:28:31.353
I've got to pray to park.

00:28:31.353 --> 00:28:32.662
Can you imagine us trying to figure that?

00:28:32.762 --> 00:28:32.863
out.

00:28:32.883 --> 00:28:33.749
Yeah.

00:28:34.352 --> 00:28:36.118
At least your bus has a backup camera.

00:28:36.671 --> 00:28:43.320
My dad's truck is a 1500 that as soon as you put um this girl on it just squats.

00:28:43.320 --> 00:28:45.990
And my dad's truck is begging for some help at this moment.

00:28:46.009 --> 00:28:51.071
Let's be honest, when I moved it around the dooryard, I felt I felt like I was moving around with an s10.

00:28:51.071 --> 00:28:52.957
That's how low to the ground I was.

00:28:52.957 --> 00:28:54.761
I was like no, I can't.

00:28:54.761 --> 00:28:55.403
I said to you.

00:28:55.403 --> 00:28:57.054
I was like I'm not hauling the camper with this.

00:28:57.054 --> 00:29:01.358
I felt like that thing was gonna come straight through the bumper and up over me.

00:29:01.618 --> 00:29:25.405
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.

00:29:25.405 --> 00:29:32.282
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.

00:29:32.303 --> 00:29:32.911
I know that.

00:29:32.911 --> 00:29:39.529
But we are independent beagles over here, okay, okay, like, we want to try to be able to do our own thing.

00:29:39.529 --> 00:29:40.894
I'm a grown ass man.

00:29:40.894 --> 00:29:43.058
We should be able to have the things that we need.

00:29:43.780 --> 00:29:44.811
But here's the truth, folks.

00:29:44.811 --> 00:29:56.413
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.

00:29:56.413 --> 00:30:03.571
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.

00:30:03.571 --> 00:30:06.459
We don't have the financial security that we once had.

00:30:06.459 --> 00:30:08.530
I can't go buy a new truck.

00:30:08.530 --> 00:30:10.955
I can't go buy a new vehicle.

00:30:10.955 --> 00:30:13.642
When I worked for the dealership, I bought my dream car.

00:30:13.642 --> 00:30:15.674
I did those things.

00:30:15.674 --> 00:30:17.259
We don't have that luxury anymore.

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.000
But it's okay.

00:30:18.130 --> 00:30:19.517
We're chasing a different dream here.

00:30:19.517 --> 00:30:23.613
You know, like our, our goals and aspirations are bigger than a vehicle at this point.

00:30:23.613 --> 00:30:28.576
Would it be nice to have a dependable four wheel drive vehicle for the family and they can haul the camper?

00:30:28.576 --> 00:30:34.775
Yes, but we got to a point where we're at a crossroads, where we need to have something I can't afford.

00:30:34.775 --> 00:30:40.790
I don't financially have the money to go buy something dependable, right?

00:30:40.790 --> 00:30:48.614
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.

00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:51.601
That's a scary thing.

00:30:51.601 --> 00:30:59.412
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.

00:30:59.412 --> 00:31:11.372
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.

00:31:11.372 --> 00:31:17.173
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.

00:31:17.173 --> 00:31:33.268
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.

00:31:33.268 --> 00:31:33.970
You know what I mean.

00:31:33.970 --> 00:31:35.752
Those are the conversations we were having.

00:31:36.114 --> 00:31:48.022
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.

00:31:48.590 --> 00:31:58.181
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.

00:31:58.181 --> 00:32:06.260
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.

00:32:06.260 --> 00:32:14.878
And I was working in the bus on something and I got a phone call from matt perkins, matt and sarah from ledgeway Farm.

00:32:14.878 --> 00:32:24.779
And Matt called in when we started chatting and he said, hey, something along the lines of are you still interested in my truck?

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:26.083
And I said what?

00:32:26.083 --> 00:32:37.022
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.

00:32:37.022 --> 00:32:42.982
That has been a true thoroughbred champion, hauling their shack and their camper and doing all those things.

00:32:43.786 --> 00:32:45.752
Matt has been footed with the idea of selling it.

00:32:45.752 --> 00:32:47.857
And then he said you know what, man?

00:32:47.857 --> 00:32:50.992
Uh, it's just sitting here and I don't really need it.

00:32:50.992 --> 00:32:52.494
And, um, you know, I?

00:32:52.494 --> 00:33:08.202
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.

00:33:08.202 --> 00:33:15.584
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.

00:33:15.584 --> 00:33:20.756
I just felt lighter, Like I knew.

00:33:21.470 --> 00:33:22.474
It was within our means.

00:33:22.951 --> 00:33:27.695
It was within our means and it's dependable and we know it.

00:33:27.695 --> 00:33:30.719
And I know all the work that Matt's done to it.

00:33:30.719 --> 00:33:32.718
Matt's replaced so much on this truck.

00:33:32.809 --> 00:33:33.934
He's done so much to it.

00:33:33.934 --> 00:33:36.936
In the words of Matt, anything that's bolted to it, I've replaced it.

00:33:36.936 --> 00:33:46.087
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.

00:33:46.107 --> 00:33:55.415
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.

00:33:55.615 --> 00:33:56.297
Yeah, it's great.

00:33:56.856 --> 00:33:58.097
I can't believe the mileage.

00:33:58.097 --> 00:33:59.278
I cannot believe it.

00:33:59.278 --> 00:34:00.980
And it's a 2500.

00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:02.982
I've never actually owned a 2500.

00:34:03.383 --> 00:34:20.682
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.

00:34:20.682 --> 00:34:22.757
We thankfully now have a tractor.

00:34:22.757 --> 00:34:30.684
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.

00:34:30.684 --> 00:34:34.880
Matt said I'll sell you the truck and I'll throw in the plow.

00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:35.784
Gave us a nine foot plow.

00:34:35.784 --> 00:34:35.771
I'll sell you the truck and I'll throw in the plow.

00:34:35.771 --> 00:34:37.931
Gave us a nine foot plow.

00:34:37.931 --> 00:34:43.222
He then called me and chucked in a trailer, a five by eight trailer, to haul the plow home.

00:34:43.222 --> 00:34:49.489
And then we got there and he had another plow blade in the back of the truck for my tractor.

00:34:50.271 --> 00:34:55.677
I honestly can't believe Matt's generosity and I can okay, I can believe it.

00:34:55.677 --> 00:34:56.780
He's done this before.

00:34:56.780 --> 00:34:58.076
He's got a streak of doing this.

00:34:58.076 --> 00:35:00.096
We're coming up on your birthday.

00:35:00.096 --> 00:35:01.998
Your birthday is this weekend.

00:35:03.791 --> 00:35:04.472
I think so yeah.

00:35:04.793 --> 00:35:05.556
Yeah, we know.

00:35:05.556 --> 00:35:06.599
So it's on Father's Day.

00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:12.851
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.

00:35:12.851 --> 00:35:13.512
You know what I'm saying?

00:35:13.512 --> 00:35:18.255
I saw that rope-a-dope move you just pulled on me One year ago.

00:35:18.255 --> 00:35:18.896
Your birthday.

00:35:18.896 --> 00:35:20.579
Matt shows up and drops off a lawnmower.

00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:24.322
And she's still going strong oh my God, she cuts every week.

00:35:25.003 --> 00:35:26.304
It's Paisley's favorite thing.

00:35:26.643 --> 00:35:26.923
Loves it.

00:35:26.923 --> 00:35:27.945
She loves the mower.

00:35:27.945 --> 00:35:29.085
Wait until you show her the tractor.

00:35:29.085 --> 00:35:35.574
Oh, my God, you haven't even shown her.

00:35:35.574 --> 00:35:37.094
Get a dad pouch.

00:35:37.235 --> 00:35:37.715
Oh God.

00:35:37.715 --> 00:35:45.603
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.

00:35:45.603 --> 00:35:46.083
We are.

00:35:46.083 --> 00:35:46.664
You know what I mean.

00:35:46.784 --> 00:35:48.646
We're the Make-A-Wish fund for Matt and Sarah.

00:35:48.666 --> 00:35:52.231
Oh, my God, I'm grateful for every I am so grateful.

00:35:52.291 --> 00:35:52.833
So grateful.

00:35:52.833 --> 00:35:54.876
I will happily be there Make a wish.

00:35:54.876 --> 00:35:55.956
Make a wish kids.

00:35:56.737 --> 00:35:58.000
My God, I can't believe it.

00:35:58.139 --> 00:36:00.123
They're a true blessing.

00:36:00.123 --> 00:36:01.766
To be honest, they are a true blessing.

00:36:03.293 --> 00:36:05.581
It goes beyond a vehicle and a mower.

00:36:05.581 --> 00:36:08.235
They're involvement in our lives.

00:36:08.536 --> 00:36:10.121
They're not just friends, they're family.

00:36:10.121 --> 00:36:10.581
Exactly.

00:36:11.532 --> 00:36:21.599
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.

00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:33.201
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.

00:36:33.201 --> 00:36:35.344
All these things right.

00:36:35.344 --> 00:36:39.512
You're trying to find something with four-wheel drive dependable for Paisley.

00:36:39.512 --> 00:36:47.336
We've already talked about all the business impacts and all those things and that we just didn't have anything dependable.

00:36:47.336 --> 00:36:50.103
This has all been weighing on me for so long.

00:36:50.103 --> 00:36:52.735
I've known about this for a long time.

00:36:52.735 --> 00:36:57.612
We just haven't been able to create the funds to make something work.

00:36:57.612 --> 00:37:17.360
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.

00:37:17.740 --> 00:37:25.802
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.

00:37:26.246 --> 00:37:28.034
And I was like I just realized what you're going to say.

00:37:29.597 --> 00:37:29.838
What.

00:37:30.199 --> 00:37:30.500
I did.

00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:35.878
Okay, something happened after this phone call.

00:37:35.878 --> 00:37:40.800
First off, before I get any further, before I get any further, I'm going to lose my shit.

00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:42.275
I'm going to lose my ever-loving shit.

00:37:42.275 --> 00:37:48.802
So when Matt was talking to me, you were in the camper with.

00:37:48.822 --> 00:37:50.375
Paisley, and you were like what's going on?

00:37:50.375 --> 00:37:53.139
And I literally put my hand up in the air.

00:37:53.139 --> 00:37:59.313
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.

00:37:59.313 --> 00:38:02.766
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.

00:38:02.766 --> 00:38:03.387
I was like so excited.

00:38:03.387 --> 00:38:21.675
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.

00:38:22.909 --> 00:38:27.597
And I didn't even just think I did not, I swear to God.

00:38:28.130 --> 00:38:33.777
I take my hand and put it on the Cabela's catalog and eye to the sky, I did not even make the connection.

00:38:33.777 --> 00:38:37.601
I did not remember the time until right frigging now.

00:38:37.601 --> 00:38:41.317
I saw the look on your face and I thought you were going to say it.

00:38:41.317 --> 00:38:46.175
I hung up the phone with Matt and I went to the camper and I was telling you when I was so excited.

00:38:46.355 --> 00:38:46.556
Yeah.

00:38:48.018 --> 00:38:51.693
And I called my mother out and I said I got to tell you something.

00:38:51.693 --> 00:38:58.735
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.

00:39:02.081 --> 00:39:04.065
Yeah, I saw the eagle.

00:39:04.065 --> 00:39:06.516
He was circling over the house.

00:39:06.516 --> 00:39:11.219
There was your dad telling us everything was going to be okay.

00:39:11.219 --> 00:39:15.817
I didn't even think about it until just now.

00:39:16.318 --> 00:39:16.760
I didn't either.

00:39:16.760 --> 00:39:21.422
I swear to God, I wholeheartedly, solemnly swear.

00:39:21.422 --> 00:39:25.117
I did not even think about it and we're now drawing the connection now.

00:39:25.117 --> 00:39:33.418
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.

00:39:33.418 --> 00:39:35.639
But I didn't even make that connection until just now.

00:39:35.639 --> 00:39:37.465
I did not even make the connection until just now.

00:39:37.525 --> 00:40:03.338
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.

00:40:03.338 --> 00:40:04.795
I know they were trying to help.

00:40:05.137 --> 00:40:05.338
Yeah.

00:40:06.411 --> 00:40:12.840
But I also know that God had a big hand in this and I know my dad was happy about this.

00:40:12.840 --> 00:40:39.384
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.

00:40:39.384 --> 00:40:41.838
For us, it means so much more.

00:40:41.838 --> 00:40:44.373
It means security.

00:40:44.936 --> 00:41:03.780
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.

00:41:03.980 --> 00:41:15.996
it means so much like relief yeah for us I um, I hope that by people listening.

00:41:15.996 --> 00:41:20.541
First off to circle back to this.

00:41:20.541 --> 00:41:30.688
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.

00:41:30.688 --> 00:41:40.996
But I'm taking chances on a business, on a dream, hoping for more, like I feel in my heart.

00:41:40.996 --> 00:41:42.661
Someday, some way, this is going to break.

00:41:42.661 --> 00:41:51.322
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.

00:41:52.210 --> 00:41:58.063
But there's something inside of me that hurts when I realize I put my family in this situation.

00:41:58.063 --> 00:42:02.344
I feel like it's going to be for the right reason and we're going to have the right outcomes.

00:42:02.344 --> 00:42:11.677
But I haven't been this unsecure in a long time and I've never had this many people depending on me.

00:42:11.677 --> 00:42:18.001
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.

00:42:18.001 --> 00:42:27.896
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.

00:42:27.896 --> 00:42:36.722
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.

00:42:36.722 --> 00:42:40.210
It's true, you never know.

00:42:40.210 --> 00:42:54.289
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.

00:42:55.552 --> 00:43:00.422
I know that Matt and Sarah knew what they were doing, was they knew was helping us.

00:43:00.722 --> 00:43:01.483
Yeah, for sure.

00:43:01.650 --> 00:43:12.579
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.

00:43:12.659 --> 00:43:23.230
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.

00:43:23.230 --> 00:43:36.206
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.

00:43:54.469 --> 00:44:00.338
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.

00:44:00.338 --> 00:44:16.681
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.

00:44:16.961 --> 00:44:17.923
I've seen it, yeah.

00:44:18.775 --> 00:44:19.750
I've had conversations.

00:44:19.750 --> 00:44:30.675
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.

00:44:30.675 --> 00:44:31.996
Like, I've had those conversations with him.

00:44:31.996 --> 00:44:34.057
I know that's how they are.

00:44:34.057 --> 00:44:35.356
I know how Sarah is.

00:44:35.356 --> 00:44:39.619
It makes me want to be a better person.

00:44:39.619 --> 00:45:13.534
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.

00:45:13.534 --> 00:45:16.615
Right, that's not what it was about for them.

00:45:16.615 --> 00:45:18.135
It's not what it was about.

00:45:18.135 --> 00:45:26.239
So you think about how many times in your life could you have done better for someone than you did?

00:45:26.239 --> 00:45:27.121
You know what I'm saying.

00:45:27.121 --> 00:45:37.398
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.

00:45:37.670 --> 00:45:39.376
It makes you want to do more.

00:45:39.677 --> 00:45:40.099
For sure.

00:45:42.030 --> 00:45:55.409
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.

00:45:55.409 --> 00:46:31.452
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.

00:46:31.452 --> 00:46:35.940
I I don't know the last time I picked the phone up and called somebody and said, hey, how you doing.

00:46:36.842 --> 00:46:37.141
You know what I?

00:46:37.161 --> 00:46:37.282
mean.

00:46:37.943 --> 00:46:38.103
Yeah.

00:46:43.032 --> 00:46:43.494
I gotta get.

00:46:43.494 --> 00:46:48.862
I gotta get better at things, and that's all.

00:46:48.862 --> 00:46:57.489
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.

00:46:57.489 --> 00:47:02.773
Like we're not in a position to, like, financially, do certain things with people, but there's things we can do.

00:47:02.773 --> 00:47:03.456
You know what I'm saying.

00:47:04.733 --> 00:47:04.813
Like.

00:47:04.934 --> 00:47:14.324
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.

00:47:14.324 --> 00:47:17.740
I might peel back the onion on this topic next week.

00:47:17.740 --> 00:47:28.121
But there's a line in this book that I wrote down and it is Whose dream do I need to support this week?

00:47:28.121 --> 00:47:31.681
Whose dream do I need to support this week and this guy talks about?

00:47:31.681 --> 00:47:41.394
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.

00:47:41.394 --> 00:47:46.237
And he often has to ask himself whose dream do I need to support this week?

00:47:46.237 --> 00:47:47.052
Who around me?

00:47:47.052 --> 00:47:49.574
Who do I know could use my help this week, and how do I need to support this week?

00:47:49.574 --> 00:47:50.672
Who around me, who do I know could use my help this week, and how do I help them?

00:47:51.150 --> 00:47:55.280
And he says that that same thing can happen for you.

00:47:55.280 --> 00:48:02.980
Right, you don't need to be like in his shoes and making it hand over fist.

00:48:02.980 --> 00:48:06.097
But whose dream can you help this week?

00:48:06.097 --> 00:48:16.364
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?

00:48:17.331 --> 00:48:22.882
Is there something that I can do, whether it's just listening to a friend who's chasing their dream and offering their advice.

00:48:22.882 --> 00:48:40.882
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.

00:48:40.943 --> 00:48:51.811
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.

00:48:51.811 --> 00:48:52.333
You know what I mean.

00:48:53.114 --> 00:49:08.496
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.

00:49:08.496 --> 00:49:14.958
Maybe ask yourself whose dream you can support this week, you know, and see what you can do.

00:49:14.958 --> 00:49:32.204
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.

00:49:32.204 --> 00:49:38.478
We certainly had a little dysfunction.

00:49:38.949 --> 00:49:48.606
Oh, we certainly did, because no Liberty chaos happens without a little dysfunction.

00:49:49.311 --> 00:49:50.597
We had things planned so well.

00:49:50.597 --> 00:49:54.719
Matt said hey, man, I got this trailer for you.

00:49:54.719 --> 00:50:01.981
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.

00:50:01.981 --> 00:50:04.063
And everything was good.

00:50:04.063 --> 00:50:04.730
We went over everything.

00:50:04.730 --> 00:50:12.219
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.

00:50:12.481 --> 00:50:14.206
No lights on it is homemade, it is homemade, which is fine.

00:50:14.206 --> 00:50:16.255
Which is absolutely fine.

00:50:16.690 --> 00:50:25.688
So we're heading down 295 and baby's having a meltdown, an absolute meltdown.

00:50:25.931 --> 00:50:29.615
The next day we figured out why she was cutting two teeth Two teeth drops.

00:50:29.615 --> 00:50:31.039
Two teeth, so I get it.

00:50:31.039 --> 00:50:31.762
So that's why.

00:50:31.762 --> 00:50:33.014
But we didn't know that at the time.

00:50:33.416 --> 00:50:33.938
I called you.

00:50:33.938 --> 00:50:42.300
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.

00:50:49.909 --> 00:50:51.518
Yeah, and we tried to see if we could calm her down and nothing was working.

00:50:51.538 --> 00:50:53.246
So we're like we're losing daylight, we gotta, we gotta go, we have to go, we gotta go.

00:50:53.246 --> 00:50:53.969
So we got to the point of no return.

00:50:53.969 --> 00:50:54.771
We had to leave.

00:50:54.771 --> 00:50:59.842
And then I had to call you and say at what point is she hurting herself?

00:50:59.963 --> 00:51:02.378
yeah, because she is just screaming bloody murder she.

00:51:02.679 --> 00:51:03.762
I can't make this stop.

00:51:03.762 --> 00:51:08.617
At what point is she hurting herself and and like we need to stop?

00:51:08.617 --> 00:51:09.880
I don't know what else to do here.

00:51:09.880 --> 00:51:14.039
And there was a uh, like things were going great.

00:51:14.039 --> 00:51:15.521
You were home, you had the new trailer.

00:51:15.541 --> 00:51:19.356
Just ask me yeah, you were asking me like you know, how's it hauling?

00:51:19.356 --> 00:51:21.621
Do you like it like, is it good?

00:51:21.621 --> 00:51:25.454
And I was explaining to you yeah, it's, it's hauling really great.

00:51:25.454 --> 00:51:37.737
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.

00:51:37.737 --> 00:51:42.215
And you were asking about the truck and how everything's going.

00:51:42.215 --> 00:51:43.735
And I was like everything's great.

00:51:43.735 --> 00:52:00.190
And like you were getting ready, you're like all right, well, we'll just keep trucking.

00:52:00.190 --> 00:52:05.094
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.

00:52:05.094 --> 00:52:06.695
And no sooner did you say, all right, I got to, I'm going to go.

00:52:06.695 --> 00:52:07.797
Nope, you got to pull over.

00:52:07.817 --> 00:52:09.998
You got to pull over right now and I was like what?

00:52:09.998 --> 00:52:10.699
What's going on?

00:52:10.739 --> 00:52:18.164
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.

00:52:18.164 --> 00:52:20.507
You just blew a tire and I said what?

00:52:20.507 --> 00:52:23.751
And I see the tire shrapnel go.

00:52:23.751 --> 00:52:27.518
Never once, once, did the truck like sway in any way, shape or form.

00:52:27.518 --> 00:52:38.438
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.

00:52:38.969 --> 00:52:41.498
I smelled it getting hot and smoking.

00:52:41.498 --> 00:52:53.981
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.

00:52:54.630 --> 00:52:56.954
And I was like why, what's going on?

00:52:56.954 --> 00:52:58.797
And you're like you just blew a tire and I was like what?

00:52:59.197 --> 00:52:59.358
Yeah.

00:53:00.661 --> 00:53:01.302
Didn't even feel it.

00:53:01.842 --> 00:53:02.625
So you pull over.

00:53:10.630 --> 00:53:11.391
Clearly we don't have a spare.

00:53:11.391 --> 00:53:13.336
No, I also don't even know if I have a jack to pick this freaking thing up.

00:53:13.336 --> 00:53:17.387
Right right, because, remind you, just as a reminder, there is a plow foot plow in the back.

00:53:17.407 --> 00:53:30.280
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.

00:53:30.961 --> 00:53:33.356
He jinxed it, he reached out too many times.

00:53:33.590 --> 00:53:36.980
He was on his way to do some chores and stuff and I was like you're like, call Matt.

00:53:36.980 --> 00:53:40.315
And I started calling him and his phone wasn't working.

00:53:40.315 --> 00:53:43.400
And then I had to call Sarah and she was like you're kidding.

00:53:43.601 --> 00:53:44.083
What's wrong?

00:53:44.083 --> 00:53:45.003
Yeah, yeah.

00:53:50.789 --> 00:53:57.382
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.

00:53:57.382 --> 00:54:00.012
And uh, he had a whole other wheel to bring out to us.

00:54:00.012 --> 00:54:02.177
And uh, we're sitting there.

00:54:02.177 --> 00:54:05.463
And then, um, was it state police?

00:54:05.663 --> 00:54:11.177
yeah, state police pulled up behind us yep, and I was like here we go, and he was a wicked nice kid, Super nice.

00:54:11.177 --> 00:54:17.335
He came up and started talking to us, asked us a scenario and then he said you got a baby in the car.

00:54:17.335 --> 00:54:22.222
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?

00:54:22.222 --> 00:54:23.411
I'd like to get her off the road.

00:54:23.871 --> 00:54:26.695
He actually just said I'd like to get you off the road a little bit.

00:54:26.695 --> 00:54:33.541
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.

00:54:33.541 --> 00:54:33.943
Yep.

00:54:34.242 --> 00:54:59.222
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.

00:54:59.222 --> 00:55:02.416
You know when your friends are gonna be here, like do you have a ride situation?

00:55:02.416 --> 00:55:07.210
Um, we told him and uh, he was like all right, yeah, no problem.

00:55:07.210 --> 00:55:09.496
And I remember I he asked you.

00:55:09.496 --> 00:55:10.960
He like are you the registered owner?

00:55:11.101 --> 00:55:11.280
Yeah.

00:55:11.771 --> 00:55:15.541
Well, you'd be an awfully odd-looking Allison.

00:55:15.670 --> 00:55:16.835
You never know these days.

00:55:16.835 --> 00:55:17.918
You never know.

00:55:18.251 --> 00:55:20.375
In case you're wondering why he wanted to know that.

00:55:20.375 --> 00:55:36.802
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.

00:55:36.969 --> 00:55:38.072
I did have the receipt though.

00:55:38.414 --> 00:55:39.336
So he, we asked him.

00:55:39.336 --> 00:55:40.519
We're like, hey, is this common?

00:55:40.539 --> 00:55:49.744
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.

00:55:49.744 --> 00:55:52.516
Maybe about an hour and a half or so An hour and a half.

00:55:52.797 --> 00:55:56.077
Yeah, but after that officer went back to the car, what maybe?

00:55:56.077 --> 00:55:59.469
10 minutes later, DOT pulls up with his lights going.

00:55:59.469 --> 00:56:09.489
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.

00:56:09.489 --> 00:56:14.143
And that's why all of the things started to happen?

00:56:14.164 --> 00:56:14.626
I would think so too.

00:56:14.626 --> 00:56:19.721
But to go back I was thankful for how nice they were, absolutely.

00:56:20.132 --> 00:56:20.896
They were super nice.

00:56:20.896 --> 00:56:42.181
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.

00:56:42.181 --> 00:56:59.985
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.

00:56:59.985 --> 00:57:03.715
So I was like everything's going to be okay, we're going to be fine.

00:57:03.715 --> 00:57:05.670
This was just a freak accident.

00:57:05.670 --> 00:57:10.835
This is not going to be the running log of this and we even talked about it.

00:57:10.835 --> 00:57:16.023
Like you know, that tire had been, for the trailer had just been sitting out in the yard.

00:57:16.871 --> 00:57:18.557
And it, you know, had too much pressure in it.

00:57:18.650 --> 00:57:23.440
It was not that it like because looking at the tire, it blew out in the sidewalls.

00:57:23.440 --> 00:57:24.242
The tread looked great.

00:57:25.590 --> 00:57:29.661
Matt had a spare tire and rim but it wouldn't hold air.

00:57:29.661 --> 00:57:33.559
He had to literally go to a friend's house have the valve replaced.

00:57:33.641 --> 00:57:33.820
Yeah.

00:57:34.329 --> 00:57:41.659
And then Matt and Sarah showed up on the side of 295 with a big-ass jack, you know, compact gun, the whole thing.

00:57:41.659 --> 00:57:43.052
Matt went straight.

00:57:43.052 --> 00:57:50.554
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.

00:57:52.077 --> 00:57:56.291
Again, unbelievable man, like I didn't know what else to do in that situation.

00:57:56.291 --> 00:58:08.972
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.

00:58:09.074 --> 00:58:09.393
Absolutely.

00:58:09.393 --> 00:58:14.161
This is unbelievable Because they could have been like we've got stuff to do, call AAA, not our problem.

00:58:14.161 --> 00:58:15.184
We pulled out of the door yard.

00:58:15.184 --> 00:58:17.045
Not saying that, that's what they would do.

00:58:17.065 --> 00:58:19.266
Not saying they would, but if somebody else sold it to you, they would.

00:58:24.157 --> 00:58:24.637
Yes, of course.

00:58:24.637 --> 00:58:28.704
Back in the day I used to tell somebody they'd be like what's the warranty on this one?

00:58:28.744 --> 00:58:30.166
I'd go oh, it's a 30-30.

00:58:30.166 --> 00:58:32.054
And they'd be like oh, that sounds good.

00:58:32.054 --> 00:58:32.516
What is that?

00:58:32.516 --> 00:58:36.896
30 seconds or 30 feet, whatever happens first, that's the warranty, my friend.

00:58:37.251 --> 00:58:38.735
I thought it was something about taillights.

00:58:39.378 --> 00:58:40.059
Yeah, I've had a few.

00:58:40.059 --> 00:58:41.291
My 30-30 is my favorite.

00:58:41.291 --> 00:58:49.663
But yeah, it's crazy to think that little Paisley's how old Nine months.

00:58:50.664 --> 00:58:51.766
Hmm.

00:58:52.793 --> 00:58:55.432
Mm-hmm Care to elaborate.

00:58:55.432 --> 00:58:56.034
Nine months.

00:58:56.856 --> 00:59:01.557
Well, when you were nine months pregnant, oh yeah, we were on the side of 95.

00:59:01.557 --> 00:59:03.838
Yeah, nine months in nine months out.

00:59:04.230 --> 00:59:04.831
Nine months out.

00:59:04.831 --> 00:59:06.818
We're on the side of 295.

00:59:06.838 --> 00:59:08.304
295.

00:59:08.304 --> 00:59:08.947
Unbelievable, it's true.

00:59:08.947 --> 00:59:11.376
It's what our life is like.

00:59:11.376 --> 00:59:13.215
Welcome to the shit show.

00:59:14.050 --> 00:59:26.000
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.

00:59:26.101 --> 00:59:26.862
Yeah, this one.

00:59:27.692 --> 00:59:28.335
It is what it is.

00:59:28.335 --> 00:59:29.248
Yeah, a lot of things just don't bother us.

00:59:29.184 --> 00:59:29.927
yeah, this one it is what it is.

00:59:29.862 --> 00:59:30.016
Yeah, you know what I mean.

00:59:30.016 --> 00:59:33.480
We've had so many crazy like situations.

00:59:33.480 --> 00:59:46.650
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.

00:59:46.650 --> 00:59:49.420
That was a shit show, that was mayhem.

00:59:49.420 --> 00:59:51.155
We didn't know how to handle it.

00:59:51.155 --> 00:59:56.661
Nine months pregnant when that truck started blowing steam and I was like oh boy.

00:59:56.661 --> 01:00:00.400
And I asked you what the gauge is and you said they were pinned and we pulled over.

01:00:00.400 --> 01:00:04.016
I knew what the problem was, Went out there, said it's a radiator hose.

01:00:04.016 --> 01:00:06.635
We waited, hung out Kyle showed up.

01:00:06.655 --> 01:00:09.001
We were on the side of the I fixed it and we were good.

01:00:09.001 --> 01:00:13.030
Yeah, but we were sitting on a hill and we were just watching traffic.

01:00:13.251 --> 01:00:17.795
We're like people would be losing their mind over this and we're like this is kind of funny.

01:00:17.795 --> 01:00:18.757
Take some photos right here.

01:00:18.898 --> 01:00:22.449
Yeah, you even recorded the podcast live on the side of the 95.

01:00:22.469 --> 01:00:23.690
Yeah, I did do a part there.

01:00:23.690 --> 01:00:29.715
I know we're just accustomed to chaos, so when this happened on Saturday, we're like, eh, bye for the course.

01:00:29.956 --> 01:00:31.498
Yeah, but did you hear what Sarah said?

01:00:31.498 --> 01:00:38.543
What Sarah said as soon as she got off the phone, matt was like I can hear Allie now what the fuck?

01:00:38.543 --> 01:00:39.043
Yeah.

01:00:39.043 --> 01:00:40.686
And I said to Sarah I was like I actually didn't.

01:00:41.186 --> 01:00:41.385
No.

01:00:41.847 --> 01:00:45.512
She was like you didn't, and I was like nah, I'm used to it by now it's crazy.

01:00:45.773 --> 01:00:51.063
When I was younger, I used to have meltdowns when things didn't go my way, and our little baby's currently doing that.

01:00:51.063 --> 01:00:53.858
But, she's going to learn a lot of things in life.

01:00:53.858 --> 01:00:54.619
Are going to go your way.

01:00:54.909 --> 01:01:02.621
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.

01:01:02.621 --> 01:01:07.206
Over the last five years, I met Matt at the first fair I ever did Right while since becoming, you know, small business owner.

01:01:07.226 --> 01:01:08.387
So over the last five years.

01:01:08.387 --> 01:01:10.932
Think about mad at the first fair I ever did.

01:01:11.213 --> 01:01:16.471
Right, so within that timeframe, I personally know that I have grown.

01:01:16.471 --> 01:01:19.157
So, yes, would that have normally been my reaction?

01:01:19.157 --> 01:01:19.759
Absolutely.

01:01:19.898 --> 01:01:20.079
Yeah.

01:01:20.460 --> 01:01:34.436
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.

01:01:34.436 --> 01:01:36.039
Like, what?

01:01:36.039 --> 01:01:41.759
What's the point of having a freak out on the side of 95 or 295 when you can't do anything about it?

01:01:41.759 --> 01:01:47.431
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?

01:01:47.431 --> 01:01:48.833
Right, but then what?

01:01:49.532 --> 01:01:54.235
Like it's um, it's weird when these things happen.

01:01:54.235 --> 01:01:58.137
I two things First thing, assess and then resolve.

01:01:58.257 --> 01:01:58.577
That's all.

01:01:58.577 --> 01:01:59.259
It is right, yeah.

01:01:59.619 --> 01:02:00.518
Assess situation.

01:02:00.518 --> 01:02:01.559
How do I resolve it?

01:02:01.559 --> 01:02:02.179
And that's it.

01:02:02.179 --> 01:02:05.882
And then you move on yeah, the rest of the, or you can scroll a marketplace.

01:02:05.882 --> 01:02:06.802
You know what I mean.

01:02:06.802 --> 01:02:07.822
Like, what do you want to?

01:02:07.862 --> 01:02:08.103
do?

01:02:08.103 --> 01:02:16.507
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.

01:02:24.610 --> 01:02:31.710
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.

01:02:31.710 --> 01:02:32.713
Yeah, he just chuckled about it.

01:02:32.713 --> 01:02:38.119
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.

01:02:38.139 --> 01:02:40.197
Yeah, what is wrong with this loony tune?

01:02:40.809 --> 01:02:44.034
Assess and resolve man Assess the situation and find a way to resolve.

01:02:44.034 --> 01:02:57.806
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.

01:02:57.806 --> 01:02:58.409
Yeah, what are we going to do?

01:02:58.570 --> 01:03:00.202
Matt's like get off my grass.

01:03:00.202 --> 01:03:00.969
You know what I mean yeah.

01:03:01.469 --> 01:03:05.315
But it's like figure it out and even going into bike week.

01:03:05.315 --> 01:03:12.599
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.

01:03:12.599 --> 01:03:16.135
I'm going to get as best as I can and then I'm going to set it and forget it.

01:03:16.135 --> 01:03:16.998
It is what it is.

01:03:16.998 --> 01:03:19.152
It's all going to work out.

01:03:19.152 --> 01:03:20.114
Make the best of it.

01:03:20.114 --> 01:03:20.836
You know what I mean.

01:03:22.039 --> 01:03:22.601
Absolutely.

01:03:22.601 --> 01:03:23.342
That's all you can do.

01:03:31.050 --> 01:03:32.432
But the thing is going back to the whole premise of this.

01:03:32.432 --> 01:03:45.130
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.

01:03:45.733 --> 01:03:59.583
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.

01:03:59.583 --> 01:04:04.802
Like there's a reason, like you've done the work, here's your reward.

01:04:05.590 --> 01:04:19.478
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.

01:04:19.478 --> 01:04:21.014
What can you resolve?

01:04:21.014 --> 01:04:22.197
What can you solve Right?

01:04:22.197 --> 01:04:22.679
You know what I mean.

01:04:22.809 --> 01:04:27.492
But you also have to stay humble and you also have to grip it and rip it and keep going Like you have.

01:04:27.492 --> 01:04:31.175
That takes one thing off your list, but that's not everything.

01:04:31.175 --> 01:04:38.416
Right, you know, be thankful, be appreciative and you know, but stay focused.

01:04:38.416 --> 01:04:48.601
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.

01:04:48.601 --> 01:04:57.300
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.

01:04:57.300 --> 01:05:00.617
However, that list is still 10 pages long.

01:05:00.617 --> 01:05:05.039
However, those were two big things on the top of the list.

01:05:05.039 --> 01:05:09.737
Right, you know, plowing the driveway and how do we haul the camper.

01:05:10.079 --> 01:05:10.239
Yeah.

01:05:10.239 --> 01:05:16.398
There it is I don't know, I'm feeling blessed.

01:05:16.559 --> 01:05:17.360
Yeah, for sure.

01:05:17.889 --> 01:05:38.376
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.

01:05:38.376 --> 01:05:46.873
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.

01:05:47.376 --> 01:05:48.925
It's going to make your day better too.

01:05:48.925 --> 01:05:50.070
I can guarantee you that.

01:05:50.070 --> 01:06:01.182
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.

01:06:02.771 --> 01:06:08.543
And it can be something as simple as just holding the door and saying good morning to somebody.

01:06:08.543 --> 01:06:11.259
You don't know what that person is going through.

01:06:11.259 --> 01:06:17.701
Maybe that person doesn't have anybody at home with them to say that good morning or, you know, crack a smile to them.

01:06:17.769 --> 01:06:20.898
I think, every day you start off trying to do some of those small little things.

01:06:20.958 --> 01:06:21.942
Your five pennies?

01:06:21.942 --> 01:06:23.652
Yeah, but then if?

01:06:23.672 --> 01:06:29.679
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.

01:06:29.699 --> 01:06:31.103
Take advantage of it, absolutely.

01:06:31.190 --> 01:06:35.110
You don't know how much of a positive impact you're going to have on somebody.

01:06:35.110 --> 01:06:45.568
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.

01:06:45.568 --> 01:06:47.898
Maybe Today's that ball of positivity, maybe impact that you needed for your week, maybe.

01:06:47.864 --> 01:06:48.550
Today's that ball of positivity, maybe.

01:06:50.614 --> 01:06:55.724
Well, I'm feeling positive about the fact that that's about to be a wrap on this here show.

01:06:56.070 --> 01:06:58.918
I'm feeling positive, and then I'm about to get eight hours of sleep.

01:06:59.920 --> 01:07:00.362
Get it, girl.

01:07:00.362 --> 01:07:06.342
I got a little bit of typing and editing, but I think I can get close to that eight hours with you.

01:07:06.362 --> 01:07:10.623
Let's hit the hay you as long as that lady has something to say about it.

01:07:10.623 --> 01:07:15.673
You know what I'm saying she's out she is out this is my favorite part of the day.

01:07:15.673 --> 01:07:16.757
In case anyone was, wondering.

01:07:16.777 --> 01:07:27.731
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.

01:07:27.751 --> 01:07:28.353
Yeah, it's my favorite.

01:07:28.353 --> 01:07:35.835
It doesn't matter what kind of day you're having bad, good, doesn't matter, it's just the whole world just stops.

01:07:36.117 --> 01:07:36.597
It's the truth.

01:07:38.061 --> 01:07:38.762
She's so peaceful.

01:07:39.590 --> 01:07:42.315
And if you listen quietly, you can hear the bulldog snoring in the background.

01:07:42.335 --> 01:07:43.239
Yeah, that's not the baby.

01:07:45.489 --> 01:07:51.701
Well, folks, 257 consecutive weeks of you, me and my beautiful wife this week.

01:07:51.701 --> 01:07:54.105
I appreciate you, yeah.

01:07:54.769 --> 01:07:59.382
Matt and Sarah, thank you for supporting our American dream.

01:07:59.382 --> 01:08:02.777
Your freaking hands.

01:08:03.036 --> 01:08:04.001
You filthy savage.

01:08:04.001 --> 01:08:07.831
That's it and that's all Biggie Smalls.

01:08:07.831 --> 01:08:22.960
If you're a Loud Proud American and you find yourself just wanting more, find me on YouTube and Facebook.

01:08:22.960 --> 01:08:34.345
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.

01:08:34.345 --> 01:08:44.132
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.

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At loud, underscore, proud underscore American.

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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.

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If you are enjoying what you're hearing, you can track down the Gut Truckers on Facebook.

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Just search Gut Truckers.

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Give them, motherfuckers, a like too.

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I truly thank you for supporting my American dream.

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Now go wash your fucking hands, you filthy savage.