Sunday, August 30, 2009

Some Minor Challenges and Setbacks - Making Us Stronger

The past few months have been a bit of a challenge for us.

Some of the challenges include:

  • Having my credit score downgraded to the bottom 10% - not because I'd ever been late on a payment (I'd never been late on a payment in my life up to this point) - but because my profile matched many others with real estate holdings that are upside down who've ended up defaulting.
  • Our property management company was shut down (the entity's licence was suspended) by the Arizona department of real estate (due to my unlicensed activity from 4.5 years ago when I first created the company and didn't know what I was doing).
  • My real estate licence has also been suspended, same reasons as mentioned above, but this time affecting my ability to get listings as a business broker (RE licence required to be a business broker).
  • Trying to sell the property management company for less than 1/3 of it's true value in distress (due to the suspended licence issues), only to have the buyers flake out at the last minute.
  • Not being able to get a merchant account setup for our online clothing store, which has been shut down.
  • My one and only credit card (the company) has gone out of business and it's been impossible trying to get credit.
  • The sellers of the technology company we were trying to buy have flaked out on us for the 3rd time in the last 6 months now. They keep chickening out. Apparently another buyer has suddenly come on the scene.
  • The SBA won't approve any loans right now. They're telling us they're declining people with perfect credit and solid businesses - 99% decline rate is what they're saying. My chances of getting an SBA or conventional business loan? Not that good.

Ok - I'll stop with the moan list. Things could certainly be worse. Our designated broker for our property mgmt company told us just a year ago when we first hired her that she has everything in life she could possibly want - spiritually, financially, family, etc. So much has changed in 12 months. Now, their family is really struggling to stay together, they're getting foreclosed on in a the next 9 days, and the car repo guys have been trying to break into their garage to get the cars out - they're behind on everything. I really feel for her and her family. She works her butt off for $9.00 an hour, and it just isn't enough to keep up with the bills. She broke down and cried a few times when we had her and the would-be new-buyers over for dinner this past week.

Our loving bishop has met with us 3 times in the past month to make sure we're doing okay. He asks if there's anything he or the ward can do for us. "Just keep us in your prayers" is all we ask. Fast offerings are meant to sustain life, not lifestyle. We're going to be okay. We have savings and we have 3 month's supply of food storage.

We appreciate all those who've prayed on our behalf. We have no fears. We're actually grateful for this time in our lives. It's brought us closer together and has helped us appreciate the eternal things more - each other, this new little girl that's on her way (any day now!), our covenants, our friends and extended family. How grateful we are for the gospel and the promises extended to us by the Lord.

Today in Priesthood session, one of the councilors in the bishopric quoted some excerpts from this month's Ensign, talking about marriage advice. How funny - he quoted my excerpt and had no idea I was one of the contributing writers.

Some other ideas that were brought up in the meeting, quoted from the book, "His Needs, Her Needs":

Her needs:

Affection
Conversation
Honesty and Openness
Financial Support
Family Commitment


His needs:

Sex
Recreational companionship
Attractive spouse
Domestic support
Admiration


Carly is calling me for dinner so I gotta run.


Sunday, August 16, 2009

Keeping Busy

Since we have no Real Estate company anymore, I've had a little extra time on my hands. Ok, not really...these pictures are from the last few weeks, I'm just a slacker.

Kent and I sold our King bed in the guest room and that night decided to set up the crib. It was actually a lot of fun. When it comes to putting things together, Kent gets mad and I end up doing it myself (in half the time). However, he was really excited the entire time we were doing the crib. I don't thing he even cussed (that's HUGE!).

So here we are:



I spent yesterday cleaning out all of my books and pictures and craft items from the room, so that Braelynn will have a place to live. We still have a LONG way to go with the decorating in the nursery (I can't make up my mind between a Farm theme and Yellow/Pink/Green- no, I can't do both).

We also now have a love seat, coffee table, and end table in our living room. It's nice because it's actually starting to look a little homey in there now. Kent didn't really want the extra furniture and I was scared that once we got it in I wouldn't like it either and have to swallow my pride. Fortunately, we both LOVE it.

I covered the love seat and got a little decor going. We still have blank walls, but with time we'll get there.

I also covered the back of the Entertainment Center so that you no longer see the obnoxious cords in the back.





Last night we pretty much sold the business and everything should be finalized in the next few days. It was a really long and stressful week, but we are glad to be where we are.

There is another business that we have been in some negotiations with and that is starting to get finalized as well. I think everything is working out for the best. As long as Braelynn doesn't join us in the next week or 2, I think we'll be ok.

Phew!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The good:

Last week Kent and I celebrated our "dating/engagement" anniversary.

August 7th, 2006- I was giving up on the idea of Kent and I dating exclusively and he surprised me by wrestling me to the floor and planting a wet one on me. The best part was when he sat back and said, "you are going to get me in trouble."

August 7th, 2007- I was giving up on the idea of Kent and I getting married and he surprised me by driving me out to the foothills and planting a ring on my finger.

August 7th, 2008- I was busy getting my 1st cavity drilled and filled, and Kent was home working on a new song for me and surprised me by taking me out to dinner. We joked that we should plan something "big" for the next year, like having a baby on the 7th!

August 7th, 2009- No baby yet, but Kent surprised me again with new earings, and a lovely letter in our journal. All this AFTER I was a bRaT to him ALL day!

The Bad:

Our Property Management company got completely shut down yesterday by the Department of Real Estate. Yesterday was a great day! Luckily we have a family friend who works for an AMAZING Real Estate Attorney who is helping us out.

The Ugly:

Kent and I had our 1st childbirth class on Monday. All of the classes in our area are booked, so we headed down to Casa Grande. There is a very colorful group of people having babies in the next few weeks :) I am SO glad that I don't have to live there or deliver at that hospital. Yikes! Out of about 20 couples there, about 6 of us were married. We made some good friends- the non-english speaking couples, the boyfriend with the top of his pants coming just above the knees, and then all the girls not practicing common sense at the ripe old age of 16.

Ouch! I'm being judgmental. I'll just stick with the term "colorful." :)

We can't believe we're only about 30 days away from D-Day. Woo-hoo!