Jeremy and his shop

"Is it Ok for me to like our Maaco so much?"

It's a legitimate question. We grow up thinking "work" can't be "fun" even if it's a nice theory to work at what you like to do. What happens when you find you really do enjoy working?

I guess our first thought was to thank God and be grateful for the time He gives us in it. Any success we experience comes from God. Sure, we work - we do everything we can think of as soon as we think of it, challenging patterns or assumptions as often as possible, but "God gives the increase." And... it's His. But we sure are having a good time running it!

Jeremy enjoys all the aspects - he likes giving estimates and doing bodywork, painting and detailing and returning a job well done to a happy customer. (It's more complicated than that, and we enjoy all the behind-the-scene aspects, too, which needn't be elaborated on.)

I know it's not about me or my preferences, but I've never had so much fun working with my husband at something he enjoys so much. I've learned a lot plus I get to do lots of fun paperwork, but mostly, we get to spend a lot of time together and with our kids. Our shop is the best 'cause we can do it just the way we like it.

We pray God blesses a lot of people through our family business.

Makeover for Mom!

We do own an autobody and paint shop... so it's only fitting that after a year in business we might paint the boss's vehicle.

I think the bodyman counted 140 dents on my van (why'd he count?!) that were mostly from breaking it out of that ice storm in '08.

We picked a color out of the book that was close to the original, but we left that grey behind and went for ice blue (w/ pearl and coarse aluminum sparkle!) I feel like I got a makeover!

Growing Up and Valentine's Projects (and Chocolate)

Camten lost his other top front tooth... and yet he can still whistle!

Trinity assures us she is a BIG girl, too, even if her teeth are all still (rather beautifully) IN.

This is Camten's biggest school homework week ever... he brought home the Journey Pig as the next Star Student in Kindergarten. He gets to draw out a story of what J.P. does with us this weekend, which, hello! will be watching football!!! And then he gets to decide on some personal favorites to detail the All-About-Me poster to share with his class.

This happens to also be the weekend before Valentine's parties, so in last-minute fashion, we shall dump out the available Valentine's on the table and start madly addressing them. My boys just love writing, so that will be fun. No wait... they love candy and hate writing, so I'm going to have to buy a lot of bribery material. (And that will be fun!) (eating chocolate. for me. I like to eat chocolate and getting candy for Valentine's means some small snacking and replenishing mom's stashes undetectably. I don't think I can spell it out more clearly. If that's confusing... then you don't love chocolate or you aren't a mom. Or both.) (never mind.)

Maaco Milestones

On January 14th, 2010, we celebrated ONE YEAR in business. We reached 1000 cars on Feb. 1st - 2 weeks later.

We painted over 20 cars in a week again this past week ending Feb. 5th... and we're hoping 20/wk will become standard or even a distant memory as we leave it behind for 30/wk.

We have a great crew, which wasn't true a year ago, and a lot more people know we're here. Maybe the economy will bounce back? Regardless, we still have God. Otherwise, how could we share these Milestones at all?!