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?!

Shop Stuff

There's real progress on the "green truck" which is not green, yet. It has a new, beautiful big block installed.... and as of today, runs great!!! Now it's finally ready for PAINT! (and we CAN do that!)

This is the time to get a restoration done - the shop isn't as busy or crowded and the word's getting around that we can do some pretty nice stuff.

We really enjoy the restorations.

Jeremy bought this truck and had it painted - the blue is super-metalic and we painted a bedliner in the back. It looks great!

When someone comes to Jeremy and asks him to buy their vehicle, he always considers it. Sometimes they aren't willing to drop their price enough to make it do-able, 'cause Jeremy always pays attention to resale value, but when they do, we end up with a lot of vehicles. He never announces what he's done, either, so it's anyone's guess why he purchased which one. It's usually guy-emotional, you know - something no guy is going to share and I'll probably get clobbered for blogging it. But I love my man for more ways than we share and this is one of 'em!

Maaco Convention

Before we say goodbye to 2009, we need to remember overlooked major highlights... like Jeremy's trip to the Dominican Republic with the Driven Brands and Maaco convention. He saw George Forman and football coach, Dick Vermeil, as well as all the corporate folk we get to talk to every week. He really enjoyed spending time with Elias, who attended training last October with Jeremy and won the Rookie of the Year award for taking over a running center.

It is true that Jeremy jumped out on the dance floor one night and no one's let him forget it!

The resort was beautiful.

Jeremy returned rested and excited about all the cool things we could do with our Maaco shop. Since his return, we've aggressively gone after fleet accounts and now paint the Kaiser Permenente vehicles - plus we're set up for government vehicles, which was a process I won't soon forget! Even more business has come in this winter from Jeremy's contacts buying and selling parts and car lot salesmen. The whole shop is happy when our boss is happy!!

A Snowy trip home

We got caught in the sudden snowfall on Tuesday, December 29th. It was absolutely gorgeous for the first hour and then the traffic got noticeably heavy for the second hour and the third hour on the drive home from Scappoose was a big questionmark of exactly HOW LONG would it take to meander the last few miles? The 205 freeway was at a standstill, so we took 122nd, but with the 15 mph progress and the multiple lights, it felt slower than snail pace. These pictures were taken back at the "absolute gorgeous" stage on Hwy 30.

These pictures will always be significant for me for a deeper, darker reason. This was the first of two days of reckoning for me on how ignorantly I could hurt people's feelings and how helpless I am to make everything right. Made me look twice at times I felt offended and held a grudge. Maybe 2010 is the year of Forgiving. Regardless, I am glad to leave 2009 behind. It has to have been the most labor-intensive year of our lives so far.

The Fancy Feast with the Roast Beast

...and the thrilled participeests

Christmas 2009

Every year feels like "the best Christmas yet". I remember when I was 10 getting so excited I stayed up all night to wake dad and mom at 5am. Setting it all up Christmas Eve is so fun. This was probably the best year ever for finding deals, since everything went on crazy-sale. I found metalic colored "treasure boxes" for stocking stuffers - my favorite twist on turning the focus back on Jesus along with the manger.

This year all four kids were thrilled with the whole day. Trinity adds a lot, being four, now. The boys attack the day like a surprising great find, but she remembers and talks about every detail over and over building up anticipation. And nothing beats adding to our own memories and creating something wonderful.

A-Bear

Our Aidan turned 9 years old on December 20th! He enjoyed the rush of attention, no doubt. He'd be the center of every event if he could, I think.... as it was, he took full advantage and had a GREAT WEEKEND!!

1st Employee Christmas dinner Party

From left to right:

Charlotte, the masker, Dennis, the bodyman, Laura & Jeremy, Carol & John, the salesman, Cary, the detailer, Jeff, the painter, and Jeremy Hull, the sander.

Merry Christmas Maaco crew!

Say "CHEESE!"

Getting a family picture for Christmas is always an adventure. This year might have been more adventurous than most.