MG

❤️ A little update on our family situation. Thankfully, someone close to my sister was able to help her find a car at a price she could afford. She used the money she had been saving toward a newer car to purchase one that worked for her budget. With diabetes, rent, groceries, gas, and the cost of everyday living, she had been waiting for the right time. I'm truly thankful someone stepped in to help her. Because of that, my parents were able to get their car back, which is a huge relief. ❤️ We still have bills to catch up on and things we're trying to get back on track with. I'm not sharing any of this because I want anyone to feel bad for us. I know everyone has their own struggles. I'm just trying to take a step that isn't always easy for me: asking for help instead of continuing to say, "I'll get it when I can," or accepting that we can't do something because the money just isn't there. I want to be able to catch up on bills, take some of the pressure off my family, and have a little breathing room instead of constantly worrying about what we can or can't afford. Sometimes asking for help is hard, especially when you're used to trying to figure everything out on your own. But I'm trying to do things differently because I want better for my family. Even sharing this helps get the word out, and I'm grateful to everyone who has taken the time to read, share, or support us in any way. ❤️

A Little Help During a Difficult Time ❤️(Thank you if you took the time to read all of this) ❤️ I never thought I would start a GoFundMe for my family and myself, but here I am. I've seen so many people receive help through fundraisers like this. I've seen people offer kindness and support to families going through difficult times, and I always thought it was beautiful. I just never imagined I could be one of those people asking for help. Today, I'm trying to put my embarrassment aside and be honest about where my family and I are right now. After being pulled over, my car was taken off the road until I can get the necessary issues addressed. I understand that this is my responsibility, and I'm not blaming anyone else. The officer was kind and mentioned that the court might be able to offer an extension or other options, but I won't know more until I go. The biggest expense is the windshield, which will cost $2,000. We have Progressive insurance, but unfortunately, our policy doesn't cover the windshield. I know $2,000 sounds unbelievable for a windshield. I had the same reaction myself. On top of that, replacing all four tires will cost approximately $300–$400 or more, depending on what's available. I also need an oil change, an alignment, and to have the brakes checked, with possible additional repairs depending on what they find. I don't know the final cost of everything yet, but I know it will be well over $2,000. My husband and I chose this car because we wanted something safe and reliable for our family, something we could depend on for work and getting our children where they need to go. We know no car is perfect, but this one has been a blessing to us. Now, this unexpected setback has left us in an even harder position. Without my car, I can't work right now. My husband is already doing his best to cover rent, food, our bills, his own car expenses, and payments from my previous pregnancy and surgery. Some of those expenses go back a year or two, and we're still trying to catch up. My family and I have struggled for years, but we've always found a way to push through. I come from a family that helps one another whenever we can. We've taken care of each other for a long time, and even now, we still do what we can for one another. The difficult part is that we're all struggling, and we don't always have the means to help each other the way we wish we could. I grew up believing that you ask for help only when you truly need it. You keep going, you figure things out, and you do your best with what you have. Sometimes that means making sacrifices, finding free things to do with your children, and putting off things you can't afford to fix. I've gotten so used to dealing with one hardship after another that I haven't always stopped to think about how much it has weighed on me. Honestly, I'm reaching a breaking point. I'm tired of constantly worrying about how we're going to afford the next unexpected expense, but I'm still trying to find a way forward for my family. That's why I'm sharing our story. Being this vulnerable is embarrassing for me, even if some people might not understand why. Asking for help has never come easily to me, but I know we can't keep carrying everything alone. If you're able to donate, any amount would help us work toward getting the car repaired and getting me back on the road so I can work again. If you can't donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean so much to us, too. Even a little help can make a difference when you're trying to get through a difficult time. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Thank you for any kindness, support, or encouragement you can offer. I never imagined I'd be asking for help like this, but I'm hopeful that, with a little help, we can get through this setback and keep moving forward together. ❤️

A Difficult Setback for Our Family ❤️ Today, Thursday, October 15, I got pulled over, and my car has been taken off the road until I can get certain things taken care of. I understand that this is my responsibility, and I'm not blaming anyone else. The officer was kind and even mentioned that the court might be able to help with an extension or other options, but I won't know more until I go. Right now, my goal is to get the windshield replaced, take care of the inspection, and get the tires and oil change my car needs. I also still have car payments to make to keep it. I know some people might wonder why we chose this car or why we have a car payment when money is already tight. My husband and I wanted something safe and reliable for our family, something we could depend on for work and getting our children where they need to go. We knew no car was perfect, but we were fortunate to find this one, and it has truly been a blessing for us. Unfortunately, this setback means I can't work right now, and that makes an already difficult situation even harder. My husband is doing his best to keep up with rent, food, our bills, his own car expenses, and payments from my previous pregnancy and surgery. Some of those expenses go back a year or two, but we're still working to pay them off. We've struggled financially for years. We know life comes with unexpected expenses and setbacks, but when you have children, even the little things can add up. Doctor's appointments, the kids getting sick, and everyday needs all come up, and babysitting isn't something we can easily afford. We try to make the best of what we have. We do puzzles, create things, paint, and go for walks together. We find ways to enjoy life that don't cost much because that's what we can afford right now. I believe in making the best of what you have, but honestly, I'm tired of constantly worrying about how we're going to get through the next unexpected expense. If you're reading this and wondering whether I'm looking for pity, I'm not. I'm simply trying to be honest about where my family and I are right now. I've never started a GoFundMe like this before. Asking for help is difficult for me, and I'm embarrassed to even be in this position. I've always tried to figure things out on my own, but sometimes we need a little help getting back on our feet. I'm sharing our story because I want to give my family a chance to get through this difficult time. Any help toward the car repairs and the expenses keeping us from moving forward would mean so much to us. If you're unable to donate, sharing our fundraiser would also help more than you know. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Thank you for listening, and thank you to anyone willing to help us through this setback. ❤️ ( My tires we found a nail two weeks ago...and now found two more nails!)

I still haven’t been able to pay off my windshield or even start a payment plan. I’m working and doing what I can, but today at 12:40, a bird literally hit my window. And honestly… this is life. It isn’t always easy. Sometimes I just look up and say, Lord, please help. I also need new tires, and trying to be a full-time mom while working as much as I can has been harder than I expected. I’m really starting to feel the weight of it all. I’m sharing this because this is real life for us. I’m not looking for sympathy or pretending everything is okay. I’m just doing my best, one day at a time, and hoping for a little help along the way. ❤️

For years, my family and I have always tried to make things work on our own. We’ve found little ways to get by, even when things were difficult. Lately, I’ve started collecting cans to put a little extra toward mostly for gas. It may only be $5–$12 a month, but to me, every little bit matters. ❤️ We’ve always been the kind of people who keep going and figure things out. Asking for help never came naturally to us because we knew there were other people struggling too. But after so many years of trying to carry everything ourselves, I’ve realized that accepting a helping hand doesn’t take away from everything we’ve done. We’re still trying. We’re still working. We’re just allowing ourselves to accept a little help along the way. ❤️

My parents have been renovating their home for years, doing their best to make it a comfortable place for their family. But year after year, something seems to come along—job loss from companies shutting down, illness, COVID, and other unexpected hardships. They’ve worked hard for what they have, and I would love to see them finally have the chance to relax, enjoy their home, and spend time with their grandchildren without constantly carrying the weight of another problem. These pictures show just a small part of what they’ve been dealing with. ❤️

I wanted to share these pictures so you can see for yourself what we’ve been dealing with. These are real things my family and I have been struggling with, including my damaged windshield and my parents’ home without a proper floor. ❤️