Celebrating the last payment {9.10.13}

Dear Zac,

Today we made the last payment on the Stratigicom/Aunt Juli loan.  

Here's saying goodbye to one of two $150,000 chapters in our lives that we paid off in FOUR years. It hasn't been without MUCH sacrifice: 

not really taking home a paycheck in all that time, loooong hours, crazy employee lawsuits, countless crazy employees!, extreme stress, lack of sleep, break-ins, burglaries, flooding, being on the brink of bankruptcy more times than we can count, paying $7k in loan payments each month (NONE of which was Cricket acquired debt-yet we still serviced it), lots of putting the business first, the worry that only the person most invested in the business can know, feel, and understand-that's YOU-and many tearful conversations & prayers wondering what we were supposed to be learning.  And PS, it should definitely be mentioned that the second $150,000 chapter is down to just $40,000 in that same four years.  

Despite the fact that we still have a long way to go & different debts to pay back, this is a day to be celebrated.  You have worked tirelessly, you have put a huge portion of yourself into making sure we met our obligations & it felt pretty good closing the page on this one today.  

I know we've often questioned ourselves & sometimes our faith has been challenged.  We've had rough days/weeks/months.  

But, because of the circumstances of the past 5.5 years, we've met some of our dearest friends, we found TSFL, we've learned to be more organized & thrive on a schedule, we work together more efficiently, we know that we will use integrity in business no matter what, we've been blessed with tender mercies daily, we've identified what we really want, we've relied heavily on The Lord, our faith, and each other.  YOU have changed & grown!  You are more confident, you are a businessman.  You speak more assertively.  You are strong.  If no monetary gains come from this venture when all our debts are paid & the entire phone portion of our book of life is over, and the above mentioned things are all we get, then it will still have been worth it to me.  

I have a deeper and greater appreciation, admiration, and adoration for you then ever before.  We are better friends than ever and we rely heavily on each other.  I am very proud of you, Zac.  

I've seen what you've done these past years.  I know sometimes it eats you alive.  I've seen you press on.  I know He hasn't forgotten us.  I know this is just the start of celebratory days going forward.  

I can't wait to experience them all with you. I love you, babe.

Karli