After scraping together enough money, we packed up our lives and hit the road, heading west in search of opportunity. California was supposed to be our fresh start—a land of possibilities where we could finally build something lasting.
But life doesn’t care about your plans.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt
We had set up in a cheap motel, using it as a base while we hustled bracelets and explored the state. One day, while selling outside a Home Depot, everything unraveled in an instant.
David was arrested. A 30-year-old misdemeanor warrant.
I stood there, holding our two boys, watching as everything we had built collapsed in a moment.
Stranded and Starting Over (Again)
David was gone. The car—our only way to survive—started overheating. I had no idea how to fix it, no clue that a tiny switch needed to be flipped to cool the engine. I drove around, desperately selling bracelets, watching the temperature gauge climb toward disaster.
On the fourth day, I barely made it to court. I sat for hours, waiting, praying. When the judge finally dismissed the case, I felt relief—for about five minutes.
Then we realized: the car was dead.
Stranded 80 miles from our room, no money, no way out.
And then—an angel. A stranger who saw us struggling and, without hesitation, moved mountains. She bought us supplies, made calls, and arranged a ride back to West Sacramento. A complete stranger took in my family, giving us the chance to keep going.
Rock Bottom or the Launchpad?
We had nothing. No car. No savings. Just the bracelets.
We rented a van to sleep in. Moved into a garage. Bought another car. Then a tiny camper. Slowly, we clawed our way back up.
One night, selling bracelets at a truck stop, we saw a driver with a setup that caught our eye—a rig that looked like it made hauling cars easier. A fleeting thought at the time, but one that would soon shape our next move.
Because the thing about survival is: once you prove to yourself that you can hustle your way out of disaster, you start to dream bigger.
This was just the beginning.
