Going Once…Going Twice… SOLD! Selling items is my passion. For the past few years, I have bought storage unit auction items and have sold them on Facebook, online auctions, and live auctions. I love being able to do this because I can work at my own pace. Push sales when I need to or take a few days off for my health or mental health. I can be with my family during special occasions or when something fun pops up. I set my schedule. I have been able to sell anything you can imagine! To Nick-nacks, clothes, furniture, and name-brand appliances. I was able to sell a stand-up stainless-steel fridge to pay off my car and live debt free for a few years. This has also been a help to the local storage unit facilities. If they have an unsalable unit, they can call me and we can come pick it up for free. Then I can pass those items to others in need or dispose of unwanted items to free up storage space. This business also helps me help my community in need. If there is a house fire or emergency, I have been able to supply clothes to people in need as well as housewares such as pots and pans for free. I plan to open a small store to sell gently used merchandise to my community. I want to be able to have a free store as well to help those in need. This passion started when I was a child because of my mother. She would have a yard sale 4 times a year. I grew up on a busy highway in the country, so we always had to flow of traffic to sell items quickly. We decided to have our last sale in the fall and create a scholarship called the HELP Scholarship. H.elping E.ducucate L.ocal P.eople. We were able to give over $1,000 to local kids that didn’t plan to go to college but to join the workforce over the last 10 years. My mother passed away in 2021 from lung cancer so my father and I decided to carry out the tradition from then. Since her passing, I decided to go back to college and get my degree to help better myself and my business. Sales is my passion because of her work ethic, ingenuity, giving spirit, and love of her community. Thank you for this opportunity.

Going Once, Going Twice, SOLD! My business is called Sarah Sue Sells Stuff on Facebook. My husband and I buy abandoned storage units and resale the contents. A few years ago I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and type 2 diabetes. I was working in retail, but I didn't feel my life was fulfilling. I was missing out on important events in my family's life. I was constantly working. My sugar numbers were through the roof. Normal is under 150. I was running 500-600. I missed too many days of work. I got fired because of my health. So my husband and I sat down and discussed options. We decided to start buying storage units. My husband said he bought some units before we got together and it was fun. So we went for it! In the beginning, we would travel around Indiana and Illinois. Staying pretty local because we only had 1 truck and my car to transport items. We would go to live auctions weekly then online auctions and buy multiple units. Taking less than 24 hours to clean out the storage units. We would take items that I could not sell and donate them to a charity close to the storage unit so I wouldn't have to take everything to our house. I would list items online, Facebook is a great platform the resell items. We would also have a Facebook page to post items and let other people list items for sale. I also utilize Facebook Auction Sites. Posting up to 150 items weekly and meeting all together in a business parking lot to have people pick up items. For about 3 years, we were doing very well reselling items. We added more vehicles to transport items quicker. Then Covid hit. Covid put a damper on my business. All auctions were canceled. We were under a stay-at-home order so we couldn't meet people for item pick up. Also when covid hit, we found out my mother had lung cancer. So after so long of talks, we decided to stop buying units and I would dedicate whatever time she had left to be with my mother. In November 2020, we were able to move closer to my parents to help take care of my mother. During this time, auction prices skyrocketed because people were without work. Everyone started buying units at premium prices, there was no profit to make. I continued to take care of my mother. In July 2021, my beautiful mother passed away. I've had to step up and help my father's business. I had to take over all my mother's roles in the business. I have to itemize taxes, pay bills and make statements daily for him. Six months after my mother's passing, I sat down to dinner with my Father. He asked me a hard question. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I had no idea! I knew I had a decision to make. I could restart my storage unit business full time, or go to college to better myself and postpone my storage business for a year or two. I decided to go back to college. I wanted to take a few classes to help my father's business and to understand business concepts better. Come to find out, I loved it. I have decided to continue with an Associate's Degree. After I finish college, I will continue my storage unit business. This is my passion because of my mother. She would always have a few yard sales throughout the year. It was our thing to do together.

Be Strong, Be Strong, Be Strong is the last words my mother ever spoke to me. One year ago, my beautiful mother Leanna Kelley passed away from Stage 4 Lung Cancer with metastasis to her brain and liver. The diagnosis was a shock to our family. She has always been a healthy person but on Christmas Day 3 years ago everything changed. Her birthday is December 17th. Her party always had a fun birthday party theme. This one was Ugly Christmas Sweaters. A few days before, we went to Goodwill to pick up a whole bunch of ugly Christmas sweaters for the entire family. As we were driving, she was telling me she was having trouble swallowing and had a doctor's appointment the next day to find out what was going on. On her birthday I came home to find her dressed and ready to host her birthday party. After the party she explained to us she was going to the hospital because her esophagus was restricted, and she had to have surgery to fix it. It was scheduled for the next day. The next day my dad called to tell me her surgery went well but they found something else. I had to meet him at the hospital. We sat down with a bunch of doctors that said we found a 5-inch mass in the front of her brain. They also did blood tests and found cancer cells. That is what was causing her esophagus to restrict. On Christmas Day 2019 she underwent surgery to remove the mass in her brain. After a month we found out she had more spots in her brain and 2 spots in her lungs. We couldn’t leave her by herself anymore. Our lives completely changed in a little over a month. I decided to stop my business in buying abandoned storage units and reselling the contents, so I could stay and help my mother over the next 2 years. My husband and I lived about an hour from their house so we moved closer so we could help take care of her. My father owns his janitorial business, and my mother ran the business side. My Father would be gone all day cleaning businesses while I stayed and kept her company. During that time, she showed me how she ran her house, business, and life. I learned so much from her in a short period. I think she was preparing me for what was to come. My mother was the one to do everything for the family. She paid the bills, ran the business, and just took care of everything. Even up to the last month of her life, she still did it all. After the Cancer stopped responding to treatment, her esophagus started to restrict again. She spent the last month of her life in the hospital. When it was my turn to pay the bills, I looked in the checkbooks to find a detailed list of how to pay and what to pay first. My mother had the most beautiful handwriting. Cancer had stripped that away from her. I think that is when we realized she was almost at the final stages of her cancer. My mother was still my mother, but she changed into someone we didn’t recognize. We brought her home on hospice 2 days before she passed. That all she asked of us was to be able to be home. Thankfully my sister-in-law was a nurse, so she was able to be there to help take care of her with us because we were in over our heads. She passed peacefully on July 15th, 2021. Six months after her passing, my dad and I were having dinner. He asks me where I see myself in 10 years? I had no idea. I had lost all drive and focus. After some serious thought, I decided to go take a business class to understand his business better and better myself. What I didn’t know was I was going to enjoy it and now will be continuing to an associate degree. What I fight for now is myself. I work every day to better myself mentally and physically. I live every day to the fullest in her honor. Since my mother's passing, I have lost over 60 lbs. It's not a race but a marathon. One thing I know for sure is when I cross that finish line, she will be waiting for me with open arms.

I have lived my life BIG. Now it's time to change the story. I have always been a bigger person. In High School and most of my life, I have been over 300lbs. Everyone in my family is the same. Except for my mom and my brother. My mom lost a lot of weight in the 80s and kept most of it off. My brother was very active in sports and then moved to the military. Then there is Me. Sarah Sue. The performer and singer. I was not very interested in sports. Just music. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. It was time for a change. I ended up going to the gym and losing almost 150 lbs. Then life hit me hard. My mom got sick. I had some major back problems so I gained a bit back but I am still working every day to better myself mentally and physically. I was still losing weight when my mother passed in July 2021. I just keep moving forward. I am currently back down to 260. Losing weight it not a race, its a marathon. I do it at my own pace. I do it for myself, my family, and hopefully my future children.

Dogs leave paw prints on your heart. That rings true in my life. The dog that impacted my life the most would be my husband’s dog, Sarge. I met my husband in 2010 on POF.com or Plenty of Fish .com. He was the first member that I encountered that was a paid member. His profile was gold. I just sent him a message because he said he enjoyed metal detecting in his profile. I too enjoyed metal detecting, so I took a chance and it paid off. We ended up staying up all night texting and talking to each other on the phone. Two days later we had our first date. We had so much in common that it was love at first sight. After lunch, we went back to his house to watch movies and hang out. He warned me while we ate that his dog is very protective of him and again before we entered his house. He opened the door to the house and this HUGE full-blooded German Shepard charged me. Sarge barked at me at first then came to inspect me. After about 30 seconds, this dog jumped up and gave me kisses on my face and an actual hug. I’ve never had a dog hug me before. My husband said he has never seen him act that way ever before. It was again, love at first sight for Sarge and me. My husband explained Sarge’s back story. He was from a police dog academy. He was the runt of a litter and was not accepted into the full police training. Before I met my husband his house was burglarized. The police officer told him to get a dog to protect his property. The officer gave him the name and number of the training service to see if they had any dogs available. Sarge was the last one available. My husband went out the next day and picked him up. My husband spent 3 years training him to protect his home and property. I was the only one to be able to handle his aggressiveness besides my husband. He would never again bark at me when I entered my husband’s home. After a year, his roommate was moving out and it was time for me to move in. I spent hours repainting the inside of his house to make it our home. Sarge was right there by my side. At the time, my husband was working the night shift. So, I spent many nights alone in our home. I never felt scared or alone with Sarge round. He was my protector in the night. A few years later, two people came walking down our ally while I was outside doing yard work. They looked up to no good. I had a wooden flowerpot filled with flowers at the end of my driveway. One of the people walking stepped to my flowerpot and set her cigarette on the edge of it. I asked her to remove it because I didn’t want my wooden pot with flowers and mulch to catch on fire. The lady started cussing me out and yelling at me while I was in my yard trying to make it beautiful. I looked at my husband and said, Let Sarge Out. Sarge came running out the door and hit the chain link fence, barking to protect us. Those two people left quickly as they came. Occasionally, I would those people walking back down our ally, but they would never come close to our house again. There have been many occasions where Sarge would be my protector, but this is the one that always stands out. We got married 2 years later and took Sarge with us around the world. He always went with us on vacations. Even just a quick trip to the gas station, he was ready! In August of 2019, Sarge was almost 15 years old. He was having trouble getting around. My husband and I took turns taking him down 3 steps to the backyard. We scheduled an appointment with our Vet the next day to see what we could do to help him move around better. My husband got a new job and was working evening shifts now. He went to work that evening like any other night. Sarge, Hank our other dog, and I were sitting in the kitchen watching A TV show. Sarge was laying beside me on his bed sleeping away. The next thing I know, he took a long sigh and left this earth. There was nothing I could do but sit on the floor and be with him one last time. The hardest phone call I have ever made was to my husband at work. I made sure to collect myself before making it because I didn’t need my husband upset driving home. We set up a plan if Sarge passed, and he wasn’t home. I was just supposed to say I need him to come home. He knew what It would mean. He did. It was one of the hardest days of our lives. We decided to bury Sarge my husband’s family farm in his favorite field where he used to run and play during every visit. It is filled with wildflowers all Spring and Summer. His place is marked with a beautiful stone which we visit at least once a month. We now keep his picture by the back door of our new home to remind us of his love every day before we leave for work or play. I think I could write a novel about this dog and how he changed my life. He will always be our protector. Always.

Do Rei Me Fa So La Te Do! Singing has always been my passion since I was 5 years old. Growing up in rural Indiana, they haven’t been a lot of opportunities to pursue a music career. I did try to pursue music after high school, but I was not prepared to take the criticism of others. In my rural community, I was the #1 young adult singer in the county. I owned my own karaoke service. I decided to join the workforce instead of finishing college. So, I ended up using my performance skills in retail customer service. I love interacting with people and helping them with their problems in retail. I have worked for years in customer service. I was able to provide for myself and my family during this time. But things change. I was diagnosed with some major illnesses and lost my job. My karaoke business was outdated so I couldn’t fall back on that. At the time, I have just gotten married and had to start my career over. My husband and I decided I should focus on my health and think about where to go from here. We decided to start buying storage units and selling the contents online and in live auctions. It was a hard business to start but we succeeded. I enjoyed selling my items on the Facebook Marketplace, Online Facebook Auctions, and live public auctions. With my performance skills, I was able to sell just about anything. Then my life changed again. My mother found out she had metastatic lung cancer and soon after, the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Everything closed for months. No auctions were running. When they started back up prices skyrocketed. There was no profit to be made on any unit. I decided to step back from selling and take the last 2 years away from working and focused on my mother. She fought so hard the last 2 years she was alive. It was so hard not to be able to hug your mother because of covid-19 and her failing health. We spent many hours chatting and listening to her favorite music. For the last month of her life, she was in the hospital in Indianapolis. I would drive over almost every day to be with her while my father had to stay at home to work for his own business. Most days, she had me sing her favorite songs to help keep her calm. It worked every time! We did get her home 2 days before she passed. We were able to listen to The Carpenters together one last time. She had me sing on my karaoke system her favorite songs for our family to enjoy. After she passed, I felt lost in the world. I had to step up and be my father’s business partner. As we both stumbled in our grief, we worked together to keep busy and make his business successful. 6 months after her passing, we discussed the future. He asked me,” Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” I had no idea. I really thought about it and decided I wanted to take a college class for business to better myself and help understand his business. Next semester, I will be completing my Technical Certificate and continuing to my associate degree next spring. I am excited about what the future holds for me. I use my performance skills to connect to people more now, and my passion now is to do everything in life in my mother’s honor. She is my passion.

Be Strong, Be Strong, Be Strong are the last words my mother spoke to me before she passed away on July 15th, 2021. For the past 2 years, I paused my life and career to take care of her. Now what? That was a good question. I had to practice bravery to live my life after her passing. Before she passed, I didn't have many goals in life. I tried my hardest to give her a grandchild before she passed away but I found out that I am physically unable to have children. I worked a retail job for many years which I loved but just felt I could contribute more to my family. So, after she passed I decided to go back to college and earn a degree! It was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I tried college right after high school and it wasn't what I expected. I decided to go into the workforce. Currently, I am studying for Business Admin to help my Father's janitorial business. Since my Mom's passing, I've had to step up and take over the administration side because my father never finished high school and reading and writing is not his strong suit. I have lost over 60lbs over the last year and have been working on my mental health daily. I love working out and eating correctly! I now live bravely and boldly in my mother's memory and I am on a good path to a successful life.

Beware of the overly friendly dog! This sign is posted on my front door. Growing up, I never was allowed to have an inside dog. But once I moved out on my own, adoption was one of my priorities. I love dogs! They are my family, children, and friends. When bad things happen in my life my dogs are there for me. Dogs comfort me in my times of need. I am 36 years old and cannot have children. So, I decided to just make my dogs my children. I currently have 5 dogs with my husband. All have been adopted from a humane society. Hank is a 7-year-old Red Heeler, Rambo is a 2-year-old German Shepard, and Muffin is an 8-year-old Dachsund. She is special needs and stayed by my side 24/7. She was a breeder dog and is very skittish of men and loud noises. She is so special to me because I found her the day after we laid my mother to rest in July 2021. She is my support animal and is always there when I need to feel safe. Then last by not least, Lilly Leanna and Rosie Posie The twin Chihuahua puppies. They are full of energy and love. Lilly Leanna is named after my mother and Rosie is named after my mother's best friend. My dogs have impacted me by helping me stay active. I do daily walks will all 5 of them so it has helped me lose 60lbs in the last year. I have focused on creating a beautiful life with my fur babies in the last few years. They help me stay calm and safe when my husband has to work nights. Nobody is going to try to break into my house with a big german shepherd staring at them. The 3 little ones sleep with me at night and never leave my side. They fight over who gets to sit on my lap. I can be more productive when a dog is on my lap for online classes and working on my Father's family business. I know I will always have at least one dog in my house for the rest of my life. They are the joy of my husband's and I's life and I cannot imagine what life would be like without them. Life is better with a dog or many dogs in my case. Thank you for this opportunity.