Update 12/15: We've had to have our only vehicle towed because the battery died on the highway. It needs a new battery and alternator, and all told, the bill is over $2000. We need help now more than ever.

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I'm good with hard work. I actually enjoy it. I'm not afraid of it because I've learned that the best things come from doing the hard work. And I've said for a long time now that there is nothing that hard work and unconditional love can't solve.

But they can't solve what's happening in my life right now, and that's the reason for this fundraiser.

In October, my we moved our family from a very secluded, remote town to the Twin Cities. We did this to allow our two adult kids more opportunities. We did this to grow our residential cleaning business. And we did this to allow growth for ourselves, too.

We built a house together by hand, just the two of us. We've built many successful businesses together. We moved from our place of safety, we took a leap of faith, but we didn't land well, and now I am more than struggling financially.

It's not for lack of trying. We've spent three days in 15*F weather hanging door tags for our cleaning business in various neighborhoods near where we live. We'll be going back out tomorrow to do the same. We've placed flyers in coffee shops, grocery stores, co ops, and gyms. We've contacted vacation rental owners to try to build relationships and secure clients.

And we're getting there. We have gotten hired for a couple one-off jobs, and have secured one residential bi-monthly client. But it's too slow for the financial obligations I have that are coming due. I can't keep up.

Maybe we didn't research enough before moving. Maybe we were over-confident. Maybe it's just a crap economy. But I am terrified of what is happening and I need financial help to keep going.

Our landlord is wonderful and is being very understanding. In that respect, I am so blessed. What I need is funds to keep my credit cards and various bills from going over 30 days late. I've spent the last three years rebuilding my credit, and I'm watching it go down the drain. I'll need that good credit score in the future to help my kids go to college, and hopefully someday buy a small home. Seven years is how long a late payment stays on your credit, and I have worked SO hard to improve.

Right now, the immediate need is to keep these things from going into collections. As anyone who has been in this position knows, once you're late on a payment, these places are relentless. The stress is overwhelming. The phone calls are constant, and the text messages and emails make me want to run and hide.

I try, every single day, to be a good person. It kills me to be in a metro and see homeless people and not be able to help them because I don't have enough for my family, let alone anyone else.

I have to get through this for myself and for my family. I have to. This has me beat. I can't do it alone.

To those who decide to help, my deepest gratitude to you. Know that I can't WAIT to start paying it forward again.