I hesitate to blog about “hard” things because in reality, I know that situations that have been tough for me are absolutely nothing compared to what others are going through. I always want to keep things real on my blog, though. Reflecting on the hard days helps me realize that God has been so, so good to Jimmy and I and has always carried us through the ups and downs of life.
In April, our washing machine broke. I was using it, and then it just died mid-cycle. Jimmy tried to fix it, but to no avail. In May, my truck broke down and needed a new fuel pump. Thankfully Jimmy was able to replace it and get my old girl up and running again.
Now it’s June and our refrigerator decided to act up.
We got home from the Outer Banks and I noticed the freezer was extra icy. Then we put a thermometer in the fridge a few days later and it was showing the temperature of the fridge was in the 50s and 60s. Jimmy said the only way he could attempt to fix it would be to unplug it and get a good look inside.
Of course, we were wondering what to do as all of our food was already rotting in the warm fridge. Jimmy wasn’t sure if he could fix it or if whatever he fixed would break again soon, so we decided to buy a new fridge with help from my parents. We couldn’t get a refrigerator shipped in for a few days, so it was a long week of shuffling food and trying to figure everything out.
Since April, we’ve become the owners of a new washing machine, fuel pump, and refrigerator. Whew!
Amongst all the crazy, we have been blessed. We were able to buy those appliances, fix my truck, and we’re both alive and healthy. I think we’re doing a-okay 😉
You just never know when things will break, and I’m learning that it’s okay. We have been so blessed by our families. Jimmy’s dad and step mom helped us get the fridge into our house the other night, and my parents helped us afford it.
We are blessed to have our sweet little home. We are blessed to have each other!
I’m learning that I can choose to be thankful and content when things break. Did we want to spend money on all of those things right before we have a baby? No. Did we have a choice? No. I can either have a sour attitude, or choose to reflect on how in the midst of it all, we have been cared for and loved by God and those around us.
Of course, it’s easier said than done to be content and thankful in all situations. I’ve cried my fair share of tears with the stress and craziness of it all (maybe I can blame it on pregnancy hormones… haha), but I really am learning so much each and every day. And for that, I am thankful ❤
Living My Full Life 
What an awesome post! So true in life, we want everything to go perfectly all the time, but it just doesn’t. No matter who you are or how much money you have ~ things happen.
Like you said the other day ~ thankfully all these broken appliances happened before your sweet little baby girl was born~ as that def would have been quite hectic.
God knows what you can handle sweetie~ and you have shed some tears, but you got through it!
Love you ~
Madre ❤️
Thank you for the encouragement (and refrigerator!), Mom! You and dad have been such a huge help and example to Jimmy and I with material things and your perspective on them! So true about the broken things happening before baby comes vs. after!!
Love you! ❤
It is stressful when things break. Sure, it doesn’t compare to the suffering some people are going through, but that doesn’t make it any easier ON YOU. Also, pulling out hundreds of dollars at once is tough, even when you’re financially stable. I have to pay for my PRP treatment on Monday out of pocket, and yeah, it is a few hundred dollars, but I am thankful that I have that money, that I can pay for it, and that I don’t have to make a choice of healthcare/medicine or feeding myself or my family (not that Clay and I will go anywhere nice to eat this pay period!).
The other thing I tell myself when something in our home breaks is that fixing it or replacing it may cost money but it is an investment in our home’s value. We had to buy a new AC last September and that HURT. But it will last for years, probably until we have the home itself paid off.
Exactly! You put it exactly how I had it in my head, haha. You are a wonderful writer, Amy!!
I’m sorry about the PRP treatment. I know it is not a cheap thing! I’m glad you can afford it, though. Like you said, it doesn’t make it any easier to shell out all that hard earned money.
So true about fixes and new appliances (and AC–eek–I remember reading about that on your blog!) are an investment into the value of the home!!
Honestly, it’s your life so write about whatever you want Allie 🙂 I agree that just when it seems like things are good, something breaks or you need something else. It’s frustrating right? I just want to coast for a second!
I had to get my van inspected and oil changed and all I could do was PRAY nothing was wrong because I don’t have money to fix anything major. Also, my van is my home, so it’s not as easy as leaving it in the shop overnight right?
Blessings though, my van was given the OK and I THANK GOD for that!
Thanks for the encouragement, Ellie!! I appreciate that! I know what you mean about wanting to coast for a second! God always has other plans and things to teach us, and I know that’s a good thing! I always have to remember that 🙂
So happy all was okay with your van!! ❤
Way to keep things in perspective Allie!
Love You
Dad
🙂
Thanks, Dad!! You’ve always taught me to do that 🙂
Love you! ❤
Oh girlfriend, that is such a natural reaction to everything and that is all SO frustrating. When it rains, it pours, right?! I feel like your attitude is so positive, and you know what’s cool is that God is going to show his faithfulness through everything. That extra cash you had to dish for the appliances will come back to you… I believe that. He is a God of provision, and you are sooo faithful. Sending big hugs, you two are just such an awesome team and inspiration. XO
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Mackenzie!! Your comment made my day! ❤
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You have a great attitude! It is so hard when things break and when you have to spend money you weren’t planning to spend. Thanks for keeping it real! I hope you guys have met your “replace it” quota for the next few years!
Thank you, Amy! I don’t always feel like I have a great attitude, but when I come here to write it all out, it helps me sort through my emotions and realize how blessed I really am! I hope we hit our “replace it” quota for the next few years, too!!! 🙂
Such a good way to keep things in perspective! It’s hard to spend money you weren’t expecting to spend (especially with a baby on the way), but I love what you wrote about your attitude! It definitely makes all the difference. Those tears are totally normal (pregnancy hormones aside), but you aren’t staying in that place. You are choosing to focus on the positives right now. Love that!
Thank you so much, Rach! Attitude has been the biggest thing for me! When I focus on having a thankful attitude, things aren’t so life or death, haha!
Hi! I haven´t read your blog for many years, but I used to back in the days when I had my own blog (now I can´t really remember my blog name, but it was something like Norwegian Girl or something similar), but I recently started reading your blog again and it`s so fun to read 🙂 Especially since I´m also pregnant!
so this comment isn´t very relevant for this exact blogpost, but I was sitting here reading your latest blog posts when my baby started kicking (I´m expecting mid July), and I suddenly got the urge to give you a tip that might be fun to try out during your pregnancy, that I`ve tried and can honestly say worked really well:-D
During my 2.trimester I listened A LOT to music, especially Ed Sheeran since he`s my favourite artist, but also some piano ballads, because I had read somewhere that the baby starts hearing quite early on, and can get favourite songs (and nursery rhymes as well I think) while in the belly and that might help the baby to calm down! And it worked!! Nowadays my baby boy starts kicking a lot at night and since there isn`t much room left in there, it can get a bit painful. But then I just put my phone on top of my belly (yes my belly now officially functions as a table, haha) and play some calming Ed Sheeran songs and he instantly calms down. It`s such a wonderful and precious thing to experience, because I really feel like I`m connecting with my baby and that I`m already starting to learn a lot about him. Now I´m just really anxious to see whether it helps calm him down when he gets here . I sure hope so:-)
Anyway, just a fun suggestion that`s nice to try out when you`re pregnant:-)
Hi Elisabeth! I remember you and your blog! Thank you so much for coming back here and taking the time to leave a sweet comment! Also, CONGRATS on your pregnancy! How exciting!
Thank you for the pregnancy tip! I am definitely going to try that as baby gets bigger! Right now, her kicks feel like a tickle (mostly!), but I know she will only get bigger and stronger and start kicking my ribs and bladder more, haha!! I love that connection you’ve made with your son, too! So, so sweet! I hope it works on calming him down once he’s here, too!
Thanks again for the comment ❤
You definitely have a great attitude about it. So thoughtful of your parents to be able to help out with the cost too 🙂
Thank you, P! I don’t always feel like I have a good attitude, but coming here and writing about everything helps me keep it in perspective! And man am I thankful for my parents! Not only for helping with the cost, but just for their love and support! We’ve been so blessed by them!!
My goodness, I would be so overwhelmed with all of that!! You guys have such a great attitude about it! 🙂 God always works things out, no matter how stressful they get, but it’s so hard to remember that in the moment when things go wrong. Good for you guys. 🙂 ❤
Thank you so much, Tialla!! I don’t always feel like I have a good attitude, but coming here and writing about everything helps me keep it in perspective! Amen to God always working things out! He is GOOD!! ❤
I think it’s 100% okay to be real! 🙂 And being real means that sometimes life isn’t easy. 🙂 I know that I always struggle with writing about less-than-positive subjects on my blog too to, so I completely understand what you’re feeling. But at the same time, I think it’s important for us to not only lift each other up, but to also be willing to be encouraged and held. We should rejoice with each other and also cry. And goodness gracious, sometimes life has us crying or freaked out about money and breaking cars / mechanical things!! So long story short, I think you do an amazing job of being positive BUT I’m glad that you can be real and honest too!
Money stuff is HARD. And things that break are so frustrating! BUT God definitely has you and is going to walk with you through it. That’s the amazing thing!! 🙂
Praying that the rest of the month is MUCH better! When things break, God proves that He’s big enough to carry us through!! 🙂
Amen, Nicole! I’m glad I’m not the only one who goes back and forth on whether or not to blog about the tough stuff. I’m so glad you do, though. I always find so much encouragement from you and what you blog about–hard or happy!! I love what you said about lifting others up, but also having times when you need to be held. So well said!! Thanks for encouraging and holding me in the tough stuff! ❤