If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all...

GLOOM, DESPAIR, and AGONY on me!!!

Seriously, my life seems like one bad thing after another right now. Thankfully I have made it through, and God has given much grace to sustain me, but it's been rough. So first all, Nicky and I were going to be apart from each other for 5+ weeks, while I came back to the U.S. to work, and he stayed in Canada. That right there, was difficult enough! When I got home, I had to drive his car since my car was still in Canada with Nick.  And...it starts, Nick's car's A/C quit working. I had to drive for a few days without it working in 90*-100* heat, and it was miserable. Then I noticed that the car wasn't cranking well. So, I finally took it to the shop, and they estimated about $1,500 in repairs that his car needed, and the car is only worth about $3,000 anyway. So, we had to decide to trade it in, or keep it, or sell it and buy something else. I spent all last week shopping for new cars... getting in and out of dealerships, being haggled and pushed to buy, in the 100* heat, after a full day of work! I finally found a new car, and it's wonderful. Just in time too b/c the steering column in the old car started smoking the day I bought the new car. Seriously.

OK, so now that we are past the car drama and I'm cruising around in air conditioned bliss, I notice that my dog Jada Belle isn't looking 'right'.  But, it was all very vague, so I just kept an eye on her. Sometimes she would look shaky and in pain and sad, and then later she would be up running around. I called a vet friend and she said it could be back pain, so I was going to take her to the vet on Monday. Well, Sunday night I went into the kitchen and found her lying in a pool of blood.  So I rushed her to the emergency vet, and she had to have emergency surgery for a giant abscess in her abdomen that had ruptured. They called me at 8:00 that night and let me know she was out of surgery and was doing ok, but she would need lots of love and care for the next few days. And of course I'm home alone, and don't get paid if I don't go to work!  And of course her emergency surgery cost $1,500!!!  Thankfully on Monday, she stayed at the vet, so I was able to go to work, and all was well. I went to pick her up Monday evening (last night), and she was weak and tired, and wouldn't eat, but doing ok. While she was resting inside, I went out to play with my other two dogs, and decided to brush them. Well, when I started to brush Banjo, giant tufts of fur and dead, bloody skin started falling off of his back. I called my vet friend again, and she said it sounded like a bacterial infection, but no emergency. So, I was going to take him to the vet this afternoon when I got home from work, and my mom was going to come down from Asheville to watch JB and make sure she was ok all day. But, this morning I got a phone call from my mom saying that my dad had been up all night in pain and they were going to the hospital! So, of course she couldn't come help out.  I called in to work, loaded up Banjo and JB in the car and took them to the vet, got them all fixed up for another whopping $200, and now I'm lying on the couch resting. Oh, and thankfully Nick told the church in Canada that he really needed to come home early, so he's on his way home!!! That is so exciting on so many levels.... mostly so I'll have someone to help me administer all the doses of medicine to the dogs! Oh, and just to top it off, our other dog Hank, just started limping!

New Car!

So, Nick and I are excited. We now both have nice cars!!!  Up until now, we had been saving money, because both of our cars were paid off. Then a few "little" problems kept cropping up with Nick's car, and we had some of them fixed, and then a few more 'tiny' problems would surface.  So, we decided that we should at least start looking for a car, and what better time than when they are coming out with 2011s so we could look for a 2010. Well, since Nick is still in Canada, guess who the lucky person was that got to shop for this new car? Moi.  And, I thought it would be fun, but it sure wasn't. Car shopping is stressful, and I hate bargaining, but I learned through this that I'm just 'naturally' good at it b/c I seriously won't pay too much for a car. I'll walk out if they won't come down to my price. Which must be fairly effective, since I came back for 3 days and left 3 days, and they kept dropping the price each time. Oh, and I should mention that the car we ended up with (Hyundai Touring) is not the one that I was even shopping for. We were shopping for a small hatchback, and that is the one I went in to purchase last night. But, out of the corner of my eye, I kept seeing this car, and thinking... that car is a better buy for us overall. Even though it's a little more, we would just have to keep paying on it for 10 more months or so to have that one, if they would come down 7,000 off the sticker price, which they did! I whittled them down, and worked it out! I'm so excited. It's a beautiful car, rides well, has tons of cargo room, and enough room for *hopefully* future kiddies :)  So all in all, I am fairly pleased with myself. My parents came with me to do this, since Nick is out of town, and my dad couldn't believe what a good job I did bargaining, and he thinks I got a good deal, so I think I really did! And, even after reading reviews on Kelley Blue Book, it appears I did too :) So yay! Now, I just can't wait for Nick to get home so he can drive his new car!!!

Ode to my Husband

OK, this isn't really for anyone but myself, and if you are someone that gets grossed out by mushy-gushy lovey-dovey stuff, then quit reading right now! But, I was just watching a tv show about middle/high school kids, and I was thinking back to that time in my life, and I just realize now how God has blessed me with more than I could have ever dreamed of in a husband. And, I was thinking back to all those goofy, lame diary entries that I used to write about guys, and I realized --- I need to write a sappy sweet 'diary' entry about how much I love my husband, and how wonderful he is!!!  Nicky is the sweetest husband --- he always cares about how I'm feeling and talks me through down times. He sends me the most thoughtful cards and e-cards weekly! He loves me despite my flaws, and I can't believe how he doesn't even seem to notice my flaws sometimes... he definitely seems to see me through rose-colored glasses. He is the most godly husband --- he truly lives what he believes and what he preaches (literally :)  I remember, before we got married, I was nervous about being married to a pastor b/c I was afraid would ruin my high opinion of pastors ---I knew he had to have flaws. And I'm sure he does, but I honestly don't see them! He is honorable, honest, respectful, thoughtful, sweet, caring, handsome (!!!), adorable, sensitive in all the good guy ways, compassionate, laid-back yet not too laid-back, helpful, servant-minded, funny, loving, and I don't know how I ever lived without him.  When I was younger, I would pray for my husband daily, and I am so happy I was praying for him. We were connected through prayer, even back then. When we first met, we felt like we had known each other forever and we just 'knew' we were meant to be <3.  He is my best friend, and I could never imagine my life without him. My only sadness is that a lifetime with him doesn't seem like enough... I think about that everyday, and pray that God will give me joy in each moment.  And, He has blessed me so greatly... through giving me Nick as my husband!!!!

Psalm 98a

 Every year at the Greenville Presbyterian Seminary "Spring Theology Conference" (that was a mouthful!), they sing this song. And, I spend all year looking forward to the conference because I have never been to a church that sings it with this tune. Of course, that's not the only reason I look forward to the conference, but it is a highlight. Anyway, I wanted to share on here because it is beautiful and I think everyone should love it as much as I do :)


Psalm 98a... my favorite Psalm to sing! Listen to this tune --- it's beautiful!