Avalaaaaaaanche!!!

So, we had one that looked like this:

That was June of 2010...and it was a great vehicle.  We loved that we had the same interior as my Tahoe but had the ability to haul some things (no, not as much as a REAL truck but we don't do a lot of hauling).  Well, fast forward to Sept of 2012 (or, now) and that truck had ALMOST

60 THOUSAND miles

I mean this guy burns the ROAD up!  Driving to work alone is about 100 miles a day!  Beach trips, golf trips, etc etc.  So, there is that magical time where you have high miles, a payoff that is not terrible and you can actually get out of your high mileage vehicle and SAVE MONEY.  That's what we did.  He went, put nothing down and came away saving money on our monthly payment.  We will always have a car payment, so I'm just all about lowering it.  IT worked!  Woo Hoo!  

So, today we have this:

It's a 2012 Avalanche in Summit White!  It has a few things on it that his older model didn't have, but overall is the same vehicle.  He's happy, we're saving around $150 a month on our payment...it was a win for us!!

I am who I am (From May 10, 2008)

So I found this journal nugget in my email.  I wrote it on Saturday, May 10, 2008.  Very interesting!!

The truth about the truth I am what am I.  And I'm finding that fact more and more hard to swallow at times.  If you asked me my strengths, certainly I'd mention the fact that I try to make everyone happy.....however, I'm finding, more and more, that it's a weakness too.  Who ever thought that trying to be sweet and kind and likeable would be a bad thing?  However, I believe it's led to many dismal relationships and several dysfunctional friendships.  I am that friend who tells you want you want to hear.  I listen without prejudice...I cry with my friends, I laugh with them, and I always let them know that I am there for them.  That sounds good, right?  Ha.  I've learned that maybe when I said, "hmm I don't know", I should have said, "ARE YOU CRAZY?"  That sometimes, when I said, "well, I understand that" I should have responded with a slight, "I can't believe you said that."  And overwhelmingly, when asked the question, "did I do the right thing?"  I should have been brutally honest.  I am just not that person.  I cannot be mean or cynical or "tell it like it is"....there are so many people that do that so well, but I am just not built that way.  I'm the nice girl.  The one who listens and smiles and takes you to lunch because you're having a bad day.  I take pride in the fact that I am that person, but I'm starting to feel like I've done a disservice to my friends and family.  There have been some major things that my friends have done that I totally did NOT agree with.  But what did I say?  Nothing.  I am obviously just so fearful that I'll make someone mad, I just let it go.  And what am I proving by that?  When someone does something that is SO SO SO against every piece of my being, and I say nothing, am I not appearing to agree with it??  That's what concerns me.  I'm really just trying to feel good in my own skin.  I absolutely have a wonderful life, a great family and so much to be thankful for.  So, to be quite honest, I am trying to be sure that I am being the best person that I can be.  The Lord has blessed ME with so much......I feel that the least I can do is be sure that I'm living my life to the fullest.  It's caused me to pray a lot, read His word more, and to evaluate all of my friendships.  I have really been thinking about this so much.  And I have talked to a few people about it.  My boss (also a great friend) has convinced me that I'm doing the best I can, that I am not the one to judge (which yes I agree with) and that I don't need to change.  But, my hubby sees the actual situations that I've dealt with and says, "why didn't you say this" or "why didn't you tell her what you think" and feels like I need to speak my mind, even when it runs the risk of hurting someone, just to be honest.  I really just don't know if it's worth it.  I hate hurting anyone's feelings....but then again, what if they just need a gut check and they would question a bad decision if I did open my mouth?  Hmm.

Friday Note of Praise

Guess what happened last night?  I went to sleep at 9:45 PM, EST.  I mean, BEFORE TEN PEEE EMMM.  WHAT?  I know, it doesn't sound like that early.  But for me, that's early for non-mono.  For mono, that's basically a day ahead of time.  :-)  I was up at 5:30 which is a tad early but I will take it.  I can't even express the feeling of hope that I have for today.  I still feel so silly for feeling so horrible with this thing.  When so many others are suffering from so much more.  I also know that this is my reality for right now.  The joint pain, the exhaustion, the sore throat, the brain-sluggishness - all those things are more than any symptoms to me.  They basically are abnormal.  They don't make me feel like Jamie Jones.  I happen to like Jamie Jones.  :-)  That's what I miss most.  Feeling like me.  I hope I find me again...really soon!

Green, yellow and red - OH MY!!

I feel like I seriously have post-traumatic stress disorder when it comes to storms!  I am freaked out by ANY storm but especially one that includes an "elevated" or "moderate" risk of tornadic activity.  Today is one of those days.

Photo from WRAL here:  Website

MJ's Birth Announcement

So I finally made one!  Woo Hoo!  I mean...she's only 4...so it's not TOO late, right?  ;-)

Mono y Mono

So in Spanish, that means "hand to hand" or denotes a fight between two people without weapons.  

I feel like that's what my body is doing to me!  Fighting me.  However, I feel like it might have weapons.  Like:

• fatigue
• dizziness
• joint pain
• back pain
• headache
• loss of appetite
• swollen spleen

I am just totally spent.  I feel like I've been run down.  Also?  It gets in the old noggin.  So, add depressed to all of that up there.  Thankfully, I'm smack dab in the throws of a Beth Moore Bible study and nothing makes you feel like a loved, treasured child of the King like the Bible.  So, I'm going to start on next week and try to ignore that bulleted list up there.  Night...err...mornin....

Pillow Talk

I need pillows.  I buy pillows at Walmart or Belk or Ross or wherever.  I don't invest a ton in them and then I end up replacing them way more often than I think I should.  I'm in need of a pillow personal shopper.

I found this one page on this topic:  Good Housekeeping Product Review.  I love Good Housekeeping and their articles but sometimes I do wish I had more of a friendly recommendation.

Hmm.  I guess this subject came up due to the fact that I've pretty much been in my bed more in the last week than in months.  Mono does that to ya.

By Philip Friedman/Studio D

Okay, back to bed.