Don't sweat the small stuff!

I walked into 2012 thinking that it would be our year. I haven't been shy in letting everyone know our financial issues that started back in 2010 and continued through 2011. We gave up our house, or let me rephrase that, are still trying to give up the house. It's still legally ours however it shouldn't be much longer...fingers crossed. We gave up our last vehicle over the summer and yes I shed tears like a two year old when I handed over the keys to it. The Equinox was my first baby. The first major purchase that I had ever made without the help of my parents, it was the vehicle that drove us home from our wedding, and the vehicle that drove us to and from the hospital after being blessed with our two little girls. It stung saying good-bye but we made the adult decision that it was time and looking back I don't regret it especially since we made money off of it. Since saying good-bye to the Equinox, we had been driving and taking care of my Mom's truck. It's not just any truck. It's a man's truck, the truck that Daniel has drooled over for more years than I care to remember. It's an F-350 with the crew cab and extended bed. It's huge and I hate it. Yes the four of us fit perfectly inside and yes, it was free for us to use, but here are the things I hated about it. Point a, it only really fit the four of us. Since losing my father in law back in May we have tried really hard to remain a large part of my mother in laws life. We inlcude her in most all of our weekend plans and she is always ready and waiting to attend. I hated the fact that most times she would have to drive separate in order to play with us and on the few occassions she did drive with us she and the girls would be stuck in the back of the truck squished together like a bunch of sardines. Point b, have you ever tried doing a full blown grocery trip having a truck without a cap on the back therefore leaving you to put yourself, your husband, children, and groceries all in the actual seating portion of the vehicle? Doesn't work very well! Lastly, the thing I hated most about it, it wasn't ours. Don't get me wrong, I am 100% appreciative to my Mother for letting us use it. We're still using it and it is beneficial to her in the fact that its not sitting in the driveway rusting away like it had been. It's actually being used and taken care of now which from what I'm told, is good when it comes to trucks.

Now I bet you're wondering why I'm sharing all of this with you aren't you? Well it's late here and I don't want to keep you guessing or in suspense. I'm sharing this with you because as much as Daniel loves the truck, my hatred for it and his desire to finally have something back in our names won out. We are now the proud owners of a 2003 Yukon XL Denali. People, this thing is so large we can have three more children which means that there is plenty of room for my mother in law and all of our groceries.

What is funny is that this thing is a 2003 which means one thing...it's used. Shortly after I bought our Equinox brand new, we went out and bought a used Chrysler 300m. It was the second biggest mistake we have made in our marriage, our first was buying the shit piece of a house that we did. Within the first month of owning the car the transmission started to go, it continued to give us problems until the day we said good-bye to it. I swore up and down that we would never, ever, ever, buy a used vehicle again. EVER!!!

But lookey what we went and did, we bought another used vehicle. I'm one of those freaks of nature that like things to be in pristine condition. I don't like dents and scratches or things that don't match, please tell me I am not the only one. As you can imagine buying a vehicle that was brand new back in 2003, this baby has a scratch or two, has a little dent in the back, and the interior has a few cosmetic pimples. Issues that our once brand new Equinox was starting to develop...it happens when you drive a vehicle daily for years. As much as I cringe whenever I notice a new bump or bruise on the Yukon that I hadn't noticed prior, we've only owned it for a week so I'm still in the getting to know you phase, I have to keep remiding myself it's no big deal. What's important is that it runs and it's ours and to be honest, it really is in pretty good shape and man is it pretty. Daniel said he feels like he's running some secret service detail in it, it's black by the way, when hes out driving in it. His aunt said it looked like we were part of Dog the Bounty Hunters crew. I personally just feel like a spoiled soccer Mom in it...lol.

I've learned a lot this past week. We had what we thought was a major issue with our house, major issue as in neither Daniel or I slept Sunday night because of it. Come to find out after remaining calm and collective it was something that was easily rectified first thing Monday morning and now I just feel like a horses butt. But between the house drama, and it was drama let me tell you, and all of the little scratches and stuff I keep finding on the new ride I've realized something. I really need to stop sweating over such small and ridiculous issues that I have no control over. The stress that I cause myself because I make such a big deal over stupid stuff is getting out of control. I made myself sick with worry Sunday night only to have it work out perfectly the next morning and I still cringe every time I discover a new cosmetic issue with the Yukon. These things are out of my control so why do I allow myself to get so worked up? It isn't worth it. I have a roof over my head, a vehicle to drive, two beautiful and healthy daughters, and a loving and hardworking husband. I'm also able to put food on the table for my family every single day and health wise things are starting to improve, I have a lot more going on for me than what a lot of people do right now and for that I am thankful. So I'm adding to my New Years resolutions...Katie, don't sweat the small stuff!!!