Monday, December 15, 2014

Merry Christmas to me/ A BRAND NEW SINK

When I was a kid our sink leaked, it leaked for a very long time. The smell under there, the rot, the mess... my mom never fixed anything so it was just another one of the broken parts of our home and it was gross. I don't remember exactly but I think it was a small leak too, probably a bad washer or something like that. Last night the pipe under our kitchen sink got a hole in it. It was very corroded so it was only a matter of time. My husband was at work and I was just about to get my son in bed and I felt like the roof collapsed on top of me. I think you have regressive flash backs in moments like this. I was imagining living without a kitchen sink for weeks, or possibly as horrid having to pay for a plumber to repair the broken pipe. It's Christmas time. I'm not entirely sure yet how I'm going to pay the mortgage this month and now this!!! I became physically nauseous and went to bed thinking positive thoughts with a knot in my stomach.

My dad gave us $50 at the family Christmas party the other day. I've honestly been dreaming about what I'm going to do with it. (I'm not supposed to "pay the bills" with Christmas money/ I've been scolded for that before) I would like to complain about the money going to fix the sink but honestly I feel more appreciative that we have the "extra" money for the sink repair as opposed to not having an extra $50 bill in my wallet right now and still having to fix it. This was a completely unavoidable problem.

I messaged a friend this morning who's really great at repairing things (I'm NOT talking down on my husband but he is absolutely not handy and is always fearful of making any situation worse if he tries to fix it (is there a term for someone who's not handy, like how you can not have a green thumb?)). My friend was glad to help but is in Chicago this week. I watched you tube videos for a good portion of this morning working up the nerve to do the fix myself. I picked up a box of sink plumbing pvc pipes and a joint wrench while I was working and this evening.... wait for it... I totally fixed the broken sink myself and there is no leakage going on down there at all!!!

I spent $25.75 on the fix and truthfully I feel like this little sink issue has repaired something inside of me. I am actually thankful right now that I had to spend $25 of my Christmas money on repairing the broken sink myself. (I will be singing another tune if the fix doesn't hold... but we'll cross that bridge IF we get to it) I feel like I've stared an old demon in the face and kicked it out of my life. I am an adult. I can take care of myself, with God's help always. I am not a helpless kid living in a home that's crumbling over my head. I am NOT! I feel completely on top of the world right at this very moment. I've bills that need paying and not a ton of money laying around to get them paid and yet I feel like a millionaire. This Christmas (for other reasons as well) has been the best Christmas I can remember ever experiencing and we're still over a week out! One happy camper right here!!!

16 comments:

  1. Fantastic! Great job!

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  2. Good for you! I really think it's about breaking down that barrier that was built all those years ago by not having anything ever fixed in your house growing up. But you know what? That wasn't your house. This one is. You pay the mortgage and its yours ( and your husbands).

    Growing up, I loved in a house that sounds similar to the one you grew up in. Nothing was fixed and it was so messy that you could never actually sit on the couch. The toilet broke so we had to use the outhouse for 9 months--during the winter in Minnesota. It was terribly inconvenient to go outside to go but beyond that, it was embarrassing. I vowed never to live like that--maybe that's why my husband is a plumber :). I still need to remind myself that my life is different now.

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    1. What an excellent play on the part of your subconscious, marrying a plumber after having grown up the way you did! Haha!
      We couldn't sit on the couch half the time either without clearing a pile of something off of it. And I know what you mean about embarrassing... I was always trying to take care of the other house though (the one I grew up in), trying to clean it, trying to fix things (with whatever we had lying around in the house), trying to make it better. And I never could. I realize now that I have so many issues with feeling helpless even in the tiniest of situations because of never being able to actually solve the problem at the house I grew up in.

      This sink thing was a strange break through for me I think.

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  3. THAT IS BRILLIANT! GO, RIVULET! YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!

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    1. *Enormous smile*
      Thank-you! I told my husband, I think I'm more proud of my go at the sink than I am of the chocolately chocolate cheesecake the other day :-)

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  4. YOU ARE AWESOME! I am so proud of you- for so many reasons! This was an inspiring post to read. I am so glad that I found your blog. :)
    Enjoy the rest of your holiday season!

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    1. Thank-you so much! I really appreciate encouraging comments like yours and the others. I feel like I've found a big group of friends through blogging.

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  5. My hubby is not handy either, I completely relate. You fixed it - well done. The next time something breaks go to youtube again. You still have a wee bit of Christmas money to spend on yourself - plus you feel like you truly accomplished something. I love this story! Merry Christmas

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    1. Merry Christmas to you as well! I'm not a huge technology fan and I'm not one to sit around and watch you tube videos but my goodness when you need instructions for something it sure is an amazing resource!

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  6. Your brother also likes to pay bills with Christmas money.

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    1. Oh goodness this made me laugh! We must be related or something :)))))

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  7. I am so impressed - I would have never had the courage to try something like that myself - if my husband couldn't fix it (he is pretty handy) I would probably cry about all the money we would have to spend and then call a plumber - GOOD FOR YOU for being such a strong person!!!!

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    1. Wow, thanks. I don't know if I was strong or desperate but I am honestly so proud of myself. Thank- you :)

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  8. What a great story. You took on a challenge and were successful (and did it without spending a lot of money). I'm very impressed. Thank you for the uplifting story today. Merry Christmas.

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