Monday, February 17, 2014

Moving....again?!?

So about 2 weeks ago, I was cruising around online and drooling over new homes in the area.
We have been wanting to buy a home for awhile but because of our short sale several years ago, we just weren't sure it was a good time.
 But the more we looked at these houses, we thought looking what is the harm in just looking??

So we lucked out on getting this amazing real estate agent Amy K.(if you're looking for one in the Nashville area, she is a must!) and started checking out homes in Smyrna.
Nothing was doing it for us.

So after branching out into Murfreesboro and a dozen or two houses later, we stumbled on this house that had everything we wanted!
From the outside, we weren't too impressed right away because of how close the houses are together. But completely wow'd when we went in.

Hardwood floors, like new carpet, stainless steel INCLUDED appliances, great paint colors and in AMAZING condition!
Plus the size is perfect!
And the schools are a 10!

But then Amy tells us the house already had a bid that was being submitted that day!
We honestly had no intentions of putting an offer in yet since we really didn't want to pull the kids out of school in the middle of the year.
But then we didn't want to lose the chance. And what harm would it be to give the other buyers a little competition. Honestly though because we couldn't close right away, we really didn't think we stood a chance.

SILLY US!
They accepted!!
Of course we are having to close much earlier than we wanted.
But we'll just have 2 houses until schools out.

Thank goodness having 2 months without a mortgage payment!
So now we wait.

But here is our house...if all goes well! I just wish it was my decor too!!!


Rec Room upstairs

Office but will also be our piano room

HUGE walkin closets

Kids bathroom

Very nice hardwood floors

Dining room

Guest full bathroom

Master bathroom

kitchen

Laundry room

Living room

Backyard (we'll be having a fence installed)

Master bedroom... I want their furniture!!

Master Bedroom closet.... this pic shows about half the size.  HUGE!

Garage

Entry Way

Upstairs hall

So there we have it.  We'll be moving in end of May...anyone want to come visit?!?!?!

Friday, February 7, 2014

Post from Shannon: stepping out of my comfort zone

Hey my 2 followers!
I'm taking a risk in writing today because I don't know what the outcome will be.  But I'm going to open myself up to you and anyone else that ever comes across this blog and this post.  Please read with an open mind and an open heart while I share something very personal and heartfelt with you; my life.

The last year or so has been the biggest life changing time of my life.  And to be honest, they have been the best I have had in a long time.
I've been finding myself. I'm not there yet. I have a long way to go. But I'm getting closer.
Yes I've lost a bunch of weight.  And yes I've been working my butt off getting an education.  But that isn't what I want to write about today.

I'll preface this with a disclaimer.  What I'm writing is only for me.  And my journey.  Not my kids, not my husbands.  Just mine and mine alone.

For 33 years, I've been a part of something that was great.  Great for millions of people.  Something that brings peace and happiness.  Something that is beautiful. 
Something that I never felt was for me.
I will never regret the experiences I have had because without being a part of this, I would have never met my husband.  I would then never have had my amazing children.  I wouldn't have met some great people that I hope will remain my friends throughout all this.  So it will always remain a part of my life.

This is where the change comes in.
Deep Breath...
I know many of you already know this but for those that don't,

I no longer believe in the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I have had many spiritual experiences in my life that I will forever cherish.  And those experiences I can't discount as coming from a higher power to soften my heart and keep me believing and to have a greater understanding of Gods love for me. 
I always assumed I had these because of the organization I was a part of. 
But for me, that is no longer true. 

God loves me because I'm a good person.
I don't have to be a part of a man made organization to know that. 

How do I know this? 

Well....I used to be extremely judgmental. 
*I* used to think that being a part of this organization was the only way anyone could return to live with God again. And not just a part of it but an active time and money giving, rule following, long underwear wearing, no coffee or alcohol drinking, guarded tolerance of others who are different, perfect submissive homemaker and mother part of it.
Please understand that not every member is like this.. but this is how I felt I had to be in order to be with my family again after this life in the highest kingdom of eternity.
And I was failing.  Miserably.
And I was/am depressed.  Zoloft daily depressed.
Going to church was painful.  Listening to the lessons from people saying that all I needed to do was pray and read my scriptures and have faith (faith in what??) and everything would work out left me with anger because what was wrong with me that doing those things wasn't working.  Why wasn't I happy then?
And that lead me to wonder other things....
Maybe I wasn't happy because I was in a bubble that was holding me down. 
That I don't have to be all those things.
It just wasn't me.

So I took a deep breath and started climbing out of the bubble. 
I started asking questions of WHY I was supposed to do all those things to gain my eternal salvation when all God asks of us is to love HIM and love my neighbors. 
Where did these rules come from?  Were they truly from God or from someone trying to gain some sort of control by making me think this was the only way to be with my family again? 
And why was I not happy when I was told by doing those things, that is the only way I'll be happy?
Why would God require them from me and those in this one particular organization but to hell (literally) with everyone else?

That lead me to other questions...
Patriarchy in the organization
Revelations vs. Social change and pressure (ie blacks in priesthood, women's rights)
Polygamy in the beginning and how it's still practiced today (it is..)
Polyandry (look it up)
Brigham Young... ohhhhh that man!
Views on homosexuality
Peep stones
Book of Abraham
Plagiarism in the BofM
Early temple ceremonies
Current temple ceremonies
etc etc etc

So I would ask but could never get a real answer other than to not ask.  And to just have faith. And that asking or questioning is bad and I should never do it.
But if this is all so true, why is asking questions bad?  There should be nothing to hide. Right?
Why am I expected to give my life and everything that goes with it without knowing why?

So needless to say, I started looking for answers on my own.  I've gotten a lot of criticism for that too. 

But asking and finding some answers has brought me to where I am now.

I've realized that I don't know what's true and wasn't isn't.
And that's ok.
I'll never stop asking questions that I want the answers for.  That's just who I am.
And I'm going to live my life the way I want to. 
And to love others UNconditionally. 
And to accept people for who they are. 
And to be tolerant.

This is what the God I want to know asks of me. 

So I'm cutting the ties that bind and I am going to get to know God without the restraint that I had put on myself.
I'm going to accept and love myself.  It's going to take time but I'm going to get there. 
I'm not going to feel guilty anymore for things I have no control of.
This is a struggle though.  Because for 33years, I've let myself think that God will punish me for eternity if I do certain things or think certain things or feel certain things.  But honestly how can such a merciful and loving God do that to me when I am still a good person?  If we are created in His image and our ultimate goal is to become like Him, is that the person I want to be?  So I don't think God is this way.  And the only way for me to come to terms with this is to separate myself from the source of these feelings.
And like I said, I have let myself feel this way.  They didn't make me.  I did it. 


Because there is a HUGE difference for me between spirituality and religious and I have become a more spiritual person the less religious I have become.

So what do I believe?

I believe that we are all equal in the eyes of the creator. Equal.  He loves us ALL.  The creator that I want to believe in anyways.

I believe that if we live a good full life, we will be entitled to what God has for us in the eternities.  He won't keep me from my family because I indulge in a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or decide to go swimming on Sunday.  He won't keep my sister from her husband because they were married in Vegas and he's Jewish. 

I believe there's potential for good in everyone.  Well most everyone.  Even the jerkoff who broke into my car.  But people who hurt children... well that's another story. 

I believe in the laws of the land as sucky as some can be.  No one is above them even if they think they are.  No church, no politician, no one.

I believe that we are entitled to happiness.  I believe in happiness.  And the pursuit of happiness.

And I believe that beliefs can change.  And it's okay.  It's progressive.  We are creatures of change.  It's constant.  Just embrace it and don't hide from it.  Own the change and own the past.  It's ours!

One thing I do want to clear up though.  There's a common misconception among the church community in which they think those that walk away from the organization do it because:
*they are offended
*desire to "sin"
*faithless and lazy
I know this because I have thought the same things.  And maybe for some that's the case.  But for many, this is just not true.  And for me it's not at all.  My need to step back is based on my desire for truth and personal happiness that I was unable to find within the religion.  That's not to say it will always be this way.  And that's not to say I won't go to church at all ever again.  I will go when I feel I need it.  Not because I'm obligated to.  I will go if my children want to go because I won't deny them their own quest for knowledge and happiness.

So there you have it friend(s).  I know some people will think I'm a lost cause. 
And that's okay. 
But I know I'm not. 
And those that truly love me and care about me will always love me and care about me. 
No Matter What!
This was not a decision taken lightly.  Many tears and prayers have gone into learning what I have and feeling as I do. 

Love,
Shannon