Moving Forward
I’m always amazed at how much things change… a year ago I was so unsure of what my future would look like, I could hardly move. For the longest time I sat there, frozen in fear… afraid to make a move, and worried that whatever step I took next, would be the wrong one. Fear nearly ate me alive.
Today though, I’m looking back at last year in disbelief of how much everything has changed. In my last post I shared why I’ve been silent for so long, and all the hardship I’ve been through. And it was hard… the hardest time of my life. I didn’t have a clue what was going to come from it, or how God could possibly bring me out of it and into a fresh new start, but He did. He’s truly in the business of creating beauty from ashes. I’m living proof of it.
I must admit, I’ve had a really hard time knowing how I would move forward with this blog, or when I would feel inspired to start sharing again.. I just hoped I would know when the time was right to start posting again… It finally feels right, and that’s such a relief to say… there were so many days I didn’t know if I’d ever write anything here again. The thought scared me, but I wasn’t in a place where I felt like sharing.
But… with change and growth, comes a fresh perspective on just about everything, and I learned the hard way that no matter how hard you try to control things, we’re really not in control of anything. God is.
Since it’s been almost a year since I’ve really posted anything here on the blog, I realize there’s so much to catch you up on. And I don’t think it’s been a secret that sharing the more intimate and personal side of my life isn’t an easy thing for me, but I also know I have a story… and with the outpouring of love I’ve received, I understand that to many of you, my voice matters.
Personal posts are hard to write and even harder to publish. It’s opening up your heart, not knowing what type of reception you’ll receive. It’s a hard thing to overcome, but… like I’ve learned, life is hard. There are trials, uphill trails to climb and valley’s so low we often don’t know how we got there. The trials, rollercoasters, valleys and shadows aren’t reserved for any one specific person… we all experience them. But, another thing I’ve learned, is that it’s more about what we do in those hard times of our lives than anything else. Do we give up, and let fear swallow us whole… or do we trust that this too, is part of God’s plan to mold us into an even better version of ourselves?
Fear nearly ate me… but in the end I chose God, and I chose to trust Him, hard as it was at the time. And I’m so glad I did, because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here right now typing these words… and I wouldn’t have the opportunity to introduce you to this incredible man, my husband, Todd…
He walked into my life when I completely didn’t expect it… but during a time when I needed him the most… I just didn’t know it yet. He’s easily the sweetest man I’ve ever met, with a heart of pure gold. He brings so much happiness to my life. He’s kind, funny, sincere… and a true gentleman in a world where men like this are exceptionally rare. I never thought I’d get so lucky…
Our relationship happened fast… faster than anything I ever thought possible. I wasn’t looking for Todd, but God had different plans. Plans that far exceeded anything I could have ever thought possible. He led him to me, of that we’re both certain. I can remember praying that when it was right, that God would lead me to a man that would love me fully… a man that I could enjoy my life with, and someone who I could grow with. Someone who could love me through the good times and the bad. A man that could be my best friend and enjoy happy moments of laughter and play, but be that loving shoulder when the hard trials of life hit.
When Todd walked into my life, the little pieces of God’s puzzle started falling into place and I knew. I knew, without any doubt.
We’ve been married almost two months now, and it’s easily been the happiest time of my life… I’m so incredibly excited for what our future holds, and the blank canvas we have to create together.
I’m so thankful to God. I’m so thankful for His unfailing love… He loved me when I couldn’t love myself. I’m so thankful for His plan… it’s far greater than anything I could have ever imagined on my own.
So… what does our future look like right now? Well, we bought a big fixer upper of a house…
We’re currently living in a tiny rental until we have parts of the house ready to move into, and I’m in full on design mode. I can’t wait to share the projects, the stories and our process of transforming this neglected house into our home. It needs so much love and TLC, but it’s a challenge we’re both ready to tackle!
I truly think the best has just begun, and I’ll be documenting all the highs, the lows and everything in between right here!
I just checked your the blog the other day hoping for an update and that you were doing good! I’m so glad you were brave enough to share and know I for one am rooting for you! I’m excited to see your new journey and know you are not alone in having your whole life ripped away and feel so lost to discover God had an amazing plan in store for you. Hugs!
Shayna, I am so happy for you! God does work in mysterious ways and he truly does give us beauty for our ashes. We all bare scares from our past, weather physical scares or invisible scares, they are proof that God carried us through our trials and we are survivors. I will happily follow along with you on your blog and see your beautiful work in your new home. Happy Holidays!!
Oh Shayna I got tears in my eyes reading this! I am just so happy for you and the way God has worked in your life. So excited to see you in this new place and getting back to your creative roots. Can’t wait to see what the future holds.
You already know how I feel about all this. xo
Good for You! Wishing you complete happiness and joy.
I’m so happy for you, Shayna and I’m looking forward to seeing what you do in your new home! I’m sure it will beautiful! Wishing you full-on happiness/joy in your new chapter!
I can’t even!!!! I have tears in my eyes. You don’t know me at all but you were one of the very first blogs I followed and you helped me so much! I hated that you disappeared last Christmastime after being ill……but was thrilled with your post a few months back. I was still worried about you but wow, look at you now!!! I know you are so happy and moving on in a big way! Lucky guy. That’s the best ever for you…but now I’m so excited about your new project! Get in there are start tearing out walls and posting, we cannot wait!! Go girl!
So happy to that you are sharing again!! Congratulations on your marriage! I too had a man walk into my life when I least expected it. We were married six months after we met and we have been together 18 years. God definately has a plan and brings people into our lives at the perfect time per his perfect grace. Cannot wait to see all you will be doing with your new fixer upper!!!
Congratulations! ?
Congratulations to you both, for it seems each of you was brought to the other to find real happiness. Best to you both, Ardith
I’m so happy for you! You are a beautiful soul and deserve happiness! You’re stronger than you ever could imagine!❤️
Where there’s life….there’s hope.?❤️. Congratulations and welcome back.
Welcome back to blogging. It will be great to go on this new journey with you.
Awe, that’s wonderful! Wishing you and your new hubby many years of happiness and can’t wait to see what y’all do with your new home!
Shayna, I’m glad you are blogging again! I’m even more glad you’re in a much better place now than last year! God does make all the difference, doesn’t He?!!! He has done the same for me during hard times, one not so very long ago!!! So excited to begin seeing the changes you’ll make to your home!!! YOU GO, GIRL! AND GOD BLESS!
Congratulations to you and Todd! I am glad that you found each other and are moving on in your life together. It’s great to see you posting again, and I’m looking forward to seeing how you use your creativity to transform your new home. I’m sure it will be beautiful!
Congratulations to you and Todd! Your are in for such a fun and blessed time you won’t believe how good it will be. I found the love of my life after a truly horrific long term relationship went even further south. My husband is my best friend and after nearly 17 years of being a couple it truly keeps getting better and better. We celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary next week, Thanksgiving to be exact, and everyday I’m as happy as when we first met. When you follow the path God has laid out for you it’s spectacular. Blessings to you and Todd for a long and happy marriage!
Congratulations on everything… getting your life back, finding love, and the house. Wishing you lots happiness and love. ♥️
Dear Shayna ~
I’ve been always for a few days and just noticed your email.
I was so happy to see you back again.
God is so sweet to us, sometimes we don’t even notice, I’m glad you did.
Your life has been very full of many wonderful things and I am so happy for you and your new journey.
God bless you always,
Much love,
Rose ♥️
Nice to hear your good news. Look forward to following your new life adventure. God is good.
You are such a beautiful person and I have missed your post. Best wishes for a life full of happiness. Seem like you have found your way the right way. I can’t wait to see what you do with your new home. Welcome back girl!
I’m so happy for you.. God Bless..
So happy to hear from you. I’ve followed you for so long. Congratulations on your marriage and best wishes.
Shayna- you are such a brave and inspiring person. Thank you for sharing what is on your mind and in your heart. I am so happy for you and your new husband – I am sure it will be no time before you have your new fixer upper looking even more beautiful than your last wood grain cottage. I am truly looking forward to seeing it!
your heart is whole once again – so very happy for you to have found love again. looking forward to the new house updates.
BEST news and soooo happy for one of my favorites, even though we have never met.
Been waiting for your post and was delighted to hear your wonderful and happy news. Looking forward to hearing more about your new life and seeing the transformation in your new home. Have no doubt it will be beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Wow! Congratulations to the two of you. I’m so glad you’ve found happiness again and I’m looking forward to hearing about the renovations on your new home.
Oh Shayna…I’m so glad to see you back and happy! Congratulations on your new marriage and your fixer upper! God does indeed know how to bless us when we need it the most, but expect it the least. My blessings to you and Todd as you start this new season of Your lives.
I am so happy for you and your new husband. May God bless you both and I wish you a wonder happy life together. Oh what fun you will have fixing up your new home. Can’t wait to watch your progress. Have a wonder day.
Congrats! Thanks for sharing your heart. We’ve all missed you and can’t wait to see your remodel!! Best wishes and Happy Holidays! ❤️
I’m so happy for you and so glad to see your back! May God bless and use you to help others! ❤️
Shayna I am so thrilled your back to blogging and have always loved reading your posts. I’m sorry you went through such a hard time, but so glad you had God walking it with you as it makes all the difference. Gods timing is not ours and when he brings a wonderful man into your life, it is just meant to be. Thank you for being brave and sharing your heart, which I am sure was extremely scary to do. Can’t wait to see the amazing renovations you and Todd will do on the new house. God bless you both. Xx
God is so gracious and full of surprises. Ty for sharing. It’s encouraging. I’m happy for you!
Congratulations!!!!! Can’t wait to follow along on your new adventure. I’ve had so much fun this past year giving our new “Fixer Upper” a face lift, so I know you are in for some fun and challenging moments.
Fantastic news congrats.
THIS!! Yes! I’m so happy for you and cannot wait to see you work your magic with your new home!
God is faithful, isn’t He? Very happy for you and am looking forward to seeing the amazing house transformation ?
Oh…. i love seeing this news. Congratulations to you and Todd.
So happy for you both!
Tears of joy for you…because you are so special. Excited for what is to come for you and us!
Hugs,
Congratulations! I have missed you so much. Glad to have you back! More than that though, I’m so happy because you are so happy.
Very happy to hear you are living proof that time really can heal a broken heart and that you have found someone to love who will love you back.
Can’t wait to see your projects.
So happy for you! Congrats on your marriage and I can’t wsit to see your new posts!
So happy for you, and I cannot wait to see what you do with your fixer upper!
First of all Sweet Celebrations this year! You’ll have so many new traditions and fun fellowships with family and each other. I don’t know you at all but I prayed often for the young woman who had been so very sick about a year ago. I read your last post and now this one!! I’m looking forward to what you shall make of this fixer upper. You’ll have so many great ideas to share I know! Enjoy the next 40 days as you prepare and celebrate this Holy Season. I’m very happy for you. I’m glad you have strong shoulders to lean upon during life’s path. God is so good.
So happy for your restart and happily ever after. I am curious how you met. I always love to hear those stories as my sister is in her 40’s and still single, it’s tough to meet a sweet one.
Oh darling! This is just the happiest post ever!!! Congratulations from the deepest part of my heart.
I absolutely know too, that God’s ways are so good and right. My ‘Todd’ is named Thomas and I think Shayna, that we have the two sweetest men ever created!!
Ours was super fast too. Unexpected, undeniably God given. We have been married now for nearly four incredible years and it just keeps getting better!
Thank you for sharing your heart and introducing us to your fabulous man. I’m SO excited to hear all your future adventures!
Love
Harmony
Congratulations to you and Todd! That is just wonderful news!!!!
It’s nice to hear that you’re happy!!
So happy to read your post and wishing you and your new man the very best!! I too, have had a very difficult year of peaks and valleys, heartache and growth, but have grown, learned so much, and found my own strength again! While it can be so very difficult and scary to trust, we MUST keep moving forward. Thank you for your bravery in sharing your journey, and again, best wishes and take care!!
So very excited for you !!! Congratulations…. Was wondering when you would post again…… Yaaaaaaa!! Can’t wait to see what you do with the “New” place !!!! 🙂
Congrats and so happy for you!! Can’t wait to see house fixer-upper improvements. ?
Love your happiness!
I took a break too while my world was changing a few years ago and I’m so excited for you! What an exciting new chapter, and your new home is going to be AMAZING!!
I actually found your blog tonight while looking for brass bed makeover and I asked a question over there…
Then I went forward to make sure you were still blogging. I read your recent updates on what’s been going on with you. I can’t speak to your divorce though as I’ve been married for 31 years. (some of them incredibly hard ones) What I can speak to is that sometimes life is so hard that it takes away your ability to breathe. You think there is no way that life can go on, and then it does. Our first baby died after living just 3 short days. Breathing hurt and I didn’t think I could get through it. She was what we had dreamed of since we dated in high school. The future we only dreamed was possible and then it wasn’t. I made it through. WE made it through. Fast forward to two healthy children later and the ups and downs of life to 5 years ago. We purchased a foreclosure and proceeded to remodel it ourselves. During the same time my father in law found out he had cancer and had a heart attack. While he was in the hospital we realized that the forgetfulness that my mother in law was experiencing was more. She had full blown Alzheimer’s disease. About a year later we found out that my brother in law, my husband’s only sibling, had it too. We proceeded to four of the hardest years of our lives. We got custody of my BIL, a month later my father in law died, 8 weeks later my mother in law died and in between, my husband lost his job. Around the same time, my dad started feeling unwell. He was diagnosed with COPD a few years before, but a bought with pneumonia really brought him low. This time last year he was almost my normal daddy. Just seemed like he was recovering from a bad cold. He gradually got worse…and worse. Until he was on oxygen 24/7 and lost more and more weight. He lost his sense of humor. I noticed that Labor Day weekend. The man that almost always had a ready laugh and a smile. September 24 rolled around and just like that, he was gone. MY daddy. Not someone else’s daddy that you think, “Wow, that’s awful.” and you feel so badly for them. This was MY DADDY. The one man that always, always had my back and was there for me no matter what. Still I ache. Our lives can change in an instant. How do people without God in there lives function? How do they face things without knowing that He exists and is still on the throne and still in control? The Bible doesn’t promise us that bad things will never happen, just that He will be there for us when they do. I will say a prayer for you, Shayna. No, I haven’t truly been where you are, but I have been in a place of such sorrow and pain that I never thought I could survive it, but I’m still surviving and with God’s will…I will continue to do so. Now that I have found you…you are now on my prayer list. God ALWAYS has a plan! <3
I love your story! the love of GOD, the love of home and making it beautiful is awesome! God bless and I’m so glad I found you! I knew there was something different about your website when I first stumbled upon it. something virtuous, something pure. It’s.nwcauaw you have God in the center of your life. congratulations on meeting Todd and God help you in every project you make transforming your house into a home worthy of beauty!
You’re words truly gave me hope. I’m so happy for your future and you’re todays and tomorrows. And I’m waiting on baited breathe to see your new home blooms and flourish. God Bless you and yours