time off

I was off work last Thursday through Monday. I went to work on Tuesday. Now I'm off until Monday. And it's not because I planned a vacation. I haven't been doing well lately. HR is working with me, thank goodness. And they have allowed me this time off without penalty. Next week I am moving to a new team in a new building. And I am very happy about that. I am hoping it will allow me to have a fresh start.
I need a fresh start.

getting settled

Shawn and I are "title" into our new house. Our couch gets delivered today. Whoo-hoo! I think mom and dad are going to come over tonight. Hopefully they'll bring food. We have none yet. Still need to go grocery shopping. Then again, we don't have any plates or forks, etc. Anyway - I brought Ari home last night. She was pretty scared. She hid for about an hour, then found my room. She stayed in there all night, snuggling with my legs. Then she started knocking stuff off my dresser to wake me up. Punk.
Alright - break time is almost over.

I'll post pics once we get it all coordinated.

Moving Day

Shawn and I move into our house in TWO DAYS! Shawn's going to get as much done as he can while I'm at work on Friday. And then Saturday we have a Uhaul and will move all the big stuff. And on Sunday we'll be sorting through all the crap we have stored at mom and dad's house and hopefully...throwing a bunch of stuff out. Have I mentioned that I'm excited?

Lea is no longer moving in with us. She has decided to stay in California. Shawn and I were going to look for a third roommate, and still might have to...BUT...Shawn is going to start building computers and selling them. So, hopefully that will generate enough income to pay for a third of the rent. Yeah, that would rock for real.

Christmas has been awesome this year. There's been a lot of Rook played and lots of laughs with the family. I know they'll be sad when we move out - but they'll be coming over a lot. And they have to get their house ready to sell too. It's actually been really great living with them. I was able to save some cash (and pay my bills). But it's time to move out and move on.

Shawn and I are going to start trying churches once we get moved in. We're going to try to find somewhere that has the same theological views as we do. But...that might be difficult. Honestly, I just want to find a church family who will love me like Northside does. The Church of God and I differ on one subject, but I know I am still loved (by most people). The only thing that concerns me is how I will be accepted (or not) in a new church, not hiding my sexuality. And don't worry I'm not flaunting it either. No rainbow stickers for me right now. I am just happy to know how God made me, that He loves me, and that He has a plan for my life.

I don't really know what that plan is right now, but I am looking forward to the adventure in figuring it out. I miss teaching. I miss my young adults. I miss music. I miss leading worship. I miss Northside. And I hope they miss me.

I'll post pics of the house once we get it all in order. Ya'll know my odd sense of fashion, so it should be pretty interesting.

Oh - and I bought a vacuum. SOOOO excited about that. I left my vacuum with Connie (hers had broken) and I miss it terribly. So, I bought a Dyson! Check it out:

Ok - that's all I got for now. Love you!

My first home...kinda

Shawn and I signed the lease on our house today. We are looking for a third roommate! So if you live in the hampton roads area (or want to move there) and want somewhere to live for $600/month (utilities included), and have good credit...let us know!

We are both totally excited. I love my new kitchen. Too bad I hate to cook. Maybe I'll learn to love it. Or at least try. Anyway - we need furniture. So, if you know of any free stuff, or good deals...tell us! We have a huge back yard and will be having cookouts in the summer. And after our housewarming party, our first big shindig will be a SUPERBOWL PARTY. Shawn has a HUGE screen and projector. And will have a ping pong table by then as well. It'll be good times.

Anyway - this is just one more major change in my life. Not sure how much more I can take before I go completely bonkers. All the changes in my life are good, but so darn stressful. I just took a few of those stress factor tests about life events, etc. I scored over 300 on all of them. This means I am extremely stressed and have a high susceptibility to stress-related illness. Oy. But, it could always be worse, right?

When I awake...

Have you ever had something on your mind so much that it takes over EVERYTHING? It seems like no matter what I do, I still think about it. Sure, there are tried and true ways to "change your mind"...and think about something else. But they involve imbibing certain liquids and/or ingesting a creativity-birthing substance. Neither of which I am willing to do. So...I think. And I think. And it's starting to hurt.
And it's really not something I should be thinking about. It's not productive. It's not helpful in any way. I have tried to combat it by filling my head with the exact opposite thoughts. But it's not working so well. It's hard for me to make myself feel a certain way. Although I know it's best to just move on.
So, I ask for help. I ask God to take my mind somewhere else. And do you know where He takes me? To thoughts of the woman I want to be. Loving, honest, open, accepting, challenging, inspiring, hopeful, fun, loyal and servant-minded. Being this type of woman does not involve obsessing over something of which I have no control.

I will not obsess.
I will not obsess.
I will not obsess.

Lea bought me a magnet that says what's above - for our fridge. She knows me a little too well. Did I mention...LEA'S COMING TO LIVE WITH ME!!!!!

email...

So, my gmail account (which I use to sign into this blog) is revsmorgan@gmail.com. I'm not a rev anymore. The email address I use for everything else is pastorshannon@hotmail.com. Some may say I'm not a pastor anymore, because I'm not recognized by a church body. But, I am still a pastor.
The revocation of my credentials will not prevent me from fulfilling the role God has for me. Although my role has changed a little bit. And just to quelch any fears that I am going to preach the "gay agenda" - give me a break. There is no "gay agenda." Gay people are just like straight people. Please don't stereotype us. We aren't trying to make everyone in the world gay. We aren't trying to destroy marriage. Straight people do a good enough job of that on their own. What I will be preaching is God's agenda...love. And love unconditionally. I believe God has a plan and purpose for EVERY single person. I believe He created us each uniquely to fit together and work as the body of Christ in this world. There are people who don't believe anyone loves them, let alone a God that some people say hates them. So I will preach and seek to live a life of love.
This will not stop my ministry. It will just change it a little. And I'm getting quite used to change.

I am no longer ordained in the Church of God. I realize they had no choice but to revoke my credentials, given my position on homosexuality. But, it still hurts. That's all for now.