This Awful Beautiful Life.

So much has happened since March 31st that it is overwhelming me to blog about it all.

First of all, Jman and I have started going to a church. This is a big deal for me and for us. Our relationship has never been built off of God or Jesus or any sort of religion. Really it all started by going to parties and hanging out around campus at college. Nevertheless, every day I am reassured that Jman is the right man for me and that our relationship is strong. Anyway, I have always told Jman that I want to raise our kids in a household strong with faith and christian values. He always agreed with me but wasn't sure that church was the best way to go about that. Well at the beginning of April, a good friend of mine got baptized at Bay Area Community Church. Jman and I went to be supportive and we were blown away. This was nothing like any church I had ever been to (and I have been to alot of church since I grew up Episcopal and went to a Catholic middle and high school). For the first time in my life I felt like I actually took away with a message that I could apply to my life right here and now. The church was huge, there was a band and everyone was so friendly. It took some convincing with Jman but a two weeks later we gathered the courage to go back again. Now, it has been almost 3 months and we consider ourselves regulars. We were talking on our way this morning about how going to Church used to feel like a chore... now it is something I look forward to. Every Saturday night I get excited about what I am going to learn about the next morning. Another reason why we love this Church so much is because it proclaims that it is not a church for holy people but a church for people who need to strengthen their relationship with Christ. In other words, no one and I mean NO one that we have met in this church thus far claims to be perfect or judges you for your sins. They embrace the fact that we as humans all sin and that God forgives. I am constantly inspired to "Get Better" and to abide in the word of the Lord. This might be the best thing that has happened to me in a long time and I am very very Thankful for it.

Secondly, Jman and I are buying  bought a house. Not the short sale. Last time I blogged we were still on the short sale train... Heres the short story to the long story about the short sale.. Last May, Jman and I went looking for a house and after the second house we fell in love (with a short sale).. Since we are living with my parents we felt no rush to get a house and felt like it was the best option and that we would get a great deal if we bought this house. Fast forward to January and the bank approved it.. but not really.. See they verbally approved it but we never got the paperwork saying it was approved. The next thing we knew there was an investor who wouldn't sign off on it because an appraisal was done that said the house was worth more than what we put our offer in for.. So they asked for more and eventually we raised our offer. Another few months of waiting and the next thing we knew we were tired of waiting and ready to move on. So we pulled out of the short sale contract two weeks short of one year of being under contract. Throughout this whole process Jman and I (and our agent.. Poor thing)..continued to go looking at houses. It took awhile but eventually we found one we loved more than the short sale. It's in a perfect area.. close to where we work, close to my parents, big but not too big, lots of yard but not too much yard, perfect back porch for eating crabs and drinking beer and it is updated but there are a few projects on our list that will keep us busy for a while. We are so thankful that this process is over and even more thankful for my parents who let us live with them for 3 years so that we could save up the money to buy a house. We would never have been able to afford it while paying the outrageous amount of rent local apartment complexes charge.

Anyway, this summer I have been coaching swim team again and loving mostly every second of it (expect when it storms!!). Life has been so crazy busy between swim team and buying the house/moving/unpacking/painting. I can't believe we have about 4 weeks left until school starts :( .. I am so not ready to go back yet.

Until next time,