Declutter & learn how to make extra cash with The Kept Wife’s 30 Day Challenge. Receive step by step instructions on how to declutter your home AND make money at the same time!

 

Pay your $10 here —-> http://PayPal.Me/TheKeptWife



Challenge will begin Feb.1st, 2017

After payment, you will receive an email with the password to enter the 30 Challenge Page and begin your journey! I am always available by email with any questions you may have: thekeptwife@thekeptwife.org

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I am so excited to have Lindsey from https://raisinghelmblog.wordpress.com back to guest post!   You can find her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindshelm_/.

 

Starting Over: How To Find God Again
DECEMBER 5, 2016 / LINDSAY HELM
It has been two years since I left the LDS {Mormon} Church and I wrote a very heartfelt post about my decision not long after. I wrote the post, then wrote something else and posted both at the same time, hoping my first post would get lost in the mumbo jumbo because I was scared. That’s the truth. I was scared. I wanted to put it out there just as much as I wanted to crawl under a blanket and hide from everyone who ever looked up to me.

I was scared, but now I’m not.

As I started to hear stories of broken, confused hearts and angry souls, I couldn’t help but shove my own anxiety under a blanket of empathy and understanding love. I found myself wanting to be there as a friend, confidant and shoulder to cry on, because when I was suffering, when I was hiding, I had no one who could possibly understand my self perceived brokenness. I wanted to be the person I never had to someone else. I had spoken to my family, and all of them graciously loaned a listening ear, but I had no one who had walked in the same distressed, confused and troubled shoes that I had walked in for so long. Of course I talked to God on my journey. But the problem is, when you’re going through something like leaving the LDS Church, your perception of God is very distorted. I felt like I had to relearn God.

This post is for the ones that are hurting. The ones that are heart broken. The ones that silently suffer. This is for the people who feel voiceless. I am writing this because I know they exist. I know because I have listened to their pain while they tell me their stories of leaving or wanting to leave. I watch them silently suffer just so the people they love, will love them.

**As a disclaimer I want to say that this post is meant for those who are struggling after leaving the LDS Church. If you are strong in your LDS beliefs, this is not meant to challenge that. This is written from my personal experience and from the wounded hearts of those who have shared their stories with me. This post is not in any way meant to discredit or belittle those who are happy in their LDS faith.**

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To The Ones Who Are Hurting,

I wish I could hold all of my heartbreak in my hands and show you, like a fortune teller gazing into her crystal ball, everything I have ever felt regarding leaving a Church that I once loved more than anything. It would be easier that way. I could give you a glimpse at my happiness, my confusion, my questions, my anger– the whole gooey, messy enchilada. With each bite you could savor my bitterness that I kept spitting out, unsuccessfully attempting to replace it with positivity and added faith. I could show you my humanity in its flawed perfection. But I can’t do any of those things. All I can do is write to you, hoping my words touch your heart and offer a small amount of healing to your broken spirit.

You are scared. I get it, I really do. You think no one will understand. You think everyone will stand against you. You think all of your friends will dissappear. You are scared of breaking the hearts of those you love. You don’t want to create conflict. All of those feelings are normal; and some of those things might happen, which is why people in this situation seem to shove it in the back of their dark and lonely closet, away from the world, scared that people will not understand. This is what it comes down to–you want the ones you love, to love you despite your evolving relationship with God. You are a human being that wants to be loved and accepted by those you love. You want to be understood and respected, not harshly judged. I want you to know, not everyone will understand at first. And that’s okay.

I want you to know the pain you are feeling is very real. It hurts so bad. And no one will really understand unless they, too, have gone through the same experience. I want you to know that you are not alone. When you are on God’s side, He will fight for you no matter the religion you belong to.

I want you to know that as you seek truth and clarity, you are allowed to ask questions. You don’t need to have everything figured out. This journey is so confusing. All of us grow in different ways, at different times. I have personally accepted the idea that my spiritual growth will be a life long process. As I grow into the woman God intended, I feel that my questions become deeper, maybe even more meaningful. With every new struggle, I learn about the person I am and about the woman I hope to be one day. I make wrong choices. We all do. But with the genuine desire to understand ourselves and God’s will, we are able to make better choices. Please, do not be ashamed of using your God given right to choose.

I want you to know that you are not alone. Stepping away from something that was a central part of your life for so long is terrifying. When you start to look at your life, you realize that every friendship, every memory, every decision you’ve made has revolved around the Church. But you still have life to live that holds new friendships, evolving friendships, new memories, and growth. Many people are in this exact situation. You will be able to share your pain with someone who understands. The weight on your shoulders will become manageable as you begin to realize that you will always find a place to belong.

I want you to know that your opinions matter. If the bells of uncertainty and uneasiness ring relentlessly inside of you, it is okay to question it. It comes back around to the God given right to choose. You matter. Your opinions matter. You were sent to this Earth to learn, grow, challenge, be challenged and to find happiness. God created you and He created difference. Always remember that.

Whatever path you decide to follow, I hope you find joy.

I believe in you. I love you. I am here for you. And so is He.

Be happy & love endlessly.

XO Lindsay

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If your house is anything like my house, there’s no time for basically anything. Even after signing up for monthly cleanings and started using a laundry service (which you can read about here: http://bit.ly/2hxEmER ), I still can’t find the time to go to a store and pick out my own clothes. Sign up for these services and make your life easier as they get delivered straight to your door:

Home Chef 

We love home chef at our house! My little people refuse to eat anything I make, unless it comes from a Home Chef box. The meat is always great quality and I often cook it plain for the little people. The big people in the house, love the recipes. I have never had coleslaw I liked before Home Chef! It’s easy to sign up and select the meals you wish to receive each week. It is hassle free to skip a week (seriously, you click a button), or change meals from the meals that are pre-selected for you.

Sign up here: http://bit.ly/2hunxce and get $30 in FREE food when you sign up! Seriously, what can be better than full meals delivered straight to your door, reading for cooking. No need to have ANYTHING on hand. Who needs the grocery store?

 

Stitch Fix 

We know you don’t have time to go to the mall and shop thru dozens of stores, try stuff on with kids yelling they are bored, and actually find what you need. Why not let a stylist do it for you? Stitch Fix requires a $20 “styling fee” which is applied to any of the five items you purchase out of your box. Schedule your box here http://bit.ly/2hq3FDZ ( I don’t do the membership, just the time to time, however, choose what is best for you!) and receive a 20% discount if you keep all 5 items!

 

Adore Me 

Because I know you need new lingerie to go with those new duds you will be wearing from Stitch Fix! Adore Me is a monthly membership where you can log in and select a bra and panty set (or other lingerie) to be shipped directly to you at discounted prices! Use this link to get your first set for under $25! http://bit.ly/2ifHP8r

 

Birch Box

Where else can you get makeup and skin care products, customized to you, delivered start to your door? and it’s only $10 a month! Then, send 5 minutes reviewing your products and get $5 back to send on items you love! Sign up here http://birch.ly/2iGn7NR and get your products on the way!

Amazon Prime 

2 day shipping on basically anything you need? Yes, please! At less than a $100 year, it is well worth the money! Realize your going to need toilet paper? Ship it to yourself and have it in 2 days.

 

Rent the Runway
Rent the Runway offers two options: to rent a single clothing item (or two) for a short period of time (this option is great for formal events) or a subscription service, where you receive $40,000 a year (according to their site) in designer clothing you choose! With the unlimited subscription options you choose three items to receive in up to 2 sizes at a time. You can keep the items as long as you wish and exchange them 1, 2, or 3 pieces at a time. Either option comes with free dry cleaning, free shipping, and free insurance. Check it out here —-> https://goo.gl/06r3qz

Now, that we have are you all set up, you can relax knowing you will have food in the fridge and appropriate clothes to wear!

 

 

 

Coming soon! 

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1. Your wow’d when walk in the lobby.

2. They have breakfast, but you have to pay for it.

3. Room service looks like this.

4. There’s Real coffee spoons in your room.

5. Family pool v adult pool

6. Hotel has a private beach for families and a separate one for adults

7. You are served drinks, food, and have a cold towel boy while enjoying the sun, sand, & ocean

8. Your hotel has an outdoor spa on the beach

9. You don’t have to leave the hotel.

10. You don’t have to clean up your own mess.
Photos are from our Christmas trip to Key West. We stayed at the Casa Mana (gotta get those Hhonors points!)