Dear Friends,
I wanted to take a moment to share a deeply personal and emotional journey I've been on, one filled with both triumphs and trials. My story began back in 2011 when I officially launched my business, and I started to slowly grow, one client at a time. I poured my heart and soul into perfecting my craft, and it was incredible to see my little space in the popular shopping area within Palm Desert thrive, especially during the sunny days filled with snowbirds, Coachella-goers, and weddings. My reputation, adorned with five stars, helped me steadily build my business. Life was good, and I was on the path to achieving my dreams.
But then, life threw me a curveball. In the midst of this journey, my world came crashing down when my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. This diagnosis changed everything. I shifted my focus, giving every extra cent I had and charging what I could to support her through this tough battle. Needless to say, it was an incredibly stressful time for both of us.
As the next year unfolded, the fight came to an end in October 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, leading to widespread shutdowns. The combination of my mom's passing and the pandemic's impact destroyed my business and left me in a dire financial situation. I lost everything — my best friend, my mom, my business, my home, and my credit. I was at rock bottom.
Feeling desperate and disillusioned with my surroundings, I decided to make a change. With what little money I had received from the state, I embarked on an alternative lifestyle, "van life." I thought this would provide me with a sense of security, but the reality of trying to manage this life alone while attempting to rebuild my business was too overwhelming. It turned out to be another financial setback.
I felt lost, broken, and turned to my faith as my anchor. My friends and clients helped me stay afloat, and while my heart was shattered and I felt like giving up, my faith and determination kept me going. I still had fight left in me, and a dear friend running a coaching business showed me another way out.
I'm not afraid to take risks, as evidenced by my move to Oklahoma to build a new life with a friend. However, that venture failed miserably, and I realized that my trust in people had led me astray once again. I needed to stop making bad choices.
Fast forward to today, and I find myself taking another risk, moving across the country for one last attempt to start over. Unfortunately, this decision has put me in a more challenging predicament than before. I now know only two people in this new place and have very limited resources. I was hopeful, based on the encouragement of a supportive owner and friend, but I have once again learned that not everyone is as giving as I hoped.
In this new place, revealed how little some people are willing to give when there are no strings attached. These experiences have been powerful life lessons for me, even if they were hard to digest.
Now, I find myself at the end of my rope, both financially and emotionally. It's been a lonely and disheartening time, and I feel incredibly insecure and embarrassed to share my mistakes and my current situation. I also grapple with how to reconcile my faith with these challenges, fearing that I'm somehow failing to show how Great God is, because of my own failures. That is a lie straight from the enemy. God is Good even in the midst of my shortcomings and even in the pain. My suffering is showing me more love of God than I even knew before. I relate to Joseph, Job,and Paul through it all they kept praising God, not allowing sinful ease to take over or temptation to give up and let go of God. That is not who I am either! I love Jesus and thankful for all He has done for me despite the mistakes and failures. I am thankful, like the mistakes of David or the thief on the cross, nothing I do can separate me from the Love of God. I will be with Jesus, in Paradise and be called; a woman after God's own heart! Thank you Jesus!
I share this post not to seek pity, but to be transparent and let go of the past, hurts, and work through my grief. I'm feeling alone, but I'm incredibly grateful for the handful of people who have shown me love, kindness, and hope during this challenging journey when, at times, I felt like taking a step back from it all. This is my truth, and, even in the darkest moments, I wouldn't take my own life, but I understand that feeling.
But, I believe in a Jesus, and with my faith and the support of new church friends here in North Carolina, I'm more hopeful than I have been. I hope that this will help you understand why I am here asking for support. Thank you for listening and being part of my journey. One Prayer and one persons support can supply enough hope to keep going and not giving up. Keep looking up! 
With love and gratitude, Shannon