I started this blog in 2007.

Clearly, I fell off the wagon sometime after graduate school. I blame my job. No seriously, I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed writing blog posts to pass the time during class. How foolish I was to long for full-time employment or to ever EVER say that I was bored during a month long break from school. Things have changed.

Even with the loss of free time, I can honestly say things haven’t just changed, they’ve improved. When I started toying with the idea of resurrecting my blog, I considered deleting my old posts to start fresh. I eventually decided not to because I am literally overwhelmed with joy when I look back at what God has done in the last 3 years. Today I’ve decided to sum up in pictures:

Finished graduate school and entered the world of gainful employment as a social worker. I can honestly say that I love my profession. Some days are long and some cases are impossible, but most days are worth it.

Jackson James Allison came into our lives. My sweet baby nephew. He is absolute joy. The first time I saw my sister after he was born, I was a mess. I just cried like a crazy person. I’m really not sure why except that I wanted to see my sister. I realize the majority of people have already experienced the birth of another human being that either belonged to them or someone really close to them, but this was my first. There was something so surreal about the whole day. All of the sudden there was a whole new person in our lives. Empirically I knew this would happen, but emotionally I didn’t know what to do except cry and run for my sister. Not the first time that’s ever happened…

Soon after baby Jack entered the world, the boy across the street became the love of my life.

The August day we got married is the most precious day of my life thus far. I have no memories that even compare with the memory of this day. So I’ll spare you the details and plan for an anniversary post full of mush.

The next day we flew straight to Hawaii for what has since been described as the best vacation ever. We initially looked into something non-traditional, non-beachy for our honeymoon, but my wise in-laws knew better. Let me take this opportunity to say…if my in-laws ever suggest another vacation spot, I’m there. Two seconds is the time it took for me to get comfortable under the cabana with a mai tai.

Then we came home to our sweet house in the burbs, where in order to perpetuate stereotypes, we bought this:

Introducing the dog I said I’d never have: Charlie. Turns out there is literally no way to not buy a golden retriever puppy if you look at them. If you’re on the fence about buying one, do not go look at them. I guarantee you will leave with less money and more responsibility. Two weeks later you’ll be an emotional wreck asking questions like “have I already told too many people we got this to take it back?” My advice? Give it time. In five months you’ll be showing people pictures of him like he’s a child and trying to train him to cuddle.

I wish I had more time to really write about more from the last two years. I wish I had time to share all the ways God refined me, challenged me, and blessed me, but I won’t dwell on that. If there’s any way to wrap up what He’s done in the last two years, I would simply say this: He is faithful.

Simple, but true and true forever.

As I am writing this, my husband is asleep on the bed with Star Wars on in the background. Our dog is resting outside on the patio and I’m reveling in the pleasantness of our Friday night. More good things to share soon…