Where to Begin?!

Hello! I can hardly believe it's been so long since my last post. As the school year came to a close, I found myself with multiplying to do lists, and editing photos and writing photos fell to the bottom of that list.

So...where to begin?
 
I can honestly say that this year has been filled with so many challenges, yet even more blessings. It's hard to put into words how much I grew professionally, spiritually and relationally. The challenges led me to trust in God and His plans, even when I could not always see or understand His purpose.

I know my struggles often come back to control - plans, reactions, events, circumstances, and, my own path. However, I could feel that God was trying to rid me of that burden, as it never really belonged to me to begin with. Though enormously difficult to do, especially at first, I felt more free with each baby step. I walked by faith and not by sight, and I felt more peace and perspective than I had in a long time.

Once I stopped waiting and longing for things on my time, my little family was overwhelmingly blessed. A year ago, John made an admirable and brave decision to leave dental school. He knew in his heart that a career in dentistry wouldn't fulfill him, and he decided to pursue a career he was passionate about. His perseverance and faith during that time is indescribable. Even when I struggled, he would remind me that he hadn't given up hope. And his faith was rewarded when in one week he was offered not one, but two positions in his field of choice - finance.

As we celebrated his accomplishments and diligence, I learned I was selected as an Education Policy and Advocacy Fellow through Leadership for Educational Equity. I was thrilled by this opportunity, but nervous as it meant I would spend the summer in Chicago without my little family. John's unwavering support and encouragement led me to accept the summer fellowship and venture back to the Windy City.

I had faith that my living arrangements would work out - as hard as it was for me to not return to worrying or fretting. God provided - again! - and an amazing opportunity from a generous friend brought me to one of the best addresses in Chicago.

I miss John and Hoosh terribly, but I was fortunate enough to see them both the last two nights, as John was in Chicago for some business meetings. I'll be able to see them every weekend until the end of my fellowship, and I know we will get through this short time apart. If we managed to date long-distance for two years, we can make it two months. When we have a lifetime together, eight weeks is but a blink.

I'm in my second week of the fellowship, and I am loving my work. I can't go into details just yet, but I can say that it combines my passion for education and my background in communications. I hope to share more as the summer progresses, but I have lots of other posts to catch up on before then - weddings, bachelorette parties, recipes, gift ideas and more!

Stay tuned, and, if you made it through this wordy post, thanks for reading!

Nominated + 5 Random Things

I've been nominated for an award! I would like to thank the academy, my family for always encouraging me to pursue my dreams...oh, wait. It's not like that? Hmpf. I'll take it anyway. :)

In the interim, I've been nominated by Katie for my first ever blog award! Val, who writes one of my her blog discoveries, nominated Katie, and she nominated me! So exciting!

Each Nominee Should:
1. Choose up to five up and coming blogs to give the Liebster award to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.
2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites. Leave a comment on their blogs to let them know they’ve received the award.
5. Share five random facts about yourself!

Here are the five people I'm going to nominate for the award:
1. Jourdan of Jourdan Leigh in the Kitchen
2. Michelle of When You Wish Upon A Star
3. Emilie of Hungry Delights
4. Katie of I'll Fix You Something
5. Rachel of Cutting Out Carbs

Five random facts about myself:

1. I skipped eighth grade. Really, how much more random can you get?

2. I am absolutely terrified of cats. When I was young (about 2), our family cat scratched me so severely it split my lip completely. I now have a scar, which has faded over time, though occasionally an observant person will ask my if I had a cleft lip (no, I did not). 

Source

3. I was voted most likely to be president (of the girls) in my high school class of some 800 people. My best friend Kevin was voted most likely to be president of the boys. 

4. I created my married email address a month before John proposed to me. I had this feeling he was going to propose, and I didn't want anyone else to steal the email address I wanted! (I also convinced Katie she should do this - I'm quite the enabler.)

5. I consider myself a fairly prissy girl but I fall short in a few areas, namely accessorizing with jewelry. I don't remember the last time I wore a bracelet or necklace. I wear my wedding rings, my watch and earrings each day. However most of the earrings I have were gifts. Besides these earrings, the last time I bought a new pair was for my wedding.

*6. I find this spoof way too hilarious. I'm giggling as I look at it again now. Have you seen the M&M commercial?! John and I imitate it to one another all the time. We are so cool.