A Joyful Return

 

I started this blog when I was 19 years old, nearly five years ago as an outlet after walking through many emotional and challenging life circumstances. I had just finished my first year of college and gotten out of an unhealthy relationship, both bringing a slew of other difficulties along with them. On top of it all the world was in a state of medical and political panic as the global pandemic was at its height. I remember sitting on the back porch of my parent's house during quarantine with my beloved dog Annie, who has since passed, grappling with all the unprocessed things in my mind. I found myself opening my computer, shockingly for something other than online school, and I began writing about my life. Many of those stories, ideas, and ramblings never made it onto this blog. At the time I did not know I was writing a blog, I was just writing my stories in a digital form as a way for my mind to process the world around me. After writing about my Night to Shine experience, which I got to be a part of weeks before the nationwide quarantine, I read the story to my mom. She suggested that I create a blog to share that story and see what happened. I believe the Lord used her that day to show me how He wanted to use my voice. 

As we brainstormed many different names for this blog I knew that I wanted it to be related to 2 Corinthians 5:7 but I struggled to find the first word of this title. Eventually, we landed on "Joyfully Walking by Faith". At the time I did not at all feel like that name rang true to the life that I was living, instead, it felt more like a lofty dream of what my life could be. I did not feel joyful and frankly did not think I even knew what joy felt like in that season. Little did I know the Lord was going to use the word Joy in my life for the next five years. It just happened to follow me and I found myself gravitating towards the word constantly. In fact, it currently hangs on my bedroom wall in neon lights. It became an unofficial word for me most ironically because I've felt like the least joyful and most anxious person I know. 

I am thankful for this blog in so many ways even though it is not vast or impressive it was a clear turning point in my life. Through sharing stories and by simply writing even if it was never posted I found a love for sharing my life with others. Through that discovery and friendships that the Lord brought into my life in the last five years, I also felt led to start a podcast. In 2022 I started "The Only One Podcast" with my sweet friend and have been blessed to get to share life in that medium on and off for many years. Lots of life has happened and been shared in various ways over the years, but that would have never happened if it wasn't for the calling to write. 

So, here again, I find myself in a very different yet similar place in my life, where I am processing all the challenges I have faced. And yet again, I return to this blog to share my story. I want to fill in the MANY things that have happened between 2020 and 2025 in my life. Things that you can find on my podcast and maybe some things that I haven't shared about before. I have grown a lot in the last five years and I look forward to the growth that the Lord will do in me in the years to come. 

Welcome to my authentic life! It should be made very clear that I (as shared in a post many years ago) have never been good with grammar and spelling.  This Blog, much like my life will be authentic, messy, unedited but real. So, if you are looking to read something that is beautifully written, edited, and curated this is not going to be that. But I hope that doesn't deter you from finding a safe space in this place. 

If I have learned anything in the last five years it is this; the Lord has called me to share my life so that even one person might come to know Him (check out the podcast! "The Only One Podcast" on most major streaming services!). If I have been able to help even one person through my messy life then it was all worth it. I desire to share with all who read this that in your season, whatever that might be, you are not alone. Jesus died for you and He loves you with a love you cannot comprehend on this side of heaven. He died for the parts of you that you feel are beyond unloveable and the pieces of you that feel so broken that no one could ever cherish them. But, He does. He longs for you to come to Him and surrender the most broken pieces of you. I hope that this blog and the stories shared on the podcast shed light on the love Christ has for us. In Him, we are not alone. So with Joy, I return to this dream! Welcome to Joyfully Walking by Faith! Welcome Home! 

Annie
February 2010 - February 2025
In loving memory of my sweet Annie, you raised me to be who I am today. My Nanny Annie you were the greatest blessing and I will miss you forever.