Praises

Praise #1: El and Ryan got engaged on Friday night! We are both so excited for them! I was so happy for El I think I may have cried, and by think I mean I *know* I cried. Yay and congrats to you two! We can't wait for the big day, and I can't wait to hear all the planning details!! As previously stated 100 times, I love weddings, I love my friends weddings, I love my friends. All good things that go together, so I am soooo happy for El and Ryan and their big day sometime in the next year. Yay!!

Praise #2: We're going on vacation! Colorado here we come!! So excited to go white water rafting and camp for real. Will have TONS of pictures I am sure after we return.

Praise #3: My husband didn't think I was crazy when I wanted to set up the tent in the kitchen and tried on all our camping gear. He obliged.

To our families, we miss you guys. To my family, praying for you all. Wish we could be there right now.

A year already!!

Today, as Brad and I talked about our trip next week, I realized that not only are we going on vacation, but OH MY GOODNESS we've already been married a year! The past 365 days (almost) have absolutely flown by. We have had so much fun, and so much change, and so many great memories made over the last year...it's overwhelming. Plus, I can't even start to explain all the things we've learned about ourselves and marriage over the last year. Here are my top 10, with some of my favorite pictures of us.


#10 Two sinks in the bathroom: not only awesome, but a necessity, especially because I happen to be psychotic.

#9 Moving across the country from everyone and everything you know and love when you first get married is terribly sad and difficult at times, but completely worth it for our marriage, awesome for growing together, and makes home that much more special when you're there.

#8 It's ok if the laundry doesn't make it to the hamper, on top of the hamper lid serves the same purpose. (I guess)
#7 It's easy to be selfish when you live with someone, but selfless living makes living together amazing.

#6 A smile, hug, and a kiss when you walk in the door can always make a bad night at work seem so silly.

#5 I am a much more quality time oriented person than I realized, and I'm a big baby when I don't get quality husband time. Thankfully, I've also learned that Brad rocks my world and happily obliges my need for quality time.

#4 We have two entirely different communication styles, and that's ok. Brad is the quite strong type, and I'm the chatty chatty type. It's also ok if he doesn't cry at commercials, books, tv shows, movies, good stories, pictures, friends' engagements, friends' weddings, letters, cards, emails, blogs. I handle enough for the both of us. I also learned that he's ok with this, thank goodness.

#3 Buying a house is so much fun, and furnishing a house and decorating a house is so awesome, but when you don't have electricty in one room for 3 months, it's time to check the outside breaker.

#2 A little competition is good for our marriage, it's fun, and it helps with the quality time as previously mentioned.

#1 I've learned I have the most amazing best friend in my husband. I learned that having a husband who loves our Lord makes our life so truly blessed and wonderful. I learned that praying with Brad is one of my favorite things to do. I've learned Brad is hilarious, and that I should embrace his strange humor because it makes life so enjoyable. I've never laughed as much as I have in this past year. I've learned that the small things just don't matter, and letting go of something silly is so fulfilling and so much easier than choosing a fight. I've learned that Bradley Allison is the most amazing man and I am so very blessed to have him as my husband for the rest of my life. He is so tender hearted to me and to those around us, he loves others, he works hard, he meets me where I am on a daily basis, and he's just flat out awesome. So to you, Brad, I love you more than words. Thank you for being you; you pretty much rock.

Goals for the year #2.
1. Order our wedding pictures, which Annette did so amazingly on, and I have not had a chance to order. I will reach goal #1 immediately.

Have a great week all!!

The first HOUSE guests!

Mom and Dad came to visit and we put them to work! We're terrible hosts, we make our guests work for their dinner. Not true, but really having Mom and Dad here was just awesome! First, they were our first visitors from my family, second, they helped us get so many things done, and third and most important we had so much fun! While they were here, we weeded the flower bed I forgot we had, we painted our guest room, finally purchased some decorations, discovered that I can be creative too sometimes, attempted to figure out our electricity problem, and organized the garage. WHOA. We also had time for fun. We took them to the sites of Austin, Mom saw the Heart Hospital, they were able to go to church with us, and spent a day in San Antonio. It was a busy 7 days! Below are some pictures!

This is our pride and joy. We were given that shelf as a wedding gift, and we found those plants at IKEA for so cheap! It's perfect. We now have a clock in the kitchen too. I love it. I know these are small things, but it makes the house more homey and lived in.

Ok, so there's a story with the garage. Between our house and the Mullin's there is a home with a perfect little yard with a swing in the tree, and a garage that is the definition of ORGANIZED. Every day that Shauna and I walk, or Brad and I go for a walk, I look into that garage and think "man I need to get organized, if only we had some peg board." I know that may not sound like a realistic thought, but it's sadly so very true. So our goal for when my parents were here was to get our garage door working, and build Brad a bench for the garage. We ended up with a garage that works, new lighting in the garage, an organized garage (almost), and PEG BOARD!! That guy down the street better watch out, he's going to have some competition for the most organized garage award someday soon when I get the last of the books and things put away. Pathetic?
Above our washer and dryer we had a shelf that I couldn't reach, and at some point when I was talking to Dad he said, well Lowe's will have a cabinet you could put in really easily by yourself to fix that. (Why didn't I think about that?) So while I was working Wednesday, the three of them picked a cabinet out for our laundry closet and we hung it later in the week. The picture of the three of us is a replay of how we looked putting it together. I say this because I told them to make it look hard for the picture, but then I smiled, and then I got lectured about smiling when I was supposed to be making it look tough. So, it actually was much more difficult than this picture displays. We now have a cabinet for storage though, and that's all that matters.


While in San Antonio we came across this blown glass shop that had the most beautiful pieces. We couldn't help but take a few pictures. These artists must be so talented, the glass was just gorgeous.
Then we made a stop at the Alamo, but the line was OUT OF CONTROL so we chose to stroll around, just not through the Alamo itself.
Then off to the Tower of the Americas. I think that is just the neatest thing. Plus, they have a 4-D movie, I think it's adorable, Brad thinks it's cheesy. We still went, and I think Mom and Dad enjoyed it. It's awesome. Come to Texas we'll take you there. From the Riverwalk, we ate lunch on the Riverwalk, then took a boat tour. It was a great day. On Sunday after church, we headed to the Hula Hut our #1 favorite place to eat here in Austin. I think they enjoyed it. After that, we went to Mount Bonnell. It's so pretty up there, God's creation amazes me.
On Tuesday, before they left, we headed to the state building and took our own little tour. Next time I think we'll go on the guided tours, I think there is so much interesting history in that building. It was fun! Then off to the airport which was not as much fun due to the whole saying goodbye thing.

This visit just further reinforced to us that we are meant to share our home. We love company so come on down.

Now back to real life with jobs and such, but life is great. The Lord has truly blessed us in ways we just don't deserve and are each day amazed by down here. We have friends we just love, and a church that we are so excited to be serving in, and we are both growing in our walks with Christ. Sometimes I know I complain too much about our schedules and how busy it is, but who am I to complain and why would I when I can see His hand in our lives and know that He has lead us to where we are right now. I've been so convicted lately to be a testimony in every circumstance, not just those that are convenient. Our father is so good. Take care all, have a great week.

Birthdays and Memories....

So first off...when I posted on Tuesday I completely neglected a big happy birthday to two of my family members! Dad had his 50th birthday on Tuesday and I got to SEE him!! Sarah also turned 27 on Tuesday (whoa) and while I couldn't see her we did get to have a chat. Tribute to both below.

Happy 50th birthday dad! My Dad is an amazing man of God. He has been a true living example every single day of my life of what it means to walk with Christ. Growing up I never realized how wise he was, and now with each day that passes I realize more and more how blessed I have been to have Mom and Dad as parents. Thanks Dad for all my sweet and special memories. Thank you for our trip to Colorado, and to Tennessee, and for my 10 years of 4h taking care of my pigs because I was too lazy, and for listening to nursing stories when Mom isn't around even though I know they're crazy, and for letting me talk for 15 minutes with only about 2 words in on your part, and for loving Brad, and for helping us fix our house, and for my awesome softball memories, and for teaching me how to be a servant-leader, and for being a part of a marriage that has shown me how marriage should be, and for laughing when I'm mad at you, and for saying "be still" to me more times than I can count, and for all those times in college where you walked with me through verses so my faith could truly be my own, and for always supporting me, and for being the best dad ever. I love you.
My dear sister, Sarah, also turned 27 on Tuesday. (They share a birthday) Sarah, I miss you so much. Selfishly I wish you lived in Florida still sometimes so we could talk as much as we used to. I'm so thankful to have you as a sister, and I'm so thankful that after years of being brats we're friends now. Sarah is so strong, and has so many qualities I have admired over the years. Thanks for being my big sister, thanks for sitting on me and scratching me when I tried to fight you when we were young, thanks for helping me make our wedding special, thanks for birthing my beautiful precious niece, thanks for emailing pictures and updating your blog so sometimes we can have a touch of home, thanks for letting us visit you in Florida, thanks for letting me steal your clothes without ever taking mine (hahahaha right), thanks for always being there when I need to talk, and for sometimes making fun of me when I need it, and for always having advice for me even if I don't always take it, and thanks for being an example to me, and thanks for being you! I miss you, and I love you.

On to the visit.

Visitors!!

Mom and Dad just left today after a full week here! It was such an AWESOME week! I already miss them, especially not knowing when we'll be back in Indiana. Promise for more updates soon, with pictures of all the home improvements they helped us complete while here, but currently the Olympics gymnastics finals are on..which is my FAVORITE event. Have a great week all!!

P.S. I Love You

Alright, so Allison came over tonight and we watched P.S. I Love You. Now, Titanic all those years ago made my cry like a baby. (Sadly it's true, and I think I saw it 3 times in theatre) Then, came the Notebook. Wow. Now that is a movie that will make you weep. I'm pretty sure I saw that in the theatre will all girls, and we all sat there and cried. Then comes P.S. I Love You. Now, it may not be the love story of the magnitude of the Notebook, but seriously, I was crying then I was laughing then I was crying then I was laughing. You get the idea. It was good. As with all movies now-there were obviously parts that the movie probably could have done without. But overall, I loved it. So Mom, this is for you, 7 months later, but I've finally seen it. And...p.s. I loved it.

Bad joke.

Also, Brad and I had another bet, and just to let you all know. I, Rachael Allison, won. WOOOOOOOOOOO! Let me explain. Last summer, prior to our wedding day, HGTV had a show called Design Star, and after cream of wheat Sunday dinner's for a month, Mom and I would watch Design Star. This year, it started again, and I wasn't home to watch with her, so I decided I would watch down here and we could discuss. I wanted Brad to join me, so we made it like a fantasy league so it's more his style. So, on the airplane home from Indiana I had bought a magazine, which had an add for Design Star in it. We "drafted" our teams, and on we went. This Sunday was the final challenge, and just so we are clear, the last two were BOTH on my team! Yay! Now, I won't say that he didn't have a good team. He had two of the best, and I honestly thought they were going to be the final two. Mine didn't let me down though. :) Yay.

Big week ahead. Work a couple more days, and then Mom and Dad arrive on TUESDAY!!! I am so excited for someone in our family to meet our friends and see what Austin is like. Woohoo.

In other news, I discovered a new website for recipes. Pillsbury has recipes on their website, I'm sure many of you knew that already, but if you didn't, quick and easy recipes at your fingertips. I am not the queen of researching anything on the internet, even with effort. However, you give me an ingredient and I will find you a recipe. Alright all, have a great week!!

Oh and, apparently the Journal and Courier knew how much I missed the fair this year, so much so that they put a picture of Dad on the front page. Aw..touch of home.

So happy!

We've had such a great week! Nothing too spectacular or out of the ordinary, but it's just been great.

This weekend I had the entire weekend off...which really almost never happens...so we were pumped. Saturday, we decided to spend some time together and head down to the outlets. We were determined to find some furniture for the house at the outlets, and we heard there were good sales. Well..there were good sales; however, we just didn't like anything that much. So sadly, after the hour drive down there, we came home empty handed. It was still fun though, being out in the sun, being together during the day. We had a great time.

Sunday, we spent most of the day at church. In the morning we had nursery duty, which was awesome. We LOVE kiddies! We had the class called stepping stones..where the children are just learning to walk. They're all around Emily's age and a little older, which made us miss our precious niece, but so fun. During the next service I had my class...which I remain so excited about. Will update more on this sometime soon. Then for the evening service, Brad went back with me so I go actually go to service this week. I'm so glad we did, we just started a new series this week, and we're discussing it in small group so that was awesome.

One pretty sweet experience from Sunday...we headed to Joe's Crab Shack for lunch because I have been craving crab. Here is a picture, I'm all dressed up ready to break into the crab bucket.

Sidenote: I need to explain that the reason I have been craving crab is a result of watching Ace of Cakes. Hahahaha. On Ace of Cakes sometime over the last couple of weeks they made a basket of crab cake for some restaurant in Baltimore, and ever since then I have been craving it. Strange, I haven't been craving cake! :)

Anyways, the best part of the week so far has been Tuesday. We were able to host our small group this week at our house, and it was just perfect. When we bought this house we knew that we just want to have people into our home, have them feel welcome, and just find a way to love on them. That's the dream for this place, and Tuesday we had the chance! Not to mention, our small group is just fantastic. We have really started growing together, and it's so great to have an opportunity to grow even closer to people down here in Austin. We LOVE it. That's all there is to is. So yay.

As for this weekend. I have some serious plans to watch some P.S. I love you, followed by a get together with the small group.

For the weeks coming up...MOM AND DAD ARE COMING TO AUSTIN!!! I'm excited, we're excited, we can't wait for them to be here with us!

P.S. Friends and family, as previously stated, this is an open invitation.

Alright, all for now, the laundry is calling my name!

P.S. For all of you in Tippecanoe County, Brad and I just want to inform you we're missing the fair this year! This is the first fair of my life...or of my memory I've missed, and Brad said he just feels like it's part of us. So...enjoy the elephant ears, and the pig show, and my dad the auctioneer, and the greased watermelon race, and the queen contest (El and Rox), and seeing everyone you possibly know, and the hoagie's, and the home ec building, and Wendy's, and Pizza King, and the Country Kitchen, and the rasberry milkshakes, and the sweltering heat, and the smells, and the animal excretions on the ground, and the free give aways in the tent (Breann). Enjoy it all. We miss you guys! Love you!