NEW CHAPTERS

Hi! Welcome to my first blog post (cue the happy dance)! For those of you that don’t know me, I’m Elle! I start this post with the first of many new chapters… my new nickname! From the time I was born through Kindergarten, I was called “Elle”– short for my full name, Gabrielle. But, upon entering 1st grade, I decided to go by Gabrielle, and ever since, most of my friends and family have known me by my full name. Now, as I close off this chapter in Barrington, IL (my hometown), I am excited to go back to my childhood nickname! Plus, I’m a HUGE Legally Blonde fan, so all my Elle Woods fans understand how the excitement is real #nametwins. 🙂

This blog itself is the start of a new chapter for me. Writing has always been a huge passion of mine; an outlet to express myself, my raw emotions, my thoughts, my dreams, my fears, and everything in between. I love to journal and draw and create on paper, but typing has become my preferred method of expressing myself in written form because of how quickly I can get down my thoughts and create something beautiful. Thus, this blog is such an exciting new adventure for me!

Though exciting in so many ways, this blog has also been a representation of two fears of mine: vulnerability and imperfection. By putting myself, my life, and my thoughts on the internet, I am also subjecting myself to being SEEN. Seen for being human– beautifully made in the image of God but full of imperfection. Brené Brown, one of my favorite authors, writes that “we cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness, and affection”. Through alwayselle.com, I hope to cultivate this love Brené writes of; a love that connects beautifully broken people together to have hope for the future and to savor all the sweet moments life throws our way.

Graduating high school was one of the most bittersweet moments of my life thus far. Seeing all of my incredible friends and classmates walk across the Willow Creek Community Church stage (my home church!) was exciting and crazy and somewhat surreal and ALL. THE. EMOTIONS. Can any other high school (or college) graduate relate?! June 1st, 2018 was the culmination of one of the most amazing seasons of our lives and the start of an entirely new chapter all in one. Red caps and gowns surrounded me as I took a moment to relish the moment and truly let it sink in… and then it hit me. High school graduation is upon me.

My kindergarten through senior year of high school years have all been spent in one place: Barrington, IL, a suburb located about an hour outside of Chicago. So many milestones— from my first day of school to my first homecoming dance— have been spent in one town. I have had so many beautiful and fun moments— with some hard times and difficult seasons thrown in between— in this one place. I have made so many amazing friendships and met some absolutely incredible people from around the Chicagoland area…

And there comes that word again: bittersweet. The sweetness in relishing the beauty of my adolescent years in Barrington was met with a taste of bitterness as I held back some tears during that graduation ceremony thinking of leaving my childhood home and moving onto a completely new place: Fort Worth, Texas. But mixed into those few teardrops that I actually let loose (believe me, there would have been more had it not been a public venue), was an abundance of joy and excited anticipation for the future. Texas Christian University has been my dream school since I stepped foot on the campus and instantly fell in love with the incredible students/faculty, Southern traditions, and abundance of “y’alls”, and high school graduation meant that I could move onto this amazing new chapter. I was filled with joy knowing that though I do not know exactly what the future may hold, I know that God has always been faithful and always will be faithful. I know that His plan has always been and always will be more beautiful than I could ever dream of.

New chapters are exciting and nerve-wracking and beautiful and emotional and bittersweet. They aren’t always easy, but they are joy-filled in remembering the goodness of the past season and the anticipation of the many amazing moments and adventures to come.

To all of my incredible friends and family (and most importantly, my amazing mom) in and around Chicago, thank you for being a part of this past chapter of my life. Thank you for encouraging me, loving me, and bringing so much laughter, happiness, and adventure my way. I am so excited to move on to this next new chapter with all of you by my side and can’t wait to see how you keep changing the world.

And to all of my fellow graduates who can relate to the bittersweetness of transitioning from one chapter to the next, I want to share a bible verse that has been my comfort and light through this season:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11

Always,

Elle

P.S.- Below are some pictures from my graduation night! And here is the link to the dress I wore. 🙂