When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. - Psalm 43:2

We all have deep waters that we face in our lives: loss, depression, addiction, illness, worry, natural disasters, pain...

We're right in the midst of the season of giving, and it can be easy to get wrapped up in finding the perfect gift for everyone (pun intended)! You're looking for something of value to show them how much they mean to you, all the while eagerly envisioning the joy on their face when they open your present.

​Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. - Philippians 2:3-4

This week I've been living in a large cabin with 25 other people. I absolutely love our family reunions, but after a few days all together, it can start to feel a little cramped and tense. Nobody wants to sit in the back corner during meals with the AC blasting on their legs. Nobody is as eager to take turns with all the games that traveled with us. Nobody wants to clean up after the cousins who left their plates on the table and escaped downstairs.

Today my husband and I are celebrating ONE WHOLE YEAR OF MARRIAGE! I can't even believe it! On the one hand it feels like we've been married for so much longer than a year, but at the same time it seems like it couldn't possibly have been a year already!

I realize that I've ended every sentence so far with an exclamation point, but I'M JUST SO EXCITED I CAN'T HELP IT!!!

I figured I'd just give a mini-recap of some of the things that George and I have done together during this first year of marriage.

Shopping has always been a stress reliever for me. When I'm sad or stressed, you can often find me browsing the Old Navy website adding so many things I don't need to my cart. And I have a full closet to prove it.

So it's already February. WHAT?! I can't wrap my head around that!

I thought I'd share some of my favorite things from the month of January. Hopefully this list will give you a chance to get to know me a little better! I'm sure that most of my favorite things will stay the same, but I just want to highlight a few each month throughout the year that are most likely to change over time: Netflix, Movie, Meal, Book and Music.

Though I'm not a big fan of cooking, baking is one of my favorite things! Not only do I love having sweet treats to eat, but it adds a little extra heat to the house. After last weekend's blizzard, aka #snowpacalypse2016, I'll take all the heat I can get!

This morning I made Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins. My momma used to make these all the time and they have always been one of my favorites. It's a great way to use those bananas you bought with every intention of eating, yet you let sit until they looked like this...

The other day my husband and I made a trip to Barnes and Noble because he wanted to check out their selection of graphic novels. YES! He was the one who suggested the trip! Though we have known each other a very long time, he had never been to a book store with me until now...

This week I've been extremely aware that I have way too much stuff. Especially clothes.

I'm one of those people who will hold on to articles of clothing for the memories... like the shirt I was wearing when my husband proposed that I hate wearing because it isn't flattering on me. I also hold onto clothes that are either too big or too small for me in case I gain or lose weight. I wouldn't want to have to buy a whole wardrobe all over again...

But no matter my excuses, I need to cut down. Not only on what I already have, but also my habit to stress shop for more and more clothes and shoes that I don't need. I'm not financially in a place to spend and spend and I want to learn to be happy with what I have! 

This is the current state of my closet. NOT PROUD.

I've always been a fan of plans and lists, though never great at following through with my to-dos. BUT it's a new year and I'm starting with a blank slate. Or I guess you could say a blank planner.

At the end of 2015 I bought myself a present: an Erin Condren Life Planner. A friend gifted me one of the wedding planners last year after I got engaged and I fell in love! They're absolutely gorgeous, but a little pricy. However, since one of my goals for this year is to get more organized, I decided to invest.

First of all, the planners come in really pretty boxes. If you have ever had the pleasure of living with me, you would know that I have a slight obsession with boxes. I hoard them throughout the year so that I have plenty of boxes for wrapping Christmas presents. My hubby is trying to break me of this habit...