2014: my year in pictures
{January: celebrating my 25th birthday with dear friends}
{February: Trips to Tulsa to see Aziz Ansari + San Francisco for work}
{March: an unforgettable weekend getaway in Hot Springs}
{April: Derby Party at Crystal Bridges}
{May: bought our first house!!!}
{June: vacationed in Gulf Shores + celebrated this beautiful couple’s marriage! #aldermansinalabama}
{July: took advantage of summer + floated the river}
{August: celebrated our new house by throwing the best housewarming party ever}
{September: ran our first 5k together}
{October: Halloween-ed it up as Lego sailor then Tom Cruise}
{November: second annual weekend getaway with our community group}
{December: celebrated birthdays + holidays with my favorite people}
xo xo
This is Christmas …
I shared a few weeks ago about the uniqueness of this Christmas and how challenging it is for me. I’ve been trying so hard to look all around for the love and joy and Christmas in the little things.
I go from feelings of sadness to happiness to contentment to anxiety nearly every day. I’ve been feeling like the month has been leading up to one big day that will surely be full of tears and discomfort. Then I realized Christmas isn’t about a day, it’s about a season, and I’ve had a damn good one thus far. As one of my favorite seasonal movies reminded me this weekend, Love Actually is All Around Us.
This is Christmas …
driving around with husband looking at Christmas lights, stopping for 20 minutes at one house enamored with a timed light show
volunteering at sharing + caring, putting together christmas gifts for families in need
spending time over dinner or margaritas with family, new and old
coming home surprised to find the christmas trees up without asking
enjoying a hot cocoa bar, talks about cat books + nerf gun wars at our CG christmas party
snuggled on the couch forcing husband to watch sleepless in seattle, and happy to see him enjoy it
listening to endless amounts of christmas music while cooking dinner
shopping for the perfect gift for my perfect friends and family
caroling on the square with my team from work + crying of laughter at how bad we are
shopping for the basic needs of others (socks, protein) + recognizing how much I have and how grateful I am
watching the first snowfall of the year like a little girl
being humbled by a sermon through the eyes of the wisemen
receiving christmas cards of my beautiful friends and their families from all across the country
xo xo
life lately
{enjoying this // a cabin getaway with our community group}
{drinking this // golden beer on our date night in downtown bentonville}
{thankful for this // a wonderful thanksgiving with two families}
{playing with this // on a surprisingly warm day in december}
{loving this // an afternoon with my coworkers to give back to local families}
xo xo
Seasons of Life, Seasons of Love
I’ve literally been wanting to write this post for weeks and just haven’t brought myself to do it. I’ve been nervous. I’ve been nervous about being honest and transparent. I’m not sure why, since I’ve done it multiple times before on this blog – “real talk” – as I like to say, but for some reason I was nervous for this one. Blogging is therapy for me, and I think I’ve just been afraid to let it out. As I’ve heard from some of you, you can relate to my ramblings and appreciate hearing the raw emotion and honesty, so here goes.
The holidays are hard. I mean, they’re always hard – busy at work, busy at home, shopping, decorating, Christmas party-ing, baking – it often just seems never-ending and can be very overwhelming. But this year, it’s even harder, so much harder, because it’s my first holidays without my dad.
First I do want to acknowledge how thankful I am. I’m thankful that I have such great memories of last year’s Thanksgiving and Christmas with my dad. We were living in my parents house at the time, so we got a lot of extra time with him and my mom. One night in particular stands out – the four of us were sitting on the couch the night after Thanksgiving watching Garth Brooks Live from Las Vegas. It was extra special because I’d gotten to meet Garth a month earlier and adored him. We can rarely find something we all want to watch on TV and this was just one of those special moments. We all sat there for 2 hours watching, singing, laughing.
I’m thankful for my mom and for my husband, who have been my rocks this year. I am beyond thankful to have them both in my life and probably don’t tell them enough how much they mean to me.
And I’m so thankful for all the rest of you who have played a huge part in my life this year – my family and friends near and far sharing words of encouragement through texts or over lunches, my beloved community group, my incredible work family, my best friend who is always there to just listen, and of course my puppy who will cuddle away the tears, whether I ask for it or not.
But it’s still hard. It’s so much harder than you could ever imagine. There have been so many times this year I’ve just wanted my dad to be here for the little things (like telling him about eating the best seafood in gulf shores) or the big things (like buying my first car and our first home). He’s missing out on so much, and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that he will miss out on so much more.
I’m struggling. I’m struggling to move on, especially during a time that has such a big focus on family. I’m struggling to see the bright side and all the many things I have right here, instead of focusing on the one I don’t have.
I’m fragile and I’m broken and I can’t do it alone. I have to admit that to myself, my family and friends, and most importantly to God.
This week, I was reminded of a song that I love – Seasons of Love from Rent. I hear the lyrics and think, How do I want to measure this year? In tears? In strife? Or in love?
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand moments, oh dear
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, a year in the life?How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in loveSeasons of love
Seasons of loveFive hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand journeys to plan
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?In truths that she learned
Or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned or the way that she diedIt’s time now, to sing out
Though the story never ends
Let’s celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friendsRemember the love
(Oh, you got to, you got to remember the love)
Remember the love
(You know that love is a gift from up above)
Remember the love
(Share love, give love, spread love)
Measure in love
(Measure, measure your life in love)Seasons of love
Seasons of love
(Measure your life, measure your life in love)
xo xo
life lately
{eating this // food truck tacos}
{partying like this // as Tom Cruise a la Risky Business + Top Gun}
{walking in this // Sunday afternoon corn maze and pumpkin patch}
{loving this // time with both of our grandmothers}
{feeling like this // battling sickness}
xo xo
life lately
{celebrating this // a beautiful marriage of one of my oldest friends}
{drinking this // a beer with a view}
{enjoying this // evening at Crystal Bridges Light Night Out Party}
{puppy sitting this // the cutest thing you’ve ever seen}
{selfie-ing this // my new darker ‘do for fall}
{gorging on this // homemade apple pie + champagne with a wonderful friend home from germany}
xo xo
enjoying the stillness of saturday mornings
The past few weekends have been fairly quiet for us. Believe it or not, that’s been hard on me.
Friday afternoon hits and if I don’t have specific plans to do something or go somewhere that night, I feel like it’s not really the weekend. It’s just another weeknight.
Saturday morning hits and I wake up and want to go to the farmer’s market and get breakfast and coffee, then go shopping etc. etc. etc.
Saturday evening hits and repeat.
What’s wrong with this picture?
I’m such a busybody. I like having plans and I like making plans. This is not new news, but the hard part is, husband is the opposite.
I’ve previously written a post about being spontaneous instead of planning my life away. This is not that post. This is a post about being okay with the stillness, the simpleness, the quiet times in life.
The past few Saturdays we’ve had plans in the evenings, but nothing during the day. I wake up and think about what I can do all day, worrying it won’t be productive if I don’t really do something. But then I stop myself. Why do we feel like we have to be busy to have a good weekend? Do we have to go in to work Monday and list off all the things we did to prove it?
I’m learning to enjoy the quiet, especially while we don’t have kids. The past few Saturday mornings have been beautiful. I sit, and sip coffee, and read, and work on my blog. There is beauty in the stillness. I don’t have to be constantly going somewhere or doing something to enjoy my day, because when I sit and do these things, I realize how gratifying they actually are. Yes, I may have some FOMO (fear of missing out) every now and then, but that’s okay. I’m doing things for me, to re-energize me.
Happy Saturday morning, friends. I hope you stop the busyness and do something just for you today.
xo xo
life lately
{crafting this // my necklace wall}
{enjoying this // a wonderful evening in downtown bentonville with friends}
{eating this // chocolate peanut butter ball at a great board game night with old friends}
{drinking this // first PSL of the season!}
{celebrating this // little john’s 5th birthday with #mustacheselfies}
xo xo
sunday inspiration
{simple fashion – stripes + army vest}
{capturing beauty in a wine glass}
{friendship}
{fall recipes – goat cheese + walnuts + honey}
{clean and classic decor}
{passionate love, humphrey bogart + lauren bacall}
xo xo
life lately
{floating this // the Illinois River with these awesome people}
{working this // Walmart Blogger Day in San Jose, CA}
{celebrating this // husband’s 27th birthday!}
{visiting this // family home in Magnolia, Ark. where my parents got married 41 years ago}
{enjoying this // beautiful night to see Steve Martin, Edie Brickell and the Steep Canyon Rangers at the AMP}
{celebrating this // our new home at our official housewarming party!}
xo xo
Sunday Expectations vs Reality
E X P E C T A T I O N S
Wake up refreshed from the weekend, leisurely get ready for church while brewing that perfect Sunday morning coffee.
On your drive home from church, make your mental to-do list of everything that needs to get done today and start immediately.
Go grocery shopping then come home with fresh ingredients to make a good, healthy lunch.
Take the dog on a nice long walk or play catch in the backyard for a bit. Enjoy the sunshine.
Do just a little bit of housework, like a load of laundry or the dishes.
Do something just for you – read on your book, watch a TV show, take a nice long bath.
Plan dinners for the rest of the week and make a new recipe you’ve been eyeing for dinner.
Enjoy a cozy evening in with food, wine and a movie.
Go to bed early to prepare for the week ahead.
R E A L I T Y
Wake up late, lie in bed checking Facebook and Instagram then realize what time it is and rush out of bed to get hurriedly ready for church. Maybe stop by Starbucks for some coffee if you have 1 minute to spare before the service starts, or just drink the free coffee at church.
On your drive home from church, make your mental to-do list of everything that needs to get done today and immediately get overwhelmed.
Ravage the fridge and pantry to find something, anything for lunch and realize you HAVE to go to Walmart before dinner.
Lie on the couch after lunch telling yourself you’ll get up and do something productive in just a minute …. accidentally fall asleep.
Wake up feeling even lazier than before, but realize you have to do something today – either go to Walmart or clean the house, but definitely not both.
Go to Walmart only to come home and realize you have no clue what you could make for dinner with the $100 of groceries you just bought. Put in a pizza.
Play with the dog for a few minutes in the backyard, then come in only to complain about how hot it is and how tired you are from the day.
Stay up way too late getting lost in your latest TV show (ahem-Orphan Black).
Go to bed thinking about all the stuff you didn’t get done today and will have to do throughout the week instead. Immediately feel overwhelmed and wonder why you didn’t use your day productively.
ALT. REALITY: Laze around in your pajamas all day, just not giving a damn.
Can I get an Amen?
xo xo
life lately
{playing this // ball in the backyard with puppy}
{remembering this // our first 4th of July together in 2007}
{eating this // my first Salvadoran food experience – pupusas!}
{enjoying this // silly time with friends}
{relaxing with this // baseball + a beautiful sunset}
xo xo
life lately
{enjoying this // a beautiful evening with friends, wine + cheese}
{celebrating this // our third anniversary}
{working this // long Shareholders week made bearable thanks to these ladies}
{indulging in this // amazing ice cream food truck}
{trying this // a new nail trend that I’m loving}
xo xo
{the weekend behind}
Friday I blogged about the weekend ahead, sharing my to-do list of projects and expectations. Today I blog about the weekend behind, sharing my photos and memories.
My T O – D O L I S T for the weekend:
Set up our ping-pong table for our impending summer tournaments.
Done and Done. Photo evidence below.
Make these drool-inducing Lime-A-Rita Pops.
So they took way longer to freeze than expected and we ate Lime-A-Rita slushies,
but they were oh so delicious.
Hang photos – in our bedroom, entryway, living room, etc.Yes! Finally! It makes me so happy to have everything in it’s place.
Finish my latest read, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.It was so, so good. Book reviews coming soon!
Familiarize ourselves with the neighborhood on a long walk with pup.
Sadly this did not happen … to-do list #3 took longer than anticipated, much to husband’s chagrin.
Catch up on Game of Thrones.
Okay, so we didn’t exactly catch up, but we DID finally watch the Red Wedding and OH.MY.GOSH.
Find our mailbox. (Seriously, this is a legitimate task)
After trying our key in every single mailbox with very very little hope, we found it. In the last box we tried.
And it was filled with magazines and birchboxes.
Sleep in, X3.
Go on a stock-up trip to Walmart to fill our new refrigerator and pantry.
Take a bath in our oversized tub catching up on my magazines.
Visit one of our favorite breweries for an afternoon of sipping and relaxing.We had an afternoon of beers and martinis. Perfect.
xo xo
What I’ve Learned From Being a Homeowner in the First 7 Days
It’s an amazing, incredible, tumultuous, life-changing thing.
But let me back up first … we bought our first house!! It’s really amazing how mysteriously and perfectly God works. We had not planned on looking for a house at this time, but due to unforseen circumstances we began the search. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you the house we purchased is the very first house we looked at. Husband and I are opposites in a lot of ways, but we’re also alike in a lot of ways and one of those is our taste in design/decor/clothing, etc.
We had decided on a price range and several neighborhoods to look at, so one day we went driving around simply “window shopping” with mom. We ended up touring one house and loving the style, but it was out of budget and bigger than what we were looking for, so the realtor told us the house next door was just about to go on the market. We went in and it was literally love at first sight. It was the perfect size to grow into (4 bedrooms), a large backyard for our dog, open concept, hardwood floors, wrap-around porch, basically it couldn’t get any better than this.
The same time we were starting the house search, we were also exploring some other career opportunities that would take us out of state. You know those times when God is very clearly closing one door and opening another? This was one of those times. I truly believe the timing was not accidental and God was clearly telling us where he wants us for now. How awesome is it to have a God like that??
{our perfect home!}
{first meal in our new house}
{sneak peek of what will most definitely be one of our favorite rooms}
{lounging on the porch watching the sunset}
7 things I’ve learned in my short time of being a new homeowner ….
1. The budget is in full effect. Being a homeowner is anything but cheap.
2. That feeling of coming home, to YOUR home, is indescribable.
3. For the first time in my life, I’m not thinking about spending money on clothes, but on furniture and decor.
4. Buying a home isn’t just about the home, but the surroundings – where’s the closest Walmart, what’s our new go-to fast food place, how long will it take me to get to work, etc.
5. The little things are ridiculously exciting, like having a garage to park in or hanging a photo in the perfect spot.
6. There’s no shame in stealing decorating or organizational ideas from Pinterest.
7. I officially feel like an adult – mortgages, mowing the lawn on saturdays and spending a paycheck on a refrigerator will do that to a person.
xo xo
life lately, stress + prayer
Hello luvvys, it’s been a while. I’ve missed blogging and my creative outlet. It’s been a whirlwind here as of late, more so than usual, and there’s really not an end in sight until June. Sigh. The busy-ness has been some exciting things (to announce soon), some monotonous things, some fun things, some work things, some of which you’ll see below.
I’m struggling with how to process everything. I’ve always been prone to stress. I often blow things out of proportion and focus on the negatives, not seeing the positive and not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I see the present and the present is stressful. I’m constantly looking for ways to de-stress – reading, walking, baths, ice cream – but none of them are long-term solutions. I always wonder if I’m just meant to stress. If it’s a personality trait like being persuasive, considerate or outspoken. Husband is the opposite and doesn’t understand stress, doesn’t understand how I can let it affect my sleep or my eating or my weekend.
I know deep down that the key is prayer. I think it’s being so connected to the Holy Spirit throughout the day that He’s constantly giving you exactly what you need in that moment – peace, joy, faith. “Pray without ceasing.” He is the only thing that can calm you when everything around you is a storm. Everything else is temporary. Everything else will fade away. But He is always there.
I know this, but it’s so hard to put into practice, and I’m really struggling right now. I’m writing this really for me as a reminder, in what sometimes feels like a diary in which I give away the key to anyone who asks, and as an open prayer.
I hope to keep my blogging consistent over the next few weeks, sharing updates and inspirations, but I’m not sure I can keep that promise. For now, here are a few photos of my life lately.
{celebrating // Easter with my beautiful family on Mount Sequoyah}
{reading // like crazy, review post to come soon}
{loving // these glasses for my vision center photoshoot}
{enjoying // a perfect evening on the Bentonville square with friends}
{remembering // my dad’s birthday}
{working // the sustainability expo with 4 of my Walmart Moms}
{celebrating // this bride-to-be getting married in 7 weeks}
{drinking // craft beer at foamfest with these boys}
xo xo
my wednesdays.
Can I let you in a little secret? I secretly LOVE Wednesdays, and probably not for the reasons you may love Wednesdays.
Wednesdays are my night to do exactly as I wish. We’re always busy throughout the week with various things, but there’s one night I can always count on to relax and rejuvenate. Husband doesn’t come home until late, after teaching karate, so I get to spend the time with no one to answer to except myself.
My Wednesday evenings usually look fairly similar, with tonight being a prime example:
Go on a R U N*
{mindlessly blaring Queen Bey}
B L O G
{unfortunately one of the only days during the week I seem to find time to do so}
Pick-up an easy dinner and my favorite W I N E
{preferably sushi and a good cabernet}
R E L A X on the couch and catch up on my magazines + girly TV shows
{currently consisting of Pretty Little Liars, Nashville and Revenge}
Retire to bed early, with time to R E A D
{new post coming soon about my books of late}
*new addition with the beautiful weather and renewed sense of fitness
It does vary a bit each week, like next week I’m hosting a girls happy hour, and sometimes I get the urge to cook so I’ll spend my time grocery shopping and preparing a late dinner for when husband gets home.
Pretty simple, right? I don’t need much to rejuvenate, but I do need alone time – something I’ve learned means I’m actually an introvert, not an extrovert as I would have previously thought. Oh, and wine … wine is always good. (says mille davis and olivia pope)
Happy Wednesday! xo xo
I’m doing okay.
Remember that post I wrote about two months ago? Where I led with, “You want real, here’s real: I’m not okay.” Well, it’s two months later and I’m doing okay.
Guess what, friends, time works. Time heals. Not all, but it heals. It’s a Friday night. I’m laying in bed writing this after a great evening at home – taking Olli on a walk, cooking dinner barefoot in the kitchen (which Mom thinks means I’m pregnant … but I’m not) and relaxing with some favorite shows.
I’m trying so hard to be thankful every day for things in my life. I’m trying so hard to work through my grief. I’m trying so hard to praise God in all circumstances. It’s still hard, but I’ve definitely made progress.
I’m not here to sugar coat it and tell you it’s not all gone. Lord knows it’s not. I still feel a little hollow inside. I still feel sadder than I use to, lonelier than I use to, more reflective than I use to.
There’s still bad days. Days when all I want to do is cry. But those days are getting fewer and farther between. The perplexing part though is, I’m not sure if that’s what I want. I’m not sure if I want to be okay. It makes it feel more real and it makes it feel like I’m forgetting him. So some days I hold tight to my grief, letting it bury me because I don’t want it to go away.
I need to learn how to hold on to it and let it go at the same time. That’s where I am. Caught in the divide. I can see the light though. I can see the Lord pulling me in the right direction. He’s been so evident lately, putting specific people in my life at certain times to talk about certain things. I just love that. Love that I have someone looking out for me like that.
It’s getting better, friends, and I have all of you to thank as well for your continual love.
As Henry David Thoreau says, “Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”
xo xo
life lately
{working // with the Walmart Moms while they were in Bentonville}
{dressing // in black tie for the NAACP Image Awards}
{relaxing // with friends, beer and games}
{reading // my People magazines}
{painting // with a twist}
xo xo
life lately
{laughing // during our weekend getaway to Tulsa to see Aziz Ansari}
{partying // at a two-year-old birthday party}
{drinking // at our favorite brewery on a sunday funday}
{traveling // to San Francisco, including FB and Pinterest HQs}
{enjoying // this saturday morning}
{loving //my valentine and our night out}
xo xo
“I’ll stand before the lord of song with nothing on my tongue but hallelujah”
I’ve had the urge to write lately. The urge, but not time. Or the urge, but nothing to say. Such is the life of a writer. The thoughts that follow may make no sense at all, or they may be perfect as a poem. Again, such is the life of a writer.
Life has been hard lately. I mean, it hasn’t exactly been easy the past month and a half, but the past few weeks have been a different kind of hard.
I assume I’m going through the 5 stages of grief: 1. Denial and Isolation 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance, but definitely not in order. Over the past two weeks, I’ve been going through 1, 2 and 4 practically on a daily basis. I hadn’t really experienced anger until now. It’s odd, being so angry even though there’s nothing you can do. No one to be angry at. I’m not an angry person, but boy have I been angry, and it’s made me just more irritable in general. I come home and I’m just in a bad mood and there’s nothing I can do to get out of it.
But mostly, I’ve felt depression. I could completely understand how someone could fall into a serious depression after the loss of someone. There have been several days when all I want to do is sleep. I don’t want to go anywhere or see anyone. I just feel like I can’t move or think, so I don’t want to. Like I physically cannot move my body. But I get up. I push myself out of bed to go to work or whatever, but I’ve been wanting to less and less than usual.
I’ve been busy. Very busy at work. Maybe too busy? I’m not sure how busy I should really be. There have been days when I’m so overwhelmed at work, then I’m so overwhelmed at home with my thoughts and emotions. There’s no escape. I need to seek more balance.
You know how sometimes a song comes on the radio and it’s just absolutely perfect for the mood you’re in? This happened the other day with the song below. I couldn’t tell you why, but it calmed me and provided me with a sense of connection. I don’t even really know what the song is about, but it’s just so beautiful.
I don’t want to end on a somber note, so I’ll close this out with a few other thoughts that have been occupying my mind, unrelated to the above.
- House of Cards season premiere … OH MY GOSH. There are no words.
- Please please don’t make us go back into winter. These 50 and 60 degree temps have been heavenly.
- Beyonce’s new album still rules. #flawless
- When you pay more for a bottle of nice wine, it’s totally worth it.
- Valentine’s Day may be cheesy and commercial, but I love the opportunity to celebrate my husband like I should every day.
- If you hadn’t heard yet, my new car’s name is Sofie.
- I need a vacation. A hot, beach vacation. Stat.
- Can I also get a tan and a margarita with that ^^ please?
xo xo
life lately
{eating this // biscoff macarons}
{enjoying this // beautiful flowers from a beautiful friend}
{reading this // perfect for bedtime}
{traveling for this // Dallas for work}
{doing this // with mom on a saturday morning}
{relaxing in this}
xo xo
Life, it’s hard.
You want real? Here’s real: I’m not okay.
This situation has been more difficult than I could have ever imagined, and I’m tired of telling everyone I’m doing fine. I mean, I am doing fine, but I’m also not doing fine. Do you understand? If you do, please let me in, because I don’t understand. My thoughts, feelings, tears, emotions have been so scattered the past few weeks I honestly don’t know what I’m feeling. So often I feel numb – numb to the pain, numb to the world then all of a sudden I’m the opposite of numb (sensitive?) and I can feel everything all at once. All emotions come rushing to me. The tears don’t stop. The memories don’t stop. I can’t do anything.
I went back to work at the beginning of the week. I was so anxious about starting back, but it’s really been pretty good. I’ve enjoyed getting back into work and into a semi-normal routine. Everyone has been great, but someone shared a piece of advice that has stuck with me – Don’t just throw yourself into work. It will only elongate the healing process.
I’m honestly at a point right now where I can’t even imagine not feeling sad. I know it will happen, but it seems like such a foreign concept. When will I ever not be sad that I don’t get to see or talk to my dad again? When will that ever seem normal?
But life goes on. It’s amazing that it does, when everything around you seems to be crumbling and changing. But if I had any doubt in my mind, I look at Facebook or Instagram and it definitely goes on.
I love you all, and I don’t want you to read this and pity me. I just needed an outlet to be real. To be raw. If anything, just pray for me. If there’s been anything that’s given me peace and hope and strength through all of this, it’s been my faith. I honestly don’t know how people do it who don’t believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.
To end, I want to share with you my devotional from today. I pray it gives you hope in your life and your situation as it did for me today.
My face is shining upon you, beaming out peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are face-to-face with Me, your Peace. As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad of problems around you, you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out, “Help me, Jesus!” and I will lift you up.
The closer you live to Me, the safer you are. Circumstances around you are undulating, and there are treacherous-looking waves in the distance. Fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes. By the time those waves reach you, they will have shrunk to proportions of My design. I am always beside you, helping you face today’s waves. The future is a phantom, seeking to spook you. Laugh at the future! Stay close to me.
xo xo
2013: my year in pictures
{January: Birthday in Vegas}
{March: Weekend Getaway to St. Louis}
{May: Celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary in Kansas City, complete with fireworks from the hotel balcony}
{June: Celebrated the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. DeMoss…}
{… and Mr. and Mrs. Davila – yay!}
{July: Essence Festival in New Orleans, where we got to see BEYONCE!}
{July: Also celebrated Husband’s golden birthday!}
{August: Moved into my parents house with a beautiful backyard!}
{August: the start of our NWA breweries obsession}
{September: Alderman Music Tour – Part 1: Denver}
{September: Alderman Music Tour – Part 2: Nashville}
{October: Trip to San Fransisco and Facebook HQ}
{November: Two wonderful weekends with my parents for tailgating & Thanksgiving}
{November: Weekend getaway with our community group}
{December: #mkredparty}
{December: Christmas in Seattle and Vancouver (pictured above) to celebrate a friend’s wedding}
xo xo
You might also enjoy: 2012: my year in pictures, 2011: my year in pictures
m.davis xoxo 
