1 Year and Counting

Sunday, Jason & I celebrated our 1 year anniversary! 

I can't believe it's already been a year. 

365 days, in this lifetime journey that we're on together. 

With 1 year of marriage under our belt, it was the perfect time to reflect on my reasoning behind this blog and the fact that the foundation of it was built on the love and blessing that the Lord has so graciously given Jason and I through brining us together.

What a sweet & continual blessing marriage has been thus far. The Lord has used our marriage to shape & mold me in such new ways & my prayer is that I will always see what He's doing for me & for us. So many wonderful things have happened during these 365 days. My family of 5 expanded, I gained another family, we've cooked many meals, watched many movies, taken many trips, laughed & smiled, learned & adjusted together. It's has been a year of growth and happiness! 

To God be the glory.

We celebrated our anniversary a weekend early. 

We made our way to New Orleans to see Broadway's Phantom of the Opera! 

Ahh! I loved it! It was the perfect way to celebrate 1 year of marriage with the man of my dreams. 

In our favorite city, eating amazing food, with amazing company, with great entertainment. 

  

 We had an outstanding dinner at Three Muses. 

 You already know, Croissant D'or

 Yes, it's a selfie, but I had to show off my new hat that I love! 

 On our actual anniversary, my parents presented us with our gift from them. 

This amazingly thoughtful, custom painting that represents all of our favorite things/places in New Orleans. We can't wait to hang it up in the house! 

1 year down, many, many more to go! 

I love you my sweet Jason Ellis. 

The Halfway Mark

On Friday Jason and I celebrated our 6 month anniversary (I can't believe it's already been half of a year)--183 days of marriage and many more to come! As silly as it sounds, it feels like we just got married last weekend. What a joyous weekend that was! I would be lying if I told you I didn't look at our pictures that often! We celebrated by having somewhat of a low key afternoon/night. We went and got frozen yogurt from this awesome place in Madison, Menchies (it really is superior to other frozen yogurt places--silly, I know) and saw the new X-Men: Days of Future Past, had one of our favorites-Chickfila, and then lo and behold we came home and watched another movie! This one was one that I've been wanting to see, Percy Jackson Lightening Thief. 

Time for a little recap on some of the fun things we've experienced as a married couple for the past 6 months:

 This day, best day of my life

 Still my favorite thing we did on our honeymoon

 Our first Thanksgiving together, on our cruise ship

Our Christmas Tree

 Jason's first trip to Canton to see the lights downtown

 Hosting our first "big family" event--having everyone over for gumbo. I would be lying to you if I said I didn't have to look up how to set the table correctly. I will learn!

 Jason's first time to venture over to the Smith-Frazier-Jussely Family Christmas

Ringing in 2014 with my handsome hubby

 Just Dance, this is how we ended our New Years

 Our first snow day together

 Our Mexican Valentine's Day 

 Easter Sunday Brunch at the church

 Our first really long road trip together--to Atlanta for my cousin's wedding

 My brother's engagement!

 and two of our best friend's engagement!

And that's only what I've caught on camera.

The many, many meals we've cooked (Jason mainly, but I am learning!) I'm in the breakfast/dessert making department

Decorating our house

The countless movies we've watched

Lost, House, How I Met Your Mother--just a few of the TV seasons we've completed

Game nights with our best friends

The honor of being in or going to our friends weddings

A few road trips

Being halfway through reading the bible in 1 year

Half a year of teaching at the same school as a married couple (which is super sweet and good for my soul to see his handsome face throughout the day!)

183 precious, precious days. 

We are so thankful to God and for His many blessings He's given us during these 6 short months!

2014, Here we come

I have really been pondering what I wanted to do for our New Year's Post--and I finally decided that I didn't want to spend it sharing our hopes, goals, and resolutions for 2014, but rather sharing with you all what a blessing 2013 was and all the awesome opportunities and happenings that God gave us this past year. 

So, here comes a picture from each month of 2013--

my first full year with Jason (2 months of it as his wife)! 

JANUARY:

My first New Years Eve with my man

We spent New Years Eve in Hattiesburg--having spicy coconut soup, margaritas, and going out dancing. 

Surprised Jason with tickets to see "Blue Man Group"--it was AWESOME!

 FEBRUARY:

Our first Valentine's Day--where he surprised me with Drew Holcomb and The Neighbor's tickets! Amazing concert!

The first time we heard "our song" sung live ;) 

 MARCH:

We got engaged in New Orleans! Such an amazing, wonderful surprise. I still to this day can't believe how surprised I was and how perfect the day was!

 APRIL:

We closed on our house--that become a home when I finally got to move in 6 months later!

MAY:

Jason attended his first "full family" event with The Jussely's. 

My cousin Alex's wedding!

It was such a fun weekend. 

JUNE:

I spent the month of June interning with Joni & Friends and their international disability center--I learned so much from these people and the experiences I gained. 

JULY: 

We went with our youth group at Lakeland as chaperones for RYM--it was an awesome week!

AUGUST:

Our first official engagement party! 

The perfect way to start off the following months full of wedding festivities!

 SEPTEMBER:

Had the privilege of making a road trip to Memphis for one of my best friend's weddings! 

OCTOBER:

Began the tradition of the 1st annual BYOB&P

 NOVEMBER:

Our favorite month---the month we were finally married!!!!! 

and went on our honeymoon

and had our first Thanksgiving together while on our honeymoon cruise!

 DECEMBER:

Our first Christmas together as a married couple--and Jason's first Christmas spent in Auburn

I can honestly say, we couldn't have asked for a better year. 

These are some huge events and we have only continually seen just how blessed we are and it has made us more and more thankful as the days have passed!

Our hopes for 2014 are to see God's hands in all things that happen--that we will continually praise His name and see His love and grace towards us as we take on these next 365 days. 

May we continue to strive to advance His kingdom and bring glory to His name in all that we do. 

Praise God from whom ALL blessing flow!