2016 Sugar Paper Planner Review (For My Planner Girls)

Recently, I have been into paper planning to try to help myself stay organized.  Paper planning is basically using an actual planner to plan and write out your day as opposed to some type of electronic device. Paper planning isn't for everyone.  A lot of people these days just prefer to keep up with things on their phones.  I love to write so actually writing things out in a planner is right up my alley! YouTube helped me to discover that there is whole planner community.  There are many types and brands of planners.  Prices can range anywhere from $10 - $80.  The more expensive planners are very nice, however; the way my bank account is set up...lol.  Last year, I actually did purchase one of the more expensive and well known brands.  It was very nice and customized but in the end I felt like I wasted money because it just did not work for me.  It was just too much going on.  

For 2016, I wanted to find something that worked for me.  I stalked every popular planner brand's website and Instagram pages for the last couple months in 2015. I was two weeks into January and still had not made a choice.  I wasn't really feeling spending a ton of money so one day I just decided to see what Target had to offer.  That's when I discovered the Sugar Paper Planner line.  I was able to find a functional planner that fit MY needs and it only costs $10!  So far, I have been LOVING my new planner.  I was skeptical at first because it was so cheap.  But so far, so good.  It has a weekly and monthly layout so that I can plan my entire month as well as each week.  It also has a notes section in the back which I love.  If you're interested in the Sugar Paper Planner, there are a couple YouTube videos you can check out or you can head to your local Target.  I think it is a great planner for the price and it is very functional.  I'll see how it holds up throughout the year!

With Gallons of Love,

J.G.

6 Months & Counting...

Today, I would like to wish the love of my life, my best friend, MY husband a Happy 6 Month Anniversary!! Yay!!! I thank God for my husband. He is truly an amazing man and he is absolutely perfect for this girl right here lol. He puts up with me which sometimes isn't the easiest thing to do so I've heard lol. He is a very kind and strong man. I am so very proud of him. I have seen him grow in so many ways. We have had some ups and downs in our relationship, yet he has remained constant.  He is a great supporter and I can truly say that he has my back.  We have each other's back and God is in the center.

Some may not celebrate 6 month anniversaries but I enjoy celebrating the small things.  Some marriages are headed for a downward spiral at 6 months and I can speak from a past experience.  So the fact that my husband and I are very happy at this point is worth celebrating in my book!  We took the day off from work and just hung out with each other.  We went to lunch, ran errands, watched some Netflix and chilled ;-) It was a great day!  I asked my husband how he thought the first six months were and he said that it has been "interesting yet fun."  I would have to agree with him. It can be very interesting living with a person for the first time.  You get to know them in ways that you haven't known them before and learn things about him that you may not have known.  We're learning to just go with the flow and adjust as necessary.  The fun part is experiencing life together.  Being able to be with your best friend everyday.  Making memories.  Living, Laughing and Loving Together.  It's a great time.

I'm looking forward to the next 6 months.  I pray that God continues to bless our union and continues to help us grow together as one.  Happy Anniversary Mr. Gallon!! I love you to the moon and back.  I enjoy doing life with you.  Forever your Mrs!

With Gallons of Love,

J.G.

A New Thing!

Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

Well we are off into the new year of 2016 yayy!!!  I love the start of the new year because it represents new beginnings and a fresh start.  It's a time to set new goals and dream new dreams for the upcoming year.  A time to start anew.  I love anything that represents newness...ah it's just so refreshing.  Refreshing to know that regardless of how many times we may have fallen or failed, we have been blessed with another opportunity to get it right.  Another opportunity to reach those goals and dream those dreams.  Another opportunity to walk in purpose and live the life that God is calling us to live.

I love how God tells us in the above verse to not remember the former things nor consider the things of old.  In turn, He is saying forget about the past!  The past can be such a stumbling block.  We sit there and just dwell on past mistakes, failures and bad things that may have happened to us.  We relive them over and over in our minds.  Thinking about should've, could've, would've.  Asking why and how.  Dwelling on the past keeps us from living in the present and clouds our future.  God could be trying to show us great and marvelous things but we can't see because we are so focused on looking back.  It's time for us to stop allowing those things from the past to hold us back. 

The next part of the verse says behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall you not know it?  God is saying that He will do something new our in lives.  He is restorer and a redeemer. He can make all things new. When He asks shall you not know it, I believe God is asking us if we will even recognize that He's doing new things or are we too focused on what's been.  Are we too preoccupied with our past and current circumstances and situations to have the faith to believe that God can make all things new?  The rest of the verse says  I will make roads in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  I believe God is saying that where there has been lack and barrenness He will turn it into abundance and fruitfulness.     

So, as we embark on our journeys in this new year, I encourage everyone to seek God for His direction.  Ask Him what it is that He wants you to do this upcoming year.  Whether it's following a dream that you've been putting off for years, working on your attitude, or letting go of things from the past.  God will work in our lives, but we also can't forget that we play a part in this thing too.  We have to be willing to be obedient and follow God's leading.  We can't expect to not put in any effort. Let's leave all of those old habits, mindsets, hurts and pains in the past and focus on the NEW things that God has in store for us!!

With Gallons of Love,

J.G.