seven years.

seven years married to my man. so much has happened in seven years and feels like a lifetime. but then again, it feels like we just got married yesterday. it’s been some of the best years.

babe, thank you for always treating me like a queen and fulfilling my every need. i truly feel so blessed to have you as my husband.

thank you for always putting your family first. thank you for always pointing us to Jesus and making it a priority for your family to be at church every time the doors are open.

thank you for being the best daddy to our kids—the way sis knows she can always have you at her beckoned call and the way bubba wants to always work along side you at the farm & in the yard.

thank you for working so hard + providing for your family—that is one of the things i love about you—your hard work ethic.

thank you for spoiling me today and cooking me those yummy steaks on the grill. they were perfect.

i am forever grateful how God saw fit to put us together—here’s to many more years, babe.

love you. 

dear doug, (007) + letters to my husband link-up.

tractor racing with hubby and a brother.

dear doug,

who-hoo! ONE YEAR. tomorrow will mark one year of being your WIFE.

this past year has been filled with all kinds of happiness and adventures. you're always, in a way, taking me on an adventure. and you know what? i would not want to be doing this adventure called LIFE without anybody except you. i love you.

i cannot wait to go to Patti's and pig out on gigantic pork chops with you. i am totally-way more excited about that than diving into our year-old wedding cake topper. (although i am pretty pumped about tasting cake--no matter how freezer burned it is. ha!)

picking out pumpkins for the first time together will be SUUUPER fun and i can't wait to see your taste in pumpkin-picking. ;) will it be a tall one? short one? fat one? small one? i'm sure it will be the perfect one.

cannot wait to see what year two will bring! you're awesome.

i love you,

your babe.

(stay tuned to IG @mrs_marlimcbride for pics throughout the day)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

hello everyone! welcome to the seventh week of the letters to my husband link-up.

every other friday, you will be given the opportunity to show your hubby how much you love and appreciate him.



being a new wife, there are many times i don't give my husband the praise that he needs or deserves. this is an opportunity for me to work to be a better encourager and supporter to my husband.

not only will we be able to praise our husbands, but we as wives will be able to read other wives' posts and learn from them. we receive encouragement from reading each other's posts! :)

so let's get started.


here are the rules:

-follow your host and the co-host (if there is one for the month)

-visit and comment on other blogs--don't just share your link and run! be an encourager. :) share the love.

-in your blog post, either share the Letters to My Husband button or link back to this post on your blog.

-have fun and don't forget to spread the word using #LettersToMyHusbandLinkUp.

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An InLinkz Link-up

date night || sonic edition.

sometimes it's planned.

sometimes it's a last minute decision.

but date nights at sonic are one of our favorite things in the whole wide world.

we don't care if the weather feels like winter is on the way, half-price happy hour is our jam.

normally it's a milkshake--coconut cream pie for me and peanut butter for him. sometimes, we change it up a bit--Nerds watermelon slush for me and a route 66 lemon limeade for him. 

orrrrr, if we spot the birthday cake milkshake that wins overall. 

after we have the goodness in hand, we drive to the beautiful downtown--complete with lampposts and cobblestone streets.

we sit on a park bench overlooking the river and snuggle up. mainly i'm the one shivering. ;)

barges pass by shining their spot light piercing the night air.

sometimes, a riverboat is docked--passengers strolling on and off the boat enjoying downtown in their own way.

after throwing our empty cups away, we walk hand-in-hand on the sidewalk. hubby telling me all about the history of the little town we live in. pass floods, earthquakes, and the indians living here many years ago.

the painted murals on the flood wall tell all the stories.

i'm so grateful for the life i am able to live with this man.

here's to many more dates at sonic and walks in downtown.

2015 + wedding photos.

whew.

 

who knew.

 

after I got married I thought:

 

"hmmmmm, i'll have tons and tons of extra time for blogging."

 

but guess again.

 

bam. this wife life is the bomb dot com and I hate to say it, but blogging has not been at the top of my list of things to do.

 

I enjoy blogging.

 

I want to blog.

 

but hubby and home comes first.

 

and besides, I l o v e that my days are spent being a stay-at-home wifey cooking, cleaning, running in the park, and designing stuff for the shop. not to mention, spending time with and loving on hubby (tmi?).

 

 

erin, over at erin james said it perfectly.

this is a new season.

 

 

so this is my new season.

 

a season of putting hubby and home first and then

blogging the in between.

 

 

 

so, here's to a new season to love.

 

----------------------

 

2014 held so many new things for me.

 

a new niece, a new nephew, a ring, and

GETTING MARRIED

(just to name a few)

 

so, without further adu.....

my year--2014:

(and just because i'm nice like that, i'll throw in some of our wedding pictures

made by our wonderful photographer for no extra charge. *winky face*)

 

 

 

what did you do in 2014 that you've never done before?

became an aunt and got married.

 

 

 

 

did you keep your new year's resolution? will you make one for this year?

I did actually. I graduated college in june, developed my etsy shop, became an aunt, and got married (which was the "other very exciting things" in last years post).

new ones for this year: continue to grow my etsy business and read the Bible cover-to-cover by the end of the year. also, be the supportive and loving wife I need to be.

 

 

 

 

did anyone close to you give birth?

yup! my sister (a boy), my sister-in-law (a girl) and my best friend of 15 years (a boy).

 

 

 

 

did anyone close to you die?

mrs. melanie hays--a dear friend of my family. she was tragically killed in a car accident in june. she will be forever missed.

my husband also lost one of his uncles to cancer in december.

 

 

 

 

 

did anyone close to you get hitched?

ummm, ME! to my amazing husband, doug. seriously, y'all, how did I ever end up with that man? he is just too good to me! (love you, babe)

 

 

 

 

what countries did you visit?

we stayed in the US.

 

 

 

what dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory:

july 24th-joanna's birth (niece)

august 1st-colt's birth (nephew)

august 2nd-the night the ring was slipped on my finger

october 10th-our wedding day and our first kiss

 

 

 

 

 

what would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014?

-a more organized blog and etsy shop (the best is yet to come)

-an even greater love for hubby that never fades

 

 

 

 

what was your biggest achievement this year?

marrying my prince charming and kissing him--knowing it was my very first kiss--knowing that all my life I have saved it just. for. him.

 

 

 

 

biggest failure?

.........................................

 

 

 

 

did you suffer any illness or injury.

no.

 

 

 

 

what was the last thing you bought?

gas for $1.98

 

 

 

 

whose behavior merited celebration?

my mom. I mean, really. became a "marme" twice and planned a wedding all in the same year. high five, mom!

 

 

 

 

where did most of your money go?

probably wedding prep and gifts.

 

 

 

 

what did you really get excited about?

becoming MRS MCBRIDE

 

 

 

 

what song will remind you of 2014?

let it go from the movie frozen.

 

 

 

 

compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

i'm happier that i'm married to the man of my dreams and I get to spend every day for the rest of my life with him. but, living so far away from my family and knowing that things will never be the same again brings on some sad days too. life is good. 

 

 

 

 

what do you wish you had done more of?

spent more time one-on-one with my brother and sister before getting married. people, cherish those sibling relationships!

 

 

 

 

what do you wish you had done less of?

...................................................

 

 

 

 

what was your favorite tv show?

the voice and american idol

 

 

 

 

what were the best books you read?

unfortunately, I didn't do a lot of reading in 2014. I studied textbooks while finishing up college and then really didn't read anything else. this year, I am trying to get back in the habit of reading for pleasure.

 

 

 

 

what was your best musical discovery?

do I have to choose just one?.....

 

 

 

 

what did you want and got?

my happily ever after

 

 

 

 

what did you do on your birthday? how old did you turn?

2-3. my mom, daddy, sister, and nephew came to visit for the weekend. I opened presents, we went to church, and then went out to eat at fazoli's.

 

 

 

 

what one thing would have made this year more satisfying?

it was incredibly satisfying. I live a blessed life.

 

 

 

 

how would you describe your personal fashion?

me. I really don't follow the trends or fads. I just wear what makes me feel great and looks modest.

 

 

 

 

what kept you sane?

my hubby, running, and a supportive family.

 

 

 

 

who is the best new person you met?

my new church family. since my marriage to doug and the move to his hometown, having a supportive church family has made the transition waaaay more bearable. not to mention, my incredible, supportive, cute, and loving hubby. (oh, and did I say cute?)

 

 

 

 

what was a valuable lesson you learned? 

don't stress on your wedding day. people are right when they say "slow down and enjoy the day. it'll be over and done with so fast." ladies (and guys), soak in that wedding day!

 

 

 

 

 

2013 in review.

 

2012 in review.