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.

insta life {lately} 002.

^^ drank this one for my better half. he'll always be my better half. #dougandmarli ^^

^^ celebrating wayd #happy16thbirthday ^^

^^ hay hay as far as the eye can see #hayseason #hayhauling ^^

^^ a year ago, i said "YES" to marrying this man ^^

@mrs_marlimcbride

insta life {lately} 001

                         

^^ my view while running one morning. ...but small is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. (matthew 7:13,14) | 3.04 miles | 32:58 | 10:51 min/mile | 361 calories ^^

                          

 ^^ can we just take a moment and appreciate how good lookin' my hubby is right now?? ^^

                            

^^ farm puppy ^^

                             

^^ goodnight world ^^

                              

^^ this is how we do the 4th of july ^^

                             

^^ now available in the shop ----> here. ^^

@mrs_marlimcbride

happiness is.

via

happiness is...


a walk in the park with the hubby on a warm and balmy evening.
red, pink, and blue frozen popsicles.
staying up late for a movie night.
a new recipe.
the smell of a fresh hay cutting.
bales of hay in the barn before the rain starts.
interesting acts on america's got talent.
texts received from friends saying they miss you and NEED to see you.
new blog friends and new blog designs.
staying up late watching re-runs of family feud with the hubby.
homemade smoothies with a secret ingredient (spinach--the hubby didn't know until he had eaten his whole smoothie. :) he still said it was good too. score!).
a hard-working hubby who allows me to stay at home to do what i love to do.

joanna claire.

at 2:16 p.m., july 24th, this little girl made me an aunt for the first time. 

at 6 pounds 14 ounces and 20 inches long, she is a perfect bundle of joy. she has a head full of blonde hair and has her daddy's nose--oh, and looong fingers.

she is now a month old and such a joy. she is growing S O fast and holding her head up really well. she loves being outside. most of the time, you have to be constantly bouncing and standing up or she starts to cry--that girl loves to be on the move.

aunt marli loves you, jojo.

for more of #joannaclaire click here.

my brother has been such an amazing and supportive daddy

w e e k e n d.

this past weekend was wonderful.


saturday.

cheering mom on at crossing the creek adventure run.
downtown cityfest.
strawberry picking at u-pick.
a cook-out with friends and family.

sunday.

church.

afternoon movie watching.

evening worship.

a dinner of leftovers and movie night with brother and sis-in-law.

monday.

a phase 10 game--just me and him.

sad goodbyes--already looking forward to next time.

my boyfriend drove down from his hometown in kentucky friday night.

due to a tire blowout, he was a tad bit later  than was planned so mom and i went to the area wide singing--waiting for his arrival. he arrived around 9:30 pm and we went to work dressing spooky's (my horse) abscessed hoof. he left for nana's house around 10:30--his hotel for the weekend. :)

he got to our house at 6:50 am--bright and early--in order for us to leave to go to mom's race.

she was the second overall woman winner--getting beat by a 14-year-old by a mere 4 seconds.

cityfest was enjoyed and kettle corn was bought.

a lunch at mcalister's deli was consumed and a trip to the strawberry patch was made.

back home, dinner preparations were made and friends arrived.

grilled chicken, bbq, baked beans, hashbrown casserole, and salad was on the menu.

lots of laughter was shared.

he met us at church the next morning and my family worshiped the Lord together 

(minus the sister and the brother-in-law).

nana and grandaddy joined us at home for a feast of homemade lasagna, garlic bread and salad.

he and i watched gifted hands after our company left.

church that night.

monday morning dawned and after he filled up with fuel, he came to see me at home.

we sat on the couch and talked about this and that and then debated on whether to play checkers or phase 10. 

my suggestion won--phase 10.

 (it's a secret as to who won *wink wink*)

10:00 am rolled around--the time he had to leave.

i watched as he drove off--back to his hometown....until next time.

happy birthday, little sister.

my little sister.

the one who (along with me) stuffs her face with cotton candy 

while watching the main street electrical parade at disney.

the one who could live at disney world--seriously.

the one who thinks golf is boring.

the one who has a love for bright colors and beautiful things.

the one that can find a piece of trash and turn it into a treasure.

the one who motivated and continues to motivate me to be a runner.

the one who met a guy in fifth grade, had a secret crush on him, 

his eyes were finally opened, and married him at age 19.

(hehe!)

the one who totally ROCKS the baby bump.

the one who is going to be an a m a z i n g mom and, along with her hubby, will be the best parents ever.

the one who i want to be like when i grow up....

the one who i adore and could not imagine life without.

here's to number 20 and many more "sister moments" with you.

i. love. you.

happy birthday, big brother.

my big brother.

the one who keeps us laughing.

the one who comes to my rescue when my tires need air in them.

the one who will watch pride and prejudice and actually enjoy it.

the one who has a random turtle obsession--so much so that he'll see it, stop, and pick them up from the side of the road and then let them go when he gets home that evening.

the one who randomly calls to chat and see how my day's going.

(oh yeah, and who else has a brother who calls to wish you a happy Hump Day?)

the one who will be a daddy for the first time in july.

the one who is the spiritual leader for his family and is already planning, along with his wife, to train and nurture their children in the Lord.

the one who lives life with tons of happiness and hardly ever has a grumpy day.

the one who i couldn't be more privileged to call "brother."

here's to number 24 and many more happy and crazy years of life.

i love you more than words can say.

instagram

@purposelyathome

it's a...

remember this post?

the one that i shouted to the world that i would be an aunt TWICE in the month of july?

welll...

the results are in:

sister and bro-in-law are having a 

BOY.

the name:

colt {no middle name chosen at this time}

and

brother and sis-in-law are having a 

GIRL.

the name:

joanna claire

picture taken at their gender reveal party.

this is one beyond happy aunt.

let the shopping begin.