Being wise...part 1

My prayers, recently, have been pleading for wisdom.

Not for anything in particular, but simply to be wise -- to seek The Lord with all of my heart, to long for understanding and more of His word.

There are a few passages that I can't stop reading and praying through.

I love when that happens.

Here is the first...

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." 

Ephesians 5:15-17

Am I making the best of these days?  
These fleeting and precious days that I will never, ever get back.  
Am I seeking the will of the Lord instead of my own will? 
Am I content in serving Him as He has called me right now -- as a wife and momma?
Am I looking carefully at where my feet and eyes and heart are going?

The best of these days could simply be smiling in the face of messes or walking hand in hand with tiny boys.
The best of these days could be snuggling a cooing baby girl, smiling and talking with her for however long she will let me.
The best of these days may look a little dirty or cluttered.
The best of these days is not necessarily the grandest or most perfect or biggest.
It doesn't look over the top.  It isn't rotten or awful, either.

The best of my days is falling on my knees, at the feet of His abundance of love and grace and strength when I do not have any at all.
The best of my days is laughing and smiling, and shrugging my shoulders at chaos.
The best of my days is knowing when to draw lines and boundaries.
The best of my days is also knowing when to let other serve and help.
The best of my days is embracing the call of motherhood with sheer joy and gratitude -- despite discipline and disobedience {because that's all part of the call, too}.
The best of my days is loving my husband and serving him -- not because I have to and not because I want him to serve and love me, but because I absolutely delight in being a helper and partner and friend to him.

Being wise isn't an earth shattering, mind blowing, book reading, over your head characteristic -- it's simply knowing that your heart is best kept in the hands of the Almighty and your days are best lived under His sovereignty.  And I truly love that.

Oh Lord, make me wise with my days and allow me the humility and grace to make the best of each day You have given me...

Just eight years...

Who would have thought that this boisterous and wandering little girl would have captured the eye of that talented and quiet man? Who would have thought that two weeks was enough to know what love was and that two months would have brought a ring that meant "will you"?  Who would have thought that five long months of planning and talking and being apart would have lead to a single moment of "I will" and "for always" and would have been the single best decision I've ever made? Who would have thought that of all the things I've been blessed with in my life, he would be my favorite?

I love how the plans and ways of the Lord always outdo me and my finite mind.
I love that, even as my exact opposite, there is no one more perfect for me or that could know me any better.
I love that we laugh together in ways that I can't laugh with anyone else.
I love that we can adventure together and travel together so well and with much ease {and a lot of fun}.
I love that God has allowed us to have two beautiful boys who are such an incredible mix of us that it's scary -- and, honestly, breath-taking and humbling.
I love that we have journeyed through dark and hard years together and have weathered those storms.  We are no worse for the wear and, in fact, we are better and closer for it.
I love that we have journeyed through seasons of joy and laughter and we can recall those to one another well.
I love that God has used us to shape and change and encourage one another.
I love that we are not who we were eight years ago -- we're better, together.
I love that God gave us four years of marriage before having babies so we could learn and grow and change together.
I love being Mrs. Patrick McBride.
I love that this is just the beginning -- even still, eight years later.
I love, love, love that the BEST is yet to come.

He still makes my foot pop and my heart leap.  He still opens doors for me and gives me a kiss when he gets home.  He still gives me weird looks and questions my spontaneity and dramatic emotion.  He still makes me remember that I will never, ever understand guys.  And he still leads me to Jesus and teaches me more than anyone else ever has.  His life, his integrity, his zeal, his big picture mind, his rational, his knowledge, his handiness, his daddy-ness, his wittiness, his crazy side -- all of him makes me all that I am.

Eight years seems so short and so long.  Either way, I'm beyond blessed to be married to the most incredible man, ever.  And I wouldn't trade a single day with him for anything.

Happiest Anniversary to you, Patrick McBride.  YOU are my favorite thing.

San Diego. Instagramed

Patrick and I went on our first vacation without the boys a few weeks ago.

It. was. delightful.

We affectionately called it our "San Diego Freedom Fling".

We left early Saturday and came home late Tuesday.

Kent and Sarah watched the boys while we frolicked around San Diego.

Thank you just doesn't seem to be enough to express our gratitude to them.

We stayed on Coronado Island -- 

just a short ferry ride or bridge crossing from San Diego.

It was beautiful and so quaint and very easy to walk around.

We talked so much.  And laughed even more.

We rode bikes and ate great food.

We walked on the beach and felt the {icy} cold Pacific Ocean.

We toured the USS Midway.

We ate more good food.

We hiked around Torrey Pines and made our way to the beach.

We drove to La Jolla {La Hoy-a} and saw the sea lions.

We drove around Point Loma and learned a little San Diego history.

We laid in bed until we wanted to get up.

We took a nap.

We read a book.

We watched a little bit of the Olympics.

We got breakfast delivered to our room each morning.

And milk and cookies each night.

It was a lovely trip.

It was refreshing and relaxing.

It renewed us in so many ways.

And it was so sweet to just be with Patrick --

to realize just how incredible he is and how much I love him.

How much I cherish and treasure him.

We know each other, like no one else knows us.

We can just be together.

And it feels perfectly wonderful and satisfying.

The Lord has done a great work on and in our marriage the last few years.

It's been so hard and so good and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

And to be with Patrick, to see where we've come from, to see where we are going, to see just how united we've become -- oh friends, that fills my heart in ways I didn't know possible! 

Eight years with this man has been glorious.

I can't wait for so many, many more.

I love him.

On the plane!

View from our balcony. 

Just an afternoon snack -- lemonade for P, coffee for me :)

Precious.  And freezing.  Glad you can't see my face here!

Lunch at Prep Kitchen <3 td="td">

Torrey Pines

More hiking.

Sea lions at La Jolla

I am the luckiest woman, ever!!!

Dinner in La Jolla.

Milk and cookies every night.

USS Midway recap.

Playing in the brig.

Marina just down the road from our hotel.

Boating should be in our future.

Driving down the coast on Point Loma.

Just us. Always.

So you know --

Where we stayed: Glorietta Bay Inn on Coronado Island.  In the Mansion.

Where we ate: Nicky Rotten's, Gaslamp District (good burgers); Rhinoceros Cafe and Grill, Coronado(Italian-ish, good fish selections); Prep Kitchen, Little Italy (brunchy, so incredible); Chez Loma, Coronado (French food with Mexican twist); Piatti's, La Jolla (Italian); Crown Bistro, Coronado (upscale diner-ish)

Places we went: Gaslamp District, walked around the Hotel del Coronado, USS Midway, Little Italy, Torrey Pines, La Jolla, Point Loma and we rode the ferry from Coronado to San Diego.

*We really enjoyed every place we ate and did a fair amount of "research" to know where we wanted to eat :) Maybe you're not surprised.

Meaningful Monday...

Today I read this quote from a very dear friend...
"...this is how you must approach marriage -- asking yourself how you can be a "load lifter" and a "burden lightener" instead of a needy woman looking to be served, coddled, and made content by her man." (The Resolution for Women) 


Now, I've not read this book nor do I know anything about it.  But the words "load lifter" and "burden lightener" hit my heart so deeply!  Being selfish and self-righteous and proud and self indulgent and full of unrealistic expectations and entitlement rages war deep in my soul.  These are things I spend my days repenting from.  These are the things that creep in when I'm not in the Word.  These are the things that consume my head and heart.  These things make me sick to my stomach because I want to be the exact opposite of them.


Whew.  Now, with all of that said, this season of life is proving to allow me ample opportunities to be a "load lifter" and "burden lightener" to my husband! And let me be the first to tell you -- I'm not very good at these things! Patrick is currently working a full-time job and leaves the house at 6 am each {weekday} morning.  He is leading and teaching a FLOCK {small group/bible study} through our church.  He is taking seminary classes.  He is being a husband.  And a father.  And a friend.  Plus, my man has big plans around our house that he works on a lot.  And he needs to get out and be refreshed, too!!!


To say that his life is full right now is an understatement, but it's not more than he {we} can handle.  These are all things that have been prayed over and we have sought wisdom from dear friends and we have chosen {or have been chosen, rather} these things, for this season, because we feel it is absolutely where God wants us to be.  And while Patrick is working and learning and teaching and being -- I need to be at the feet of Jesus, seeking a servant-like attitude that brings glory to our God.


I don't want to make things harder or more burdensome on Patrick, although I know I do.  I want to be able to round up the boys and care for them all day and all night when he needs that extra time.  I want to be able to make his lunches and have dinners ready and give baths and take the boys out and encourage him and read papers and support him when he works late or needs every free moment to study.  And I don't want to do these things to be a super-woman or because it's "really sweet of me".  I want to serve my husband like this because I'm called to do so and because God didn't just call Patrick to this season of life.  I've been called right beside him -- to learn what I need to learn, to be humbled, to be sanctified and to learn the beauty and honor of lifting loads and lightening burdens when necessary.


I often tell Patrick that the "hard" things he endures {read: chronic vertigo, seminary, missions trips, leading flock} are not for him as much as they are for me.  I think I'm doing really awesome at being an awesome wife and then vertigo relapses and I cry myself to sleep because I have no reprieve from disciplining and whining and cooking dinner and being a wife/mom/homemaker.  


Woe is me! {wink wink. being sassy here}


My life is not hard.  Not infertility.  Not having two rambunctious boys {I would have it no other way!}.  Not being without family. Not a busy schedule. Not sickness. Not long days.  Not tiredness and weariness.   My life is full and joyful and just as God intended.  If I think it's "hard", that is my own struggle of discontentment and a lack of godly perspective. 


My mind gets all crazy when I think I deserve a break or a treat or something and I don't get it because no one can read my mind or give me any kind of rational thinking before I've gone too far.  There is no reason for me to think I must be {should be, will be} coddled and served and made content by my beloved.  This is not his role, friends.  This is God's role and He loves it and does it well.  Patrick has been blessed, by God, with a role to love me and care for me and protect me.  And he does that well.  And if Patrick does serve me and love me and care for me -- praise God.  And if he doesn't, that simply does not change my role as a his wife. {pause to praise God for an incredible husband....amen.} My satifaction is found in Jesus.  My strength and rest and peace and joy are found in my God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth!!!  And I'm grateful that God saw it fit to bless me with a husband who loves Him and wants to bring Him glory in our marriage by loving me.


All of this to say: my days are more meaningful when I'm putting myself last and when I'm doing what I've been called to do.  And right now I'm called to mother and teach and serve and love two little boys.  And forever I'm called to walk with my husband, to be a "load lifter" and a "burden lightener".  I pray God's abundant grace will constantly fall on me in this way -- to fulfill this ministry to my love.  And know this, I absolutely, never, ever could ever do it on my own.  


It's by Him, for Him and because of Him.


Amen and Amen.


How are you lifting loads and lightening burdens right now?

An overnight...

Last night, I surprised Patrick with an overnight date night.  Let's just say it was long over-due! {As in three years? We haven't been away together, alone, since B was born!}  I asked our babysitters {they are twins and I'm so glad they work together, our boys are active!} if they could do an overnight and they agreed.  I planned all of this while Patrick was in Utah last week, so he was clueless!

We went out to dinner and then while we were waiting to order, I said, "Can I tell you about your surprise now?"  After a little coercing I blurted out, "we are staying in a hotel tonight!". I'm kind of beyond romantic, I know.  It was fun to know that we weren't going home after dinner.  And once we were checked into the hotel, we both said something along the lines of: this feels crazy!

It was so sweet to relax and talk together.  We read a little of "What Did You Expect" {by Paul Tripp -- read it! Your marriage will change forever.  Because of grace and the gospel and real life, honest issues that Tripp presents.} and talked about some of the questions.  We slept in this morning and grabbed a quick breakfast before coming back home.  It was short, but sweet.

Being with Patrick -- just us -- makes me feel so young {not that 30 is old!} and carefree.  I love hanging out with him.  I love processing and sharing and working through things with him.  I love, crazily enough, that we are exact opposites.  It made for a hard first few years, but through the Lord's kindness and grace, we are embracing our differences and are better people for it!  Patrick makes me feel like a whole person.

Cultivating our marriage is worth every sacrifice and every struggle.  Marriage is the single most important thing that God has given us here on this earth to treasure and be apart of.  We are representing Christ and His church!  If you can't work on, cultivate and grow in your marriage -- how can you grow else where? {Think: How can you raise your children well and together if you don't have a good, growing relationship with your spouse.}  What an honor, and a privilege and humble joy to walk this adventure with someone that God created just for me, and me for him?  I don't take that lightly.

Marriage consists of two sinners.  Working together, by God's grace, to grow in holiness and to bring glory to God.  We started as two immature people and we've grown up together.  Your spouse will never meet your expectations.  Your spouse will never fill your voids or your deepest desires.  Marriage is constant, never-giving-up, laugh until you cry, cry until you laugh work.  And it's impossible without Jesus -- He is the only One who can meet every need and care for every hurt.  And He is the only One who can give you everything you need to be married!

Patrick and I have fairly consistent date nights and try to invest in one another frequently.  We talk constantly and, by God's grace, have grown tremendously in our communication {with much more growth necessary!}.  But this overnight, it was so good.  It was such a good way to cultivate us.  To just be together.

So, anyways.  Overnight date nights are awesome.  And worth it!

How do you cultivate your marriage?

Why God gave me Patrick...

There are a lot of reasons that convince me of the Divine planning of bringing Patrick and I together. There are also days when I question our compatibility. But I'm always in awe of how well we work together, despite being EXACTLY opposite. In fact, it may be fun to do a series of posts on the subject. Although, I may be the only one interested in that!

This is my reason, today: I spent an hour, tonight, searching website after website to get a great deal on Robeez for Andrew. I would check on site, then compare another. I would look at the different options. I was convinced about getting shoes that were called "He's a runner", well because I run. And I liked that my child would have shoes called "He's a runner". {I'm so lame}

Then I saw them. Eric Carle hungry caterpillar shoes. ON SALE! I love them and they are so sweet. I agonized deeply about this purchase because I could get AR's size in the caterpillar shoes, but not the runner shoes. Do I get them anyways? Shipping is free with the purchase of two shoes, so I would have to pay shipping. Is it worth it? Can I find them this cheap somewhere else? No, I cannot. They are only on the Robeez website!!!

AN HOUR. I spent an hour contemplating this. Ugh. I feel awful just thinking of that wasted time.

Then Patrick comes home and I say something dramatic like, "I'm so stressed about this awful decision I have to make about the incredibly fabulous shoes for Andrew." He probably rolled his eyes, although I can't say for sure, and then asked to see them. He promptly told me he did not like them at all and said a few choice things about them. Then he said, "There. That was easy."

And that is why I know God gave me Patrick, today. He can make very easy decisions when I simply cannot find the sanity or rational to do so about very important things like baby shoes.

The End.

Good stuff...

Over at the Girl Talk blog, Carolyn Mahaney and her girls are doing a series on marriage. I totally respect these ladies and are so grateful for the impact their ministry has had on my life! They live {and write} out the gospel in encouraging, practical ways.

The series is called, "Being a Gospel Wife" and it going to go over six things we're called to be as godly wives. This week they have been talking about being your husbands bride. If you've never read Feminine Appeal, this is a great way to get a glimpse into the book as they are adapting most of the discussion from the book.

I read Feminine Appeal the third week of my marriage, and at least three times since. I wish I would make time to read it more regularly. It changed my perspective on marriage and what it means to be a wife. I was so humbled, convicted and changed by the godly advice shared in this book. Plus, it's loaded with scripture since it goes through the seven virtues of a godly wife and mother from Titus 2.

If you need a little marriage encouragement, and who doesn't, head over to the Girl Talk blog and catch up. Be encouraged as we walk on this journey together and strive to bring glory to God and honor to our husbands. I know I certainly can't do it alone!

To our friends...

Today is the last day of 2010. I have a thousand things to say, but for now I want to say this:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AARON AND JEANNIE!!

This is the thing about those Reid's, we love them. They are, to us, those "friends forever-come what may- epic adventures of everyday ordinary - true blue - so similar - know them all too well - laugh out loud - pray together - sharing grief - just like family - visit often" friends.

We've learned so much from them. In fact, I would say that Patrick and I wouldn't be who we are as individuals, a couple or parents without God using Aaron and Jeanie in our lives so beautifully and so kindly. They are just so dear to us.

Our days in Texas together were nothing short of divine intervention (seriously. That Jeannie and I are still friends after our first interaction shows God's kindness and sense of humor! hee hee). We went through so much together there, and it hasn't stopped. Miles and miles away, we make time for each other. We walk together and pray for each other. We talk when we can and every time we see them life just seems perfect.

So, here's to 16 years Mr. and Mrs. Reid. And to thousands and thousands of days together with beauty and laughter and more and more of Jesus. We love you guys!!!

P.S. Aren't you glad WE aren't watching your kids tonight!? :)

P.S.S It really looks like an APPLE!

A little bit of catching up...

I just imported 120 pictures into iphoto. And most of them were of really great things...anniversary, baby bumps, raking leaves, Christmas tree hunting. So, in an effort to catch up on these things I will just have to do a post of catching up. I will, in all fairness, save our tree hunting trip for a different post. I mean, that was only five days ago :) Glad I have some hot tea and chocolate on hand!

Ooooook. 12 weeks
Bare belly, 12 weeks...Also, these are great jeans. I got them after I had B. They are Levi's, size 8, I forget the style. So good. Always comfortable. Not yesterday. While they may fit my lower half, the waist is tight. "At 14 weeks??!", you might say. Yes. And that's ok. I wore maternity jeans AND maternity shirt yesterday because I was lazy and didn't want to fuss with my pants the entire time I was running errands. Second pregnancy is much different...in so many ways (ah, another day, another post).
Hot date! Our 6th anniversary! It's really been a fantastic journey so far, I wrote about that a while ago. Need a refresher? Check it out.
Walking to our final destination, I had to snap a shot of Bricktown. This isn't half of it, just the "Riverwalk". You can ride a little boat and learn more about OKC. It's pretty and so sweet.
Melting Pot! Good, long, date! High five to the Johnson's for taking care of B for four hours! Thanks, again. Patrick's such a stud, even in a food coma.
Leaf raking day. This is how B helped Patrick rake. He would grab handfuls of leaves from the pile already made and throw them into a pile he (B) started by a tree...which was where I was.
Leaves!
For the record: Benjamin does not like to be thrown into a leaf pile. Hum. So, now we know.
Oh my soul. His little face and little man outfits get me every time. Love, love, love this boy!
Um. Ahem. Texting. Obviously. Maybe I should not use my phone so much :)
Making noodle soup while momma was cooking...
Aaaaaand 13 weeks. Please note Benjamin pointing to the baby. Sweet boy. When we're in public and he sees/hears a baby he'll say, "momma. baby!" Then he will point to my belly.

This past week, Benjamin's vocabulary has exploded. One day, he just says random, normal 20 month old things. The next day, BAM! "Christmas tree. Piper outside momma. Cook noodle soup please." And tons of other words smashed together. What? And he remembers so much more. It's amazing. I've said it once (or several times, maybe), but I'll say it again: Watching this little man grow and change and develop before my very eyes is one of the greatest blessings and privileges I've ever been given!

Also, I'll be 14 weeks pregnant tomorrow. I'm getting a massage to celebrate. Not really. Well, I am getting a massage. But not to celebrate the second trimester. Although I couldn't be happier it's here. I'm starting to feel a little better and less sick all the time. My good days seem to be more frequent, but I can get pretty nauseous fairly quickly. Such is life.

I see my midwife Thursday and I'm looking forward to that. This waiting all the time stuff is for the birds! We were s.p.o.i.l.e.d when I was pregnant with Benjamin. We heard the heartbeat and saw him more times that I can count. Such is a blessing of a long season of fertility treatments. I will enjoy the blessings of this new season, as difficult as waiting may be, I would much rather only have to do one treatment.

Ok. You are now, pretty much, caught up. I wonder though, is anyone still reading? I feel like my blog hasn't been seeing as much traffic. Maybe I should give it up. Maybe it's not what it once was and needs revamping...thoughts? Anyone....

Love and respect...

Welcome to my new soapbox, friends! :) Let me explain. I'm reading the book, "For Women Only" by Shaunti Feldhahn, with my mentor. I don't think I would have picked up the book otherwise. Not because I didn't want to learn or read what is for me, as a women, only. But basically because I don't choose to read much :)

The things I'm reading about respecting your husband are humbling, convicting and blowing my mind. Truly. I find myself shaking my head at myself as I read something that I've done or something that I've said that has shattered my husband's ego. I think every married woman would benefit from the information provided in this book.

As a society I think we have simplified men. In so many ways, but emotionally and mentally for sure. I remember being newly married and a handful of people told me, "All your husband needs is food and sex and he'll be a happy man". I would heartily agree with this, although I would add the word "physically" to the end of the statement. And then add a lot more after that :) If all I give my husband is dinner and sex, he may be physically satisfied - but what about his heart, his mind and his ego? A marriage may survive on food and sex alone, but it won't thrive. And, friends, I want a thriving marriage. I didn't say "I do" to the most incredible man alive to simply survive.

Our men are not simple creatures, ladies. They are the very men who God designed to lead, provide for and protect our families. Certainly they deserve a little more than food and sex! So often the things we say come across as downright disrespectful and hurtful. Even if we have no clue. One example in the book talks about a woman being with her husband and friends and says something like, "Oh my husband tried to fix the dishwasher, but you know he's not really a "handy" man." Something meant as just a tease just shattered her husband ego and made him feel disrespected, incapable, and incompetent. I think that our "teasing" can be compared to sarcasm. It's said with humor and a smile, but there's really some truth to what we are saying. When, truly, we should have said nothing at all.

Now, I don't say any of this with pride. I, in no way, think I'm the perfect wife - at all. I know that I've probably caused the most damage to Patrick's ego, more than any other person in the world. But I also know that I've done his ego the most good and that I'm capable of doing his ego good everyday!

This all makes me think of the "I will, even if you won't" motto. Meaning, in marriage, you should be willing to care for, serve, love, respect your spouse even if they won't. I think in most cases when you "do" and do out of love, your need will be met eventually. This may not be true for everyone, but I think there's no reason to excuse yourself from trying. There's a reason, in Ephesians 5, that God says for "husbands to love their wives" and "wives respect your husbands". It's give and take. It's "I will, even if you won't". It's self sacrifice. But when you think about it, your "sacrifice" will end up giving you want you need. Don't you think?

I think all marriages would do well to have a crash course in humility. Mine included. If you can be humble and sacrifice and be respectful to your husband - you'll reap great things. If our husbands would be humble, sacrifice and love their wives - they, too, would reap great things. It's one big circle. Love. Respect. Repeat. If our men don't feel respected (and in turn loved, needed, confident, capable, worthy) by us, then where are they going to find respect? At work? With another woman? In hobbies? In my marriage I'm not willing to find out.

Stop thinking about what you need. What does your husband need? How can you change your actions, or words or thoughts about him so he will feel your respect? Maybe you just need to stop talking. Maybe you need to talk more. How can we change so our husbands can be the leaders and providers and incredible men God has called them to be?! What a powerful ministry and responsibility we have as wives. These questions have been stirring in my mind and have led me to a lot of conclusions.

One thing I've learned about marriage is that it's always changing. I suppose this is true for all things, though :) The way Patrick needs to be respected today is greatly different than how he needed to be respected six years ago. Same goes for how I need to be loved. There's always work involved. There always has to be a selflessness and humility to figure out the new need, the new direction of your marriage. There's a constant desire for our marriage to come back to it's roots, it's foundation - biblical love and respect. And when you continually seek the Lord, His glory, then how could you not want to be humble and respect your man with all you have? If not because you love your husband, than surely because you love your God.

Please, don't take any offense to this (unless you need to ::Grin::). This is all processing and thinking through these things on my part. I hope I've stirred questions and desires and convictions in you (I know this book has certainly spurred me on to question and change). Not because I think you need it, but because I think we all do.

Growing love...

You know when you get married and you just can't seem to fathom loving your spouse more than you love them right then? The magic and the fanfare of your wedding day! Your love is perfect and full and...then you get into real life.

You find days where you're completely annoyed by your spouse. Days when you really would rather sleep on the couch. Days when you know that a lot of hard work is going to go into communicating and discussing and making a decision. And you wonder, "Is it really worth it?!" Sure it is.

I don't think Patrick, or I, knew what we were getting ourselves into when we got married. Does anyone, though? I don't care how long you've dated or if you lived together before hand, even. You can never, ever be prepared for marriage. It's a learn-as-you-go endeavor and all anyone can do, really, is offer advice.

We certainly don't have a lot of years under our belts, but we have a lot of experiences. The good news: time is on our side! Lord willing, we'll have many, many more years to work on our marriage. We'll have more trials to endure together. We'll have more inside jokes. We'll have more joys to share. We'll have more snuggles and laughs and arguments and tears. And at the end of this journey together, we'll have no regrets.

In November we'll celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. Six years. One baby. One dog. Three states. Four companies. Five addresses. Lots of life changing events, a lot of laughing and crying. Many trips, many memories. Six good years. And, friends, not every one of those years was good. But looking back at what we learned and saw and experienced together...that's what makes it good.

Want to know what I love best, today, about six years? That even the thought of Patrick still makes me giggle and smile. That my husband, the only person in the world who has seen the absolute best and worst in me is still here. He still loves me and pursues me. He still makes my foot pop when we kiss. He's still my knight in shining armor, saving me from a world of trouble.

After just six years, I'm still in love. I'm more than in love. I'm in...an indescribable state of pure, deep, infatuation and heartfelt, breathtaking, frustrating, smile making love. Gosh, I just can't wait to see what year 12 brings to my heart.

And to think, all of this from a silly conversation about good gristle last night before bed. Ha. If you could only hear half of our conversations! :)

Wedding "Bell's"

We spent the weekend in Lynchburg, VA. Our dear friends, Steve and Brianne, got married!!! We met Steve about three years ago when he was doing his Phd work at IUP. We all became fast friends! Patrick and Steve have a great connection and can talk and share so much. Their minds work in similar ways - it's scary :)

Brianne came into the picture and we heard a lot about this girl one summer. Once we met her, we knew this was it! Brianne and I are a lot alike and have such a kindred spirit. I love spending time with her and wished we all lived closer to each other.

Steve asked Patrick to be a groomsmen back in November and he humbly and happily accepted. We've had the great privilege of getting to know Steve and Brianne over the last few years and we're so much better for it. Truly, I've met only a few couples in the last several years who fit well together. Steve and Brianne are one of them! They just are so right for each other!


This is Steve and Brianne at the rehearsal, right after the "you may kiss your bride" part.Bruce and Barb Bell, Steve's parents. These are some of the most incredible people we've ever met. What a blessing to get to know them over the last several months. Patrick and I can only hope to have a marriage that resembles theirs!
Clearly, Benjamin misses Steve.
This is my date, you know, playing with a swing.
Me and my wedding date.
First dance...
The groomsmen, and Benjamin, decorating the car during the reception. The whole bridal party was so much fun! It was so great to meet everyone. Even though I wasn't
"in" the wedding, I felt very much included in this intimate wedding.
Me and my date again...
We're so sad. Benjamin had a fever all weekend.
Me and my life date. Isn't he a stud?!?!
Steve and Bri getting photographed!
Beautiful bride! This pretty lady was so gorgeous. She has so patiently waited for her price charming (um, Steve) and fabulously planned an incredible, intimate and stunning wedding! Truly, I would expect nothing less.
Oh man, we had so much fun at this wedding. It was small (say 120 people). The reception site was beautiful. It was mostly family, with some select (and lucky) friends. Patrick and I kept saying how glad we were to be apart of this day and how great the whole wedding weekend was!

Al & James got married!!!

Oh my. I love weddings. My dear, dear friend Allyson got married last Saturday. What a joy it has been to walk with her through her dating relationship, engagement and then marriage. I did the wedding planner thing again. After this weekend, I've decided that I just can't be a wedding coordinator at weddings of people that I am close to. I felt like I missed a lot of the intimate moments that onlookers get to see as they celebrate and observe the newlyweds. I had a great time, but there was just so much to be done that I felt like I didn't get to celebrate as I would have liked. Plus, I just didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked (because you know me and pictures!) :)

The day was gorgeous and everyone looked great. Al's dress was perfect for her and she was beaming! I cried most of the ceremony and couldn't stop smiling as they recited their vows! The reception was fun with food and cookies galore and homemade wine (by Al's dad). I love Al and James' families. They were so much fun to be around. I'm sincerely excited to journey with Al and James!

For Al's wedding present, I made her a book - of sorts. Over the last year I have been writing in a journal - advice, thoughts, quotes - and adding pictures and such. It was sort of a scrapbook with ALL my thoughts on marriage :) I hope she enjoys it.

Ah. But now it's picture time. Enjoy!

My hip men at the rehearsal dinner...
The bridal party
Little flowers I made for Al's hair...
Al and I
Beautiful bride!
kissy, kissy
Cheesecakes...yum...
Cutting the cheese(cake). Ha! (sorry, I had to...)
Love of my life...
First dance
My sweet (tired) baby...
Cute kid! I'm definitely not ready to send this little guy off to another woman!