June 11th is my first wedding anniversary. Keep reading for a list of notes and truths I’ve compiled from my first year as a wife. Then scroll down for a recent favorite list-book of 100 Ways to Love Your Husband (and the companion, 100 Ways to Love Your Wife).
51 Truths from my First Year as a Wife
- The wedding day doesn’t have to be stressful if I don’t let it.
- Getting lost on the way to our honeymoon destination is a great way to start marriage with laughter.
- The first week back in the apartment I discovered it’s possible to clean that place in two hours flat.
- The first time he came home from work I discovered it’s possible to mess that place up in two minutes flat.
- I wouldn’t have it any other way, because his socks and shoes scattered hither and yon mean he’s home.
- He really doesn’t mind when I burn the biscuits…again.
- I learned the electric oven at long last!
- Taking selfies together once you’re married and on date nights is harder to remember for some strange reason than when we were just dating.
- But I still want to make time for selfies together.
- Some of the best date nights include dinner in, cooked together.
- Surviving inventory week and sleep deprivation was probably the truest test of our marriage to date.
- If not that, then it was definitely that Thursday he had to pick me up from work because I was debilitatingly sick with kidney stones.
- And if not that, then it was definitely the two oral surgeries he nursed me through.
- Achieving Perfect Housewife Status is not on my five-year plan, but I still enjoy homemaking.
- For instance, I reorganize the kitchen cabinets so much that he isn’t really surprised anymore.
- And he just laughs when he catches me at the kitchen counter, cutting the burnt tops off the biscuits…again.
- Tears can heal.
- So can ridiculously long talks at 2am.
- Friendships really do shift after marriage, and that’s okay.
- So does everything else. Like, everything. Especially every single habit ever.
- Like what I eat for breakfast: I used to be a cereal-every-morning girl, but my husband is lactose intolerant, and I can’t drink the entire quart before it spoils so that’s a rare luxury I indulge in only when I know I’m going to make pudding, pancakes, mac’n’ cheese, and smoothies all in one week.
- Or what I eat for dessert: Ice cream is my love language, but if there’s ice cream in the freezer and I’m the only one who can eat it I bet I’d be as big as a house.
- Did you know 98% of Americans keep ice cream in their freezer?
- That puts us in the top 2%, right?
- I’m 100% in love with him.
- Amazingly, he’s 100% in love with me.
- Buzzcuts in the bathroom can be something to laugh about.
- We still haven’t ordered in for dinner. Not once. Not sure how I feel about this (proud? curious?).
- To-do lists shared across Google Keep help keep us both organized.
- There’s nothing quite like seeing him pull up in that pick-up truck the day I put my car in a tree and seeing the look on his face, the look that said he didn’t care about the car at all.
- When I forget to run laundry and he’s completely out of socks to wear to work but doesn’t say a word because I’m stressed and I only find out later when I open his drawer, there are no words for that kind of grace.
- Going to small group with him is the best.
- Going anywhere without him is the hardest.
- Netflix is a poor companion on nights when he works late.
- I’m a clumsy kind of wife sometimes.
- He reads my blog.
- In fact, I found out recently just how much he read my blog before he ever asked me out. It was a lot. Like, even the guest posts I’ve written a lot.
- Though our bench is gone, our story remains.
- That man is a Pinterest ninja and proud of it. The organization of his boards is second to none.
- A marriage between two introverts can absolutely, totally work.
- When he pops into visit me at work, my day is made. Never underestimate the power of surprise appearances.
- The wall in our closet wallpapered with notes I’ve written to him in his lunch box? Priceless.
- The cleaning schedule can wait.
- His support of my—our—dreams can not be rivaled.
- I still fit in my wedding dress.
- Our song still fits us.
- The She Reads Truth app is perfect for harried mornings when we both need to be at work and I just need the Word.
- It takes us 75 minutes to get ready together in the morning, especially since we share one bathroom mirror.
- He makes a mean omelette.
- I make a mean blueberry cobbler. The secret: yellow cake mix.
- We make a great team.
About 100 Ways to Love Your Husband and 100 Ways to Love Your Wife
As a newlywed, I love reading books about marriage. This book is unique, however, in that it feels less like I’m reading a book and more like I’m sitting across from Lisa soaking in her wisdom. Also, I love lists and that this book is one long list of 100 is perfect. Lisa shares honest, tried-and-true ways to better love your man. I’ll be returning to this read again.
I’m a woman and a wife, but I read 100 Ways to Love Your Wife right after reading 100 Ways to Love Your Husband. I love that this book is one long list of ways to enrich your marriage! Matthew shares honest, tried-and-true ways to better love your woman. Even wives can glean something from it.
Whether you’re a newlywed, veteran spouse, or not yet married, I hope you’ll leave a comment below with some truths you know about marriage!
Olusola says
Congratulations on your wedding anniversary, Rachelle
Rachelle says
Thank you, Olusola! :)
Gretchen Louise says
Happy anniversary, you two! I love this. So much.
Rachelle says
Thank you, Gretchen! I know I’ve benefited from your own writings on marriage over the years. Appreciate your godly example!
Liv K. Fisher says
This is such a sweet list, Rachelle! I love all the thoughts you shared! <3
Happy anniversary to you and Devon!
Rachelle says
Thank you, Liv! It’s been quite the year! :)