July Blog Post - Sweet and Simple Country Living!

Today marks another sweet month of slow and simple country living with my precious boys (and 26 whole months of life with our little Judson!),

and my heart is so grateful for all that this season has been holding for us!!

I will never get over the faithfulness of God in having us sell our sweet first fixer upper home (that we poured our heart and soul into) and move here to my great grandparents’ old farmhouse (total leap of faith!) –

and then just weeks later, Him opening the door to our farm sweet farm

(suchhhh a long time dream and answered prayer of ours!) to build our family dreams on!!

We are loving getting to soak up this season living in such a special family home (raising chickens, tending to our little garden, and small town living!) and spending so much of our free time and weekends out on our land–

playing with the horses, Wes working hard to clear out the fence lines and work the land, and just dream about all that God has in store for our little slice of heaven!

God is GOOD y’all, and He who calls is faithful!

And it was so neat getting to catch up with my college roommate and bestie the other day, and her literally say to me – “Man, em… College Emily wouldn’t believe the life you are living now… truly everything you always dreamed of and more” – and it really hit me… just how beautifully and purposefully the Lord puts specific dreams and desires on our hearts, and even MORE humbling and wonderful to see Him lead us step by step (by obedience) to those specific dreams and desires He has long planted in our souls!!

HIS ways and plans are always so much higher than our own, and I am thankful to walk with a God who is always always always faithful and right on time. I am married to the absolute sweetest country man of my dreams, raising up the most precious baby boy, and loving every second of this sweet little country lifestyle these days!!

All I can say is, thank you Lord! He truly is the God of abundantly and immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine!

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” // Isaiah 25:1

…Now onto a little more detail on this past month and some sweet memories we have been soaking in and that I want to bottle up and remember forever!!

Summertime is our very favorite season of all and have been soaking it alllll up!

Both of my handsome boys got haircuts before we left for the beach at the beginning of this past month,

and my oh my, did they look cuteeeee!!!!

#freshcuts #sohandsome #mysweetboys #handsomefellas

The most perfect way to start off Fourth of July weekend and vacation – down at the beach!!

My heart was sooo stinking grateful to be back in my happy place with these sweet boys of mine!!! #beachvacationtime #fourthofjulyweekend

So grateful for vacation time with family to rest and rejoice in closing on our land the previous week - God is just too good!!

Our first day was spent with my favorite morning coffee view overlooking the marsh,

beach naps with my baby boy on my chest (always the best naps thanks to God’s brilliant sound machine design!!), beach sandwiches, playing all day building sandcastles and soaking up the sunshine, and ended the day watching the sunset off the porch!!

Doesn’t get better than that!! #beachdaysarethebestdays #hellovacay

We welcomed in July the very best way - down at the beach!! Thank you, Lord!!

Also, ringing in July with our little swimming FISH!! Judson has ALWAYS been a water baby… but this trip, his love for the water reached a whole new level!!

(Click here to see a video of our little fish)!!!

Our little forever water baby has turned into such a little swimming fish!!! 🐠💦 Go baby go - swim swim swim!! #swimmingbaby #waterbaby #ourlittlefish

These are the moments and memories I never want to forget at the family beach house!

We are so proud of our brave and fearless little fishy fish!!

Thankful for so much beach time with the family and Judson had an absolute ball playing with his cousin Ellie, too!! We are so thankful!! #familybeachtime

And nothing says Fourth of July weekend like a bbq dinner, icecream sandwiches,

and watching fireworks off the dock!!

#happyfourth

#vacationmode

Slow Sundays at the beach

with our cutie pie forever beach baby -

just doesn’t get better than this!

These really really are the days!!!

Full of being brought seashells (mid-sandcastle building),

having your baby boy fall asleep on your chest walking by the water,

playing until supper time out on the beach

in the tide pools

and back home by the pool,

watching the sunset over the dock,

and ending the night with fireworks off the porch –

such a full heart over the Fourth of July weekend!!

“Just two American kids”

#cousinbesties #judsonandellie #corememories

These two cutie pie beach baby cousin besties had an absolute BALL -

playing all day long in the sand and sea!! The giggles, the hand holding, the cousin loving….

I can’t even handle the cuteness!!

Extra thankful for sweet family time and cousin playing this Fourth of July beach trip!!

#fourthofjulyweekend #familyvacation

#cousinlove #cousinlovin #americankids

Click here to watch the most PRECIOUS little video collection of sweet memories of Judson and Ellie running into the ocean together on the beach… be still my HEART!!!

Happy Fourth of July from our little fam to yours!!! #independenceday

Our hearts are so full getting to spend sweet, sweet family time down here at our happy place

with the people we love the most!!!

Full of lots and lots of cousin lovin’,

sunsets over the dock,

the yummiest low country boil last night for dinner,

a stunning super moon sighting off the porch, fireworks,

and so much more!!

#fourthofjulybeachtrip

And beach days with cousins are simply the BEST!

Judson lovesssss his cousin Ellie -

and they had a BALL running into the ocean,

playing in the sand, and splashing in the pool together all day long!!

#cousinbesties #cousintime

Feeling oh so very grateful and blessed this Fourth of July!!!

Thank you, Lord,

for your blessings upon blessings to our family -

we are so grateful!! And it is sooo stinkin’ cute (& fitting) that sweet little Judson is holding his beloved tractor toy in this photo…

as we are celebrating closing on our dream 15 acre farm this past month, too!!

The best is yet to come with my sweet sweet all-American boys

and God has been so good to us!!

#happyfourthofjuly #independenceday #thankyoulord

#americanmade #allamerican #landofthefreebecauseofthebrave

Beach naps are the best naps…

forever and ever amen!!

Just heaven on earth with my best friend and our snuggly forever beach baby - nothing better in the whole wide world,

I’m fully convinced, than a sleepy little one on your chest at the beach!!

Another day filled with our kind of beach vacation fun -

building sandcastles with the “big shovels” (according to Judson hehe)

and ending the day going out to get ice cream at our favorite local shop (Frosty’s) -

that I’ve been going to since I was a little girl!!

You could say Judson is a BIG icecream fan lol!

Thank you, Lord, for sweet sweet summertime!!!

Soaking up the sun with our forever beach baby!!

And right after supper (spaghetti),

there was the coziest summer beach evening thunderstorm and the most STUNNING red sun setting through the clouds -

truly took my breath away!

God’s Creation is truly wondrous!!!

Forever thanking Jesus for my sweet beach boys

and the joy of my life they truly are!

#mybeachboys

Beach days truly are the best days!!

And we are so super thankful

for the sweetest beach days

with our snuggly beach boy -

who loves to fall asleep on mama’s chest, walking by the water (God’s giant sound machine)!!

Truly savoring these sweet, sweet memories and days!!

#soakingitup

And it wouldn’t be a beach trip without stopping in my favorite little town on our way out!!

Sooo many sweet childhood memories made here in Southport (all of our summers growing up down at Oak Island)!!

And just like that, it was time to head back home with my sweet “beach boys” hehe!! But the best part is, we are so excited about our land and all that is to come - so it was a good feeling to be happy to be coming home sweet home - anddd this sweet sleepy baby boy was so excited to see Red, our “chick chicks,”

and garden (and how they had grown while we were gone)!! #headedhomesweethome

Full hearts after the sweetest Fourth of July beach week

down at our favorite place with family!!

Truly couldn’t have asked for better weather or a more special trip - full of cousin lovin’,

lotssss of beach naps and snuggles

with our forever beach (and water-loving!!) baby,

reading, yummy beach meals,

sunsets,

and fireworks off the dock every night,

and soaking up alllll the sun

by the sand, sea,

and pool!!

#fourthofjulybeachtrip #fullhearts

#beachtriptoremember

Click here to watch a little beach trip recap video I put together – suchhhh a special vacation week!!!

Family beach week is always such a blast, and closing on our land is TRULY a dream come true, but man… there is nothing that beats THIS view right here! #blessedmama #mysweetboys #frontporchlookingin

It was suchhhh a sweet and joy-filled week

since coming back home!

We spent our first evening back in town driving around on our farm (feels surreal to finally be able to say that after soooo many prayers these past few months before it closed)!!! And we explored behind the creek and found all kinds of raspberry bushes and more!!

The land keeps going and going, and man, it’s so fun to dream about all that this land is going to hold for our family in the years to come!!!

We have been spending lots of time taking care of our chickens and garden

(our very first baby zucchini, squash, and cucumbers are popping out y’all!!),

cooking (started working on making some yummy sourdough biscuits to share with a dear older friend here - per his request haha - who lovedddd my Papaw, and now kind of seems like a second grandpa to me here),

spending “Jesus time” with my little buddy

(he loves to grab his “Jesus book” and read and “color” just like Mama (be still my HEART),

I have been reading Mallory Ervin’s lovely book during Judson’s naptimes (all about living FULLY and abundantly - highly recommend),

anddd little J and I got to drive down to Charlotte 🚙

and see my oldest sis Carey, Hannah, and angel baby Joseph while they were in town

(I loved getting to love on and snuggle my newest little nephew)!!

Our cups are full and we are so thankful for God’s goodness

in and around us -

life truly is a gift!

#lifelately #thankfulhearts

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” // Colossians2:6-7

Nothing cuter than starting the day walking out with his little lawnmower (in his beloved baseball jammies)

to check on his “chick chicks” and garden!!

#countryliving #raisingchickens #gardening

And nothing brings me more joy than pretty pink wildflowers in our yard!!

Thankful for sweet, sweet mornings like this with my baby bestie! #morningslikethis #slowandsimpledays

Been having oh so much fun making some yummy sourdough biscuits with my little cutie pie sous chef!!

Wes said it was the best biscuit he’s ever had!

And Judson was happy happy happy! YUM!!

First batch of homemade sourdough biscuits was a WIN!! #sourdoughbiscuits #homemadesourdoughbiscuits #fromscratchbiscuits #homemadebiscuits

Per request of my sweet older friend here named Columbus (who loved and adored my Papaw and spent lots of time “porch chatting” with him before he passed - honestly feels like my grandpa here) - I set out to learn how to make some homemade sourdough biscuits!!

Columbus said my sourdough bread was “real good” and that now he wanted me to make him some biscuits!

So I did just that, anddd wrapped up my two biggest and fluffiest biscuits for him, and he so appreciative!! #spreadthelove #itsthelittlethings #spreadjoy #homemadelove

Click here to watch a fun little morning of baking homemade sourdough biscuits with my little sous chef! They were sooo yummy!!

Another thing I’m so thankful for is a good slow summer weekend back at home -

full of all things country, simple and sweet!!

We made homemade sourdough buttermilk biscuits (yum!),

spent lots of time going out to the farm

(and sweet Wes started cleaning out the barn on our property, too!),

went on some summer evening walks to watch the sunset,

got to take one of our college ministry students out for a farewell lunch after church (we sure are going to miss you at BSFBC College & Young Adults!!),

discovered the cutest farm/general store right near us

(and Judson got a new tractor, Ofcourse haha),

and spent lots of time cooking and reading on the big front porch with my honey and snuggling our baby boy!!

#slowweekend #simpleandsweet

I am so thankful for this sweet country life we are living and building together!!

\This time last year, Wes and I were spending all of our free evenings driving around (with little man in tow hehe) looking and praying for our “dream land” - and now we’ve found it! God is just so good!!!! He hears every prayer y’all!!!

It’s been so neat seeing this dream come to life, and now we get to work the land and just get excited for what this land is going to hold for our family!!

What a sweet new season this is! #chasingdreams #buydirt #farmsweetfarm

Went on a walk this past weekend with my dear friend Holly - who just so happens to also have been our realtor on closing on our dream land!!!

Thank you for this PERFECT closing gift, Holly! “The Mabry Farm” - we just can’t wait!!!

You’re so right, every farm needs an entry sign!

And this could not have been a more thoughtful gift! We love you and are SO thankful for you!!! #sweetestgiftever #farmsweetfarm

Just feeling so grateful this Friday for God’s many blessings -

and for these sweet simple days of #lifelately getting to love on my boys -

and watch our garden, chickens, and flowers grow!!

We have been loving going on all kinds of walks around town

(always exploring new places!),

had the sweetest playdate

with friends last week

(thanks for hosting, Kristen - we adore you!),

have been baking biscuits

and sharing with our dear friend Mr. Columbus

and tractor friends next door

(#spreadthelove),

and enjoying the slower pace of country living these days!!

#lifelatelypost #countryliving

And last Friday night, we went and got icecream out at Strawberry Hill USA (right by our land)

and then drove out to see the horsies on our property!!

The neat thing was, we realized that the last time we came to Strawberry Hill for icecream

was back in April when we put an offer in on our farm!!

So it was for sure a “full-circle” moment getting to go back months later,

this time getting to end the night driving around our property - our little slice of heaven!! #fullcirclemoment #dreamcometrue #oursliceofheaven

Click here to watch a sweet little video clip I put together of our “full circle” moment of the night we went to Strawberry Hill and put an offer in on our land, and then to now – officially owning the land and celebrating! Such a dream come true for us!

The first pictures/video in this little video were from the night

we drove out to the land and put an offer on it -

sweet sweet memories out at Strawberry Hill!!

(above picture is from the night we put the offer in, and the below picture is from this past weekend... right before we drove out on "our farm" - such a full-circle moment for us)

God is so good!!! I will never forget sitting in those rocking chairs and just “knowing” God wanted us to have that land in the area I’ve always dreamed of being in one day and raising my little family!!! #15acres

And then the next morning I had a little Chickfila breakfast

and walking date with my baby bestie while “Dada” was out working on the farm!!

He’s been clearing the fence lines and getting some space by the barn cleared out so Judson can come play when we work!!

My hardworking country man has been making some major progress on those fence lines….

Wowwwww!!! Go Wes go!

These really are the start of the days I prayed for!! #thankyoujesus

This is probably what our Saturdays are going to look like from now on, and I loveeeee it!!!

Chasing dreams with our baby boy and working on our land!! #saturdaythings #chasingdreams #buydirt #farmsweetfarm

Some happy little moments from our summertime weekend -

and realizing that I truly am living out the sweet and simple country life I always prayed for with our little country boy!!

#thankfulheart #buydirt #raisingchickens #countryliving

#slowandsimpledays

#weekendrecap #weekendphotodump

And this past week has been one of those weeks where my heart has just been so full of JOY

seeing our sweet little country boy thriving in this small town life -

having the time of his life splashing around the downtown splash pad,

helping mama run EMC errands,

taking little car walks around and meeting more of our sweet neighbors

(one of which knew my Mamaw & Papaw - and that was so special),

little playdates with friends,

cool mornings and afternoon summer thunderstorms

out on the porch, & loving on Judson’s chickens

(he lovesssss to pick them up and hug them and it melts my heart… Wes’ parents said that he was the exact same way as a little boy with his chickens growing up)!! Be still my heartttttttttttttttt!!

My cup overflows

and I am so grateful for this small town way of life with my boys these days!!

#lifelately #gratefulheart

And onto an EMC note… I am already receiving and packing up lots and lots of Back-to-School Season orders for so many of y’all and am SO thankful for all of your love and support this time of year!! So excited for EMC prints and notecard sets to be used to help spread all the love this coming school year – as you and your loved ones embark on all kinds of new adventures ahead!!

I never take for granted what a gift this small business – both to me as a creative outlet during motherhood, and as a blessing to help support my little family!! I thank God every single day for EMC and for every single one of YOU who make this dream of mine a reality!!

And for those of y’all who may be new around here, make sure to head on over to @emilymabrycreative over on Instagram to see all the fun lettering art things I’ve been up to and my personal page @emilyjoannemabry to keep up with our little family!

I’d love to have you following along there, too!!

And for those of you who are new around here to the EMC Blog, you can also find me and “shop with me” over on the LIKEtoKNOW.it app. So, if you haven’t already, make sure to download the app and “follow” me there (I put instructions over on my LIKEtoKNOW.it story highlight over on my personal Instagram page @emilyjoannemabry) - where I’m always sharing all my favorite lifestyle products, baby/kids’ items (and cute clothes, of course!), mommy items, and finds!!

You can download the app and follow me here:

https://www.liketoknow.it/emilyjoannemabry

I am also constantly sharing “links” on my Instagram stories where you can click, and it will take you to be able to “shop” that specific photo & what you see!!

Now onto some more sweet photo memories over this past month with our sweet Judson… precious memories and moments that I hope and pray I will always remember!

My happy little snugglebug!

And favorite running buddy!!

Judson snuggles forever and ever!

Baking some homemade bread to bring down to the beach!!

Fresh haircuts for the boys before heading to the beach!

My handsome little walking date!

Beach bound!

Someone was sooo happy to be back at the beach!!

Mornings are so slow and sweet at the beach house! The best!

Having so much fun with "Auntie MoJo!"

And morning fun with "Papaw," too!

Nothing better than being down at the beach for the Fourth of July!

Building sandcastles with "Dada!"

Our little swimming fish!!

Judson and Ellie love their "Nana!"

Coloring fun!

Goodness gracious, I love this sweet beach baby boy!

Sweetest little thing!!

Bringing seashells to Mama!

It's the tiny little baby feet for me!

"Nana and Papaw" with grandbabies Judson and Ellie!

Judson and Ellie - cousin besties and the sweetest of friends!

Coloring fun! Cousin love!

All the snuggles!

Someone sure does love his "Nana!"

Nothing like slow snuggly beach mornings!

Always love to read!!

Nana with both little cousins!!

Hanging out by the pool with his beloved "Auntie MoJo!"

Another fun beach day!

Judson is a bigggg icecream fan!!

Always reading!!

Bubbles off the dock!

Fun in the sun by the pool!!

The sweetest days with our forever beach baby!

The boys had a fun afternoon of cuddles and popsicles

while mama went to a baby shower to celebrate a sweet friend!

Yummy fresh greens from our tractor friend next door!

Sweet day visiting with cousin Hannah

and his newest cousin - baby Joseph!!

The cousins were so happy to see "Papaw" when he got home from work!

Sweetest little snuggler!

We love the walking trail scenery up here sooo much!

Cutie!

Produce stand runs - and Toni (the owner who knew my Papaw really well!) said that Judson picked out the best watermelon he had! Go Judson haha!

Sweet boy almost always falls asleep on our way to church - all those peaceful country backroads!

Walking and park dates are the best!

Sweetest summer playdate with friends!

Love this sweet pea!

Love our evening walks!

More fresh greens from our kind neighbor - so sweet!

Our sweet little country boy!!

Spending so much time on the porch and in the garden these days!

Lovesss riding around the yard in his little blue car and driving his red truck (like "Dada")!

Fun little trip to Greenville to celebrate the grand opening of some sweet friends' business - and little Judson and Harper were sooo cute together!!

And the most stunning sunset on our way back home!

Lots of baking and cooking these days - makes me happy!

A cozy rainy evening called for a spaghetti dinner!

Walks downtown to visit Uncle Edgar!!

We spend sooo much time out on the porch these days!

Having a BALL at the downtown splash pad!!

Thank you, Lord, for another beautiful month of life with my sweet country boys!! We are so grateful for your blessings and love in this season and are soaking up sweet summertime with our baby boy!! Every single day is a gift, and we are so thankful for this season of getting to soak in the small town life living in my great grandparents’ old home while chasing after dreams on our new 15 acre farm! The best is yet to come!!