Marriage is amazing.  

It's amazing for lots of reasons - I get to hang out with my best friend all the time, I get to walk beside someone for the rest of my life, I'm known - inside and out, I have accountability, I can cry, laugh and pray with him... and so much more.

But one of the awesome things about marriage is that I get to be a part of another family.

I'm adopted in - so to speak.

They're Indian, which means that they're the best at making someone feel welcome... Feel at home. 

And even though I love my own family to pieces... it's amazing to be a part of another family as well.

Especially families that sing at the top of their lungs while driving with the windows open on the way to Buffalo Wild Wings. I think that's probably my favorite part.

We waited together for your family in the parking lot, and then decided to sit in the garden. We were visiting your grandma, and your parents weren't quite there yet.  

Although it was noon, the light was gorgeous overhead, and with my shiny new lens (more on that sad, turned yay-I-get-to-buy-a-new-lens story soon!), I was anxious to shoot.

But you wouldn't let me.

You know that I don't get many pictures of myself, so you were probably just trying to make sure that my face actually made it into the little Compact Flash memory card that I've been using on our vacation.

You wanted me to be remembered on this vacation too. Not just everyone else's face, but my own as well.

But what you didn't know is how insecure I am in front of the camera...

I got nervous. I'm not usually the model, and all I could think about was how awkward I felt and how much I wanted to take the camera from your hands.

Because being in front of the camera is intimidating. To be examined closely and stared down by a huge piece of glass... it feels as if you can see all of me.

But the reality is that you do... Because you're my husband. You know me.

And there's no one I'd rather be known by.

Thanks for walking beside me to my 21st birthday. I love you.