To the person I’m going to marry,

Well, first thing I have to say is holy shit. Never thought I’d see the day where I found someone who willingly wants to spend the rest of their life with me, but I guess here we are, huh? I’m currently 23 working on 24 and I’ve already convinced myself that I’m going to die alone in a house full of golden retrievers. Guess that didn’t happen!

If you’ve stuck a ring on my finger, I suppose that at this point you have already accepted all of my quirky habits. I have many. You’ve probably woken up in the morning multiple times to me serenading my (now our) cat Rorie while dancing around in my underwear like an idiot. I’ve probably also done multiple things to cause you to stand there staring at me blankly wondering how the hell someone so smart could do something so stupid. It takes a special type of someone to love me, so I admire your strength and patience.

You must be a really great guy, because the family I have been surrounded by my entire life has been full of great guys and I will settle for nothing less. You’ve also obviously passed the “brother test” which could possibly be the hardest test you’ve ever taken, and you didn’t even know you were taking it. My brother’s approval is most important. It’s like he has a 6th sense and can spot a douche bag from a mile away. He has never actually told me how to live my life, he just gently suggests the choices that he thinks would be best for me to be happy. And that’s all he ever wants for me. Is to be happy. So sounds like you must have made the cut. ;).

Not only have you passed the “brother test” but you must also have accepted my family for their entirety. If you hadn’t, I would have kicked you to the curb a long time ago. My family means more to me than anything, and I’ve been searching for someone who can be apart of my life without trying to seclude me and “us” from them. I know that we will hopefully one day create a family of our own, but at this point in my life I couldn’t go a day or two without at least a text to my mom and dad and I don’t foresee that changing.

Teaching is also an important part of my life but you already know that. My kids mean a lot to me, and some of my paycheck most paydays are spent on things for my classroom. You must have come to terms with the fact that my career is something I am passionate about, and have sat through countless dinners listening to my stories about meetings, parents, and crazy kids who drive me up a wall but are also what keep me going.

I hope that this letter finds you as we are just coming back from my dream honeymoon. A week all inclusive somewhere tropical, and a week in my favorite place on earth, Disney World. See I’d much rather spend more money on a honeymoon and have a smaller wedding. Maybe I got you to agree to Disney….Guess I’ll have to wait and find out. All I know is that I can’t wait to buy a big farmhouse with you to fix up and fill with children and golden retrievers. I promise that I will be there by your side for whatever life throws at us.

All my love,

Emily