Nate,

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a planner. I stick to the plan. There are many situations where this has not worked out well for me, but our relationship was not one of them. I began planning this moment in my mind almost immediately after meeting you. You made that easy, because you wanted me to be myself. It wasn’t weird when we named our intentions early on. It wasn’t uncomfortable when I told you I didn’t want to see anyone else after our first date. I loved you from the start, even though I waited for you to say it first. I knew you were the one who I wanted to be with forever, and each day that I have known you, I am reminded of that.

There’s no one like you, Nate. The most attractive thing about you is that you are so comfortable in your own skin. You care more about being authentic and true to yourself than about what others might think. For example: You made me a mix CD on our first date. You recruit anyone you meet to play Ultimate, work at KIPP, move to Shaw. You cook without recipes. You told me you loved me after just three weeks of knowing each other, because you were in love, and why would you keep that to yourself? I know that this is how my life will be with you: real, honest, and unafraid of vulnerability. You make me laugh often. You make me want to be better each and every day. You are patient and supportive of all of my choices, even when they prove difficult. You love me unconditionally, as is. You communicate to me every day that we will make it work, no matter what, and thrive while doing so. We are driven by a common vision for our lives, families and futures. We are equals, partners. I love you with all of my being, forever. You are EVERYTHING.

Nate, I take you as my husband, my partner, my other half, and best friend. Everything that I am, I give to you. All of my love, my soul, my being, is yours, from now until forever.