A letter to my unmarried self:

Dear Brittany,

You're getting married in just a few short days.  Here are some things to remember:

-Find the straps to your dress.  The seamstress did not alter it correctly and you will feel more comfortable with them on.

-Relax during pictures, or you'll end up looking scared (with your nostrils flared) in some of them.

- Eat an extra meatball and an extra cupcake.  It's your wedding.  Just do it.

Ok, but seriously,

Remember that you are about to stand up in front of all of your dearest friends and family and profess the love that you have for your best friend.  He is the man that you have been waiting for your entire life.  Don't mess this up.  I can't promise you that this first year won't be difficult.  In fact, you'll end up buying a new car, both of you will end up in completely different jobs, he'll make you learn how to drive a stick shift on Jeffers, you'll learn that he leaves his dirty socks inside out on the kitchen floor and he'll think thats its disgusting that you clean your ears with q-tips after you get out of the shower.  It will take him awhile to learn that sometimes you just need a hug and you'll need to figure out that when he doesn't feel well, he doesn't want to be babied, he just wants to be left alone to sleep.  Neither one of you will want to do the dishes and finances can take a while to figure out.

But also remember that every morning you get to wake up next to your best friend.  In spite of all of the grossness of this world and your current position in life, you get to walk hand and hand with the one that makes you smile like a big cheesball.  He will always be there to protect you when someone attacks you, slap you across the face (figuratively) when you are being ridiculous, and bring you the book, shoes, bra, CD, brush, tape, etc. that you happened to forget and can't get through the performance or meeting or day without it. 

In turn, don't forget that coming home to a warm meal is a wonderful feeling, and doing the dishes yourself is a lot less painful than picking a fight over it.  "Thank you" can never be heard enough and we don't get lost, we take the scenic route.  Stand beside him when he's feeling beaten and love him, even if you don't seem to like each other at that given moment.  Help his as best you know how and don't forget that the cat sometimes likes him better.

Marriage is not easy.  No one ever told you that it would be.  But, marriage is an amazing and interesting trip, to say the least.  As Larry told you, don't ever stop looking for and enjoying the mystery that is this life.  Live your life with a passion and intensity to serve your loving and amazing God and worship Him with your husband by your side.

Take each moment and cherish it.  Don't waste a single minute, a single breath, a single heartbeat.  Love him.  Let him love you.  And together, change the little piece of world that you belong to in the name of He who created you.