One year ago today....

... this picture was taken. I can't believe that was one year ago... wow!

I'm sitting here waiting for Ksenia to get ready so we can hit up the Portland version of Tucano's for dinner tonight, and I thought it would be a good time to just let everybody know how happy I am that I married Ksenia. This year has flown by. Having Ksenia here with me, instead of in Utah, has been the key to my happiness and optimism which I often attribute to the rapid passing of time. We've spent the last year helping each other through school, frustrating jobs, challenging church callings, and life without a car. Could've been the longest year of my life, but with Ksenia around I'm always sure that the next fork in the road is going to be that much more encouraging and exciting.... and it makes the weird and windy roads we travel (on foot, and now on bicycle) that much more enjoyable.

Since I started a new job a last week I have had the opportunity to reveal to a lot of people that I am married. A lot of the guys that are my age ask me what it is like, and all I can tell them is... It's Great! Before Ksenia there was very little spice to my life, very little to get excited about, or riled up about... just plain passionate about. Like the song says (you gotta love a guy who quotes his own lyrics) there is just a whole lot more color in my life when she is around. I don't know what I would do without her. One year ago today... I was happy.... but man, I had no idea how good it really gets... and it's getting better all the time...