Ten!

My wife and I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary tomorrow (April 24). That's us in the little framed photo, one we've always had on display somewhere. We're not big on photos of ourselves, but it's great to have a little one to remind us of the day we started this journey. We were so young in so many ways back then!

Our first stop as a married couple was at a Wal-Mart to buy contact solution. My new bride forgot her makeup bag and had to deal with her contact lenses. We were also fortunate that day that it was overcast (great lighting for this photo) and that it didn't rain until dinnertime (made for a romantic evening). We were married in Tulsa, Oklahoma (back when the state required blood tests for a marriage license!), spent the night at a great bed-and-breakfast in Claremore, drove back south for a stop at our rental house and then spent a week on the beach in Galveston. It's all two newspaper journalists could afford!

Since then, we've been through a lot. But we've come through and our blessings are magnified and unmeasurable, two of which – our kids – have expanded the very definition of "blessing." Ten years might not be that long a time in the scheme of things, and for us, I hope it still represents the beginning. I'm enjoying the trek so far!

Note to any nearlyweds out there: if you're looking for a wedding photographer, it's an important decision. Find someone who has a proven track record and is someone you can stand to be around for one of the most important days of your lives. We're all as budget-conscious as ever these days, but shopping based on price is more likely to leave you disappointed. The gown will be packed away. The food and cake will be long gone and forgotten. But the photos will remain.