I'm quite literally sitting at my computer, staring at a blinking cursor. Where do I begin? What do I say? What on *earth* do I write? So, instead of actually writing words of substance, I am telling you about my inability to write.

There. I did it again. I wrote an entire paragraph trying desperately to share with my blog world just how amazing these newlyweds are, how genuinely amazing they are, and how much I value their friendship. But then I deleted it. It just didn't fit. Words were not enough.

Its not that I don't have anything to say; on the contrary, there is so much that could be said about Marian and Ryan. My problem, though, is knowing where to begin, or - worse - how to end!

Marian and I went to college together, but we didn't really connect back then. I have a couple theories why, but they ultimately don't matter. What does matter, though, is that a year ago we sent a flurry of emails back and forth, as we realized we were walking similar paths, overcoming similar hurdles. And the rest is history.

Its kinda like what C.S. Lewis said:

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one”

From then on, and despite all the changes the past year has held, it was the real deal pen pal thing for Marian and Jennifer.

And then, because Marian is amazing and married one amazing gentleman, somewhere along the way I counted Ryan as my friend, too.

So that's how it began, this friendship of ours.

Somewhere in that flurry of emails with Marian, the idea slowly formed. Jennifer goes to Phoenix. Marian puts on her wedding dress. Ryan pulls out his Air Force mess dress (did I get the terminology right?). They drive to the desert. Jennifer grabs her camera.

And that's how it all began.