Amanda's got no shortage of loveliness. She just can't contain it all, so it shines out of her all the time. You never can tell where you might get hit with one of those errant loveliness rays and fall more in love with her, but here are the likeliest places:
1. The back of St. Ignatius Orthodox Church where her radiant beauty strikes you for the very first time.
2. The back of St. Athanasius Orthodox Church where you propose to her in her slippers.
3. At her parents' house where she cares for foster kids with unrivaled tenderness and compassion.
4. At Mexi Fresh under a barrage of prodding questions from her loyal friends. (N.B. You can fall in love with her when she isn't even there. Stay alert!)
5. At the ferris wheel in Chicago when she nearly wrestles you to the ground to prevent you from seeing her beauty captured on film (even though it can't be).
6. On the phone when you make her laugh from thousands of miles away.
7. Watching X-Files at her aunt's house in a letterman jacket (she's in it, not you).
8. Around a bonfire with your friends from high school who call her "California Girl" for the next four years because you keep talking about her.
9. On an unofficial college tour when you're tripping over yourself to win her over while realizing that she's on another plane than everyone around you.
10. At Nojoqui Falls where you fall in love with the beauty of her home state (something she's apparently lent to it).
11. At her grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary where you see that loveliness runs in the family.
12. In the maternity ward when she brings your daughters into the world with equal parts bravery and beauty.
13. The porch on Anapamu where you share sweet meals among the hummingbirds.
14. The Inn at Schoolhouse Creek where you watch a movie based on a strange Irish folk tale while recovering from too much delicious honeymoon food.
15. The Buckhorn Inn where you learn her that loveliness shined right through to her SAT scores.
16. In her classroom where she expertly teaches little ones.
17. Caroling with her high school friends and trying to position yourself so you can hear her voice without her hearing yours.
18. At Hearst Castle where you note that its beauty is nothing in comparison to Amanda's.
19. At her brother's football games where you witness her strong sense of family.
20. On the Natchez Trace bridge where you kiss her.
21. On the couch where you listen to her.
22. At L.O.G. where you watch her love pour out so freely on so many.
23. In the minivan sharing looks when your children say unbelievably adorable things.
24. At your wedding.
25. At Disneyland where you face death together at the top of a way-too-scary ferris wheel.
26. In the airport taking the original selfies.
27. On a cross-country move with a radiator repaired with duct tape acquired at a junkyard in Arkansas.
28. In her writing that captures the beauty around her and shares it.
29. In Seattle where you discover new things together, just enjoying her company.
30. At Margot Cafe where you don't notice that it's freezing outside (and possibly snowing) while you kiss in the parking lot.
31. At Zaca Mesa Winery where you pretend to be a sophisticated wine connoisseur while your kids play giant chess.
32. At an MRDQ gathering where your friendships meld.
33. At soccer games where you watch your kids become their own people.
34. Watching your kids' puppet shows in which characters spend vast swaths of time asleep.
35. In your home.
36. In dreams of your future together and the countless other places where you will fall more deeply in love with her.
Happy Birthday!
