To my two kid sisters...

Erin. Meg.

Two of the sweetest, most loving, most beautiful in spirit and in person people I have ever been blessed to know in this lifetime...

Both of my girls got baptised this past Sunday.

And yes, I cried. I started crying the second I saw the video start. I was crying because I was so proud of them, so happy for them, and so proud to see them take a stance for their faith, and re-commit their lives to Christ.

...and then they both mentioned me.

I kid you not -- it took every ounce of self-control I could muster after that. I was fighting crying like a baby. If I would have let myself, I don't think I could have stopped crying. I don't think I've wanted to just sob -- crying unshamedly before God, my friends, and all else in just abject total praise -- since...man. I don't think I've ever felt that way.

But -- Ryan would have shot me on site if I'd lost my composure. I had to go play nice eith the 3rd-6th graders, and I didn't need to look like I'd just been broken up with.

Yeah -- and Cotton? Chelsea? You guys all hugging afterwards? That almost brought the tears back to me.

How is it that I -- who have no biological ties to any of these people -- can feel like my heart is about to explode hen I see them, and see how strong they all are? And how proud and honored I am to have them as my friends, to know them, and to be in their lives.

I love each and every one of you.

-- all four of you who'll actually read this