A special day

Today is a special day. For today marks the 40th anniversary of a very important event.

Forty years ago on this day, February 3, one of the most marvelous people in the world was born: my baby sister.

Now, when I say my "baby" sister, I really mean it. I am one of three girls. My parents had one daughter, who was practically perfect in every way, and then two years later they had me. After I was born, they had no more children for six and a half years.

I think it took them a while to get their courage back.

Thanks be to God, they didn't stop with just two daughters. In fact, I thank God every day that they went ahead and had one more child, for I can't imagine life without Ami.

That's her name. Ami. French for "friend." Well-named, she is. I've heard it said that a true friend is someone who knows all about you and likes you anyway. Ami is that person. She knows all about me--the bad stuff as well as the good stuff--and her devotion never wavers. She is loving and faithful and true, right to the very core. She is beautiful and talented and kind and generous.

And to top off all her wonderful qualities, she's given me the most adorable niece and nephew an aunt could ever want: