On the weekend of August 29, 2009, my first cousin, Miss Jill Farmer happily said YES to being my Maid of Honor.

That was her birthday weekend and my parents’ anniversary weekend, so it was a perfect time to pop the question. Philip and I were home, in Illinois, and Jill had come over for dinner that evening. All afternoon I’d played out in my mind the different ways to ask her. While dinner was being finished, Jill and I had decided to take a quick stroll on Facebook. Then came the perfect opportunity.

Jill had gotten up to take a quick phone call. While she was up, I opened Google Documents and opened up the word processor. In big, bold letters I typed…

Jill…It would be an honor…if you would be my maid of honor…?

I saved the page and clicked to a different browser tab. Once she returned from her phone call, she sat down and asked “Now where should I click to get to Facebook?”

Here it was…the moment I’d been waiting for…

“Here. Click that one,” I said, strategically pointing to the other tab I’d cleverly disguised. When the Google Document page appeared, she seemed confused for a moment, then I could see she was reading the whole sentence…then a hand went over her mouth as she turned quickly to me, smiling, and said “Really?!”

“Yes!” I said, as we both leapt to our feet and embraced as a happy tear or two ran down our cheeks. This was such a cool moment.

Thankfully she accepted my invitation and has since proved to be the BEST Maid of Honor a girl could ever imagine.

Jill and I have been close nearly as long as I can recall in my memory. Of course, as with every relationship, we’ve had our ups and downs. I attribute any of our not so bright and shining moments to adolescence. Thanks to age, maturity and experience, however, we’ve never been closer…and our bond has continued to strengthen over the past several years.

Jill, thank you for being the sister I never had. I’m so blessed to not only call you family…but also a best friend. I’m grateful our parents raised us both as strong women and I look forward to sharing many, many more significant life events with you. Thank you for being you. I love you.

Jill and Krista through the years…