I got the call on Christmas morning that I’d been hoping I’d get this Christmas. My nephew Andrew Myers has asked Sally McGuire for her hand in marriage and she accepted! Why, you might ask, is the such great news for me? Because I fell in love with that girl the moment I met her and I’m am giddy about the news that she is going to be joining our family.

Jill had met her a few weeks before I got to meet her. She came home and reported that Sally was a sweet girl and that she had a great personality. Andrew is Melanie and Marshall’s next to oldest of five sons. Their oldest, our nephew Jeremy, is married to Meredith. She set an impossibly high mark for women who would be prospective wives of our total of nine sons. Seeing these great young men fall in love with incredible women and creating loving unions just makes me happy.

Sally, welcome to our crazy family. We’re all just a little nutty, but we love hard, and from my very first impression of you, you’ll be an awesome addition to the group. I have two requests: You’ve got to teach me how to fly fish and you’ve got to drive me home from the Asheville drum circle. I definitely shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a car, because on that Friday night, I’m going to burn the house down!

Sally, I have a big Love. Jill and I have one of the greatest marriages I know of. I love her more than anything and I respect her even more than I love her.

Marriage is not a 50/50 deal. It is a 100/100 proposition. You have to give it all you have every single day and if your partner is doing the same thing, everything will always work out.

I wish for you and Andrew to have one of these special marriages, one for the ages. I will dance at your wedding and I will toast that you both have long, happy lives and many blonde children.

I am so happy for you both, because you are both special, wonderful people. Happy New Year, Sally! I’m so happy that you’ll be joining our family!