Today is Tina’s birthday. Wednesday was my daughter-in-law Christy’s birthday. Just two more reasons why autumn is my favorite time of year. What gifts they are to me. They’re both on my mind so I figured I’d give them a joint shout out.There isn’t enough time to tell you how much these two women mean to me. Just know there are no two human beans more dear, and there’s nothing, nothing I wouldn’t do to see them both safe and fulfilled in this life.They are strong, capable women. Both whip smart. Both utterly unique. Both extremely quirky, vulnerable, hard working, devoted, and fierce, fierce friends. And one of the greatest blessings for me is that over the years I’ve had the joy of watching them become the fiercest of friends to one another. I’m just speaking for myself here but it’s not been my experience that strong independent women tend to bond easily with other strong independent women. These two are the exception. They’ve got each other’s back, and I’ve got theirs.I love them both, of course, but even better, I really like them. They are each in their own way both strong and vulnerable, serious and playful, wise and ditsy, mature and childlike. As far as I know their only true character defect is a shared obsession with true-crime podcasts but, you know, for the sake of all the good you learn to live with certain things. They both claim it’s a fascination with the human psyche, but there is definitely also some bloodthirsty quest for justice in there. Which, I have to admit, is strangely comforting on some level. Nevertheless, all of that pales in comparison with how committed they both are to health, transparency, healing, growing, and becoming. In fact I don’t know two people more humbly committed to becoming.Yesterday, Tina received a birthday card from my Mom—who by the way is a master gift giver—and I thought the sentiment was absolutely perfect for both of these women. It simply says,“Your awesome has layers. You’re Classy, Sassy, and a whole lot Kick-Assy.”Yep, that just about sums it up.Love you, Tina.Love you, Sparks.Happy Birthdays!Today may not be the birthday of someone you love, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a perfect day to celebrate your best people, maybe get together, and definitely get busy building yourself a beautiful life.