I think it can be safely said that some of the cutest kids in the world are my nieces and nephews. I know that most aunts would say that about their nieces and nephews, but I'm pretty sure that I am the only one who has warrant to. I would like to take some time to tell you why I think this. I have 4 nephews and 3 nieces. Let me introduce them to you.
Brianna is the oldest. She is 12 years old and loves people more selflessly and with more of a servant's heart than most adults I know.
Then comes Zachariah. Zach is 11 years old and was born to be a football player. He is almost as tall as me and can tackle his dad. He can be described as a learner. While his brothers could play video games every moment for their entire lives, Zach is content to sit down and read a book.
Next is Ashlyn. Ashlyn is also 11 years old and is by far the most no-girl-drma, laid-back, easy-going 5th grade girl that I know. She is very blessed to be the spitting image of my mom and will probably grow up to be like my mom in many ways.
Then we have Elijah. Elijah is one of the funniest chlildren you will ever meet. He's 7 years old and tells funnier jokes than most comedians. You never know when he's going to break out in his next dance move.
Almost through...
Now comes my little buddy Joseph. Joseph is almost 4 years old and is all BOY. Where there is dirt, cars, sports, or mischief of any kind you will find little JoJo.
Not far behind is Jonah. Jonah is 3 years old and is following closely in Elijah's center-of-attention footsteps. What will come out of Jonah's mouth next is always unpredictable and always enjoyable. Jonah always knows how to use his cuteness to get whatever the heck he wants....uh oh.
Finally, we have little Ava. Ava is 7 months old and, let's just face it, she's beautiful. She has more clothes than I have had or ever will have in my lifetime and she doesn't even know it yet.
Brianna is the oldest. She is 12 years old and loves people more selflessly and with more of a servant's heart than most adults I know.
Then comes Zachariah. Zach is 11 years old and was born to be a football player. He is almost as tall as me and can tackle his dad. He can be described as a learner. While his brothers could play video games every moment for their entire lives, Zach is content to sit down and read a book.
Next is Ashlyn. Ashlyn is also 11 years old and is by far the most no-girl-drma, laid-back, easy-going 5th grade girl that I know. She is very blessed to be the spitting image of my mom and will probably grow up to be like my mom in many ways.
Then we have Elijah. Elijah is one of the funniest chlildren you will ever meet. He's 7 years old and tells funnier jokes than most comedians. You never know when he's going to break out in his next dance move.
Almost through...
Now comes my little buddy Joseph. Joseph is almost 4 years old and is all BOY. Where there is dirt, cars, sports, or mischief of any kind you will find little JoJo.
Not far behind is Jonah. Jonah is 3 years old and is following closely in Elijah's center-of-attention footsteps. What will come out of Jonah's mouth next is always unpredictable and always enjoyable. Jonah always knows how to use his cuteness to get whatever the heck he wants....uh oh.
Finally, we have little Ava. Ava is 7 months old and, let's just face it, she's beautiful. She has more clothes than I have had or ever will have in my lifetime and she doesn't even know it yet.
Being an aunt is one of the greatest priviliges I have in life. I have learned so much as I have watched these children grow and have loved every second of it. I can't wait to see who they become and love knowing that I get to have some small part in it.
As an aunt, there are moments that I will treasure forever. Some of them are hilarious and others are just amazing moments where God uses a small child to teach me something I didn't know before. I just had one of these moments the other night while I was visiting my sister and her kids. ..
Elijah and Jonah were in the bath. Elijah had just gotten out and Wendy was trying to get Jonah out. She came downstairs to tell me that Jonah wanted me to get him out of the bath. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity already because Jonah chooses when he wants to talk and be nice and when he wants to just ignore you. So, I was honored to say the least. I got Jonah out of the bath and carried him downstairs to get him dressed. As I layed him on the ground and dried him off, he looked up at me and said, "I love you, Meme" (nicknames, another great part of being an aunt). Though caught off guard, I looked at Jonah and said, "I love you, too." Because of Jonah's spontaniety, he goes from calm and subdued one moment to bouncing off the walls the next. So, before I could finish getting him dressed, he stood up and tackled me. But, it was okay because after he did, he looked at me yet again and said, "I love you, Meme. I wanna give you a kiss." Then, he leaned forward, through his arms around my neck and gave me a kiss. I could not believe it! There's really nothing like hearing a little child tell you they love you on their own accord with such enthusiasm and joy.
Then, Jonah taught me an important little lesson (well, God did through Jonah). Only moments later, after he was dressed, I was still thinking about how honored I was to hear him say those words to me two times with no prompting. I was sitting on the couch and we were getting ready to watch a movie. I told Jonah to come sit on my lap. He looked at me with a look of disregard, even disgust, and says, "No, I don't wanna sit by you. I wanna sit by mommy." Then watched my reaction as he walked away and climbed up next to Wendy.
Jonah could tell me he loved me every single day as long as I'm alive and his love would still be imperfect. I don't want to try and overspiritualize the situation, but Jonah's fickle and inconsistent love reminded me of the unchanging, faithful, and perfect love of the Father. He didn't just say, "I love you" He showed me with a blood-stained cross. And He continues to remind me every single day. I love my family so much, but they are merely gifts that God has given me to point me to Himself, the gift-Giver. I am reminded of the words of St. Augustine "He loves you too little who loves anything together with you that he loves not for your sake." The moment that I begin to love the gifts more than the One who gives them, my love for Him is far too weak. May I continue to love the One who gives more than the gifts given. They are only representations of the love the Father has for me.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17
As an aunt, there are moments that I will treasure forever. Some of them are hilarious and others are just amazing moments where God uses a small child to teach me something I didn't know before. I just had one of these moments the other night while I was visiting my sister and her kids. ..
Elijah and Jonah were in the bath. Elijah had just gotten out and Wendy was trying to get Jonah out. She came downstairs to tell me that Jonah wanted me to get him out of the bath. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity already because Jonah chooses when he wants to talk and be nice and when he wants to just ignore you. So, I was honored to say the least. I got Jonah out of the bath and carried him downstairs to get him dressed. As I layed him on the ground and dried him off, he looked up at me and said, "I love you, Meme" (nicknames, another great part of being an aunt). Though caught off guard, I looked at Jonah and said, "I love you, too." Because of Jonah's spontaniety, he goes from calm and subdued one moment to bouncing off the walls the next. So, before I could finish getting him dressed, he stood up and tackled me. But, it was okay because after he did, he looked at me yet again and said, "I love you, Meme. I wanna give you a kiss." Then, he leaned forward, through his arms around my neck and gave me a kiss. I could not believe it! There's really nothing like hearing a little child tell you they love you on their own accord with such enthusiasm and joy.
Then, Jonah taught me an important little lesson (well, God did through Jonah). Only moments later, after he was dressed, I was still thinking about how honored I was to hear him say those words to me two times with no prompting. I was sitting on the couch and we were getting ready to watch a movie. I told Jonah to come sit on my lap. He looked at me with a look of disregard, even disgust, and says, "No, I don't wanna sit by you. I wanna sit by mommy." Then watched my reaction as he walked away and climbed up next to Wendy.
Jonah could tell me he loved me every single day as long as I'm alive and his love would still be imperfect. I don't want to try and overspiritualize the situation, but Jonah's fickle and inconsistent love reminded me of the unchanging, faithful, and perfect love of the Father. He didn't just say, "I love you" He showed me with a blood-stained cross. And He continues to remind me every single day. I love my family so much, but they are merely gifts that God has given me to point me to Himself, the gift-Giver. I am reminded of the words of St. Augustine "He loves you too little who loves anything together with you that he loves not for your sake." The moment that I begin to love the gifts more than the One who gives them, my love for Him is far too weak. May I continue to love the One who gives more than the gifts given. They are only representations of the love the Father has for me.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17
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