The day that I became an aunt, an age 12, was a very memorable, wonderful day. The memory of the first time I held my beautiful newborn niece and kissed her silky cheek is a memory which has lingered like a sweet scent throughout all the following years. I am now the aunt of three nieces and five nephews and each one is priceless and beloved to me in their own individual way. I love being an aunt. It's a precious role in life that I do my best to fill with patience, faithful love. I greatly desire to be a role model to the little ones who call me "Auntie Anga." I greatly desire to be someone who they feel totally comfortable with, who they can look up to and trust completely as well as have a lot of fun with. I long to be a good example to them, and I hope to give them as much joy and pleasure as they give me. I greatly desire to go walking through life with them, with their little soft feet alongside my big ones. It's been a blessing, watching each of them grow up and become their own person, with their own desires, dreams and talents. Some of them are still very little and though I eagerly anticipate watching them grow and learn and become big kids, for I also fully enjoy their toddling, precious baby ways. Each of my nephews and nieces shines in his or her own way and each one has a particular area where their loving, helpful, talented nature shines through especially brightly. For some, their personality and the gifts they have to offer others is shown through exceptional reading skills and a love of learning in school, for others it is in caring for younger siblings or in being their mom's helper with chores or creating food and for others it is through art or music or in having a gentle, skillful touch with animals and a strong interest to learn about these creatures and take care of them. One of my favorite places to be is sitting with my nieces and nephews gathered around me, the little ones on my lap, the older ones right next to me with my arms around them, listening to me read them books or playing games with me, or just being cuddled and tickled by me. I love tickling their little feet and holding onto their little hands. I love watching them make up games and let their imaginations fly in wonderful, funny, interesting ways. I love watching them interact with each other and watch the bigger ones carry the babies or toddlers, around, hug and kiss them and help look after them and keep them safe and as happy as possible. They are such good friends with each other and are so good at playing together and loving each other though of course they have their times of needing to work through arguments or needing their own space as all children and adults, do. I am very proud of my sisters for the wonderful job they have done and continue to do in raising their children! And I am so proud of these little darlings, proud of all the learning and growing they have done. I love each one very dearly and I am so blessed to be their aunt!