To my wonderful nieces,

I am so blessed to have you in my life, and being your aunt brings me so much joy. I never thought I could love someone so much. You both bring so much happiness into my life and into your parents life. I look back to the years before you both were born, and I smile thinking of those memories, but I smile even bigger when I think of the day each one of you entered my world.

I wish I could spend every moment with you, whether watching you play with your blocks, or you asking me to read to you over and over and over again, coloring or listening to the words you are learning in order to communicate to us. Your smile is my favorite, because your smile is infectious to those around you.

I keep pictures of you both in my phone because they brighten my day. Though, when I visit you again, I have to take new pictures because you've changed so much since the last time I visited. You both are growing up so quickly, and I wish I could just push pause so I can keep y'all little forever.

I wish I could protect you from every negative thing that happens in this world. I wish I could protect you from the things that will hurt you. But I promise you this; I will always have my arms wide open whenever you need someone to talk to or cry out your tears. Whether you have a gymnastics competition, soccer game, or an orchestra concert, I will support you in whatever you decide to do; I will be one of your biggest fans (Mommy and daddy will be your ultimate #1 fans.)

I just want you both to know that I love you girls so very much. You don't have to say "I love you" back, but I choose to love you with all my heart anyways. Why? Because that's what it means to love somebody. To love somebody first before they even learn to love you back is the message of God's love for the whole world; "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

I pray you both will learn and believe that Truth one day. I pray that you will see God's purpose for your lives and that you will follow Him with your whole mind, heart, and soul. This is the most important thing that I could pray for you. For you to have a close relationship with God again because He will never fail you. When I, your parents, or best friends can't be there for you, God will never leave you. He's with you no matter how many times you turn away, and His arms are always open for you.

But I want you to know, even if I am far away from you I promise that I am never farther than a phone call away. Even though our times together are shorter and shorter it doesn't mean I love you any less. I can't promise you the world, and I can't promise life will be easy, but I do promise you that the God who created you and created this world will always be right there beside you, and He has placed people who love you to the moon and back a thousand times beside you to help you, to encourage you, and to remind you who you are.

I tell the world about you, about how stinking smart, funny, and sweet you are, and how you always make me laugh with the way your happy feet dances to music. I love dancing with you, watching Happy Feet with you, and I love making you laugh.

Most of all, I promise to love you no matter what.

Love,

Your aunt