Memory Building

My nieces are adorable! I can't adequately express how much I love them and what they do for me. They are special little girls. I'm thrilled that being an aunt has turned out to be so rewarding; I never considered that it would be this way.

Little Miss Chloe moved away to Florida as a toddler. Agony! Although I'm almost always penniless, I managed to make several trips out to visit her and also her sister, Malia, when she was born. I'll never forget coming through the door late at night after Scott, my brother-in-law, picked me up from the airport. I looked up the stairs to see Chloe in a little tee shirt and panties. She jumped into my arms and stared at me like I was an angel just come down from heaven. Every morning she'd wake me up by sitting on my chest and leaning down into my face say, "Sumpin' to eat, Sarlet. Sumpin' to eat." Her hot breath on my face cracked me up. I remember watching her, Miss Motor-mouth, get tounge-tied meeting Snow White.

Precious Kate moved away to Maryland and then when Brooklyn came along, she was out of reach too! Not more than a couple months ago I went out to visit Kate and to meet my darling Brooklyn. I'm so in love with them! It's funny how after spending time with those girls, my heart felt stronger toward them. Pictures can't do what visiting and interacting can.

Memory snapshots of that trip:

Waking up most mornings to the sound of Kate calling from her bedroom: "One, two, fwee, Twaaaavis! Twaaaavis!"

Sitting down on the floor to put my make-up on with Kate by my side looking on. I take a moment to put on mascara. I look down at Kate clutching my powder brush in her tiny hands and sweeping it between her toes.

Making Brooklyn giggle and watch her flapping her arms in glee so energetically I'm worried she might fly away.

Viewing sculptures of antiquity at the National Smithsonian of Art with Kate in my arms and listening to her commentary as she points. She is so observant! Hahahahaha!

I turned on the BYU channel today as I was gettting ready for church. A man was relating an experience about planning a trip to Europe with his wife. The cost of the trip began to weigh on him and he thought of all the alternative ways that the money could be spent (such as X pair of shoes, X happy meals, a barbeque, etc.) His wife then reminded him that "We are not collectors of things. We are builders of memories." Isn't that great?!

I enjoy authentic (anxiety-free) happiness from memories of time with my nieces and siblings. I don't know why visiting and vacationing was always so important to me, but it was and still is. I'm so lucky to have Kate, Brooklyn, Malia and Chloe. They are so special to me. I treasure those memories with them I have sacrificed to make. It pays back in huge dividends. Experiences like these are memories that will nurture me forever!