I have always wanted a niece! Now, don't get me wrong, I love Ivey, and he fills my heart with joy every time I see his face, get a text picture of him, or hear his voice in the background when Jen is trying valiantly to have some sister time on the phone. But growing up, and now especially as an adult, I have always loved the amazing relationships I share with the awesome women who are my aunts! I have been blessed with strong, caring, selfless women who love our family and have loved me like a daughter-- and I can't wait to be that for Miss Riley Beth! Thank you to my awesome aunts for all their love and support, and for helping shape the woman I am today.
Sharon, aka Sherry Belle, is my mom's sister. Her son John and I were born so close, and were best friends growing up. It seems like one of us was always at the other's house! Sherry is the picture of grace and Godly love. She has taught me the worth of appreciating all my blessings, because she definitely appreciates every one of hers!! She always has a smile to give and a positive thing to say, and is such a light for my naturally-old soul. Sherry is a natural caretakers of everyone around her. We can talk and laugh for hours, and I truly miss being close to her! Luckily, Sherry Belle takes the time to remember me whenever she is near the metroplex-- let's have another Mattito's visit soon Sharon! But without the tornado this time :)
Aunt Kathy, aka Kass, is my mom's other sister. I cannot believe I do not have a single picture of us anywhere on my computer except this one! Wow!! (Yeah, that's me, chubby + curls, and Kass is holding me.) Much like Sherry, I can remember few times when I wasn't at Kass's house playing with cousin Dustin or he wasn't at mine! Kass was very important in my life, especially as I was being raised by a single mom. The greatest school days were when Kass would pick me up and we'd go to Sonic for a Dr. Pepper and tater tots-- extra crispy! I got to sing a trio with Kass in church, and play handbells with her--I think it is great when aunts and nieces actually get to have hobbies together! This picture is actually from a going away present Kass and her daughter Ali made me-- a book of family memories that I still look at to this day. Kass, Kau-Kaus, and Ali have all come down to see me and were so sweet to stay an look at Christmas lights in Highland Park with me-- I was dying to have some family here to do that!
Aunt Robin, aka Bobber, is my dad's sister. She was very close to my mom and to Kass when they were younger, and now she is very close to me! Bobber is near to my heart in so many ways, and I have been so lucky to get closer to her as I got older. Bobber and I share so much! Our love for healthy living, challenging exercising, and of course, GREAT food and wine! Her friendship means the world to me, and even though she's an aunt, I feel like she's more of a sister. I wish I lived closer to her! A trip to Alabama in the near future is a must- I just need to start saving my pennies and make it happen. Like me, Bobber is a p90x grad-- you should see her legs-- rawr! And no griping, Bobber, about the pic-- you do not have man hands. Bobber made her last trip home to Bammy from Texas even longer by stopping into Dallas, just to see me. The sweet card she sent me after our visit reminds me every day just how much I'm loved!
I sure do have amazing women in my life. I hope and pray that someday I can be a tenth of the woman to Riley!!
And to state the obvious, there is another amazing woman in my life, the center to all this! But that's for later-- Mom deserves her own blog!
