To my beautiful niece - Happy 16th birthday!!!

To my beautiful niece,

I thought I would dedicate my blog to you on this wonderful day. A day that marks the start to a magical dawn of awesome possibilities, a little bit of scary things, huge decisions with miles and miles of potential - your 16th birthday.

Here are my five birthday wishes for you beautiful....

1)You are loved and treasured
Babe, don't ever forget that you are loved by those around you and a treasured part of our lives - especially in the lives of those that have gone on and those who are still waiting to come. You are the first baby that I ever saw born and I thank your mother that I was able to hold you when you were minutes old (my first and last ;-))My love was sealed on that day because you were the most beautiful baby on the planet!!

I know at times it may feel that no one 'gets' you or that you may be alone, or that you are not good enough - but at that moment, babe, remember you are precious and you are loved, by someone who is waiting to hear from you in a prayer.. you are never alone.

2)Learn from your Aunty's mistakes
My second wish is for you to learn from my mistakes (and I include your father's here as well ;-)). Use the lessons from these errors in judgement as lightstones to line your path through this life. If you make a mistake and even repeat one of the many we have made - kei te pai babe. We are still here and living life, so surely it couldn't have been that bad. It's going to kill us to see you hurt, but we will be there to help you live through any slips.... and unfortunately there will probably be some of those babe ;-)

3)Future full of memories worth reliving
My third wish for you is to live a life that once you get to my age and older - that when you reflect on it - you smile more than anything else... Make the best out of your life darling. Take calculated risks and live outside of your little box. Travel, and get an education and enjoy yourself. An education is a must babe!! Just don't forget to write to me while you are doing it ;-)

4)Friends that are worthy of your friendship
My fourth wish is that you will blessed to have a circle of friends who will end up seeing you through the ups and downs of life without adding to your burdens. I wish you a life of friends that share their dreams and troubles without miminising yours and making you feel like you have to change so that you don't outshine theirs. I wish you friends that in thirty years time that when they call you - the years slip away and you can still talk on the phone for hours...

5)Love like mine and Uncles :-)
My last birthday wish is for you that in years to come that you will find someone who treats you like a princess.I was just a few years older than you when I found Uncle and the rest is history ;-) However I nearly missed him altogether because I was in a hurry, so my wish for you is that you use the years to come to look out for things that you want in a companion and stick to that babe. Don't be in a hurry babe.... and hopefully he will be just like Uncle - only better at cooking ;-)

Love you forever,

Aunty Mxox