My Second Mom

Kim Warner is many things. She is a mom, a wife ,a daughter, a friend but most important she is a great aunt. She exhibits a motherly figure to many adolescents. Kim loves the beauty of nature. She loves how the moon glows at night, the sunsets and sunrises, the beach, butterflies, palm trees and the list goes on. She loves to call our family and remind us to look at the sky when she thinks the view is pleasant.

 In a voicemail I have received from her she says, "Hi Desi, it's me trying to see if you're able to check out the sky right now, it's pretty amazing, bye." Kim appreciates the smallest of things and loves everyone for who they are. She lights up a room with her contagious and loud chuckle. When she smiles her prominent dimples puncture her cheeks. She gives the best and warmest hugs ever in the world. She holds out her arms and brings me in close for a warm and secure hug rocking me side to side.

 I sat patiently on my little pink bike. My helmet was tightly strapped to my head and I had a nervous look on my face. Minutes later, my aunt walked out of the white and tan house towards me in the grass. "Are you ready?!" she screamed excitedly. She balled up her two fists and shook them in the air with excitement. 

 Quietly and unsure, I looked down at the ground, and responded in a soft voice, "Yes." My aunt gently grabbed a hold of the tiny handle bars on the tiny bike and shuffled along down the road with me. We did this back and forth for a while. My aunt was patient, and kind with me the whole time. She felt that I was ready to ride the bike all on my own. 

"Okay!" she exclaimed with a big, bright and full smile." Do you think you're ready to ride it all on your own now?" I was unsure and hesitant, but I felt confident in the presence of my aunt. So I decided it was time to do it all on my own. My aunt let go of the handles bars and stood back. I kicked off, and was able to ride the bike all on my own. My aunt, smiling big, stood to the side clapping her hands and cheering for me.

 "What do you think it is that draws you towards butterflies, sunsets and sunrises and palm trees or just nature in general so much?" I asked.

 "All of the above draws me to nature including oceans because they are beautiful and tranquil and for the most part untouched by man and it reminds me of the big picture, that there is an order to this world and that order is created by God. Nature is both soothing and relaxing, incredible, majestic and awesome to see filled with vibrant colors and energy, nature is both spectacular and fierce!" she responds. 

 "What do you value in life?" I asked.

 She responds, "I value my faith and my family which includes friendships. I value my faith because it is what God brings me to the belief that life is not random and that we have a purpose to fulfill and no matter how low or dark it gets, God is aware and hasn't left you alone to deal with it but he is right there giving you strength as you build character preserving in the waves of life. I value my family because they are the ones that are there pushing you, encouraging you, laughing with you, crying with you, hoping for the best for you and sometimes making it happen for you."

My 19 years knowing my Aunt Kim, she has always been supportive, kind, and a motherly figure. She taught me to always be kind to everyone no matter what. She taught me a lot of life lessons and morals but the teaching did not stop there. She also taught me a lot of physical things. I learned how to tie my shoe, how to swing on a swing, how to swim, and ride a bike all with Aunt Kim. She has been there to teach me a lot whether it was physical or mental. She is also extremely supportive. She has been there for every school event from kindergarten move up day to graduation or to moving in to college. She is literally there for every step of the way. It doesn't end there. Whenever I need advice Aunt Kim is there. She is the person I call when I am in a dilemma or torn between something. She stops what she is doing, sits down and pulls out a piece of paper to make a pros and cons list to help me understand things better. She offers a shoulder to cry on and is always willing to help me when things get hard.