Is that thing connected?

What happened to me? Sometimes I am posing this question in response to a distinctly mommish thing I yell at my kids. Things I never thought I would think, let alone say. Like when a pumpkin got smashed on the front porch and I yelled something about damn teenagers. Sometimes it is when I pass a picture of the 24 year old me, I wonder what in God's green earth happened to that fab mane of hair. I mean seriously, my hair will never get that gloriously long or gorgeous again. What the hell happened to ME!? I used to be WILD! The other day I started making a mental list of things that have aged me: kids, stress, life altering health diagnoses, 3 out of state moves, etc. Wow, my list was long and tough and overwhelming. No wonder I'm not ME anymore! 

Oh, but I forgot a big one on that list though...time. I guess even if that list of tricky things that aged me didn't exist, time still would. I still would be 10 years older today, no matter what. I started feeling a little better. We are all 10 years older than 10 years ago. I am feeling better about this thing already. So I go in the bathroom, the one with the good lighting, the one with the 8 light bulbs across the top of the mirror. Of course I HAD to lean in close to the mirror to investigate my not-so-bad-self. To my horror I see a 3 inch blonde hair by my neck area, just chillin'. I know it can't be connected, it must be one of the kids baby hairs. Is that thing connected? YES, yes it is. The "ten years ago Sandy" did not have things such as this, nor did she realize she ever would.

the young and rested us

But I tell you what, I wouldn't trade all the money and shiny locks in the world to go back. I will take this life, killer blonde neck hairs and all. The most beautiful things have happened to me these past 10 years, I got to marry my favorite person in the whole world, and he still loves me back. Neck hairs and all. I have a daughter and a son; I feel like the most blessed woman ever. I plucked that flowing blonde neck beauty, and it gave me hope that I can still grow long beautiful hair on top of my head, if I so choose! Whoop, whoop!

I would like to think of myself as an adult, even though it is still funny to me most days. How can I possibly be entrusted to do such adult things? I don't know, but it is a gift. I learn something new each new year, each new day, that I am gifted. I am grasping at the opportunities each day I am given: to try new things, meet new friends, to show His love in small ways, to learn from others that may be just a bit adultier than me.  

at least I'm not donning mom jeans just yet

I am still the same girl that God made me: wild, a little stubborn, loving, creative, heart on my sleeve type gal. I will embrace that wrinkle, that gray hair, those lovely lavender eye bags. These signs of growing more mature are a reason for thanks. Thank you, God, for more days than I have deserved.