Wonder. Ful. Wrinkles.

I have wrinkles.

And I like them.

Because I wonder.

  And the story of wondering is told on a wrinkle between my eyebrows....my 

wondering wrinkles.  

I have smiling wrinkles and mad wrinkles and wrinkles from squinting my eyes.

And they each tell a

story.

But today, I like my wondering wrinkles.  Because.  They ponder the world in awe.

Wonder: To think or speculate curiosly; 

To be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe.

Like

How it's possible that when my hair falls out in clumps after pregnancy 

it then somehow grows into Reagan's hair....

Or what it might be like to be a Christian refugee.

Sometimes it's amazing to wonder about some things.  And sometimes it's easier not to.

But I've learned that I'm in awe.

And curious.

With the world.

And the people in it.

So, it's wonderful.

It's a wonder that I have wrinkles that tell these stories.  

Wrinkles are a beautiful

signature

of the life we've lived.  

I don't know why everyone is in such a rush to erase the very things that tell our stories.

This guy.

He's got some stories to tell us.  Isn't it wonderful?

Finding Balance.

A couple of months ago, I stood on a circular balance board at our local science museum.  I wanted to test my balance.  So, I handed the baby off to my son, stood on the circular disc, pushed the timer, and balanced.  I consider myself a generally coordinated person.  I do yoga.  I carry two kids down the stairs.  All.  The. Time.  I figure I have good balance.

Wrong.

I lasted 4 seconds.

But then, I was handed my baby girl.  Everyone else wanted to head back to try their own things.

So I tried again.  With her on my hip.

And I was astonished.   I balanced for over a minute.

Something happened to me then.  I had a realization that the very thing I thought would throw off my balance was actually the source of my strength.  I felt stronger with her in my arms.

And so it is.  I feel stronger, more capable, full of much more potential when I take the time to look at these little people right in front of me and hold on tight.  Of all the giving we do as mothers, we do receive.  Sometimes it takes standing on a balance board to realize that.