Yesterday our family was here to celebrate my 60th birthday. Our granddaughter, Collins came into the house with a gift that she handed to me, her eyes shining with happiness and anticipation as I opened the bag to find a hand made card, flowers, and a little chicken nick-nack from her.

We went outside and she could hardly wait to play with me. I was greeted with calls of “Mia, come on, come with me.” My heart leapt with joy, as I looked up and saw her smiling and waving to me while riding her little tractor across the lawn.

I don’t ever want to forget her little 3-year-old voice and sweet smile. Collins and I have things to do!

We ran on the trails, played hide and go seek and picked the least wormiest apples we could find. I certainly don’t want to grow up and become jaded. I want to explore the world as a child does, feel my body run on the trail, ride my horses, spend time with my dogs, love the people in my life, follow Jesus the best that I can, and be adventurous enough to eat an apple that might have a worm in it.

The answer to my own question is no, I am not old. I am just experienced enough to know what is important and realize that time is short.

I found myself doing the math in my head. I won’t see Collins live to be 60, I may not even live long enough to see my children reach this age.

I have fewer birthdays before me than I have behind me and I hope and pray that Collins, Reese, and our little baby number three know that I love them to the moon and back and that they feel my love in their hearts even after I am gone.