The fountain of youth...

The Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters.

I beg to differ. For me the fountain of youth is the twinkle in a grandchild's eyes. It's the little giggles you hear late at night coming from "their" room at your house when they are supposed to be asleep. It's the laughter you hear as the waves splash them around in a pool. It's awe in their voice when they walk down to the river with you and there are a gaggle of geese on the banks. It's a Sunday School teacher telling you that your oldest grandson informed them he is allergic to goose poop. It is your precious little granddaughter sitting still so you can french braid her long silky hair. It's your youngest granddaughter jabbering to you only to start running down the hall yelling "I got fire call!" It's your youngest grandson sitting on the big red ball outside Target and telling you he can't go to the car yet because he is riding up to heaven to talk to Jesus for a minute.
 
It's taking all four of them to the zoo and watching the wonder in their little eyes as they watch the huge elephants or stare at the tall giraffes. It's taking them to the petting zoo and having a baby goat nibble on one of their pony tails. It's having them all over to the house and putting on some music and watching them dance and sing. It's the sheer joy and extreme happiness in just being with them, in loving every minute of it, being entertained by everything they do. But most of all, the fountain of youth is in those moments when little arms wrap around your neck, little lips pucker up to give you a kiss and in that moment of sheer bliss when they utter the most precious words in the English language...I love you, Mamaw.
 
That is the fountain of youth.