sigh...

i cannot stress what an absolutely beautiful day it is today. just stunning. i took The Almighty Jog a bit earlier today and it was then that i noticed how beautiful it is where i live. the big rain that came through brought out so many green and pretty things and the air was fresh and clean and the sky was wide open, blue as blue can be, and i felt happy to be running through it all with my dog bouncing along at my side. i came home, measured my waist (because i haven't done that in a while and i'm supposed to be keeping track of this stuff) and discovered i've lost another inch! yay me! and so i tried on a pair of pants my tall, lean mama gave me about a year and a half ago - a pair of pants that are super cool but that i couldn't really fit in to - and THEY FIT! AHHHHHHHHHH! i've got 'em on right now! and not all squeezed in, suffocating, cutting off blood flow to my legs style either. i am COMFORTABLE in them! it's a wonderful, wonderful feeling! it's so nice to see the changes i'm trying to make in my life take root. it encourages me to show that same level of dedication and faithfulness in other areas of my life. areas where progress is sometimes hard to see and the reward for hard work is really the self-investigation that such changes require.

and i've been painting all day. it seems like it's been so long since i've painted ALL DAY LONG. and i have definitely missed the feeling. i feel so focused and calm today, so grateful for so many things. i guess the gratitude fridge is working some magic! it's nice to have all those reminders sitting there waiting to be read while i wash the dishes, make dinner, or even scan for midnight snacks. it's doing me a world of good right now and helping me to remain positive and objective about things. i feel encouraged and hopeful and just happy.

it is a beautiful day here. i hope it is where you are too. :)