1. Playing in the community pool with Kevin, Noah and Sophie today.


2. Feeling the sun warm on my face as I lay and listen to the sounds of laughing, joyous kids. The sound of 'school's out!' is so, so sweet.


3. The picture Sophie's teacher sent her in the mail of her in her birthday tiara from her school party in today's mail.


4. The little red bird painting I want to buy from Lori Joy Smith. (I already emailed her about it!)


5. Rufus laying at my feet right now because he has to be in whatever room I am.


6. The full moon outside the window right now.


7. The feeling of hope and peace that has returned to my soul and realizing everything is just cyclical.



8. Knowing that God has a plan for me, even if I can't figure out what the heck it is.

Oh, how I wish I could have written the words of Miss Andrea or Miss Keri today, but how amazing that I read them. When such amazing people share such amazing wisdom, I could cry that I am so lucky to be living at a time information is so increadibly accessible. But even with all this technology, it still takes the generosity of beautiful people like them to make it all possible. Thank you, thank you for words I so needed to hear lately. And in case anyone who reads my blog might have missed their's today, you MUST go read them.

Here is the door I painted for the Decatur Arts Festival. All doors got auctioned off the last day to raise money for the festival. Sophie and I walked up to the squre to watch the auction and enjoy the last hours of the way too hot day of the festival. It can be really nice to go see other artists instead of be one of them every once in a while. the change in perspective is nice.

In other news I am kind of enjoying the lack of pressure with my painting. It feels weird not to be thinking of it every second of the day. Commissions are still coming in and I still have festivals to go to the rest of the summer, but I am not stressing about it. I paint at Tu Tu Tango Saturday nights and really, really enjoy that. I began a new painting last Saturday that I am really excited about. It is not a commission, it is just for me, and I had lots of people come up and ask about it. It felt really nice to not be painting for the purpose of selling. I applied for a few jobs last week, contacted 2 creative temp agencies and am seeing if any of that has some interesting possiblities. I have a feeling that this summer will be about change. And change brings growth, right? I am feeling much more my optimistic self these past few days after a huge pity party I threw for myself on Saturday. But really, a good cry is like a great thunderstorm. You feel all fresh and renewed afterward. Life is an adventure, and I guess you just have to be willing to go with it all the hills and valleys that come with it.