Progress.

I smiled today.  A closed-mouth smile, but a smile nontheless.  That's more than I could do yesterday.  The cold-sore is on the mend.  Progress, I love it.  And my day was significantly better, too.  I'm thinking it's because I could eat.  A starving mom is NOT a happy mom.

I don't think I'm alone when I admit that every so often I go through a self-makeover.  Character-Building 101.  Whatever you want to call it.  A growing, stretching period presents itself--I think by God--and I have the choice to take it or leave it.  Not one to shrink from a challenge, I go for it, usually because I have enough faith in God to know that he knows better than I what's best for me, and in my current situation, I couldn't stand the "place" I was at.  It hurt at first, really hurt [we're talking SOUL-pain, ouch] because it was changing a weakness of character, a "spiritual Achilles heel," so to speak.  It's hard to admit when you have those, especially to yourself.  I've been reading a lot, soul-searching even more, and checking in with the Lord.  I'm growing.  Slowly.  I had some walls to break down.  I read a phrase that I LOVE now, "Grow with balance."  It just sounds healthy, doesn't it?  Moving in the right direction, no matter how slow, is still progress.  I guess that's what it's all about.  The new and improved Me is on her way.  I can feel it.

Lincoln caught me in my "happy place" this afternoon, a.k.a. the kitchen window, full sun.  Meal-planning in the sun is doubly-happy for myself because 1) food [need I say more?] and 2) sun is slightly magical to me and my psyche, especially when I haven't seen it in days.

I also cleaned out the kids' toothbrush-hoarding drawer.  If you didn't know me better, you'd think I was the old lady who lived in a shoe.  17 toothbrushes!  Yeah, that's 4 1/4 toothbrushes for each kid.  New family rule: 1 toothbrush per person, no excuses.