august air.

It's here. finally.

My favorite month of the year.

And no, it's not just because it holds my birthday.

Or D's birthday.

Or even our anniversary.

(Yes, we realized that...)
 
There's just something about it. Something that ruffles my feathers and lays them back down the way they were always supposed to lay.

It's the lightening storms and warm rain.

The warm wind that literally sends one thousand kisses all over my cheeks, through my hair, and across my nose.

The way the sun sits on the tops of the mountains like whip cream on hot chocolate. Like they were always meant to be together.

I had a moment the other night.

An August moment.

I was completely and one hundred percent-ly (go with it) satisfied. Swept up. Mezmorized.

The beauty of the mountains. Rays of sun. Pink clouds. Pastel skies. Clink-clink-brrrriiiinnnng of baseball bats. Green, green grass. Rustling of dancing leaves. My heart, beating. The whirrrr of wind encompassing my entire... soul, really.

Like puzzle pieces swirling into place.

It just felt, right. Like... this is what life is all about. Life is beautiful. Truly. I felt it. Saw it. Smelt it. Touched it. That very night.

 

Life is beautiful.

It always has been.

That's what God meant it to be.

Those moments, tucked away, tender, personal, are exactly what He meant them to be.

They are beautiful.

We have a choice. Every single day. Life can be beautiful. Or not. 

I haven't been choosing beauty. I've been choosing hard. busy. stressful. long. discouraging.

Oh August, forgive me. Forgive me for letting you slip so easily through my fingertips. For not appreciating your beauty in everything. even the way your rays shine through my blinds and wake me up in the morning. 

Because soon you will be gone... and I will yearn for you.

So to you, from me:

I vow from this moment on to not waste one more second of precious august air. I promise to breathe deep. close my eyes.

listen.

feel.

I promise to roll my windows down more. and let the loose strands of hair go whatever way they please. I promise to eat more fruit. and let my hands get sticky. I promise to go barefoot. and paint my toenails. I promise more campouts and star gazing.

I promise less tears and more laughs.

I promise more I'm sorry's and I forgive you's.

I promise more I can do this, and less I want to quit.

I promise to choose beauty.

Because I can't stand do live another day without it. 

Thanks for  your soft, intimate reminder that warm summer evening.

Sincerely yours,
R.