Story Snippet: Warm Water.

A couple of years ago, I was insane (maybe literally) about swimming. I sometimes went to the pool twice a day. So when Dad and Michelle got some kind of boat subscription and invited us to along, my first question was, "Can we swim?"

Oliver loved the wind. He called, "Full steam ahead!" He wore a little life vest.

Dad had said that the lake felt like bathwater. It did! We all swam. I treaded water for an hour. I remember Michelle wore an adorable swimsuit--a red one-piece with a flutter of skirt. Josh video taped Dad dropping Oliver from the boat into the lake. Oliver went under and then popped right up and swam to Michelle. Then, he swam back to the boat and climbed in with no help.

I loved all the space to move my limbs. I felt strong and free. My body and I were on the same team. Everything calmed down in my head and heart.

Some Stuff That Simply Makes Me Happy.

• Cold water in a big bottle
• Videos of baby pygmy goats
• The movie Trainwreck
• The movie Orange County
• Bill Hader
• Leslie Jones
• Singing to the '90s station in the car with Bruce
• A package or letter in the mail
• Dancing with Mom and James
• Cherry Coke at night
• Pretty postage designs
• Josh's shaven chin
• Oliver's scooting his chair up to the table at school
• Finding out someone reads my blog
• Swimming in Lake Norman
• Treading deep water
• The way Mom wraps a gift for me
• Psychological thrillers
• A younger Robert Downey, Jr.
• Josh's presence
• Dancing with Oliver
• Our matching gray and green lamps, except the pink one on my nightstand
• Bible-safe gel highlighters
• Almond and dark chocolate coconut Greek yogurt
• The moments before a show begins

Choosing Happily Ever After.

On the wall by my side of the bed is a collage of cards and other images. Looking at it soothes and excites me.

One item is a deep purple piece of cardstock with a beautiful dimensional gold sticker that says Happily Ever After. Above it are glitter pink letter stickers I Choose.

I love the idea though I'm not totally sure how to do it. My words of the year have helped-invest, delight, restoration.

I choose to live happily ever after with my partner. I'll protect our time together and take joy in the details of him.

I choose to live happily ever after as a mother, cuddling and dancing and paying attention, trying to be grateful no matter what.

I choose to live happily ever after as a reader and writer. I'll try to keep up this good reading season and keep scribbling.

In original fairy tales, terrible things happen, but the ending is the same--enchanted joy. My happily ever after will be more like an ongoing quest than like a destination. I'll have to find a way to choose happiness in the various aspects of my life every day.