i hope my words are strange and wondrous,

like kisses that quiet all things superfluous,

so that we can all stop and

listen

but i think love and joy are coloring these moments,

and this summer is the summer of hope.

from defeat to triumph to defeat,

God is smacking me upside down, around and around

but i fervently hope that come august-end, i will be able to look back

on these days and say i picked myself up every time.

i've found so much in the last two weeks,

and for those precious things i will remain always grateful,

always striving,

i will hold on to every last bit of my joy.

the down-days are bad, but i think i'd rather remember the beauty of the days

that were simply wonderful.