My friend Laurel and I met up for breakfast yesterday morning. I love morning in the city. It’s one of the things I do miss about my old job–riding the train in, my newspaper tucked under my arm, the crisp mountain air and golden light spilling over the skyline, shops and food trucks opening up for a new day of business. Yes. A waking city is an invigorating place to be.

We sat on the sidewalk at an umbrella’ed table and reveled in the wholly spiritual experience of Bruge’s Liege waffles with creme fraiche, strawberries, and drizzled Belgian chocolate. We talked–catching up on lives, crying some, and laughing more. Tiny little birds jumped around, fluttering here and there–from the table to the chairs, then onto the sidewalk and back to the chairs, only to repeat their path again and again–jumping for joy at the promise of a new day.

After filling our bellies with wonder I pointed her toward the park across the street. “I’m taking your picture today. You need a better picture than the one you took with your cell phone in the bathroom mirror.”

I wanted to give her proof of exactly who she is becoming. See, Laurel is running her first half marathon in three weeks. And in the process, she is changing her body, and her mind. I guess you could say they are just catching up with her spirit.

When I look at these pictures, I see a woman who is sure. A woman who is fierce. A woman who is confident. A woman who is beautiful. A woman who is believing.

But above all else, I see a woman who is a finisher.

To read about her becoming and to cheer her on, click here.