Beauty in the Morning

I am so thankful I live in a beautiful area. Sure, we are rural. There are pastures and tobacco barns all over the place. The roads can be dangerous if you are not a defensive driver, and even then.

But, it is such a BEAUTIFUL area.

Just another reminder to always be ready to take the shot.

This sunrise was at an intersection and behind me. I didn't realize the beauty until I turned to check for traffic. Absolutely amazing!

Change is inevitable

I have been taking inventory the last few weeks. Not physical what I own inventory, but the kind of inventory where a person gains perspective.

November of 2008 I met a lady that was participating in NaNoWriMo. We had decided to meet at a quaint little shop and take a risk. Both of us were leery of other people, although she was already pursuing her dreams. We met because we were both determined to write a novel in 30 days. Through that meeting, a friendship was born. We aren't do everything together friends, but we both know we are there.

Anyhow, as we were talking and getting to know each other, I found out she was a nontraditional student and she was making her dreams happen. The more we talked and I shared my dreams with her, she started encouraging me to pursue my education that I had not had the support to do prior.

I found myself with her and my husband's encouragement apply to college in Spring 2009.

I was nervous as all beat out, but I did it. There have been ups and downs, moments that I wanted to quit even. But all because one person encouraged me, I chased my dream. It took me 9 semesters to get my BA. I stayed full time and raised my family at the same time. I even graduated with honors.

During the years as an undergraduate, I had other people pour into me that they were proud of me for going back to school and also for acknowledging the gifts I have. And now, I will be entering my second semester as a Masters candidate.

Big change from the shy country girl with low self-esteem back there in 2008.

Now, this semester I will be tackling another area I never saw myself doing. I will be a Graduate Assistant, working with one of the professors and preparing lessons and teaching lab.

All of this to say, do not limit yourself to your current situation.

Every writer needs an editor and a photographer a filter... hitting home for a minute

I am an individual with a creative streak that is a mile wide. I love to write, I love to photograph, I love to draw, I love to sing, and I love to decorate.

Sounds great, right? 

It is, except for with so many variations of creativity it can be quite distracting. The different pulls on my creativity can be so distracting that I may not put forth my best on any one area. That is when there is a problem.

I have become tied up in the berating myself here lately. See, I know I can do better when the conditions are right. The problem being that the conditions are not perfect and my full expectations are not met. I am distracted.

I have learned over the years how to control my quirks so that hardly anybody will notice them. Unfortunately, here lately I have been overwhelmed. The manifestation on my mind causes me to not be able to focus.

This lack of focus can be rather interesting. For the typical person, if they are unable to focus, they may forget their keys or a grocery list. For me, it is much different. When I lose my focus, I start with forgetting where I have placed things but then it gets worse. I get grouchy and moody, depending on what the causes of my lack of focus are. Then, when I know I have to step back and take some time off, I lose my filter. Not everybody understands that term. What is a filter?

In this instance, a filter is a gatekeeper or a channel that keeps the thinking before speaking in check. When the filter shuts down, I speak before I think but I also lose the ability to see where what I say can be received harshly. The basic social aspect of communication goes out the window.

Another side effect of my lack of focus is I become oddly sensitive. Say I was to say something that was harsh and the person I said it to complained about it to somebody else. This situation would wound me. The reason? Because when I am overwhelmed, I only allow certain people around me for more than pleasantries. This is because I expect those I allow in to understand me.

Man, I realize this looks like a rather selfish post. Sorry about that. I just feel the need to explain things. In order to do so, I have to talk about me. Anyhow, about writing and photography.

With my writing... my inner editor continually second-guesses what I write and I have been unable to complete a manuscript in two years. That takes a toll. Sure, I was making excuses, like having academic papers and research papers to write while working on various projects with church and school. (I am not saying these projects were not worth doing, they just took away from my desires.) I need to be able to focus. There is a story that has been evolving in my head for years and I need to get it written.

With my photography... I am eagerly waiting for the person that I can collaborate with and we can have an amazing photo shoot. Although I look forward to working with everybody. I feel the work I have done is lacking mostly because I am facing challenges that I knew would be there if I were to pursue photography as a career. I have been burned in a couple instances and regret the way things turned out. I am still taking pictures and want to enjoy working with individuals that want their portraits taken. I know I have the skill and ability; I need to work on my marketing.

Life in general. I have forgotten that I do not have to do it all. I also forgot whom I need to please and what it is that I am suppose to be doing. 

I am primarily a writer. I need a part time job with deadlines. I am pursuing my Masters and will be working (still waiting on confirmation) at the school this fall. I would love to have photo-sessions once or twice a month to boost an income. 

Have you ever gotten lost in the chaos around you? That is where I have been. We have had crazy personal stuff go on and instead of looking to the almighty Father; I have tried to fix it myself. This of course leads to being overwhelmed and stressed. (Which I am prone to anyway.) This however is not what God wants for us. 

God wants us to be happy. He wants us to have His strength. All we have to do is call out to Him.

Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!

The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. - Psalm 28:6-7 (NKJV)

Photo Sessions Available

I will be committing one Saturday a month to photography. This means I will be doing a monthly photo-shoot as long as there are at least 2-3 people that sign up.

The sessions will be 30 minutes and I will provide you with 15-20 digital prints on CD along with consent to print form. The cost is $50 and is to be paid in order to book the session. (i.e. If you want 2pm on Jan. 25, I need to receive payment by the 20th or arrangements need to be discussed.)

I will only be able to take a certain number of sessions each day, so if there is a specific event coming up please check with me. For January the date will be the 25th with payment due on the 20th. I know this is short notice, but it is the day I have available. Sessions will be from 11am - 4pm.

January 25th

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This would be a great date for Valentine photos. Location is to be determined based on those that sign up and weather. I will have a set location by January 20th.

January won't work for you? I have February's date set for February 22nd with payment due by the 17th.

February 22nd

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I will still be available for private sessions reserved on other days. This price is not effective for those. Please contact me for contracted sessions.

Ah, yes… I did hint there would be a surprise. So here it is. I will be giving away a session every month, starting in February on the Saturday shoot. All you have to do is enter to win.

How do you enter? Follow this blog and comment in below that you are doing so. (+1) "Like" me on Facebook and comment here to let me know. (+1) And you can earn up to five more entries by referring a friend, they have to say they were sent here by you.

Comments below will enter you for the February Session. Deadline is February 

Writing is such sweet sorrow

There are only so many hours in a day and so many of those are taken up with eating and sleeping. When the mood strikes, um excuse me... the muse strikes, you must write. For the first time in three years, it appears my muse and NaNoWriMo have struck at the same time.

I might be a little crazy for tackling a writing challenge this big right now. I am currently in my last semester of my bachelor's degree. I have several projects due at the end of November that are very involved. Yet, when you have to write there is no stopping the urge to write.

Anyhow, I will tackle the 50,000 words in 30 days goal and hopefully succeed this year. I have my outline
ready to go and even created a book cover. Possibly a little 'cart before the horse' mentality there but it is motivation.

In addition, I have 30 themed prompts that co-relate to my story in case I get stuck. In writing out my outline I have prompted each chapter so that if I get stuck on one, I can move to another. Obviously i plan on editing after the month is over. That is key, edit AFTER the month is over.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? Do you know what NaNo is?

You can learn more about NaNoWriMo here.

A Tribute In Memory

Sometimes you have that person in your life that inspires you to be great. On occasion, you are related to that person.

Rarely does that person have a major impact in your life and you only remember meeting them once when you were a teen and there not being a whole lot of interaction between you.

This would be my cousin.

She has inspired me to be me for a while. My mom and her mom used to joke about how she was my mom's child and I was my aunt's, in reality I think our personalities were not that much different. My cousin studied film and photography. She was a graphic designer long before it was the cool thing to do.

She was an advocate for her children, which I find myself becoming.  One of her children and one of mine have very similar health concerns; she shared a lot with me so that unlike her, I am not starting from scratch and clueless.

My cousin was a fighter.

She never took no for an answer. Even when it was the only answer. I love my cousin and right now, my heart is breaking for her family and her sisters.

See, my cousin fought breast cancer for 4.5 years.

Her fight is over.

(Withholding name to honor privacy wishes.)