Happy New Year!

It's been an amazing year. One that we'll never forget. One with many moments and memories that we'll cherish for many years to come. {We'll soon have a 'Year in Review', so be on the lookout for that in the next week!} :-D

We can't wait for all of the exciting things we'll experience in 2012, yet we'll savor the moments of 2011, while we still can, in these last few hours of the year!

Many blessings to each of you on this New Year's Eve. We hope you're all celebrating with the people that mean the most to you.

Happy New Year!

"Life is not measured by the number of BREATHS we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." In 2012, cherish the MOMENTS of this beautiful LIFE.

You never know WHO you will INSPIRE by what YOU will do. In 2012, do something that you never thought you could do. INSPIRE someone to do the same.

Above all, LOVE one another. Outside of your dreams, imagination, brokenness and changes, LOVE each other and help change the world.

Blessed + Thankful = An Amazing Year

It's amazing how time has flown by this year. So many ups and downs. Beautiful moments. Scary moments. Tears. Love. Failure. Success. Doubt. I play back the months, over and over sometimes. I think to myself, 'I could have done this better.' Or, 'I should have done this, and not that.' While I have no regrets, I think to myself sometimes, 'why couldn't I have done that differently?'

It's funny how time changes you. How life changes you. How specific moments in your life, define the moments that come after. I'm amazed at how my family has changed, my sisters, my parents, my son. It feels like he was just born yesterday, yet we're about to celebrate his 1st birthday in December. Hardly believable to me. He's transformed, right before our eyes. What a character too! Even in a day's time, he's changed - and sometimes, I notice after it's happened. Oh how I wish in moments like those, time could stand still and I could simply NOTICE.

My family is the most important aspect of my life. While I cannot pretend that the road hasn't been rocky along the way, I'm forever grateful for those moments - after all, we wouldn't be where we are without those moments. I think in times of uncertainty and frustration, we get a clearer picture of the kind of people we are. We identify our strengths - our weaknesses - our undying need to be LOVED and our desire to LOVE someone else. As human beings, that is a CORE ingredient to life - LOVE.

I'm so blessed that I have a family that loves me. I'm so blessed to have a son that is healthy and growing big and strong. I'm so incredibly thankful that I have sisters that are also my best friends. I'm so blessed to have a mom and dad, that despite our differences, still love me anyway. I'm so blessed that I can look up to the sky and remember in times of strife and struggle, there is a God that loves me, even when I'm not so lovable. There is a Swedish Proverb that I came across a few weeks back that I just absolutely love. It reads: “Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it.” I'm definitely NOT the easiest person to love. But I'm thankful that the most important people in my life, love me past all of that. They love me, even when I don't deserve their love. How thankful I am that God does the same.

My sister snapped some family photos of my husband and I, and our little Eli a few weeks ago. I'm so thankful that we STOPPED and took the time to do so. The photos she took are the first family photos we've gotten since Eli was born. Oh how thankful I am that she could do this for us. She is so amazing, and I must say, makes Eli smile like no other! Amazing how time flies - but so thankful we have the privilege to snap a photo, and STOP time in its tracks! What an amazing year - and it's not over yet! Many blessings to all of you reading.

Inspired

It's amazing how a single moment can bring so much joy and inspiration. Sometimes those moments are hard to come by, but when they do, they completely knock your socks off!

Yesterday was one of those moments. My little sis and I had the privilege of attending the WPPI Road Tour in Chicago and got to hear and meet some amazing photographers.

The highlight of the day came at the end of the show, when Jasmine Star, international wedding photographer and all around rockstar got up on stage and began sharing her story. Maybe you know her, maybe not, but honestly, she has to be one of the most inspiring speakers we have ever had the privilege to hear. While successful and amazingly talented, she also is incredibly humble. She chose to take the road less traveled - and she followed her dreams. While the road always hasn't been easy, she's stayed true to herself and has become an inspiration to so many photographers around the globe.

After hearing her speak, my sister and I were excited about the future. While it's been daunting at times, and failure has loomed, we realized there isn't anything we can't overcome.

After all, following your dreams is never easy - but taking that leap of faith is sometimes all you need to turn those failures into successes - and turn a single moment for someone else into inspiration for them to chase their own dreams.

Thankful ...

I think we all have these ideas of what our lives are going to be like when we are young. We think becoming a ‘grown-up’ is going to make life ALL better; perhaps make like a little easier…OH…if we only knew.

I think the reality of it is we don’t really anticipate the disappointment that life can bring…AND…with that…we don’t anticipate the BLESSING that life can be either…

Sometimes it seems like this double-edged sword that no matter how hard you try, you can’t escape from it…which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, yet I think we embrace BLESSING yet dismiss the hard times because, well, it’s hard! Yet, with it all, I think God is trying to give us an idea of what we TRULY have, what we should TRULY be thankful for…

We try so hard to attain success, yet what really is the meaning of that word? As children we think having money is the key, or maybe making it to the 'big town' to make a name for ourselves is another thought…I don’t know really…I just know that as I’ve grown up, I’ve come to the realization that it doesn’t matter what ‘stuff’ I have, or if my name is plastered across the front page of the newspaper in recognition of something, but it’s who I am as a person that really matters…

Think about it…MOST people in the world who have EVERYTHING they’ve ever wanted are the most miserable people dwelling on the face of the earth! As the saying goes, ‘Money can’t buy happiness’; yet I also believe ‘Stuff’ can’t buy happiness either!

I’ve been BLESSED beyond measure with the many people in my life who have chosen to be a part of it...and despite my dreams of my younger years, and the hard times that life can sometimes bring, I think my life, to this point is perhaps what it should have been all along…and for that, I truly am BLESSED…