Humbled

I had a very special honor last week, to talk with students about two loves of my life: writing + photography.

I used to work with Jenny at WNDU and we became pretty close - even after our jobs led us two different directions.

She currently teaches at Ivy Tech - the Elkhart campus. She asked me to come chat with her students about my writing career, along with my pursuit of photography.

I get pretty nervous in front of people, so I must admit, I was a little nervous. But, seeing Jenny there and the students welcoming me with such warmth, my nervousness quickly subsided.

It's such a joy to talk about the things that I love - and what a HUGE honor it is to speak about those things to people who are genuinely listen. I am humbled by the experience and hope the chat wasn't to boring! :)

Thank you Jenny for letting me come talk with your class! And to all the AMAZING students I was so privileged to meet - good luck in your ventures in college, and beyond! Always remember, no feat is impossible with perseverance and a good teacher! ;)

Ivy Tech - Elkhart: It's a beautiful campus.

The students, and their fearless leader, let me take a photo of them. Thank you guys!

The sky was BEAUTIFUL when I left the campus. I couldn't help but snap a photo of it. :)

A Moment of THANKS

How amazing it is that God knows us so well, He knows exactly what and who we need at exactly the right time. I’ve been recently amazed by some of the people that I’ve been fortunate enough to have encounters with. They make me realize the beauty of PEOPLE and the power of human contact.

With my 'DAY job', I don’t have much of that. I miss that interaction with people, real people. It’s nice to actually have actual encounters with people and to learn more about their lives. Hence, another reason I LOVE photography so much. Not only am I able to capture a special moment in someone's life - but I'm also able to interact with them, on such a personal level. Whether it is a bride and groom on their wedding day, a special family 'moment', or helping a young lady see how beautiful she really is, it's a privilege to capture such moments in time.

In those moments, I've been able to meet some pretty special people and learn about their lives, struggles, triumphs, failures - and I must say, I'm so amazed at how strong people really are. To go through their struggles, hardships, pain … and in light of them, they find hope and comfort in knowing that it all happens for a reason. I’m astounded by their strength and perseverance - and thankful that in this business, I'm able to meet them and call them FRIENDS. That goes for other photographers I've had the privilege to meet as well!

To each of you, thank you for giving me a little part of yourself - and showing me what it truly means to be courageous. I am forever grateful and can only hope to be as strong some day.