We sat in my half decorated living room, excited for the finishing touches to come together on my renovations!  As we reminisced about how busy the last part of 2013 was, my friend Jess looked at me and said 'AND...now you are anxious in the new year'.  She knows me so well and I have to say it's refreshing to have a friend like that!

So yes it is a new year and now more holidays are among us.  I have to be honest I have never been one for Valentine’s Day. I often forget to be that mom, friend or photographer that does all the cutsie stuff for this non-holiday, holiday!  I guess renovating our home and preparing to have an official in-home studio is a bit time consuming as well! 

I still feel new to the photography world although life and business has steadily become busier and more in-depth.  There is always a bit of a lull at the beginning of the year and if I am honest it’s nerve racking. However the past couple of years have taught me to enjoy it.  Visit the friends you can’t in the summer and fall.  Go for coffee, go to the mall, watch a few episodes of Ellen or clean that closet that has been staring at you for months…um yes to the first three not so much on the closet!

The other thing I decided to do is to volunteer where I can’t other times.  I would love to volunteer more at church but also use this gift that I truly believe God gave me of photography.  Whether it’s volunteering in my girls classrooms or setting up a photobooth at the church father-daughter dance, it gives me a chance to meet people while giving back a little bit.  I feel very honored that my church (Gold Creek Community Church) would ask me to do this. 

I have to admit my favorite part may have been having someone mentor beside me.  A friend of a friend is in the ‘art’ world and she is wanting to learn more about photography.   Chloe, a bubbly 22 year old that made me feel like I was 22…well maybe 25 but still…young and young at heart.  We worked that photobooth together and I tried to teach her little snipits of camera functionalities as we went.  But what struck me at the end of the night was how she said ‘wow it’s really a lot more than just ‘picture taking’.  A lot of energy and relating to people goes into every photo’.   It’s always interesting to get an outside perspective but I walked away feeling energized by that.  Yes I love photography but it is about a love for people too…I am not always perfect at remembering names or being politically correct but I am about acknowledging even the youngest person,  especially these little girls…with their light up shoes, shimmery dresses and princess headbands!! 

THANKS SO MUCH CHLOE...you are AMAZING...next  time I won't forget to instagram photos of us!!!!!

My road seems to be different every year.  And as anxious as change makes me I am kinda learning to love the twists and turns that come with it…even if my heels are dug in part of the way!