It's crazy to me to look back on a time when I was so unsure of myself. Seriously I was THE queen of beating myself up over everything. every.thing.

I battled hardcore with comparison which is so so so poisonous. So many people live their entire life trying to measure up to those around them, but if they only knew that they were created for such a specific purpose that can only be fulfilled based on the gifts and talents they were given.

If only I knew that when I was younger.

Starting to promote and even SHOW my photography was a huge step for me. Then, starting to get business was insane because I was still a little unsure of how my style was going to be accepted--my main concern was wanting to be true to myself and nobody else. But that's been going great and I still can't believe it sometimes.

All this being said, there was still a little tiny folder on my computer that I worked on just for fun. I've been designing my friend's save the dates, and she's always been one of those friends that is too encouraging for words. She seriously has ALWAYS made me feel so good about my art, even when I was just starting out and really unsure about it.

Anyways, I told her I'd design her some options for save the dates. Then I kept adding and adding to the folder. I talked with Chris multiple times about putting them on etsy for sale. He told me multiple times I should. Then I just didn't.

I thought of the quote by Dr. Seuss today (don't as me why) that says, "Today you are you, that is truer than true..there is no one alive who is youer than you." And I was like, "Hey Dr. Seuss..you're so right." Kidding. I didn't say that--but I had given into the freedom of being myself a long time ago and still held this part of me back. Why do I care if someone doesn't like my style of art? There are plenty of other people that do. No artist can appeal to every human being.

For that reason, I stopped even LOOKING at other peoples work-whether it was photography or graphics..I just stopped. I focused completely on my own work and I'm so glad--because the result is that my work is a very accurate expression.....of me. I uploaded them to etsy and said, I don't care at all if nothing sells. I like my work. And I really meant it. (Mandy was the first one I emailed with the link to my shop when I finally opened it..and all I said was..you inspired me to do this. See how much encouraging words can spring a person forward to pursue something they've always wanted to do?) I digress.

So. now. there is a link on the right to my shop...but don't just go look at it, unless you wanna.--Go think about what you've always wanted to do. You've been created with certain passions and desires for a reason. Explore them. 

1. Chris will be starting nursing school in exactly 2 weeks, and then he'll officially be done with school next December. (He's gonna be one fine male nurse if ya ask me. Those ladies he cares for are gonna be some lucky ducks.) ;) ;)

2. I got 2 jobs and will be starting those soon! One is doing ABA therapy (part time) with autistic children and the other is facilitating discussions in the school system with middle school girls, talking about stuff like building healthy relationships and self worth, confidence, education about abuse, etc. (All of which I have personal experience with..SO glad God is using my story (once again) to serve the needs of others.)

3. We are slowly getting rid of stuff so it will be really easy for us to move around where we need to (we're trying to stay out of signing a lease while Chris is in nursing school so that we can focus on loans.) The first thing to go was our TV. YES. So happy about it. We didn't have cable anyway so it just kind of sat there. We put our book shelf in its place, which also gave me a little shelf/mantle in the living room. (More on that later...I have a funny obsession with mantles...running joke in our house.) On a side note, we probably WILL have a TV again in the future so we can do movie nights and stuff with kids. But we're pretty positive we'll never have cable.

4. We're not sure how much longer after nursing school we'll be in Clemson. Our personal/selfish desire is to be back in Charleston. (Back for me..not really back for Chris but he still feels at home there anyway.) God could bless that desire...but we're open to wherever he wants us. We'll also probably do travel nursing eventually...all over the US or even internationally. Depends. We'll see. I'd be lying if I said our hearts weren't set on the beach. (We realllly think we'll be doing missions, but we'd like the place we return to to be Charleston. Pretty specific with our goals. Bahaha.) We'll see what happens.

5. I'm reaaaaallllyyyy pumped about Chris finishing up at the job he's been at now. Lemme tell ya why. He's gotten home the past year at 830 every evening. We eat dinner at like....9..930 every night. Then we chill and do whatever and then it's basically bedtime. DUMB. He'll be home at a reasonable hour now..we can get back to cooking together without having to eat so late. AND, it'll still be light out when he gets back so we can actually go play outside and stuff. Not that you can't play in the dark but you get what I mean..it's less fun to kick around a soccer ball when you can't see it. But actually, besides the weird hours..it has been a good job for him.

6. Um. That is all?

I think.
Here's a picture of our lazy hammock Sunday at the Botanical Gardens: