Taking Stock

Wow, has it REALLY been three weeks since I last blogged here?  So much for that daily blogging and torching plan, right?  Because I haven't been on the torch, either.  Sigh.  

I think by now, we know that when I disappear from the blogosphere it is because I am learning to juggle new things in my life.  And we also probably know from my past history that this learning curve takes me time to figure out where everything fits and how to keep the various balls up in the air while others get dropped temporarily.

Mustard Speckles

It has been two months since I left that corporate world for my family.  I can't believe two months has flown so quickly, but it has.  And it has been absolutely wonderful!  One of my fears before finalizing that decision to leave the phone company was "Will I like this new life of essentially being a stay-at-home-mom?  Will I enjoy the constant company of my kids?  Will I have more patience once the 24/7 pressure of that blackberry is gone or will the little things still stress me out?"  The answers have been yes, yes and yes.  So thankful that 1) I got what I wanted and prayed for and 2) truly do love what I thought I had wanted for so, sooo long.

Raku on Black

So what have I been juggling?  Not so much the kids activities and homework and going to the library (woo hoo!  we are ALL loving going to the library every week!!!), but I have spent hours upon hours working on my photography business.  Before I left the phone company, I spent money and gobs of it on products and tutorials and workshops like it was my crash course through college to get what I needed as quickly as possible and while there was still a bit of a disposable income.  Now that that income is gone, I have been spending time reading books, practicing and watching video tutorials to learn even more so I can be as proficient as possible at delivering the products and services I want to to my photography clients while keeping track of costs and all the red tape that is needed to run a successful photography business.  I am getting closer to getting all my balls back up in the air, but it may be a few more weeks before I get into full swing.  I am so excited about how everything is moving and where I am headed.

Etched Holly & Ivy

I am also excited that I got to photograph the primary model for Studio Waterstone and she even allowed me to photograph her face!  If you're interested in seeing those photos, you can click over here.  The model is just as lovely as her mother.  And even better, she wears the same shoe size as me, so I may be able to steal borrow those awesome boots on her feet!

My Dad came up this weekend and cooked me an early birthday dinner (barbecue baby back ribs, my favorite!).  It was a great day together and a very productive weekend all around.  Much cleaning was going on in preparation for my in-laws arrival tomorrow.  The girl child came running into my bedroom this morning before 6:45am yelling "Grandma and Papa are going to be here in ONE DAY!  Yaaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!"   I'm on the same page as her and have been yelling the same each day as we have counted down over the past few weeks.  :)

I am now getting teased that I'm sooooo much closer to 40.  Which I find amusing, as the teasing is coming from those who are pushing 50.  I'm good with it.  Age is just a number and it's not something that grips me.  Most of the time, I have to stop and do the math when I'm asked my age (can you tell I don't think numbers are a good form of measurement?  I don't believe age or salary are good indicators for a person's character.  At all.).  This isn't a monumental birthday or an entrance into a new decade.  But it still makes me reflect on whether or not I'm where I want to be, as well as where I thought I would be.  I can tell you that five or ten years ago, I NEVER would have guessed this is where I would be in my life.  A stay-at-home-mom.  A photographer.  A self-employed business owner.  None of those.  I couldn't be any happier.  

But I also want to keep growing.  I want to be a better wife, making things easier for my husband with fewer household responsibilities so his free time can be spent enjoying our family.  A better mom, helping my kids grow into more independent, responsible, kind and thoughtful people.  A better photographer, as that really is where my passion resides right now over beads and playing with fire.  But also a better friend and daughter, taking the time to write (and send! so often they get written and then get lost on a kitchen counter waiting for a stamp) thank you notes or pick up the phone to catch up (even though I really loathe talking on the phone).  I want to make a difference in other people's lives, whether it is encouraging them to do and be more, inspiring them to chase their dreams or just to be kinder to themselves when a mark is missed.  Because ultimately, I would not be where I am now if it weren't for friends and family members who have planted the seed that my dreams WERE possible, they COULD become a reality and that PURSUING them would be so rewarding.  There encouragement and belief in me has meant so much to me.

So I leave you with one question.  

Who/what impacted you to make a change in your life that you are thankful for now?