Day 2: I am influenced by......

What am i  influenced by.....First and foremost I am always inspired by my husband...An OIF/OEF War veteran who has learned to live with PTSD and TBI on a daily basis. I dont think a lot of people realize just how much it can change every aspect of your life. I am inspired by his integrity, his zest for life, and his unwillingness to give up even though life definitely gave him some lemons. Every day he gets up and faces the world and gives it all he has to give. Even on the days when we know it would just be much easier to stay in bed. I am so proud to be his wife. He never ceases to amaze me! Thank you for teaching me about courage, love and forgiveness. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to follow my dreams and pushing me when I would love to give up....for learning things just to find an easier way to teach me...for being my very best friend and holding my hand in the dark, I love you! 


Secondly I am inspired by this awesome photographer who has no idea how much she has taught me. She also had some lemons handed to her and absolutely did not give up. She lost an amazing man to her a little while back and she could have ran and hid from the world. Lord knows that is what I would have done. But she chose to stand up and put one foot in front of the other and take one breathe at a time and follow her dream. A dream that he had believed in her for...enough to buy her very first camera right before he left this earth. Many people would have never picked that camera up again....but she chose to do so much more than just pick it up! She chose to see the world thru her lens, one click at a time. I think sometimes for her clicking is easier than breathing. I wish she could see herself thru my eyes. I am truly inspired by her zest for life and her ability to juggle it all and never give up. She is not only an AMAZING photographer whose work inspires me to keep pushing and learning new things behind my own lense, but she is a wonderful momma to the sweetest little boy. A little boy whom she will never ever let forget his daddy and how much his daddy loved him and how proud of him he was. There is so much more I could say about her but you get the gist.....She pretty much rocks ever single thing she does. I am so thankful to call her my friend. I never would have thought the day I met her at Helen Camp while she was taking pictures of a bride with bright pink tennis shoes that she would truly inspire the person I strive every day to become. Thank you Natalie Watson Norris for being who you are and thank you for allowing me to learn so much more than photography from you!

My Best Trait...as told to me by my husband.... :)

I sat here last night thinking about doing this and trying to decide if it was something I would follow thru with and finish. I have decided that I need to do this for me. So I asked my husband what my best trait was other than anything physical and he told me that it would have to be organization. Is that even a trait? LOL! But it is something that I have to do. I think I might have a little OCD when it comes to this. However it is what makes our world go around. I have to have lists, calenders, menus, these things sometimes consume me...but it works for me. I like being organized. I like knowing exactly where things go and that they will be there when I need them in a hurry...Of Course if you were to look in my office right this very second you would sorely think otherwise....it is the biggest mess it has ever been but only so that I can organize it again! Maybe it will get done tomorrow.... :) I hope so...it is LITERALLY driving me crazy!!!  Now if only I could get it to look like this! :)

Courtney.... The beginning...

I have talked about starting a blog for my photography for a little while now. Today is the day for a new beginning. What seems like just a few short years ago, this beautiful young lady walked into my life and completely stole my heart. She is very special to me, I love her as if she were my own daughter. This past week I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with her and the realization that she is becoming an amazing young lady truly set in. Looking at her thru my lens over the years makes me really think about life and how it changes. She is going to be a junior this year, Where did the time go.....A couple of days ago, I had the chance to get her back in front of my camera.....these are a few quick edits from the day.....

I love you Courtney Bowen....more than you will ever know!!! I am so proud of who you have become. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey in this thing we call life!!!!