Printed Memories

It's pictures like this one, that remind me of why I do what I do. This week I had one of those moments.  The weather has been rainy and dreary, which often causes me to get into a slump...a true sign of a Southern California girl :). For those of you that are not, or that don't live with one, artists are extremely sensitive people. I can be on cloud nine loving life and thinking my job is the best thing since sliced bread, and the next moment I could be editing one picture I'm not ecstatic about and immediately start scouring the intranet for online career tests and wallowing in my own self pity thinking my life has no direction what-so-ever. I give my husband major props for putting up with me!

I guess it's that sensitivity that constantly propels us forward, but I also know it's God that's allowed me to stick with the same career path for so long. Even though I've made plenty of mistakes, and I'm not completely happy with my work 100% of the time, I'm glad I have stuck with it. I have this one picture of Stephen and I sitting front and center on our living room book case, and it's my absolute favorite. It is simply a clean close-up that we took when we got engaged in a simple portrait studio. What I love, is that it's just of our faces, no distractions. A clean, relaxed picture, with honest expressions. EVERY couple needs a picture like this, in their youth, before kids come, just of the two of you,  clean, relaxed, with honest eyes. It can be such a short window of time that we have in our youth with the one that we love...when we are a brand new family, but it's just the two of us; it deserves a printed memory.

That close-up of Stephen and I with eyes that twinkle with joyful innocence sometimes bring tears to my eyes. I'm glad I was reminded this week that I have the ability to give others that same gift through my job, and just in time for Thanksgiving. I have so so much to be thankful for!