Grace : It means "A Gift from God"

Right now, I'm sitting at the South Bend Chocolate Cafe watching my car so that no one steals my gear that I am supposed to be shooting with at this moment. I have some time to kill before my next session begins at 5pm. I am reading devotionals that I don't take the time to read on a daily basis, like I should. I am going through all the things that I need to be doing, but can't do because what I need to do it is at the house. I'm wondering, how has life gotten me to this point in my life?

All my life, I went back and forth with what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was decent at doing hair, maybe a hair stylist? I loved to cook, maybe a chef? I loved taking pictures, maybe a photographer? And don't forget the #1 dream of every little girl, I wanted to be a singer. None of these things seemed to be something I could do for a living.

I started my business in 2005, just photographing for a friend of the family. I was fresh out of high school and still wasn't sure what I was going to go to college for. Then, I did another wedding for a friend of the family in early 2006. It was then that I realized that I REALLY wanted to do this full time. I started to work at Picture People to gain experience. I could not do it. I didn't like working in a studio AT ALL. I started to give up. If I couldn't work in a studio then surely I couldn't make a living off of photography then why continue, right? Wrong. That year, I met the most amazing person I have ever met. My husband. He too had a passion for photography and wanted to help me grow my business.

When we decided that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, we also decided that we wanted to go into business together. But surely we BOTH couldn't make a living do so right? Wrong. Over the past 3 years of being with my wonderful husband (and best friend), he has done so much to push me and encourage me to get out the mind set that this would only be a weekend job. Well, it use to be a weekend job and I'm not really sure how some people do it, and I don't even edit the pictures. :)

As I sit here and think of what I can do without my list, without my graphics, without my family, I realize that this is what I'm suppose to be doing. God has blessed a very unfortunate situation for our family and has opened many, many doors for us. These doors would not have been so open with me working for someone else. This week is booked solid. Next week is looking pretty booked as well. I would not have been able to do this on my own, and I know that.

God has worked in mysterious ways for my family and my business. He has done so much and I have done so little to thank Him. Therefore, I give Him ALL the glory for where my life is at in this very moment. I never dreamed that I could do this. BUT, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Now, if only that strength would get me out of bed on Sundays to praise Him.