My Blog Gave Me A Gift

When I first started blogging... oh how I wanted people to read it.
And I still do.

I wanted my google friends box to be filled with hundreds and hundreds...
and to be really truthful?...
thousands of faces.

While it's no longer possible, in the beginning,
I tried to visit every person who left me a wonderful comment,
because I was so grateful they took the time to leave it.
And I still am.

After learning the ropes of blogging I realized readers come and readers go.
I needed a better answer to the question Why do I blog?
Was it out of pride to prove to the world that I could do it successfully?
Was it because I wanted to remember?
Was it because I needed a creative outlet?
Yes,
Yes, and
Yes.

What I didn't realize though in those early days, was that my blog was giving me a gift.
A gift I was opening daily, without even being aware of it.
You see?  I started taking pictures.
Hundreds and hundreds of pictures.

The gift?

Photography.

It is something that today, I am so thankful for.
Something I can't wait to learn more about.
I want to be the best I can be,
and honestly, I am in no hurry to get there...
Why?
Because the process is so flipping amazing!

I have soooo much to learn.
And I can't wait.
It scares me every time I pull out that lens.
Will it be enough?
Will I capture what I need to?
And I'm learning to trust.
My lens has not failed me yet.

Today because of a wonderful comment left on my last post,
I found a new photography blog that I will undoubtedly learn from.
See how this blogging world works?
It's called hula seventy.

I want to create these types of photos.

Ok... so she is a polaroid and film expert... but still,
I can taste these pictures.
Does that make sense?

I love her perspective, the graininess.

She recently became a contributer for Shutter Sisters
and has an Etsy store for her prints.
She has been blogging since 2005.

It's given me a peek at what is possible.
I can see that I am only at the beginning of my journey,
and it makes me so darn excited.

Can you believe I haven't even bought photoshop yet?
Can anyone say "learning curve?"
There is a whole world out there I have yet to discover.

I have been known to be someone who is unable to "focus".
Funny, ha, for someone who is now taking pictures!
But this is not one of those times.

I feel as though I've found my creative home.
And I just wanted to say while at the beginning...
I was blogging for many reasons.

Today ...it is simply to share my life with you, raising our girls,
using photography as my canvas.
I am so happy you come and leave me "awesome sauce" comments,
because as much as I wish they didn't,
they really do matter, and validate what I do here.

Thank you for all the kind words for Eldest yesterday.
Please continue to keep the families of the five boys in the terrible accident in your prayer/thoughts.
I hope they all have hundreds and hundreds of pictures to help them remember.

And as a last thought on this rambling post.
Please pick up your camera, and take pictures of your every day.
I promise,  you will never regret it.

xoxo,