Who I Am

When you look at this picture, I know what you see. You see a snapshot of someone’s family gathering where some kids were playing the piano. Do you know what I see? I see five little people for whom I would lay my life down, gathered around a woman who helped shape my life, and in turn, helped shape theirs. I don’t just see when I look at this picture. I hear laughter and talking. I smell turkey and rolls. I hear the ting of the keys as my Mammaw played, and the clank of them as the kids chimed in. I feel the soft leather couch beneath me as I take in the scene. I even see what’s just out of shot from this picture. I feel the pang of loss being in that house without my Pappaw, and then another wave of grief as I return to the here and now and remember that she’s not here either. I wouldn’t trade any of it (not even the pain) for the world. It’s amazing what a picture can do.

Since I was a little girl, I loved to write. I remember writing newspaper articles based on the events in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania (the fictional location of the soap opera All My Children). As you can imagine, this got me in some trouble. Creating a blog with my website two years ago was a no brainer. As time went on, I started to back away from the blog. This was not because I lost my need to write, but it was because I lost my way. I was still living by The Book, but I don’t feel like I was really living in The Word. I’m back on track and growing stronger every day in my faith and dependence on Him. In doing that I intend to continue writing and letting people see pieces of me in my words.

I figure that many people wonder how I got to this point. I am a teacher by nature, but my most important teacher role is either in my home or in a church. I learn more through teaching. I also have a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education, and I am over halfway to my Master’s degree in Early Ed. I do love to teach. It’s just part of a big picture though. Serving others is important to me. No matter how big or small, I enjoy serving others. I don’t mind being served either, but there is no feeling like the feeling of fulfilling someone else’s dream.

About 10 years ago I talked Noah into what was a big purchase for us at the time. He bought me a basic DSLR camera kit because I felt like I could save us some money on pictures by learning to take them myself. Well, life continues on with or without you as we all know, and I went on knowing the bare minimum for almost 8 years. Think of that. It took me 8 years of ignoring what God was giving me before I finally got over the fear of learning something new.

In 2018 I sat down and learned how to truly work my camera....finally! I had picked up a lot inadvertently along the way without even realizing it, but once I started really learning, I have just never stopped. I aspire to be a life long learner. Who wouldn’t want to know as much as they can here on Earth? After all, this is one more way of story telling, and every writer is a storyteller.

The need to create is, was, and always will be part of who I am as a person. If there was a chance I could do it, I tried. That mindset wasn’t even limited to creativity. Life in general is an opportunity. It’s an opportunity for growth and change. It’s an opportunity to live. I live life in moments. Even before photography took hold of my heart, I lived life by memories I’ve made. If I have a memory with you, then, you are part of me. I appreciate people who come into my life and whatever role they play (fleeting or otherwise). If they’re important to me, they’ve been referenced at least once in my writings (and there is so much you don’t see). I acknowledge! Acknowledging people, events, memories...it makes them real. It makes us real. It’s easy to think of a memory and look at it from an outside perspective, but when I think of a memory, I want to relive it; even the bad ones, for they have served a purpose. I can’t tell you how many times I have closed my eyes and let myself relive the moment my son lifted off in a health net while I stood by helplessly being left behind. I relive it because it reminds me to be thankful. I would give anything for a picture of that ugly moment in our lives. I know if you all saw me in that moment, that you would really understand the grief I was living. Every memory means something, and it is important that we remember to acknowledge them all.

With that very concept in mind, I ventured into the world of photography to capture memories. I want my clients to see what I create from their moments and cherish them. I want them to hang them on their walls and have conversations about them. I want them to look at their heirloom for years to come and relive those moments frozen in time.

As I set out on a new adventure with my business, I hope to keep my core values in mind. Keeping God first, prioritizing my roles as mom and wife above all other roles, and serving others in a way that leaves a legacy; that will be all I strive to do. As I’ve said before: as for the rest? Well that’s just the icing.

As you read the following scripture, keep these things in mind. The Lord gave us the incredible gift of memory. He gave us the opportunity to relive the ups and downs and to remember that He was with us through them all. Deuteronomy 8:2 - And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.