dream it to reality

"To accomplish great things, 

we must not only act, but also dream; 

not only plan, but also believe.

-Anatole France

I have decided to act upon my dream and start a photography business. There I said it. 

Now it's time to believe in it and (as Nike once said),

JUST DO IT.

I grew up with a camera in my hand. Now, that camera was a cheap point and shoot, 

but no matter, I have always LOVED to capture the moment. I grew up oo'ing and ah'ing at my grandma's "professional" oo-la-la type of camera.
Each visit, I'd sit for hours flipping through

her million and one photos, and realized then, pictures tell stories,

they are the key to yesterday's memories,

they make people smile.

grandma is artistic. (and a great let's have coffee and gossip partner).
when i think of grandma, i think of her with her camera.
she is one of my greatest inspirations.

Me on the other hand, not much the artsy type. Or so I always believed.
Growing up I always wanted to be president of a bank.
When I think of that today, ewwww, no thanks.
today, i embrace my artistic side,
and appreciate the bit I do have.

I've worn many hats and very diverse ones at that.
I graduated with a degree in finance (perfect for any bank president right?),
spent seven years in the business world. 

Business/sales = traveling mom = guilt = bye-bye business world. 

So I forged on to become a teacher. I loved teaching, loved my students.
I hated the politics.

Then Aiden was born. Aiden was my, I'm feeling old so let's have another baby child.

 I finally had a chance to take a year off to wear yet another hat, the "stay-at-home-mom" one. 

Then the news. Aiden was born profoundly deaf and staying home became a definite

so I could focus on his journey to hear and speak. 

and what a journey it has been.

(if you're interested, you can read about OUR JOURNEY)

That was almost four years ago and let me tell you, it's the hardest job I've ever had

YET the most rewarding. 

I've learned more about myself in the past four years than I have all my life. 

I learned life is definitely a journey full of hurdles, but nothing that can't be overcome with

faith, hope, and as my grandpa would say, some elbow grease.

 I learned I'm a care-taker, a giver, a writer (yep, at one time i despised writing), 

learned the importance to know the difference between quantity and quality.

 I learned I'm a perfectionist and this is not a good thing
and that 20-second hugs are AMAZING therapy, and free.

I've become an advocate for hearing loss,
am active in our state's different hearing loss organizations, and an active PTA member.

 Me in the pta! I was NEVER the PTA mom type. promise. never.

i learned that life is too short to waste worrying, 

and I try to live by the words "no regrets".

With a high schooler, a middle schooler, a preschooler, and economic times,
 I knew it was time to head back to work, but that I had needed something so
I could still be here for all my kids,
give back in someway, AND do something I loved.

So I put my resume together. and I sent it out. went on a couple interviews and realized, 

my heart is not in this going back to work for "the man" thing. 

 My father always told me, "Follow your heart". 

so that's what I'm doing.

no regrets.

In the past year I've had so much fun with my new "oo-la-la" camera (Canon Rebel T2i). 

I've researched, and read, and practiced, and found out just how much,

i LOVE photography.

not just taking a picture,

but capturing the beauty of the moment,
and the true essence of who the person is,
is simply amazing.