It’s been approximately four million years since I have written anything personal on the blog. You see since the last time we talked… things have seriously changed. Cody said adios to the Navy, my big girl teaching job sent me into a whole new kind of commitment, Tripp stayed adorable as ever but had to adjust to two almost double-time working parents and it was just downright hard.

Meanwhile, at the very same time, this little business of mine tailspun into something wonderful that I constantly thank God for every single day. It kept flourishing, reaching new people and I kept getting opportunities to travel and shoot in new places. That’s what any small business owner should want right? Yep – for sure. I was thrilled, but if you remember that big girl job I talked about in the beginning…  it meant I had to turn down my fair share of exciting opportunities and it was rough on my heart. It was an emotional rollercoaster of excitement for business and then reality would hit me that I just couldn’t take on some sessions and weddings if I was also fully committed to teaching. Any teacher out there reading this knows what kind of effort you have to put forward to do your job and to do it well. Meanwhile, any business owner out there knows what it takes for things to run smoothly behind the scenes – the legwork is kind of insane sometimes.

So… here I was. Stuck between two things I really love doing. Not willing to compromise either one of them to make them both work for me because I’m an all or nothing kind of girl. If I do something, you better believe I’m going to be all in, 110%, to make sure I’m doing it right and doing it well.

Thankfully, we made it through one of the most chaotic chapters of our lives.  Shout out to Cody Ray for pulling his weight, plus some of mine, and for holding down the fort all while working and going to school. Let me tell you that the decision to put my teaching career on hold was not an easy one. I love kids and I have for my entire life. Teachers are life changers… and I want to be one of them. But… I also love photographs. Giving a tangible memory that will last for generations… that is something special, too. Empowering young girls to feel beautiful. Reminding my brides that it is about the beginning of a new adventure not just the pretty. I get to meet special people left and right… they become my people and I’m thankful for that. I believe there will be a day that I can do both… maybe a photography camp for kids or maybe just teaching photography at a school. I don’t know when… or how… or where but for now… I’m content right here where I am doing what I do. <3