Thanksgiving...

I had a GREAT day today! I slept in, got up and made us pumpkin pancakes, we went on a walk, and then we headed over to my parent's house for a VERY loud and fun Thanksgiving. Every year we go around and share what we're thankful for. This year Layton was thankful for his job! In a time where many people are unemployed and are struggling to make a living, we truly are blessed that he has remained busy! We are blessed that he continues to get work!!

I was thankful for, and today's blessing is...GROWTH! I truly am thankful for the growth that I know God has been allowing me to go through during the past year. I am thankful for the growth that I've seen in the relationships in my life. I am thankful for the growth that I am starting to see in who God truly wants me to be as a person. I am also thankful for the physical growth that God has brought into my life.

I am also thankful and truly blessed to call these wonderful people my FAMILY!!

My passion...

Today's blessing is the passion that God has given me for photography.

About 2 years ago I started realizing that I had a love for taking photos. It's grown over the last 2 years and I'm trying to make a business out of it. Slowly but surely I'm getting experience under my belt.

I LOVE getting to capture life. I love helping

people freeze their memories. Here is one reason why I love photography life SO MUCH...

Forgiveness...

It seems like the idea of forgiveness is all around me lately. It seems like myself, or almost everyone I know is having to deal with issues of forgiveness, or lack thereof, towards a friend, former friend, or family member. I've heard many a sermon on forgiveness in the last few months. It wasn't until today, when I was listening to another pastor talk about forgiveness in middle school chapel that I thought, "Uh, God must really be trying to teach me something." I'm hoping that as I go through this learning process that maybe God will use my experiences to help those around me.

I'm writing this blog not caring who may read it or make fun of me for it. That's part of the forgiving process. You may make fun, tease, or mock me...but I'm choosing to forgive you anyway, even if you don't ask for it!

Did you know that the word "unforgiveness" isn't in the dictionary? Spell check flags this word because it ISN'T A WORD!! That's mind boggling to me. Forget about the fact that as Christians we are supposed to follow Jesus' example and forgive others. Why should we harbor "unforgiveness" towards others if there isn't even a definition for the word?!?!

Mark 11:25 gives us a specific word about forgiveness. It says, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." This is a staggering scripture to me! If we want God to forgive us of the myriad of sins that we've committed, we HAVE TO forgive those who have sinned against us. It is commanded of us. If we want to come before our heavenly father with pure, clean hearts...we have to forgive!! This scripture DOES NOT say that we can forgive those people who wronged us WHEN they apologize. I think we often get caught up on this. We say to ourselves, when they apologize...I'll forgive them. GET OVER IT!!! Don't give the devil another moment of satisfaction by thinking about what that person did to you last week, 6 months ago, or 10 years ago. Yes, they may have spoken horrible things about you, they may have used you, they may have "kicked you to the curb." OH WELL!! That person most likely does not even want to apologize to you, so forgive them and move one! Don't get me wrong...when I'm pointing a finger at you there are 4 fingers pointing back at me! I needed to write this tonight so that I could take a dose of my own medicine.

I need to let myself out of the prison of "unforgiveness." To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to discover that prisoner was you. By not forgiving someone you end up locking yourself up in an emotional prison that makes it hard for the other people in your life to even be around you. It creates so much drama that people often start dreading having a conversation with you because they're afraid you're going to bring up that "unforgiveness." It also forms a bond between you and that person that you're not forgiving. When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free!!

Ghandi said, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong." I ask you, do you want to be considered weak or strong? Do you want to harbor feelings of "unforgiveness" towards another person, hindering yourself from growing closer to your heavenly father and stunting the other relationships in your life. Or do you want to be STRONG? Living an amazing life and having fulfilling and meaningful relationships with those who truly want to be around you.

This picture is a good example of how I want my soul and heart to feel and of how I want others to see me..clean, free, pure, happy and reflective of God's amazing beauty!!

What a beautiful day...

I was so excited to have today off. I've been getting so burnt out lately at work, that it was such a nice treat to have a day off in the middle of the week. Today was very busy, yet very relaxing at the same time

I slept in until 9:30. I guess I needed to catch up on my sleep. I started my morning off by enjoying my coffee w/ pumpkin spice creamer and my home made banana bread on the couch while I caught up on all of my recorded tv shows. Layton went and got me LaBou for lunch and then I lay in bed and read for awhile. I decided to get up and go for a little photo walk around my neighborhood. I've been admiring the GORGEOUS trees lately, so I just had to capture a few. After my walk I went to yoga w/ my sis-in-law and then I stopped by the chiropractor and picked up dinner at I Love Teriyaki on my way home. Now I'm just relaxing on the couch and gearing up for my last 2 days of work this week.

Today's highlight of the day and DEFINITELY today's blessing is that I got an email from a book publisher!! They're going to use one of my photos from when we were

in Chicago in a book about Chicago landmarks. They're going to juxtapose it against a photo of the same area in the 1940's! This is actually going to be my 2nd photo that is in a published book. I took a headshot for a friend awhile back that is going to be on the back of his book! I feel so blessed that God is allowing me to successful in my dream that I'm pursuing.

I had a great day and I'm looking forward to the two photo shoots that I'm doing this weekend.

I <3 YOGA!

I was just laying on the couch thinking..."I feel great!" I couldn't say that 3 years ago. 3 years ago this coming Thanksgiving I could barely walk. I was diagnosed with a bulging disc and my body felt like an 80 year olds. Layton had to help me into & out of bed, he had to help me put my pants on and he tied my shoes for me. I was wearing a back brace and pretty much the only thing that helped me get through the day was Vicodin and physical theraphy. Chronic pain SUCKS!! I got depressed and couldn't enjoy life very much.

About 2 years ago I realized that I could not live my life that way forever. I needed to do something to change the way I was feeling. I slowly got back into exercising again. Then I started working with a personal trainer at my gym. I started walking/running almost everyday. Now I've been doing yoga for almost 8 months and I feel fantastic. Yes...I have days where I have some pain in my back, but nothing like the searing and burning pain that used to radiate down my right leg, making my entire foot numb.

I am feeling fabulous today because I got off of my rear and I did something about it!!

Today's blessing: NO PAIN & YOGA!!