I believe there are certain moments in your life when you make decisions that will greatly influence your future. There are the “big” moments, like, deciding to follow Jesus or deciding who to marry or deciding to have kids. Yeah, those are some big ones. Then there are the moments that seem insignificant at the time, but really are much bigger when you reflect on them. These are the moments like: The moment in jr. high when you decided which group of friends you woud hang out with; The moment in high school when you decided whether or not to date “that” guy; The moment in college when you decided if you would party or a study. These moments don’t seem life altering at the moment, but in actuality, they are the ones that make all the difference.

I haven’t always made all the right decsions. In all honesty, I’ve made some pretty dumb ones. BUT, today I want to celebrate a milestone of one of the (ahem) *better* decisions I’ve made in my life. A life altering decision.

One year ago today, I sat in our little apartment anxiously awaiting the UPS man. I still remember checking the order status online. “It says it’s HERE, ERIC!!!” I yelled. Eric went to the apartment office to retrieve my package. He walked in the door with the most glorious brown box I’ve ever seen. Beautiful. I quickly opened my brand new Canon 40D. It was my first DSLR camera. I knew nothing about it. Actually, I knew nothing about photography in general. So, I plugged in my battery to charge, layed on the floor, and read the entire user manual in 2 hours.

That was just the beginning.

Months before that day, I had been praying about where my life would go after college. Praying HARD. I mean, I had 2 semesters left, yet I had no passion, no drive, no desire to puruse any jobs. I mean, Eric had TWO jobs that he liked (Worship Leading and Personal Training) and I didn’t like ANYTHING. There was nothing that I wanted to do for a job. I was envious of Eric and his fun jobs. I just knew I was going to get stuck in some corporate office doing paperwork for 8 hours a day and hating life. That’s totally not my personality, but I was just sure it was going to happen to me.

So I prayed harder. Then I *decided* to buy a camera. Little did I know, it was not me deciding.. All of the sudden I was excited about digital photography. Literally, I knew NOTHING about photography. It seriously blows my mind to even think that I bought a camera. We were poor, newlywed college kids, so buying an expensive camera was a huge thing. When it finally arrived, it was like Christmas in July.

Little did I know, my passion for photography and becoming a “professional” photographer became an intense burning desire in my heart. I took my camera everywhere. Seriously, I think people started to roll their eyes when they saw me and my huge camera walk in the door. I even asked my friends if I could take their picture before we went to go out to eat or to the movies. It was an obsession. I got my first paid gig in September. I remember I was so nervous and fumbled so much behind the camera. From then on, my “business” grew from word of mouth. I don’t know how, but people started calling me and asking me to take pictures for them. I am TRULY AMAZED, HUMBLED, and so so INCREDIBLY THANKFUL to the Lord for directing my steps, answering my prayers, and guiding me in one of the most pivotal points in my life.

So, I’ve come a long way in a year. My pictures are a lot better, I feel more comfortable behind the camera, and I’m finding my niche in the photography world. I start to feel all good about myself…. and then I look at where I want to be. I see so many amazing photographers and their work that makes me drool. I know where I want to be, and I’m SOO not there. I’m a step closer than before, but SOO not there. So, please, continue with me on this amazing journey. Read my blogs. Leave comments. Hire me!

I would also like to say thank you to my amazing husband who has had enough faith in me to never say “no.” He has 100% supported me with every step, crazy idea, and “I don’t know where the money will come from” investment. There is always something else that I’m needing to buy, another place I want to check out for a shoot, and more projects that I (which always includes we) take on. He’s so supportive, encouraging, and imaginative while keeping me grounded, realistic, and determined. Love ya, Cooks.

Here is a post from my first day with my new camera. Here is a post from my first paid gig. Here is a post from my first engagement session. Just thought it would be fun to share.

We’re graduates. Here’s the proof. This is my hubby and me…. aren’t we cute in our gowns? LOL! I just thought you might want to see a picture.

Here is my little buddy, Austin (my 7 yr old nephew) who lives in Florida. He lost his tooth. Ain’t he just the cutest thing?

Yay!!!

Officially Homeowners, that is! Eric and I have officially closed on our house and officially moved into our new home. I can’t believe it. God is SO good to us. For anyone who hasn’t heard our story, here it is. Eric and I planned to live in our little apartment for as long as we needed to while saving up for a large down payment on a house. Until…. we went out with a couple that is our good friends and confidants. They suggested that we look into buying a house since there are good incentives for first time home buyers and really good interest rates. We gave them the okay, we’ll look on realtor.com and check out all the homes we would like to have, but could never buy. LOL. The next day, we get home and there is a card on our door that said “It’s time to buy your first home.” Hmm… okay, we’ll REALLY look on the internet, ok? That day, another one our friends signed up to personal train with Eric. She’s a realtor. Alright…. fine. We’ll just go look at houses. No rush. We graduate in May, then we can get serious about buying.

The next week we put in an offer on a house. Two weeks later our offer is accepted. A month after that, we’re closing the deal. Today we live in a cute, fixer-upper, 1800 sq ft, 2 story home, in a gated community… HOLY MOLY. God is SO good. Not only did we get a GREAT deal on the home (it was appraised for a lot more than we bought it for), we also got a GREAT interest rate. I’m so amazed at the God that I serve. We are 22 and 23 years old, married, 1 month left of college, and own a home. Seems like none of those things should match up, but God always has a better plan than we do.

So on Monday at 4:00 we close the deal and that night we take a huge load over to the house. *Thanks Jen, Bryan, Misti, Jeremy, kids, Maw, and Paw for the help!* We get there at just about dark and…. the electricity is not on. We paid extra for it to be turned on early. So, after about an hour of unloading furniture into a dark house, everyone stumping toes and bumping into one another, and eating pizza in the kitchen with a flashlight, the electric guy comes out and turns on the lights.

We still had no water.

Later, Eric and I took showers at Maw and Paw’s (who live no more than 4 min down the road), and came back to sleep in our new house. It had to have been well after midnight before we laid down, exhausted. Except we were so excited.

You know how when you spend the night with your best friend and you stay up entirely too late giggling about nothing? Then for some reason, you wake up really early and somehow  you start giggling again? Yeah, that was Eric and me. Romie woke us up early on Tuesday to do his thang in his new backyard… and even though Eric and I were SO tired, we were laying in bed laughing and giggling about something silly and the fact that we were finally in our new house.  I’m so blessed to have him as my husband and I’m so thankful that I get to have a house with him.

I hope that all of you will come buy the house and hang out. We are really praying that we can use this house as a tool for ministry and just a place for people to feel comfortable to come to. So… come by.

AND, since posts are better with pictures, here is the mini-session of the Collie family. They were PRECIOUS and SOOOO good for me. Cute smiles and just so sweet. Here they are.