Is it really possible to live life so fully that when the day ends, one hits the pillow knowing they’ve done all they could that day?
Yes, I believe it’s true.  For the last month, my life has been so full of love, tears, challenges and changes I MUST embrace, whether I want to or not.  Three weeks ago, roughly, I had my first ‘official’ wedding gig.  THAT was amazing and terrifying all at the same time.  I really cannot declare loudly enough how thankful I am that Brianna and her fiancé, Joseph, took a chance on me.  I believe they are satisfied…(I know I am!  I gave my best and watched God bless my efforts and leap of faith~and He provided help from a dear friend that loaned me his $5,000+ camera, $2,000 lens and expensive flash (THAT I DROPPED!~))

The day after the wedding, our twin sons stood on stage at church, with about fifteen or so other seniors, as their youth pastors recognized them and asked questions, bragged on them and then hosted a beautiful luncheon in their honor after the service.  It was so touching and Caleb commented that it was a pointless act to wear makeup because I cried it off at church and then again when we stood and prayed over our sons at the ‘Texas style’ banquet hall.

 

 

Then, yesterday afternoon, we welcomed Zachary Logan into our family.  He’s our eighth grandchild~now we have four girls and four boys!  Oh my word!  Such joy, there’s an explosion of love all around me.  Plus, after two years of keeping Joshy full-time, his precious mommy, my only daughter-in-law, is coming home, so my care for him is changing and that is fantastic for him because I’ve always prayed she could come home but it’s hard for this Nana to let go.  Be careful what you pray for.  No, this is a great thing.

 
Change happens, sometimes instantly.  Whether it’s a bride saying, “I do”, or a baby is born and the whole family dynamic changes, or, for me, it’s twins turning eighteen in two months and three days.  Life is in a constant state of big or small changes that require our attention to be successful in the next season.

Honestly, I’m still wrapping my brain around finally having time to do the things I’ve always thought I’d like to do when I finished homeschooling.  But is that really the thing I am challenged by?   I’ve spent the last twenty some odd years staying home, investing in my children’s education and now it’s over.  They don’t need a teacher anymore.  So how do I go from full-time home educator/grandson caretaker to full -time photographer who knows how to use her time wisely?  

…by the grace of God!   

For the last nine years or so, photography has become my passion.  There have been thousands of volunteer hours spent shooting, editing and learning. I am certain that it wasn’t in vain–at all.  Something magical has happened at my shoots.  A glimpse into the lives of people, an understanding of their needs and an opportunity to pray for and love them.  These are eternal things and my camera is the knob I use to open the door into their lives.
Just last Sunday, I met a woman at church because I was taking a picture of her boots and her son’s boots when she shared the story of those boots.  It’s a heart-breaking story and yet she’s walking through it by faith.  There was no hesitation when I asked, no, I told her we HAD to pray for her children.  This is why I pick up my camera.  To tell a story, to pray for God’s answers and to be a blessing in people’s lives.

Just writing about this and pondering the reality that it’s not about the money, but about people, excites and emboldens me to press on and get better.

The Tuesday after the boys had their ceremony, I went to my grandson’s class to share about my ‘career’ of photography.  I woke up with the words I knew I needed to say to these ten-year olds:

“The gifts we’ve been given are not for us; they’re for others.  It’s never about the money.  If you’re good at what you do, the money will come.”

There’s no doubt in my mind that I made an impact in their lives that day.  There I was, teaching about the one thing I’m passionate about.  We got a class photo that morning that I’ll treasure forever.

 

It’s long past time for me to lay my head on the pillow, knowing I’ve given everything I had to today.  May tomorrow be filled with more ‘boot stories’, answered prayers and glory.  But until then, let me finish this post with some memories of my homeschooling days…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are probably thousands more I could post!  My homeschooling ‘career’ has been a ship sailing on the high seas, waves crashing around me, on me and yet never capsizing because the Captain of the ship was faithful.

Time to hit the pillow, mates.