It's a Beautiful Life!

Wow! It feels so good to be back and posting again! I had almost forgotten how much I enjoying posting and reading all of my favorite blogs. It's crazy how we let life take away some of the things that we enjoy. For example, I can't tell you the last time I got my camera out of the closet and just went for a walk downtown! For me, the constant everyday running around and the mile long "to do" list, that never seems to get any shorter, gets so overwhelming sometimes. Some days I feel like I am drowning in a sea of laundry and dirty dishes! When I focus my eyes on all of the things that didn't get done or what has gone wrong I let the feeling of defeat take over and instantly become too overwhelmed to do anything about it. This lifestyle is very draining and exhausting let me tell ya.

When I am walking around the city taking pictures I have this passion for trying to find the beauty in everything. I use photographs to extract the beauty from crumbling buildings, pealing paint and rusted metal. I feel as if it is my job to show everyone the hidden beauty in things that most people never take a second look at. I feel the same way about portrait photography. I want so badly for the person being photographed to be able to see the beauty in themselves that I see through my camera lens. We all tend to focus our eyes on the worst things about ourselves, and therefore miss all of the hidden beauty that is, in fact, there just waiting for us to recognize it. It is a goal of mine to make people feel beautiful and loved. However, I tend to be unable to do this in my own life. I seem to have the hardest time finding the beauty within myself and recognize the dream that is my life.  

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if we could take a photograph of our lives, hang it on the wall, take a step back and really look at it. What would we see? Would we see more than just temper tantrums, dirty dishes, piles of laundry, and large thighs? I believe that if we were able to look at our lives in this manner we would be able to see the gentle tear wiping and reassuring hugs and kisses, the delicious new recipe we discovered, Our favorite outfit, and that award winning smile!
Taking the time out of my busy day to sit down, reflect on my world and write it all down helps me to refocus on the beauty that is there.

Today I want to make a goal! Once a week I am going to take a picture that represents what is going on in my life and make a list of all the beautiful things I see! Please feel free to join in and post your photos here as well!!

Ok, so here is my first photo! 

This picture was taken right after seeing the movie Home in theater! 

( mind you, a picture I would have kept hidden due to the state of my face! LOL!)

(That was a bit counterproductive I know)

Ok, so here is my list of beautiful things that this picture reminds me of. 

1. The smile on all of the girls faces (even mine) shows me that 

everyone was having a good time!

2. Umm... Movie theater popcorn hello!! It doesn't get more beautiful than that!

3. Listening to the girls giggle during the movie made me wish 

the movie would never end.

4. Knowing that this photograph will help each of them remember that day!