Me

Such a short word. Me. Only two little letters...yet so important. I am me and no one else. What is so wrong with that? Why do we all fight it and try to be someone else? Now, I don't mean that we shouldn't explore; try new things and push ourselves. But, we should always stay true to 'me'. Who am I? What defines me? Where am I going? When will I get there? How will I know? I've asked myself these questions for many, many years. I hope I will continue to ask myself these questions for the rest of my life. Because I don't think we ever really find ourselves. I think life is a continuous voyage and if we're lucky there will still be a few surprises after we're old and gray. Now, what about those questions...

• Who am I? I am happy. I am courageous. I love to laugh. I love to dream. I am scared as hell. I am driven. I am (just a little) goofy. I love smiling until my face hurts. I love blue skies and green fields. I am spunky. I am true. I am…I am...I am...The way I see it, every experience I've ever had has built me into who I am today.
• What defines me? Really, there isn’t much that doesn’t. Colors define me…every color in the fan deck. Every hue and shade is somewhere inside me. My family defines me…every funny home video, ridiculous smile, camping trip, spirit that is lifted, laugh that is belted, eye color that is shared, and hand that is held. My home defines me…both of them. I am a country girl at heart with big city dreams. God defines me...I live first and foremost for Him. As long as He is in my heart at all times I will not be lead astray.
• Where am I going? Forward. Always moving forward. The rest will take care of itself as long as I set my sights in front of me and keep striving to move forward.
• When will I get there? Who knows…hopefully ‘there’ is never reached because then what? Why keep driving if you’re already there?
• How will I know? This is a tough one. I find that warmth and aroma are my biggest indications. A warmth that existing in my chest, right between my shoulder blades. An aroma that fills my senses and no matter how deeply I breathe in I can’t ever get enough of it. That's how I know.

I am me...who are you?

Hello world! This is me!

It's that year. The most exciting year of the last 18. The year you do it all. The year you feel like you have to make every important decision all at once. The year you ponder who you are and where you're going to go. The year you say goodbye to childhood and hello to your future…this is me! I was so very privileged to be asked by my good friend Stephanie to photograph her son Colton for his senior year. We had a blast running around Independence and I wish Colton all the luck in the world as he runs head first into the future saying ‘Hello world! This is me!’