Life is short. Do the things you want to do.

Stay loyal to your creativity because it is a gift. 

-Pharrell

Art is personal. It is for everyone. It looks different depending on the artist.

Do things you love. No matter what anyone says.

If you wouldn't do it for free, you don't love it.

I have always loved anything artsy. Drawing, painting, writing.

When my children were born I fell in love with photography. (like most moms)

I thought to myself that it would be so fun to make a little job of it.

The pictures to the left above are my kids, they represent the ability I had to photograph newborns 5 or 6 years ago.

The above Photos on the right are more recent.

By doing what you love. You inspire and awaken the hearts of others.

-minna may

People, especially other moms come up to me all the time and say that they would love to take pictures of other people.

I always encourage them.

Over the past 3+ years of my hobby photography I have encountered so many other photographers, artist, moms.  Everyone has their own style.

I have been told by the "photography snobs" as I call them that unless you have a degree in photography you're not a photographer.

My response is usually that my inbox stays fairly steady with people wanting their pictures taken so you might not call me a photographer but the people asking me to take their picture do!

I ignore people like that.

People who want to put limits on others.

You should ignore them too.

If your camera of choice is a disposable, or Polaroid camera and you love it, and it makes you happy, go for it!

My favorite sessions are always sessions that I do for free. I feel the most freedom to create whatever I want and envision personally. Rather than meeting the expectation of someone else.

Loving something enough to do it for nothing and then sometimes getting to call it your job is just an ideal situation.

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose is to give it away. -Pablo Picasso

Here is a little secret about me and my camera: I don't know what I'm doing.

Really I don't.

Anything I have figured out has just been trial and error and a little bit of "Fro Knows Photo" (look him up).

I don't speak photographer lingo. I am HORRID with technology.  My systems for editing and storing pictures would be laughable to a pro I'm sure!

But you know, whatever.

I'm not here to be the best, or better than anyone else. I'm here to better myself.

I'm improving and I'm learning everyday. I know that there is so much more to learn and that's what keeps it interesting for me.

If you love something, if its photography or some other Hobby. Go for it. Don't listen to insulting nay sayers.

If you have an inbox filling up with request guess what?

You're good enough!

If you have zero request, guess what?

Keep working at it.

Really do things you love, its good for your soul!

I leave you with the lyrics to a song that comes to mind. I heard it first when I was oh, maybe five.

Sing

Sing a song

Sing out loud

Sing out strong

Sing of good things, not bad

Sing of happy, not sad

Sing

Sing a song

Make it simple

To last your whole life long

Don't worry that it's not good enough

For anyone else to hear

Sing

Sing a song

La la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la

La la la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la

Songwriters

PRIMA, LOUIS

Read more: Sesame Street - Sing Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

October is Miscarriage and Stillborn Awareness Month

Maybe I should start with.

I'm sorry for the mean things I said body.

You are not totally broken.

But it felt like it at the time.

I just found this blog entry that I wrote about a year ago while experiencing my 8th miscarriage that I never published.

So this is kind of what if feels like when your body turns on you, or at least for me.

I'm 25 weeks pregnant with my third son today.

Things are going to be okay.

But in the moment they don't feel okay. You are so out of control of your own body. Your world is turned upside down.

It doesn't matter if it happens 1 time or 20 the grief and loss are the same.

Then there are the women who never get pregnant.

They suffer a pain that most will never understand.

So because I think people ought to know, this is a little taste of what a woman is going through when she loses a baby. 

This is a low point but not even the lowest, I've been lower, others have been even lower.

If you know a woman who has lost a child. Hug her. It hurts. 

I did not hide my love, I will not hide my grief 

Sometime last November 

Rip my skin off.

That's what it feels like.

Like the me, the I,  that I know to be me is in some alien body that has turned on me. Its against me, my body and I want to rip myself out of it and move on.

I hate it. I hate the mutant body Im in.

Why? Why is it so messed up?

Sometimes I wonder if this is something like a person feels when they get cancer.

Like how could their very own bodies do this to them?

Why is my very own body my enemy?

Were supposed to be a team here mind, body, and spirit.

I guess everyone has to find their limitations.

I have found mine.

I cant do this anymore.

I cannot play this game.

I actually dread even thinking about having a baby because its just a cruel game my body is playing.

It causes me to question God.

I don't think God has anything to do with it really. Its just chance you know. I could have had down syndrome or some other type of chromosome abnormality.(I'm not saying down syndrome would be better or worse. What I have that causes my babies to die is a chromosome error, like down syndrome.)

This is it though.

I got my two earthly babies and you took 8 unborn souls from me, mutant body.

I hate you.

I'm finally raising the white flag.

You win mutant body. I am no match for your game. I cant handle it one more time.

I give up.

I will work on being at peace with the idea.

I'm going to get in touch with that inner spirit who has never turned on me, its stuck with me.

You body, have failed me.

Ill go within because I cant stand what my outside is any longer.

No more.