Category Archives: Christianity

Day 1270 – My 2013 Goals

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I know everyone and their brother makes goals, resolutions, whatever for the new year. But this will be a little different. Sort of…

First, here are a few goals.
1. Publish my book.
2. Start creating additional resources for my book.
3. Book 10-15+ weddings.
4. Book 5-10 portraits.
5. Encourage Bret as he starts his own business (more on that on another day!)
6. Get better gear, learn more and more every day.
7. Take a few vacations.
8. Try to take more pictures of myself and Bret.

Now, I say all that…but looking back over this last year, I make goals and sometimes I don’t meet them. But I’ve learned being a Christian in small business, your “goals and successes” seem to have a different definition.

I noticed while I was typing up my journals that I said a phrase a lot….”Go before me today. I give you my day, no matter what that means.” It’s something I want to live by every day. There were a few days, once I started praying this, that I had big plans for what I would do….and then I would get a call from a friend who needed me right away….or I project I was working on hit a 3+ hour hiccup of tedious work….and then I would remember, oh yea, I prayed for this!

So, while I would love to accomplish everything on that list (and more) I am officially conceding now. I am giving this year over to God, and whatever the outcome, I will be thankful. This phrase is over my computer screen now.

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And hey, I’m attempting number 8 already!

Day 1269 – How Did My 2012 Go? Did I Meet My Goals?

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One thing I’m currently working on is a book on being a Christian Small Business owner. I really can’t wait to share it when it’s done! Don’t worry, you guys will be the first to know all updates!

One of the things I need to do is go through all my journals and type up entries that are appropriate for the book. Boy did I have a lot!! I also found an entry I had typed up on the computer for the book specifically. After reading it, I realized it was a PERFECT story to share today.

This was written on June 4th of this year.

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I’ve felt like such a burden on Bret the past few months…with all the stress of lack of money…and now the pinch is on again….I really didn’t want to tell him how I was feeling.

But here’s what happened….so since I had been crying so much, I wanted to take a shower so I wouldn’t look like I’d been crying. It really wasn’t a “hiding things from my husband thing” it was a “I want to be strong for you and not stress you out” thing. Well…that’s obviously not what God wanted….so…when Bret got home from work, I was brushing my teeth….today I put up a thankfulness board and a client board…when Bret walked through the door, he saw it and amazing, wonderful, awesome compliments came pouring out of his mouth. Overwhelming awesome things. I was undone, I started crying while I was brushing my teeth and had to stop. I went over to him and just told him how it’s funny, because I had just taken a shower to hide my tears…that I was stressed about money….and I started listening to worship around the same time a friend posted this as her status “Lord help me to learn from the Israelites…to trust You and not look back to Egypt.”….it was exactly what I needed to hear.

Then he started pouring out compliments and truths again….”God will care for us, He’s been faithful….He has brought us here by His will and will care for us.” Then he took my hand and walked me over to the board and he’s like, “look at what you’ve done.”

He also said, “that” pointing to the client board “is making it to me…our business is complete now…sure we could use a studio and better gear….but that is it.”

He said so many wonderful things I can’t remember them all. I am completely undone by God’s goodness to me tonight.

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So, when I look back and wonder how I did, I will cling to what Bret said. That I HAVE made it. It has nothing to do with my bank account or even my pictures. It has EVERYTHING to do with our clients. So my dear, wonderful, amazing clients, because of you, I have made it. 🙂

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Day 1259 – The End Of The World…Everyday.

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Can I just say I’m a little tired of all the “end of the world” posts?

I mean, there are a few funny memes going around. A few companies making sales. Ok, fine.

But, it makes me think…why don’t we live every single day like it’s the end of the world? Not in a reckless living kind of way, but in a realistic way.

You may have seen my post about Scott. I talked about living every day with joy in light of the uncertainty of when death will find us. Over the years, I have lost many friends, so much so that in a way, death is like an old friend. I am accustom to the ache and finality of death. The quiet, full air of a funeral home. The unabashed tears. The knowledge that there is nothing you can say, you can only hug as if your life depended on it. As a good friend once said, “hug like you’re trying to break a watermelon.”

I’m not trying to make a super depressing post here, on the contrary, I want to share what I’ve learned.

Because we don’t know when we’ll go, we should live as if that’s very soon.

It helps you to enjoy every hug, to hold on just a few more seconds.
It helps you to dance in the rain.
It helps you to laugh when your car breaks down.
It helps you grow a “well, if nothing else” attitude about life.
It helps you to not worry about the mess around you, dropping everything and playing.
It helps you to let go of the disappointments.
It helps you to enjoy the successes even more.
It helps you to remember every breath is a gift.

Take a moment to list even 5 things that you’re thankful for every day…and I promise you, you will enjoy every day you have…even if you still have thousands in front of you.

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget.
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
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Day 1249 – EntreLeadership, A Book I Can’t Wait To Read

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A few weeks ago, my brother let me barrow a book, EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey. I was SO encouraged that I wanted a copy of my own. I didn’t think I had the money in my education budget, but then I had a free gift card from taking a survey and was able to pull it off!

It came in the mail today! I’ve already underlined the parts I’d written down so far!

Basically it’s a book on business about a guy who has hit severe rock bottom and taken it back up to a HUGE business. What I love is his principles about business and interactions.

I can’t wait to finish it and start applying the principles.

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Day 1240 – Do Not Neglect The Gift You Have…

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A few days ago I came across this verse:

“Do not neglect the gift you have…” 1 Timothy 4:14a

This is always such a great reminder for me in regards to my photography. It’s not an easy life…being a free-lance photographer (or any type of free-lancer)…but is the life that I believe God has created me for. There are times when I really don’t want to take pictures. There are times when I want to just sit back with everyone else and be an observer too. To capture images in my memory, not my camera.

I’ll admit, there are times when I “forget” my camera on purpose…and then I regret it. One time was a wedding I attended as a guest. As you can imagine, these are very rare. I wanted to really enjoy myself, so the camera was left at home. As it turned out, we were seated with the bride’s father. At one point, whether a dance or toast, the father started to cry. Their wedding photographer didn’t see it…which I can completely understand…I personally would have missed it if I was shooting. But I’m sitting there, witnessing this beautiful moment, and wishing I had my camera.

There are times when I think it’s ok for me to “neglect the gift.” A few days ago, I was outside walking with my brother and I looked up, saw a hawk flying around and then I looked closer….there was WHITE on that hawk! Holy crap that’s a bald eagle! I watched it fly and it was awesome. It was the first time I’d seen one “in real life” and not in a zoo. I did force myself to actually drink in this moment, because I probably couldn’t get to my camera in time. I gave myself about 2-4 minutes….and then I took off….RAN to get my camera….but not fast enough…and that was ok.

I think there are times I neglect the gift because I forget that not everyone can do this. Here’s a good example of this with another field.

My friend Susan is starting a business. She’ll be doing a number of things with her business, but mostly helping people declutter their homes, decorate their homes, etc. In conversations we’ve had, she’ll have an idea, something she just mentions in passing and I say, wow, that’s awesome! I never thought about it like that! And most of the time it surprises her…because her gift is so deeply rooted in her, she doesn’t realize what she knows are things not everyone knows.

Ah, so wonderful that God doesn’t leave us where we are…He gently brings us back in focus (tee hee, a little pun) when we need to be.

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel