Archive for November, 2008
It’s that time of year….
Yes, today was the official beginning of the Holiday shopping season. It’s so hard to believe that it’s already here again! If your kids are like mine, they’re already working on the letters to Santa Claus, and I’m sure that Santa’s elves are already busily working on all those Xbox 360s and Wiis that are topping everyone’s lists.
Macy’s, a name synonymous with the holidays, is helping those Letters to Santa get there, and sweetening the pot by donating $1 for every letter that is dropped off to them for Santa to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
So when your Santa letter is ready to be sent to the rolly ol fat man himself, bring it to Macy’s and help raise $1,000,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation – what could be better than that?
Thanksgiving 2008
Thanksgiving is normally a very happy, fun time of year for our family. Even when we’re apart from the rest of our families, we can usually make it a Happy Thanksgiving for our kids, steeping them in the history of Thanksgiving, as well as reminding them, and us, of what we are truly thankful for.
Sometimes, it’s not the easiest thing in the world to do. Sometimes, we have to plaster a smile on our faces even when we’re not feeling all that thankful. Sometimes, it’s a struggle. This is one of those years.
Whatever is going on in my head – whether it be the term that my therapist has given it (severe clinical depression) or seasonal changes, or perhaps even a descent into early menopause, all is not happy in my world right now. I do not know why. Yes, I know there are a LOT of stress factors going on in my life right now, and I used to be able to deal with them. But right now – in this exact moment, that’s a bigger struggle than usual. I hesistated writing this because I know that potential business clients for our web design, graphics design, blog design – etc. etc. might read it and think "oh no way, she’s a headcase, I’m not working with her". But I needed to write it.
I am thankful, though. I am thankful that I have 3 beauitful and healthy children. I am thankful to have my 2 parents who love me and my kids. I am thankful I have a sister & at least one brother who love me & my kids as well. I am thankful for friends who accept me for who I am.
Finally, I am grateful that I’ve finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I’ve finally figured out that photography is my one true north. It’s something that’s always been in the background of my life, but I’ve never really noticed. Looking through the hundreds and hundreds of photographs that I’ve taken over the last 30+ years, it is obvious that it’s always been there.
My True North Story is that after spending so many years trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life – besides raising my children, is that I’ve finally done that. I’ve finally found that one thing that makes me happy and that gives me a sense of accomplishment (other than raising my kids). I’ve finally found something that I can be proud of and that I can share with others. I’ve FINALLY gotten to that point. At 41, some would say "well, it’s about time!", but I figure that as long as I finally did get there, that’s what matters.
When this fog in my brain lifts, I know that I’ll be able to pick up my camera once again and find new ways of expressing myself, of capturing something that I want to remember forever. That might be my daughter’s smile or the way the clouds are streaming across the sky.
For so many years, I floated around, never sure of what I should do (to make money to help support my family) – never really finding something that made me truly, actually HAPPY. Then a couple of years ago, when my husband bought me a nice camera, I began taking photographs. Then again last year, he bought me an even nicer camera, and it was then that I realized just how happy I am when I am behind my camera. My true north – when I am 100% natural and myself, is when I’m behind the lens, and I hope to make it something sustainable so that I can always have that to come back to. Long after my children have left the nest, I’ll have my photography to come back to. I’ll always have a story to tell.
Frito-Lay’s TrueNorth is inviting people to submit a story that describes how they (or someone they know) are pursuing his or her life’s passion at www.truenorthsnacks.com/story. One story will be chosen to share with the world in the form of a 60-second commercial aired during the 81st Annual Academy Awards® broadcast on February 22, 2009. The inspirational spot will be directed by Oscar®-winning actress Helen Hunt and the winner will receive $25,000 to help in the pursuit of his or her passion.
My special thanks to Mom Central for allowing me to share this with you.
This week in Dawnieland
I posted a delicious salad recipe on My Tasty Space
I haven’t posted here much because it all seems like whining right now. However, it’ll get better, I’m sure. 
When I imported my site from my old host to my new host, I wound up having to let go of all of the attachments. So you’ll find alot of broken images in my posts – but I’ll put them back as I can. My first priority, though, is getting completely moved to the new host ALL of my sites, as well as those I’m responsible for. Then I’ll worry about pictures
Oh! and by the way – I can’t forget to tell you – remember that lil project I was involved with a couple of months ago … The Hot Blogger Calendar (phenomenon)? Well, they’re on sale!
and I’m Soo psyched that Jane & Sarah even
used my design for the front cover! How cool is that?
Ok, I think that’s it –
arg
Yes, I know my blog is messed up – 2+ years of posts takes a lonnnng time to import, and it’s not going as smoothly as I’d hoped. Blahhhhhh. Sorry for the annoyance 
