Shoot & Edit: Faith - Before/After

Well, I'm getting back to feeling like a human being again! Amazing the toll a trip takes on your body when you're not 18 anymore! lol

So, here are my edits for the week...

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Clean Edit


Full Edit: Pop!


Fun Edit


BW Edit


So...I didn't really feel that photo warranted any text.

The nature shots, on the other hand....... I went outside my comfort zone and used texture AND text.....

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Edit


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and my favorite of the nature shots, for which all texture was provided by God already.... :)

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Edit

S&E - Faith....

So, my goal this week is to get an actual post up. Got back from The Flash Bus at 1am........learned a lot, and I plan on blogging about it in the next day or so, but right now, I'm exhausted!

So, for now...... Shoot & Edit - Faith

I had this idea in my head of what I wanted to do.....unfortunately, in my head, my two year old was MUCH more cooperative than in real life. Still, after many photos, I got something close to what I was going for.....

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Then, I went outside, and there were some flowers!!!!! So, I have faith that winter is finally over!

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and on my way back in, I saw this little beauty, hiding in our bushes.....

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Shoot & Edit: Edit - Up

Not too wordy today.....tired, and had a rough start this morning.

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After


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and one more, that I forgot to save a before for! :)

Shoot & Edit: Up......& catching up with everyone!

So, first things first! Things have been super busy around here, as I've challenged myself to exercise every single day, and I'm getting ready to go out of town for the Flash Bus Tour! Any of you going?

So, I had to get my husband's prescription from his Dr.'s office the other day, and there was this really cool little field next to it, and the light was yummy that day, so I figured I'd see if the little one would be up to taking a few shots.

(All shots SOOC)








She was somewhat cooperative :)

What else have I been up to, you ask? (Gotta love having these little conversations with myself!)

Trying to enjoy cooking yummy, healthy things for my family.....which is an effort because, I just really don't LOVE cooking like I love doing other things....



Buying a nearly new tripod on Craigslist for under $20 :)


Trying to stop my youngest as she comes up with new and more creative ways to try and "off" herself...



Actually getting to sneak away for a lunch date!


Wondering how my medical kid knew how to use each and every tool in my new Doctor kit, and then wanting to slap myself in the forehead when I realize.... DUH...... she's my medical kid!



Making my first camera strap cover



Leaving a "Pooping Love Monster" to surprise my husband on the counter in the morning, because what better way is there to say "I love you" ?



and of course, cuddling.....



So, in a nutshell (and a whole lotta photos), that's what I've been up to! :)

Something Beautiful.....

Between Elena and Courtney's posts, I've been thinking about the "I Am Beautiful" project all week.

This project needs to be done on a massive level, because I know SO MANY women who look in the mirror, and all they can see are flaws. For a very long time, I was among them. I didn't see my reflection and recognize something beautifully crafted out of love. I saw fat imperfection.

This hatred took me to some very dark places in my life, and was a catalyst for much pain and suffering. I started focusing on my insides, started telling myself positive affirmations. FORCING myself to look in the mirror and not beat myself up over what I saw.

You know what? Slowly, my thoughts began to change. The size of my waistband hadn't moved, but in taking steps to work on how I felt about myself, and the person I was inside, I finally got to the point where I could have a non-adversarial relationship with the woman I saw reflecting back at me in the mirror.

Then, something unexpected happened. In my beginning to feel better about myself, I began to take better care of myself! I started to eat better, exercise more.......not because I was chasing a waistband, but because I liked the way it made me FEEL.

We live in a world where we are bombarded by images on a daily basis, telling us we need to be thinner, taller, have no gray hairs, and that the less clothes we wear, the sexier we are! It scares the crude outta me to think of my girls being sent these lies. I don't EVER want my girls looking through old photos, seeing that I wasn't in them, and thinking it was because I was ashamed to be in front of the camera. I want them to know, 100%, that their self-worth will NEVER be hinged on their waistband, on a crush's opinion of them, or on ANYTHING else even remotely like that.

It took me the better part of 30 years to figure out that, a knock-out figure may turn heads, but a sincere smile, an infectious laugh, and a joyful heart will keep them turned. That the sexiest thing a woman can wear is confidence in herself....and that a positive outlook & a beautiful spirit have a staying power that perfectly toned buns just can't match :)

I'm never, ever going to be a size 2. I get the occasional gray hair, and I highly doubt America's Next Top Model is gonna come knocking at my door......and ya know what? That's ok :) I'm good with that.

Today, I can look in the mirror, and confidently feel that

I AM BEAUTIFUL

Just the way God made me. God doesn't make junk. He crafted me out of goodness & love, IN HIS IMAGE. I'm just sorry it took me so long to be grateful about that!


Join in the "I Am Beautiful" project, and link up your shots on Flickr! Thanks for putting this together Jill! Such an AMAZING project! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!! Inside & Out!