Naked (Sunday Creative ChallengePrompt)

I find it hard to leave my self open and naked for others to peer into my soul, the real me. I am more like this moon, baring some but not all. What if they don't like the real me? As I get older this is mattering less, but it still matters. I am working on it, loving my self enough to let others peer in to my nakedness. My amazing husband has helped with this, he knows all of me an still loves all of me. Now, if I could love myself like this -

Loving My Life Right Now!

I listen to mothers who are so sure they will miss the days when their children are small. I use to think that, don't get me wrong, I loved those days. Even the hard ones. As a single parent there were times that were harder than others but I loved them, all of them. I loved every stage that my children passed though. Okay, so it took me a while to appreciate the junior high days of my son, but I see now how all the stages made them the amazing adults they are now. I love this stage. Watching them make their own decisions, yes, that too is hard to stand back and watch sometimes. But, my children have grown into wonderfully responsible adults, and I could not be prouder of them.

So, I don't miss those days when my children were small,  I remember them fondly, with a smile and without regret. They were wonderful, but I would not trade them for the independence we all have at this stage either.

I am free to try on "new shoes" (see post below) They are free to use the tools they gained growing up to make decisions, good and bad, and grow even more. I love the stage I am in right now.

New Shoes

I just read a blog that got me to thinking about where I am in my life right now. I am teetering back and forth about where my photography hobby will take me. I am a new wife. I have a fairly demanding job. I love all these things, but how to balance them is the trick.

It is like new shoes, you love them, but they are a little stiff. The old worn out shoes are the most comfortable, but they aren't what I need any more.

I would love to make photography into a side business, but am a little lost in how to do it. I also don't want it to become a chore. I love the feeling of taking a really good picture.

I love being a wife, I never knew it could be like this, a real partnership.

I love my job actually, even on the hard days, it is a great job.

I really do love these new shoes I am wearing, even if they are still a little stiff.

Traditional

This weeks prompt seems to fit right in with the thoughts I was having as I took these pictures last night. These men & women who live this life do so mindful of the traditions passed down from generation to generation. This must be a wonderfully peaceful sight to the loved one of the fleets. Everyone safe in harbor.

Connected

This morning I took a walk in the woods behind the cemetery. It was quiet, I could see that someone lives on the bank of the creek. I could not bring myself to take pictures of this "home: with out permission, it seemed like and invasion of privacy. But I wonder what about this place, the back side of a cemetery makes this person feel connected to this spot. I could see they had made their own memorials out of discarded items from the cemetery. This line of cement made me think of the word connected, and so many other things make me realize we are all connected in some fashion. By our love for art, our beliefs, our humanity, our wanting a place to belong, even if it is only a rug and a few odds and ends by the creek bank.

taking a break

I have felt lately that I needed to take a small break from my POTD project, I am taking pictures everyday but not really posting them or processing them. Here are a few I have taken in the last few days.