Tomorrow is the last day of 2011. The last day of yet another year gone by. Of course I can’t believe that it’s already this time of year, but I also can’t believe that we’re entering the year 2012. I remember a time back in grade school when the teachers would ask us to draw what we thought that the year 2000 would look like. I specifically remember drawing flying cars because that’s honesty what I thought that the future would look like. Well, cars don’t fly (not that I know of) but I’m still pretty amazed at how different the world is and how much life changes as the time ticks on. I feel like every year at this time, it’s so neat to reflect on where things were just a year ago. For the past few years I’ve been making a conscious effort to think about where I’m at at the end of the year and think about how different it is. Would I have ever expected that things would’ve turned out the way that they did? The answer is always no, and this year is certainly no different.
There’s a country song that has a line that says “if you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans,” and that’s a phrase that I would say sums up this year for me. I realized this morning that it’s been five years since I graduated from college. Some of you would say that it’s hardly any time at all, but if you’re my age then you’re probably feeling like I am… like I’m getting old! Haha. What’s significant about five years is that it’s that benchmark year that you always thought about while you were sitting in class. Going back to what teachers ask you about the future, professors would always say “where do you want to be in five years?” Sitting in a college classroom it feels like an eternity away so you can dream a little and talk about having the perfect job and how you’ll have everything all figured out by the time you’re looking back five years from now. Well it makes me panic for just a second thinking that I’m here already! This is the time in my life where I’m supposed to have it all figured out… but instead, I realize now that every time I thought I knew how it was supposed to work out, I was wrong. I’m pretty sure that my answer to my “having it all figured out” back in college would’ve been to be working my way up in a corporate marketing job for a company like Nike or Target (that would be cool, right?), and probably living in the Twin Cities. At the time, I thought I knew for sure that this would make me happy. The funny thing is that the way life’s turned out so far isn’t even close… but I couldn’t be happier.
A year ago, I never would’ve thought that my whole world would be turned upside down by this little girl that you see in the picture. I honestly don’t go a minute during the day without thinking about her and how anxious we are for her to get here. Here I am, just about to begin the year 2012, knowing that in just a matter of weeks, my husband and I will be holding our new baby.
I also have to admit that photography was never in a million years a part of my “5-year plan” either. It was a surprise to me, and an interest that kind of picked me before I had the chance to choose it. Between some of the most character building months after college, trying to find a job, and then finding marketing jobs that just weren’t exactly what I’d hoped for, I realized that taking pictures made me happy. A hobby that turned into a profession, I’m so excited and feel so lucky that I now take pictures for people part-time and am choosing to make my business a career.
Thinking about how happy I am going into 2012, it’s amazing to think what a difference a year can make… Here are just a few of my favorite photos from the beginning of 2011. More to come!
