The last couple of weeks have been insane. I wake up every morning and force myself to go back to sleep for 10 minutes just to make sure I’m waking up in real life. I’m living my dream. Its happening right now. I’m overwhelmed with emotion.  I don’t know where to begin. I have already wandered away from this blog so many times trying to figure out where to begin.

A couple of weeks ago my friend (and designer) and I started my rebrand and design process. I think this is where all of that might have started. She sent me this questionnaire.  I had to answer all of these questions even though I’m sure her being my friend already new 95% of the answers. It took me but a few minutes to give her all of my answers.  In the end this form had very few if any questions that were related to design exactly. They were mostly about me, my business, what I wanted, where I wanted to go.  I answered it so easily. Clearly I knew what I wanted. I realized it was time to go do those things, work towards them, accomplish them.  “Put them out into the universe” is what we’ve been saying as of late.  I feel like I’m really actually LIVING life.  Nothing like ever before.

I dream, and I make sacrifices to make dreams come true.  And BOY have they been coming true lately.  I’m going to have to have another afternoon of just writing in my journal of what I want next, where to go next, what to accomplish next!  Incredible opportunities have come my way these last few weeks. Some I’m entirely sure can’t really be real and I’ll probably end up with a bruise on my arm from pinching myself so much. But I will tell you that with the good came a little bad. Life knocked me down for a day there. I’ll share more about that at a later date. And although I could have stayed down on the ground I chose to get up and move on, as hard as it may be. Continue pushing and working hard. And I have definitely been rewarded.  Don’t let things in life take you out. Keep moving. Keep going. Keep pushing to be better, to do better.  To do MORE!

And although I’ll be sharing that story later (you’ll see why then) I’ll share a success with you today. In the hopes that you too will put your dreams and desires “out into the universe.”  Once they’re out there, there is a little (or big) push to make them a reality.  Just over 2 weeks ago I wrote a blog post about where I wanted to go. What I thought was there. And, what I wanted there. I shared my dream of starting to photograph amazing weddings in Tahoe and Jackson Hole.  After writing that blogpost I was pumped and ready to take any action I could to make that dream come true.  I sat there with multiple blogs open that were dedicated just to Tahoe and Jackson weddings. And multiple tabs of contact pages for wedding coordinators in the area. I sat there thinking ok who do I start with, what do I say, and so forth. I was beginning to panic and thought ok Facebook break time and then I’ll come back.

I hopped over to Facebook and noticed there was a post in our local Montana photographers group. A photographer from Hamilton (whom I’ve had the pleasure of building a friendship with, photographed and even spent time teaching her) posted that she was so excited that one of her best friends had asked her to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.  But, now the pressure was on, since she couldn’t photograph it, to find the perfect photographer from her friend. Then she asked if anyone knew or had any recommendations for a photographer in Tahoe.

I DIED.

I messaged her and said you’re joking it’s in Tahoe, right? Cause I’m not lying I’ll screenshot for you the number of tabs I have open with Tahoe weddings and wedding coordinator sites. I just blogged that I am dreaming of a Tahoe wedding.  Both of us ecstatic of course! She sent over some of my info to the bride. A few days later all of the girls went bridesmaid dress shopping and I received texts throughout the whole thing. And even images of the bride and bridesmaids dresses. I felt like I was a part of the whole thing. And honestly loved the bridesmaid dresses so much I mentioned I’d like to have my own! That evening the bride emailed be about photography and the rest is history.

This fall I have the incredible opportunity of photographing Amy and Justin’s amazing wedding on the beach in South Lake Tahoe!! Followed by a weekend of exploring and new adventures in the Tahoe area. I am beyond excited. I don’t even have a word to explain it all.

So I encourage you to put your dreams and desires out into the universe. Let them be known. Chase after them. Take steps to make them real. And seize any opportunity that arises.  Live out your dreams. Really LIVE LIFE!

I saw this photo by Jack Affleck a while back and since then I’ve wanted to hike Tahoe. And it’s going to happen, simply because I chose to make my dreams real!