I grew up in the sweet suburb of Granite Bay in Northern California.  On weekends I would find myself boating on the lake down the road and going on walks, admiring the oak trees.   I moved to Tucson to attend The University of Arizona without ever having seen a cactus in person.  My heels cracked and I got nosebleeds, but to this day, because of the people I met and experiences I had, I swear they were some of the best years of my life.

After receiving my B.A. in journalism at 21, I moved to Hollywood in hopes to start a career in television.  My incredibly short-lived first job was as a producer’s assistant before I became a ghostwriter for E! Entertainment’s online division.  Even in the midst of interviewing along red carpets and conducting phone interviews with celebrities, I lived in a big city, yet still felt lonely.

Before I knew God and prayed, I made decisions purely based on a pros and cons list, including breaking up with men – I don’t make this stuff up.  I decided to move to Phoenix for a beauty and fashion writing position for The Arizona Republic.  Soon after, I was given the option to cover education or city politics, and I decided neither was what I wanted so I left and joined a marketing team.  Having always been a creative mind, I bought a Canon Rebel simply to take better images for my personal blog.

The love of photography stemmed from the loss of love – it became the means that helped me heal when my wedding was called off unexpectedly, just three weeks before the big day.  Sometimes a seemingly heartbreaking situation can turn into the single best thing that could have ever happened, taking your life, heart, and career in another direction, to a better place.  I had just given my life to Christ a few years prior at age 25, and wholeheartedly knew God held my life in the palm of His hands, and so I pressed onward with a positive outlook, ready to discover the road ahead.

As my interest in photography grew, I began praying for help so I could pursue it as a career.  It seemed unwise to leave a well-paying job in a tough economy, and so I waited.  In God’s perfect timing, on my day off from my five-year job, I was given a pink slip with a severance.

It was the new year of 2010 and I decided a full year to live out my dream was plenty of time to see if I could do it – one could always return to corporate.  Two months into my photography pursuit I was offered a six-figure job across the country.  While it was tempting, I knew it wasn’t right and I walked in faith as my entire world shifted.  I became successfully self-employed as a photographer and graphic designer and as my confidence grew, God provided, and doors opened.

A year later, six months after our first date, I married my soul mate Benjamin, who I refer to as Mr. Wonderful.  It was a peaceful snowy day in Sedona, Arizona on December 3, 2011.   We were surrounded by the love of 23 of our closest family and friends.  That was the happy ending God had waiting for me – a wonderful man and a career that I feel fortunate to do every single day.

As the creative professional and lady of the house, my everyday life consists of photography, gardening, sewing, home projects, teaching e-courses, modeling jobs, and most importantly, finding ways to serve my husband and glorify God.   This blog is where I share my life, stories, domestic discoveries, and photography in hopes of providing inspiration and encouragement to others.

Thank you so much for reading and stopping by!

B.A. in Journalism, Political Science minor, The University of Arizona / Former Journalist / Former Marketing Specialist / Graphic Designer / Professional Photographer

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