Fear crept into my heart like the grass between my toes. Ever so cautiously my  feet hit the ice cold stone, sending shocks of doubt coursing through my senses. "Take this step" I heard a whisper. I know it's right, but this was not the step I envisioned for my life. The grass is easier, I could go where I want and the path seems clear in my mind - green, flourishing, happy, wide open...The little stone seemed anything but where I wanted to go.

Just a stepping stone. Take the step.

I obeyed in faith, but my tiptoes revealed that my heart stepped begrudgingly. "You'll fall if you don't put your full weight on your feet." Trust. Jump to the next step.  So I did.

That was nearly 6 years ago now.

I've found myself going in a fresh, different direction this year. It is exciting and terrifying at the same time. When I consider just how many other artists there are in my field, it can be disheartening. Beautiful shots are really a dime a dozen. So I've been digging deep. What fuels my art? Surely it is more than merely capturing "beautiful moments" because beautiful moment are everywhere. I have years of experience under my belt now, but I never want to stop reaching, learning and growing at my art. For me it all comes back to vision, my lens for viewing the world and everything in it. I am an artist. It's who I am at my core. Intuitive. Seeking deeper meaning. New ideas flow constantly. Daily inspiration is a must or my soul shrivels up. I view life like poetry, like a piece of music I am working to compose...never finished, always adding another line or refrain. It dawned on me a few months ago, my visual art should represent my musical and poetic bent in more of a real way.

Matt & Alex have had quite the journey to get to their wedding day. After meeting in Chicago they had secret crushes on each other and friends for over a year. Not long after they made things official, Alex was transferred to New York but moved to Denver to be together. Since Alex's family lives in Dallas and Matt's in Denver, they decided to go for an intimate destination wedding with their closest friends and family. The 30a area has a special meaning to them since Alex's family lived there for a time as she grew up.

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." - Henri Matisse

Art has many forms, and one of the most lovely is floral artistry. Flowers are such beautiful, delicate things that only last for such a short while. They require great care and patience. My sweet friend Shannon from Fleur & Lumière is one of the most naturally talented floral designers I've met. She has a gift for seeing beauty and creating it from a messy array of options. A few weeks ago we met up, she creating as she does so effortlessly, and I merely watched, mesmerized by the process. Surrounded by the beauty of the ancient streets of St. Augustine, this is the story of how an artist creates...

This time of year brings both anticipation and dread for me, knowing that I will be forcing myself to review the year and evaluate all aspects of my life. It is necessary for anyone who wants to live with any kind of purpose in life, but that doesn't mean it's easy. The past two days of thought have been humbling, yet refreshing and encouraging. 2015 was a good year, but also a very challenging year. It is so easy to get weighed down with each days ins and outs and I often feel the weight of wearing so many different hats all at once. It's so important for me to step back and refocus on the big picture, critique myself and move forward into the new year. In order to live live with my utmost it is vital to celebrate the victories, find what can work better and dream even bigger for the coming year.