Beauty is not Defined by the Number on the Scale

This picture pulled something in my heart. I have so many of my youth at church who believe that the number on the scale matters for than anything. It's about the heart and your character. Yes, we want healthy lives, but it kills me when my girls compare themselves to people in a magazine or the girl with all the guys.

Healthy and happy are more important than the number on the scale. This is another reason why my Beautiful As I Am Project is special to me. From my weight to scars, I never felt beautiful, until now, and I refuse to let the girls in my life feel like that. We have to change the people closest to us in order to start changing the world.

One girl at a time.

XOXOXO

The Beautiful Side of Business

With an industry, like photography, there are so many people in the area that is working to perfect their craft. So many people come into photography saying "Hey, it's its easy, quick, and you can make quick money." I wish that was true, but just like everything else, you have to put money in to get money out.

With that being said, I have some of the best clients a photographer could ask for. With the number of photographers around town, anybody could try every photographer and still have a few left over. So I appreciate when my clients return and pass my cards on.

Another beautiful moment is when a child knows you. I was shooting on the 4th of July, and my little McKenna said "Brittany." It just made my heart melt.  The simple things make me happy!

Through the ups and downs of a business, the support of family, friends, and clients are greatly needed and appreciated.

Young Mothers

I was in a debate with some seasoned women about my generation and raising kids. They felt like my generation is a generation who aborts children, because we don't accept the consequences of our actions. So I brought up the issue of struggling to raise a child. Would they prefer that they put the child up for adoption? I can't quote statics on the abortion rate, adoptions, or struggling single mothers. I wish that my generation did take responsibly for their actions. I believe that my generations is quick to pass their child(ren) on to their mother or grandmothers. It's time to stay home and raise your child(ren). 

This lead to the following question.

If you were pregnant and had no way to support the unborn child, would you abort the child, place the child up for adoption, or struggle to provide for the child?

Beautiful As I Am

After talking to a few young ladies, I realized I wasn't the only one dealing with finding beauty within themselves. Although mine came from outward scars, many of the young ladies I spoke with had inner scars. This is what started my Beautiful As I Am Photography Project. I'm sure how big this project will become, but I'm praying that it will be a blessing to some amazing young ladies.

My Heart

I gave it to some people with the expectations of them not breaking it. At least let me know if you don't want it. It's been patched a few times too many for my liking. But here is what I have left. I have a piece that will make you my number two, because God is my number one. Here is a piece to let you know that I will support you in your hopes and dreams. Here is piece to love you, to care for you, and to be there for you. Oh, I found another piece, this piece is barely hanging on. It's trust. I realize that I can't be bitter from a past hurt, nor can I blame you for that. So here is that piece. But I want you to know that this little piece has so much power. Oops, I found another piece that was connected to trust. Communication. I found out a long time ago that no communication equals no relationship. There is a little hole right here. This hole is the piece I had to let go. I heard that there are people out there who have holes in their heart and they are still alive. This little hole is where this tiny piece called fear use to be. So here you go, the pieces of my heart. Remember if you don't want it, just let me know.

Picture This

It's been a while since I have blogged. So I wanted to try out this app and on iPhone and see how everything looks. I'm posting a picture of a fries macaroni ball. It was so delicious.

RIP Steve Jobs. I wouldn't have my iPhone or MacBook pro without him.
Have a great night.

Scars

Scars remind us where we’ve been. They don’t have to dictate where we’re going!

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures. As I was having one of my many bathroom-photoshoots last night, I took a picture of my scars. Not necessarily to see them, but to play with angles and to see how the light hit my face. Once I was reviewing the pictures on the computer, emotions hit me. My scars show me where I have been, and I thank God I’m not where I was.

Surgery after surgery to remove/make the scars less visible only remind me of where I have been. I think back to December 16, 1998, and I smile because God allowed me to make it through that day. A little beat up and a little bruised, but still here to smile. So often I want to change things about myself. I want my scars to be gone or have liposuction of the cheeks, stomach, and thighs or cut off my big toe so that I can wear a size 11 shoes instead of 12 since most stores stop at 11. Craziness, I know but it runs through my head at times. Sometimes we just want to have a HUGE pity party, and we don’t want anyone to rain on our party. You may say, “You’re pretty to me,” but I’ll say, “That’s only to you.” Anything you say, I’ll have a comeback for you.
Small things tend to hold me back, and I had to change that quickly. Am I not going to explore the USA because I might have a flat tire? Heck No. That is why you have God and Triple A. Am I not going to fly on plane, because it might crash? Heck No. That’s why my mom and dad taught me how to pray and TRUST God. Plus if I know, I know I’m going to Heaven. Am I not going to learn how to swim because I might drown? Heck No. That’s why there are lifeguards and prayer. Plus everyone told me fat floats. ☺

My scars can’t hold me back any longer. I must enjoy my life. Life is too short, and we all know it. It is up to YOU to do something about it. Don't regret your past and worry about your future. Be happy that God gave you a chance to live and enjoy the present. I know I am. My scars are beautiful! You may not like them, but that is why they are on me and not on you. I can handle them.

These pictures are from my last surgery to make my scars less visible. It was a failure!! After the stitches came off, they began to keloid. This caused me to have to get steroid injections in my face to make them go down.

Pre Surgery

Date is wrong. I want to say June of 2006

Post Surgery

(With the DREAD Figaro Lip! Can I lipo that off too JK)

Today

Still there, but beautifully made by God.