Have you ever longed for just a few moments of complete silence and then didn’t know what to do with the quietness that surrounds you?  I had one of those moments today – a stillness that I had not felt in a very long time.  Even the birds that are normally chirping out on the deck scattered to the tree tops – not a sound – not even the little noise you often hear within your home when no one else is there.  I needed those few moments to just breathe and remind myself – I need to take care of myself in order to be there for those around me.

As I mentioned in my last post here our family has and is facing uncertainties of what tomorrow will bring.  We now know my Dad has Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and he started treatment yesterday with a very good prognosis from his physician.  Steve has his knee surgery next Wednesday and if things go well, as we expect – I will be heading to Arkansas soon to spend time with my parents and Colby.

Because of my own health problems over the past several years – I learned to slow down, breathe and take care of myself during stressful times.  Although it would have been easy to hide in a dark closet – and pray that everything would go away – it does not work like that.   As my long-time readers know I rediscovered my love of nature shortly after our move from Arkansas to SE Coastal Georgia through the lens of my camera.  My camera has allowed me to explore projects – new and old – and to keep me from running to one of the many closets in our home over the past weeks. 

Four months ago standing on the edge of the crashing surf brought peace and clarity to me – now it’s standing on the overlook of the mountains that projects are coming back to life after being on the back burner for so long.  Before long you will start to see little changes taking place on my website to reflect my life  – past + present + future as an artist and photographer.

So instead of running for the dark closet when I don’t know what to say or do – I pray and look through the lens of my camera. 

For the past several months - every day, every night and every minute between – I have thought about something my Daddy told me many, many years ago.  GOD WILL NEVER GIVES US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE.  This little reminder has kept me grounded as our family has faced and is facing uncertainties of what tomorrow will bring.  

Today I am sitting here waiting on my cell phone to ring.  My Daddy was told a few weeks ago he has Leukemia – and today he sees the oncologist for the results of a bone marrow biopsy to tell us the type, stage and treatment plan.  Waiting on this day has certainly tested our faith – so knowing GOD WILL NEVER GIVES US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE – I am trying to patiently sit here in NW Georgia – waiting on my sister to call from Arkansas after the doctors appointment.

Thank you for the calls and emails about Steve’s recent Arteriogram and upcoming Knee Surgery, as well as how KC is doing following her car wreck last week.

Repeat often ~  GOD WILL NEVER GIVES US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE.

I recently spent an afternoon capturing history through the lens of my camera.  This is just one of many doors you will find on the campus of Berry College.  On this particular day I spent most of my time at Frost Memorial Chapel.  Standing atop one of the hills on Berry’s Mountain Campus is the beautiful Frost Memorial Chapel built by Berry students and staff in 1936-37.   The stone chapel features wooden beamed ceilings, a flagstone floor, leaded glass windows, a slate roof and three beautiful stained glass windows.   More photos of this beautiful chapel coming soon.

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So much going on that I want to share – and will be sharing soon, but for now – we are celebrating - The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s the most important event in our life as Christians.  Happy Easter to each of you!

Thank goodness we had an extra day in February – I have been trying to find a day so I could run over to city hall to get my business license now that we are about to settle into our new home – although the studio still looks like a hurricane came with us on move in day.  At some point during the unloading the four guys with the moving company stopped asking - KC? loft? attic? or studio? – when  I said upstairs - and everything ended up in the studio that went on the 2nd floor.  It’s official – I have an Artist Studio Business License in the City of Rome!  Now I need to get busy and get my studio functional – meaning organized so I can get back to my photography and projects that have been onhold for way too long.

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Do you remember as a child – climbing trees or playing in a treehouse – and thinking life can’t get any better than this?  Well it can – this is the view from our family room!  The deck is an “L” shape with different levels – I love to sit just outside my office in the early morning and be eye level with the birds – a great way to start the day!

Do you have a Treehouse view – if so I would love for you to share it with me.

I knew I was in the right place at the right time recently when I came upon a display and immediately recognized the artists’ work – Christine Mason Miller – the quote was perfect and I came home with it.   The past few months have been a roller coaster – and I don’t mean when I am driving here in Rome – up and down and around the mountains.  We have been working our way through 184 boxes that were unloaded three weeks ago.  While looking for a particular piece that should have been in a box labelled “living room decor” – I found KC’s roller blades!  Anyone that knows me – knows you would never find my kids roller blades in my living room! 

The piece I was looking for is still hiding – most likely in one of the boxes in the studio – which is where a lot of mystery items have turned up.  So as I unbox and find new homes for items I just think about Christine’s quote and LAUGH!

A Currier & Ives “Happy New Year” print from 1878 – Library of Congress

A final post for 2011 – for when the clock strikes midnight – no matter where you are – 2011 is in the past and 2012 is your future!  2012 will literally be a new start for me – with many photography opportunities and projects that were put on hold while we prepared to relocate our family to NW Georgia.  I am looking forward to the move – now down to single digits – and the possibilities that await me to settle into my studio and new home.

Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Is there a date on the calendar that has meaning to you?  November 11th is mine!

• 11/11/98 – I introduced my three children to Steve – a man that stepped in and accepted three children as his own and has been the best Dad they could have ever had.
• 11/11/05 – Steve received an unexpected once in a life time phone call and six months later we were living on the SE Coast of Georgia – 14 hrs away from our families.
• 11/11/11 – Veterans Day and the day my very own Veteran took a call that once again would change our lives!

That call lead to a Road Trip – huge decisions – and faith that God was once again laying out a plan that would not only change our future, but our children and extended families.   After four weeks the road trips have ended with Steve in NW GA and me in SE GA – for the time being.   The thing I dreaded the most was finding a new home that everyone would be happy in – and it was a piece of cake.  The first one on my list – just as when we moved from Arkansas to Georgia was it. 

I want to spend time enjoying our last Christmas here on the coast – and will only be popping in and out online during the holidays as we have tons of things to do before the movers come to pack, load and move us to Rome after the 1st of the new year.

From the expansive ocean view to waterfalls such as this – my inspiration will come.  Some projects have been put on hold  as well as new ones waiting to be shared until I am settled in my new studio.

To celebrate our upcoming move - get 10% off retail price on my 2012 Jekyll Island Calendar when you visit HERE.

Maria Brophy and Tara Reed have been working hard over the past few months writing an eBook titled: How to Understand Art Licensing Contracts. With 173 pages of information including stories from 11 other artists and insights from 5 attorneys, this is going to be a valuable resource for artists wanting to better understand the legal side of the business. 

Here is a peek at the Table of Contents:

This 173 page “How to Understand Art Licensing Contracts” eBook is divided into 10 sections:

• Part 1: There are Two Sides to Every Contract
• Part 2: How Your Goals for Art Licensing Affect Your Contracts
• Part 3: Common Contract Fears (and how to overcome them)
• Part 4: Anatomy of an Art Licensing Contract
• Part 5: Contract Sections and Samples
• Part 6: Contract Considerations
• Part 7: Putting Yourself in the Driver’s Seat
• Part 8: Attorney Insights
• Part 9: Where to Get Help with Your Specific Contract Questions
• Part 10: Glossary of Key Terms
• Appendix: New Contract Review Worksheet (also available as a Microsoft Word Document download)

If you sign up for their Contract eBook pre-release eMail list, you will not only be the first to know when it is ready, but you will get a special 48-hour pricing.  Sign up today and check your email Tuesday, November 8th for the 48-hour “early bird” email only pricing!  Sign up HERE or click the image above!