THE DREAM:  It was sometime around the age of seven that two radical concepts fervently burst into my youthful brain ... I realized that I wanted to live near the beach, and I realized that I wanted to become a photographer.   Life progressed -- as it tends to do -- and I pursued neither of the two ventures.  Then, however, as the oils and watercolors of time painted a much different scenario onto the canvas of my life, I became sidetracked with the ever-changing circumstances which life offered me ... and I left silly little dreams to their silly little dreamers.

 

THE REALITY:  Upon graduation from high school, I attended the University of Cincinnati prior to marrying and relocating to my husband's home state of Tennessee.  In Tennessee, I continued in my studies and became a certified freelance court reporter.  After working for approximately a decade in the field of court reporting, however, my nearly forgotten dream to live near the beach began to awaken within my heart, and a huge amount of fear accompanied a trusting faith in GOD as we made the decision to relocate to the *Great Sunshine State* of Florida.  Immediately upon our arrival to our new home, however, as I celebrated the gentle breezes of GOD’s blessings upon my life and basked in the joys of my new surroundings, I realized that our *leap of faith* was truly a blessed and guided one,  ... for, it was only upon my successful arrival to the doorstep of that long-forgotten memory, that I  realized that GOD had granted to me one of my heart’s deepest and oldest dreams.  And, it was then, as I began to appreciate GOD’s goodness to me, that I began to become hopeful in pondering that second dream of my childhood so long ago.  Was I being silly in wanting to follow a long-forgotten memory?   Was I truly hearing GOD's call from somewhere deep within the crevices of my frail human heart calling out for me to *TRUST HIM* with the rest of my life?  I knew of only one thing to do; and, as I began to pray for the strength and the courage to boldly trust HIS call, I enrolled in the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies in Daytona Beach, Florida.

 

THE REST OF THE STORY:  It has been amazing to watch GOD’s unfolding tapestry of sovereign majesty which has brought me to this place of hope and trust in my life, but I am truly most grateful to GOD that HIS timing has always been -- and always will be -- perfect.  As my father used to say when I was young,   “GOD doesn’t always come in a hurry, but HE’s always there on time!”  I have now come to fully understand that I can completely rely upon GOD’s hand of provision and upon HIS timing.  Thus -- only a few mere decades after HIS initial whispered call within the depths of my heart to serve HIM through photography -- it is only with the testimony of my LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, that I endeavor to serve HIM through Reflections of Grace Photography Studio; and, I do so only by HIS strength, and that not of mine own, for  ... 

 

'GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.'  (Galations 6:14)