What an amazing year 2011 has been! This year has been filled to overflowing with blessings. I shot 15 amazing weddings and have developed some incredible memories and relationships along the way. In this post I am going to share 5 of my favorite "happenings" from 2011 in the order in which they occurred.

1. Prioritizing the Important
This year has been a year of shifting priorities and attempting to gain some balance in my life. At the beginning of the year I did some reflecting and set out to make exercise and spending time with God daily priorities. I haven't done a perfect job of it, but have definitely loved the balance and joy this shift has brought this year. I also made time for some fun hobbies that feed my soul -- gardening and crochet. Click below to read some posts about these changes I made this year. I'm still not the poster-child for balance, but am celebrating this step in the right direction!

Decisions & Prioritizing the Important
My New Workout Partner
Crafty
Planting Day
Growing a Green Thumb
The Little Things


2. Checking Goals off the List
This year I continued in my endeavor to complete 101 goals in 1001 days. I only checked 15 goals off my list this year but they were some fun ones! Click below to read about each goal completed.

Develop new client kit - completed 2.17.11
Purchase & play with Totally Rad Actions - completed 5.31.11
Stay at a luxury resort and go to the spa - completed 7.26.11
Get Michelle Neese to visit me - completed 12.5.11
Sit and watch a sunrise somewhere cool - completed 8.12.11
Develop sponsorship packet for MJ 2 Day and recruit sponsors - completed 5.26.11
See Taylor Swift in concert - completed 10.26.11
Read or re-read the biography of a faithful Christian - completed 1.22.11
Read 5 books to help my business & do reviews of each on my blog - completed 5.25.11
Learn how to keep flowers and plants alive & have some in my house and yard - completed 6.6.11
Get an elliptical machine for working out at home during the summers - completed 4.28.11
Get a Duo sample album done through Queensberry & start offering them to clients - completed 5.16.11
Decide if I want a Facebook Fan page & start one if so - completed 3.10.11
Create and sell blog collage templates - completed 8.4.11
Revamp website to include associate program & resources for photographers - completed 10.11.11


3. Meeting President George W. Bush
Most surreal and unexpected experience of my year. Click here to read all about it.


4. Walk for Autism
As many of you know, I have two nephews with autism. So the fact that there is no known cause or cure for this epidemic that affects 1 in 110 children (an increase of 600% over the past two decades) is heart-wrenching to me. This year, my team walked for the 5th year in a row to raise money and awareness for autism. Our team was huge -- 82 strong -- and we raised over $6,500!!! Amazing! Click here to see more photos from this year's walk! And thanks again to all of you who donated and walked! Over $100,000 was raised and will go directly to fund a 1-year multi-treatment study for children and adults with autism. I can't wait to see what our efforts will accomplish!


5. Business Growth
This year was a year of tremendous business growth for Melissa Jill Photography. We brought on a full-time office manager, finished our new office space, brought on 3 new associate wedding photographers, developed new resources for photographers, started a senior portrait program, developed new websites and more! I'm SO thrilled, looking back at 2011, at how far we've come! Click below to read more about each area of growth!

New full-time office manager: Meet Sara
Completed Office Space
Facebook Business Page
MJ 2 Day: New website, sponsorship program, addition of a 3rd yearly workshop and new +one program!
Addition of 3 new associate wedding photographers
Development of photographer resources page & new blog collage templates!
Now offering Senior Portraits!


What a great year! So much to celebrate! I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store! Bring it!
+ Comment +