Happy New Year everyone!

What an amazing year 2013 has been! This year has been filled to overflowing with blessings. It's been so great to take some time these last few days to reflect on the past year. As a result, today I am going to share 5 of my favorite "happenings" from 2013.

#1 -- Relationships
Thank goodness for a great smart phone camera and Instagram! Otherwise I seriously would be hurting for photos of my personal life. I rarely have my pro camera with me except when I'm home or working. But, like my friend Jared Platt says, "The best camera is the one you have with you."

The above photos are a testament to how blessed I am. I've always known I am blessed with incredible people in my life, but I feel like 2013 was a year of taking that truth to the next level. The relationships I've grown with the above precious people, and many more who I just didn't happen to have photos handy for (but you know who you are!) is one of my favorite things about this year.


#2 -- Speaking at WPPI
WPPI is an annual convention in Las Vegas that draws 15,000 photographers from around the globe. I've attended for many years but this year I was honored to be able to give a platform presentation. I was shaking in my stilettos speaking in front of so many people, on a stage that I had watched so many times before, but it was an amazing opportunity and humbling experience. Definitely a highlight of my year! And the cool thing is -- they invited me back! I will be speaking again this year, but this time on a different topic: Developing a Successful Associate Photographer Program. If you're a photographer, I hope to see you there! (I'll be speaking at 3pm on Wednesday, March 5th -- the schedule currently has me listed incorrectly.)


#3 -- Walking 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 88 children (an increase of 600% over the past two decades) is heart-wrenching to me. This year, my team walked for the 7th year in a row to raise money and awareness for autism. Our team was huge -- 70 strong -- and we raised $6,470!!! 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 multiple research studies for children and adults with autism. I can't wait to see what our efforts will accomplish!


#4 -- Growing in Trust
God has showed me again and again this year that He is my provider. For both the big things and the little things. So why do I worry so much and try so hard to figure out everything on my own? Good question, self -- haha! Seriously, I'm a work in progress on this one, but I know God has called me this year to grow in my trust in Him. I was blessed to be able to go on a spiritual retreat to the gorgeous mountains of Colorado this summer, as well as to study God's word with a great group of women this fall. And both experiences impacted me greatly.


#5 -- Business Growth
This year was a year of tremendous business growth for both of my businesses. Between my four associate photographers and I, our studio shot a total of 36 weddings in 2013 (up from 29 in 2012). I had the pleasure of teaching three MJ2Day workshops, which means I got to participate in the journeys of 40 photographers. And my album design company, Align, tripled the number of albums we designed in 2012. I feel blessed and overwhelmed all at the same time as I look back on 2013. It was A LOT of work. But man, was it ever rewarding.


Thank you all for reading and sharing in my journey! I can't wait to see what 2014 holds in store for all of us!
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