117 - Workshop!

So, I'll be taking a mini-vacation from the blog these next few days... but don't worry, I'll be taking plenty of photos!

Why might I be taking an "official" break, though? Don't I normally just get behind and then try to make up for it? Well... yeah. =) But this time, I'm announcing the break because I'm going to be spending all weekend attending  Me Ra Koh's Confidence Photography Workshop! Aaaaah!! I'm so excited!!!

Me Ra is a friend of my sister, Airika, and does a few workshops across the nation each year. I've known about the workshops for a few years now, and wished I could attend, but never had the chance or funds. This weekend the workshop will be held in the NYC area (technically Jersey City since it's so much cheaper than Manhattan), and I am going to be there!

It's still pretty unbelievable to me.

Oh, and did I mention that Airika and Gerald (my sister and brother-in-law) and my parents BOUGHT ME THE SEAT?!

Yeah, um, read that again! It basically says: I HAVE THE MOST AWESOME FAMILY EVER!!!

Like I said, it still seems unbelievable! 

The past couple of years have had a lot of ups and downs as life does, but with a lot of emphasis on the downs. While I absolutely LOVE Josh and being married has been pretty much the most awesome and incredible and wonderful thing ever, I've really been struggling with just about, oh, well, everything else in life. I won't go into details, but the quick summary is that I've felt pretty trapped and really struggled with simply finding everyday joy in life (which, um, is sort of what I'm all about).

So, there have been a series of pretty important, tough, and significant events over the past few months, and one of the most exciting by far, was this incredible gift from my family. It only happened about 4 weeks ago, but I've definitely been counting down the days. (And considering this workshop was announced back in October, knowing for 4 weeks is a relatively short time to wait... I don't know what I would've done if I'd had to wait 4 months!) 

I think the most humbling and wonderful part of it all for me is not even the workshop (if you can believe that). It's what my family said to me with their action of giving me this gift. It's not just giving me something I've wanted... it's loving me very tangibly. They're affirming my hopes, my dreams, and me. They're saying that they absolutely believe in everything I am, and everything I want to be. They're showing that they have confidence in me, and that even if I end up going a different direction, that they want me to continue to be creative, find inspiration in art, and simply be happy.

I told you they were a pretty awesome family. How many people nowadays tell their kids to go be artists, huh? Or even encourage that past the age of about 10? Anywho, I'm saying goodbye to Philly for a few days, and heading out to Jersey City, then NYC. I'll be back here next week (Tuesday or Wednesday), and hopefully have some pretty fun images for you!

In the meantime, say goodbye with me to Philadelphia's City Hall -- at least until Tuesday...