“How long does it take for your soul to recognize that your life is full? The slower the living, the greater the sense of fullness and satisfaction. The body and soul can synchronize." -Ann Voskamp This year has been filled with many wonderful memories. Countless afternoons have been spent in this same spot in our backyard. There have been so many lovely memories and conversations in this beautiful place. Conversations with God, my husband, my children, family and friends. I am so grateful to feel the fullness of life... to feel the love and true joy that surrounds me daily. I am thankful to really understand why joy is so much more than happiness. Kay Waren defines joy in a beautiful way in her book entitled Chose Joy: Happiness is Not Enough. She says, "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright and the determined choice to praise God in all things." It isn't always easy to practice this way of living, but it is a place where I find a peace that I haven't always known. It is a place where I chose to believe that God truly has a plan for my life and I don't need to fret over the details and the "what ifs". I just need to live in this moment today. This place of joy, is something I have to chose daily to live for and it is something worth every effort lived.
December has been very warm this year, even for Florida. I have loved our late afternoon and sunset evenings spent down by the lake. I have used this time to relax and watch my children so content and free. I have been able to observe and capture this amazing sun in all kinds of ways. These pictures are full of sun and flare. (There are even a few where the flare and sunburst did some pretty amazing things.) If there is a possible way to capture the way Joy feels inside of me, these images would be close. Something about the sun, the water, and my children come together in a special way.
I have enjoyed working on this 10 on 10 project each month for the past year with a wonderful group of ladies. I am so excited that we have decided to continue in 2014 with another project together. This group of women is something special; not only amazing photographers but beautiful friends. I am so thankful for each one of them. Please head on over to the blog of Rowe Timson ; she captures her adventurous life in the most gorgeous way.