Weird Week

It's been such a weird week. Someone who is very dear to me just heard she is terminally ill... She's been fighting cancer for years, had chemo twice and last year she was 'recovered'. I know it's terribly naieve of me, but I really thought she made it: she was going to live happily ever after.. But sometimes life just throws mud at you when you least expect it. What's weird about this is that though I'm having a hard time dealing with it, it has made me appreciate all the wonderful things in life more. I just hope I can give her as much comfort as I possibly can and help her make the most of the time that's left!

This week really has brought me back to the beginning. My love for photography started with my dad. I remember him, hanging upside down from a cliff in Switzerland, to take a picture of a blooming edelweiss, only to find that he forgot to take the lens cap off... Haha, I teased him for years about that!
When my dad suddenly died, now seven years ago, I really started to think hard about what I wanted in life. I made some of the best choices after that. We finally stopped talking about how 'some day' we would go to India and Nepal, we just went. I picked up photography, which turned out to be my greatest passion!
Ok, I made some bad choices too. Somehow wanting to 'prove' myself, I became a high school teacher, worked way too many hours and I just didn't want to see that I am much too soft for a job like that.
I couldn't sleep, I had too much stress, I kept worrying about kids that were being picked on and I just kept saying yes when people asked me to take on another class, until one day I just collapsed and couldn't do anything anymore. Just cry.
Looking back, that was a crucial moment in my life and probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I went to a therapist after that, a lovely lady who helped me embrace my artistic side and helped me block out some of the negative elements in my life. She lived on a farm and while we were talking, sheep were pressing their noses against the window... I loved it there :) Anyway, she helped me accept myself for who I am and finally I dared to do what I always wanted: be an artist. And, even more important, I found the peace that was necessary for me and my husband to choose to expand our little family and we had a beautiful baby boy! He is everything to me!

Wow. There. I've said it. To be honest, I feel much better now. It's good to be able to share things like this once in while :) I just hope you didn't think it's too personal!

Now back to the good stuff!

Chelsea of Loud Waterfall Photography is a wonderful photographer (and fantastic person!) and she was so generous to send her first 10 blog followers a wonderful gift! This awesome photograph is coming my way as we speak! Can't wait to frame this baby and hang it on my wall! Gorgeous, right? You can find Chelsea here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoudWaterfallPhoto, here https://www.facebook.com/LoudWaterfallPhoto and here http://loudwaterfallphoto.blogspot.nl/! Be sure to check out her fabulous photos of Africa too!

And then there's the lovely Keri from ColorWorkStudio! She had a giveaway to celebrate her new blog and I won one of her beautiful photographs! Of course I had to choose the coffee ;) I'm already the proud owner of her lovely Winter in Central Park and I think they'll go wonderfully together! Find Keri here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColorWorkStudio,

here https://www.facebook.com/ColorWorkStudio and here

http://colorworkstudio.blogspot.nl/

Oh, I wish we could all meet up and have a cuppa together! Maybe go on a photo trip afterwards :)

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday!! Oh, and don't forget to enter the giveaway if you haven't already! There's still time! :)

xxx
Danny