I’m just so excited and literally on cloud 9 after returning from Phoenix! The decision to go to this workshop was not an instant one.

It took coaxing, decision making and some what of an emotional roller coster to get me to where I was, so obviously, supposed to be.

Back in March I sat down with a dear friend and wedding florist at a local sandwich shop and unloaded! I was feeling blessed beyond my means. I was so excited that my business was growing but at the same time felt like a juggler with about 14 objects up in the air and any minute now I was going to miss one and the rest would come tumbling down. Any one ever felt like that before? My friend, Emily, had lived in Phoenix for 14 years and told me about this photographer named Melissa Jill. She explained her as: experienced, sweet, loved the Lord, and a great blogger. She urged me to check out her blog but I felt like I couldn’t ‘add one more thing’ to my list! So I failed to look her up and moved on, still juggling. Emotion = flustered and exhausted

A month after that I found myself at Starbucks visiting with a newborn photographer in my area. We chatted about all sorts of things as I tried to give the appearance I had it all together….When I let slip I was overwhelmed, but thankful for all the business I was getting, Shannon, my photographer friend caught on. I needed some help! She told me of a friend she had in Austin that had gone to a MJ2Day Workshopin Arizona. It was some lady with 2 first names! ???? A little bell somewhere went off and I asked if it was Melissa Jill?? The answer, YES! Low and behold, the girl behind us sipping coffee said, “Melissa Jill? My wedding photographer in Austin (yes, same one Shannon was talking about, that’s what happens when you live in a small town) talks about Melissa Jill all the time, I think she went to one of her workshops or something in the desert!?” As I began to connect the dots I checked out the blog…finally! Emotion = still flustered but with a little hope

The next week or so I made it a point to check out this ‘lady with the 2 first names’ ???? I liked the stuff on the blog and she seemed to be pretty cool. I probably ready 2 or 3 blog posts and then realized I was getting sucked in! Emotion = excitement and curiosity

About a second after that I called my first friend, Emily. “Tell me again about this MJ in Phoenix?” She had nothing to say but good things. She encouraged me to email her and was sure she would email me back and talk to the photographer in Austin about the workshop! So I did. Melissa emailed me right back and the snowball was rolling! I called my close friend and fellow photographer in San Antonio and talked to her about the workshop. I was having social anxiety about going alone and the only way I would agree to go was if she went too. (No pressure, right?!) She agreed to go with me and be my buddy! Emotion = anticipation and happy

3 weeks before the workshop. My friend from San Antonio got some news that was going to keep her from the workshop. I got nervous and started having anxiety about “traveling alone”. (Marriage has made me wimpy in the sense that I used to take trains through Europe solo without a second though. Now a plane across a few states by myself and I was panicked) Emotion = worry

Upon arrival to phoenix I had overcome about 19 obstacles and had about 40 more to go. After a missed flight, getting lost, no rental car, change of hotel (for fear of my life being at stake by creepy stalkers!) starving, forgotten bag I walked into the workshop ‘meet and greet’ and wanted to cry. Emotion = stressed and wonder at what I was doing

The workshop however, surpassed all my stresses and I quickly forgot all my fears of being in a new place with new people! My excitement and love of learning trumped everything else! I felt like a nerd in school, hanging on every new piece of information I gathered and feeling like I may actually, sort of, be able to get my life together after all. I felt like our group connected and was super friendly. I love that I have photographer friends from across the US now! Emotion = overjoyed

Getting back to College Station was another story in it’s self but I made it…eventually! I was ready to go and had some awesome goals for my business and life. Emotion = exhausted but in a good way

Thanks to everyone that was part of my MJ2Day mini-journey! You all played key parts and I couldn’t be where I am sitting right now (at the kitchen table) with out you. You may not have seen it then, I definitely didn’t see it then, but everything happened exactly as it was supposed to. The Lord had to get creative as far as getting me there but once I finally took some hints everything was perfect! Emotion = excited and literally on cloud 9

Check out Melissa’s fun post about the workshop here!