5 Things I'm passionate about

I recently came across a blog article where the author listed 50 blog topics to write about.  "5 Things Your Passionate About" was one of the topics on her list.  I thought it sounded like a fun topic.

I decided in my list of 5 things, not to post the normal answers like my family, faith, etc... because those are usually the same for everyone.  So beyond those, here's what I came up with in no particular order.

~Photography~

I have been taking pictures since my freshman year in high school.  Which may or may not have been 18 years ago.  I'll never tell.  ;)

Anyways, that was back before the age of digital cameras.  We used film and developed it in the dark room.  Yeah, so maybe I just dated myself...  Anyways, it was so much fun.  But now I have just as much fun with my digital camera and computer software as I did back then.

A few years ago I started up a photography business.  I LOVED it, but decided to shut it down after 3 years because I felt like it took up too much of my time.  I felt like my family, house and life were suffering because of it, even though my family never said so.  I had to have time to plan sessions, go on shoots, edit pictures, etc... I realized that my kids were growing up fast, and I kind of felt like I was missing some of it.  I would take pictures for people all week, and then be too tired or disinterested in taking any of my own kids. 

My kids aren't as little as they used to be, but they still need me to be present.  Someday they'll be more independent and I'll have even more freedom to pursue what I want to do... but for now, I just want to be free to be with them.

 

~Elderly~

 I LOVE the elderly!!!  One of my biggest dreams would be to open up a nice and fun nursing home or assisted living.  These people are somebody's grandparents, parents, siblings, etc.  I have heard so many sad stories about how they can be treated and it makes me livid.  They matter!  What they say matters!  How they are treated and respected matters!  They have lived and seen things that we haven't and when they walk through the doors they should find a peaceful and safe place to put their feet up and relax.  It should be a place where we would want to live.  Because someday, it will be us.

~Traveling~

This is one of Dan and I's favorite things to do together.  It's a passion for both of us.  We pretty much want to see it all.  We have written up many lists and stayed up late into the night talking about all the different places we want to see and why.  Some are small little trips.  Some are huge trips where we will be saving for a long time to ever make it happen.  Some are family trips, some with our friends, and some just the two of us.  Even if we never do them all, which is most likely!  :)  It's still fun dreaming of all the places that we'd like to see.

~Reading~

There aren't a whole lot of things that make me happier than a really good book!  Unfortunately, I've found that really good books are hard to come by.  So I just keep reading more books and sometimes I hit the jackpot.  Reading is one of my favorite things to do.  Yes, I'm a dork and I fully admit it.  :)  But reading is something that I've always been very passionate about.

In school we were required to read a book and then write up a book report.  I remember my friends HATED this.  They would moan and wine and I would play along with them to be cool, but on the inside... I was all "Woohoo!!!!"  What's better than reading a good book and then getting to tell people all about it.  Hahaha! 

 

~Orphans~

Orphans are so near and dear to my heart.  I am already a "mama bear" to my own kids, but I feel the same way when it comes to kids that don't have anyone to love them or protect them.  A fierceness comes out in me to be that person for them.  Years ago, I was sure that someday I would adopt.  I've prayed for years and years whether this is something that Dan and I are being called to do.  Years ago I was sure that I would adopt from Guatemala, but then they shut down adoptions there. 

I've followed many blogs over the years about family's adopting.  I've read tons of articles online about adopting and different adoptions.  We've even contacted a couple agencies over the years to ask questions about starting the process.  But each time we'd get started, we felt like God was telling us to wait.  So we did.  I think after all this time, I've finally given up on the idea that we'll ever adopt.  I'd still love to, but I don't know if that's what God has in store for our family.  I trust that he knows what is best and so we're continually trying to give up control and let him lead us.

Besides your family or faith, what is something you are passionate about?