Genuine, Authentic, Grateful.

Genuine. 

Authentic. 

Grateful. 

As I look back on the year of 2014, it has probably been one of the most rewarding, and yet challenging years I have ever had to face. I started off the year in constant anxiety/joy for childbirth and everything that was yet to come in this new adventure of being a mom.  Then, God blessed us with a beautiful, healthy baby girl Shiloh.  We wouldn't trade her for the world!  However, parenthood has definitely been a lot different than I might have expected.  It started with days of nonstop crying, as I couldn't get my hormones controlled.  Then it moved to hospitalizations, breastfeeding problems, major colic issues and crazy amounts of sleep deprivation (we are still struggling with this one).  And through all of this, God has been refining me and showing me bits of my true character; some good, some bad.  In this year I have realized how truly selfish I am and how much I truly need Jesus and His grace each and every day of my life.  I have also come to awaken this whole new side of myself, that has seemed to be hiding deep inside of me.  I have come to find a beautiful, creative, artistic side of myself as well.  I have started to realize how important soaking in each moment of this life truly is and how these moments that we live in life, we can either cherish or curse.  So, with all of this new awakening in me, God has placed 3 very key words upon my heart to challenge me and live by over the next year, and thus following: genuine, authentic, grateful.  Most of my life I have always been the girl to follow the rules, do exactly what I am told and live strictly according to how others say I should live.  There are some good things associated with this kind of life, I mean God certainly protected me from a lot of hurt and heartache, however, I also never really opened my eyes to all the beauty and life being lived around me, because I was always so focused on the rules and not messing up.  God is really beginning to teach me to be genuine with my life.  To live and to love as He loves me, without borders or guidelines and without these limitations for where I can go or how far.  So, this year is being more of the genuine me, and discovering really who that is.  Secondly I want to be more authentic.  I feel that myself, with most the of world, we get so busy, and I for 1 commit to way too many things and then am not able to follow through on everything.  I have found that not only does this stress me out like no other in the process, but it is also not authentic, and it misleads people and lets many people down.  So, this year is also to priorities, setting them in the right order, and being authentic when I interact with people, as well as in my communication and my actions.  I want people to know me for who I really am, and not for this facade that I try to display to fit in with the rest of the world.  The third word for this year is grateful.  I found that my weak and tired self in the beginning of motherhood, found it super easy to look at many of the negatives each day going on, like my lack of sleep, instead of focusing on the good, like my amazing husband that is the greatest support in the world, or all the joy that Shiloh brings to our lives, or even simple things, such as having a warm, cozy bed to sleep in in the cold of winter.  I was missing out on all these amazing little blessings that God has been placing in my life each day, because I was choosing to live in bitterness instead of gratefulness.  So, this year I am choosing grace and thankfulness over the rest of it in my life.  I want to slow down, to hear the birds chirping in the trees and smell the warmth of the candle burning in my living room, to taste the goodness of a warm, fresh baked brownie in my mouth, and to hear the sweet laughs of Shiloh as she explores this great big new world.  I want to soak it all in, all the joy that life has to offer.  For I know that hard times come, and in the midst of them I want to be able to see the small blessings, and still know that God is good, despite my pain.  This is also always a hard time for me, because January 4th marks the anniversary of our miscarriage of Olivia Grace.  She will always be remembered, but I want to remember all the good God has done in our lives through her.  And because of her, my eyes were opened to this beautiful photography journey that God is now taking me on as well. I feel so blessed, nervous, excited and grateful to announce that I am officially launching my photography business for this 2015 year! (Laura Duggleby Photography). I absolutely cannot wait for the new journey that God is leading me on and the many many blessings He will lead me through along the way.  I want to thank my amazing husband Josh for giving me the courage to pursue this hidden dream of mine as well as many of my family and friends, and also, I cannot go without mentioning my amazing and talented friend Emily Karwoski for designing my beautiful logo!  (You can check out all of her stuff at www.etsy.com/shop/joyfulpapery).  If you or anyone you know are looking for any photography needs, please feel free to contact me through email, LDugglebyPhoto@gmail.com.  I will be launching my price listing as well as my Facebook page tomorrow so be on the lookout! Once again, thank you so much for everyone who has played such an amazing part in this past year, and I look forward to what the year has to come!  I would love to hear what God is putting on your heart for this new and upcoming year for you!! :) 

To being Genuine. Authentic. Grateful.  

~Happy New Year from the Duggleby's!!! :) 

~Laura