SPC - Week #3

So I've been wanting to begin participating in the Self Portrait Challenge. (You can click on the icon in right sidebar to learn more, too!) Each Tuesday, I am supposed to post a self portrait. This was intriguing to me for a few reasons. One, self portraiture will truly be a challenge for me. I am not one who likes to be in front of the camera. Two, I am motivated to improve my photography skills. And three, I am interested in exploring the parts of me the pictures will bring out. The person who started SPC posted the following on the site - which encouraged me to jump right in...no matter how hesitant I felt.


"I am interested in self-portraiture not only as a way for artists to express themselves, but also as a venue for ordinary people to express their inner often hidden selves. I want to make it accessible and acceptable for anyone to become involved. I made it a weekly event to give people many chances to experiment and also to see what others are doing - to improve not only their photography skills but also their courage in challenging their own boundaries. I want people to not just do it once and feel satisfied with that, but to continue to experiment and see how it will change their view of themselves and maybe even change their lives a little."


I hope this challenge causes me to grow, discover, and have a little fun with myself. And I hope you have fun with it too! So - In June, the challenge is to show myself in my surroundings. Show my environment and what is special to me. How I feel about it and take care of it. I feel I can't start this theme without beginning with what is obviously the most important thing in my environment - what I spend 99% of my time, energy, emotions, thoughts and self nurturing.

My Girls

The picture is of us at Strawberry Farms Golf Course (also very much a part of my environment these days!) in front of the waterfall on the 18th hole. I absolutely love being a Mom. I really believe it is what I was meant to do. Megan and Molly bring me so much joy. The days are sometimes long, but the months and years seem to fly by. I am challenged to continually improve their lives, their environment, their experiences. I want everything we do to be fun and for them to be learning. I also work hard at taking all the things that I enjoy - and introducing them to my children in ways that they will find them fascinating too. Faith, sewing, baking, learning, gardening, reading, exercising (okay, I don't so much enjoy that one, but I know it's good for me :) I want them to see their Mom as someone who is strong, independent, confident, compassionate, hard working, charitable and faithful. I think being a mom invades every aspect of my life. It's why I try to exercise, eat healthy, and keep the curse words to a minimum. Why I am almost always tired, my car is almost always cluttered, and what keeps me on a budget. When there was only me - time and money were always in abundance. And while I wouldn't say I was selfish, I definitely got to do most anything I wanted. After kids, I don't feel I have the right to be selfish anymore. Not with my time, my money, or the food on my plate...But funnily enough - I don't feel cheated. I feel fulfilled.