Jude's 2 Year Photos {by Mommy}

I purchased a cardboard block letter from Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago and painted it red for a little outdoor photo session with Jude on Friday evening. It was terribly hot, Jude wanted to run around and play instead of pose, and he didn't care much for the boring photo prop, but I am definitely satisfied with the shots that I did get of him. It was nearly "golden hour," my favorite time of the day, and my boy was oh so handsome. While I was following him around, snapping away, he randomly gave me a flower for the very first time. This mama's heart was overjoyed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love you, my beautiful boy.

Writing therapy

As I've mentioned very recently, I have been struggling a lot with my anxiety and have even questioned if I've also been on the verge of depression. It's been an extremely dark and difficult few months, as I had not been able to shake any of these debilitating feelings. 

I always loved to write. Not just blogging or journaling, which I've always enjoyed and liked keeping up with. But fiction. I've always been a reader and I developed an interest in creating my own stories when I was very young. It had been a while since I'd really written anything of merit until about April, when an idea came to me and I ran with it. I'd missed creative writing and bringing characters to life. Creating people that readers fall in love with and care about. I wanted to write the kind of story I would want to read. Something that stays with you long after you put it down. Something that can bring you to tears. Something special and emotional, like the novels John Green writes. 

And so it is, that I am on chapter 11 of my first real substantial novel. Some days it's all I can think about. Because I've invested myself in this story, I have not been focusing on the troubles in my life that ail me. I find joy in the reactions of those closest to me that I have been sharing my pages with. I am moving them with my story and I love that. I thrive on it. It's been making me so happy lately and I haven't felt this good in months. I'm falling in love with characters that don't even exist, and bringing them to life, giving them a story. I love it. 

I'm not sure what will come of my novel. I've been looking into publishing it independently, even as just an e-book. If I'm being honest, I think it's just as good as books out there, and better than a lot I've read. Maybe I'm biased. ;) But I think it could be something... and a lot of people could enjoy it. 

Regardless of what it becomes, I'm grateful to have something I can feel good about, an outlet that I can enjoy. Something that makes me feel happy and helps me forget the things that bring me down. I'm grateful for the gift of creativity.