The Journey Really Begins

I know, I know, it has been almost 3 months since my last entry. Well life has become jam packed. To update you all, well those that don't already know, I have started my own business! My photography business opened shop early August and has been steadily growing and growing each week. It's amazing, something that I just loved to do in my past-time is becoming something that I am doing full-time. We are official with our business license, tax info, and employer stuff. I even have employees! They are all commissioned based but it's all good. I could not be more happier with my life and the direction that I am headed. I have been blessed with so many amazing opportunities each and everyday, it is beginning to blow my mind. To think a year ago I was so unhappy and depressed with the situation that I was in and now I am being requested to fly to other countries for my services. Another update for those that do not already know, last weekend I received a message from one of my friends inviting me to go on an all expense paid trip to Italy, all I had to do was get my passport, get my ticket, and bring as much shopping money as I could, all in exchange for photography of all the amazing cities and adventures her and her family go on. I said "hold on one second let me think about it, I'm done thinking. OF COURSE I WANT TO GO! I will make it happen." And sure enough it's happening. my passport is being processed as I write, my tickets are booked and paid for, and I have already begun packing. I leave the USA on September 30th to arrive in Tuscany, Florence, Italy for 14 days of pure adventure! It's funny, one of my things to accomplish for the year was be more adventurous, and well this is definitely that. Typical Jennie would completely over think the opportunity, worry about the lack of passport and birth certificate and well money. But when I stepped out in faith and trusted someone other than myself and realized that I just got to get the things done and have faith in the right people and know it is out of my hands and trust that it will all work out in my favor, it all became a lot easier. So instead of spending my night being sleepless because I can't stop worrying, they are sleepless because I am so excited or I can't stop trying to learn the language. Another one of my things to do was to meet new people and well what a better way to meet new people than to go to a foreign country, enough said.
My trip will celebrate my year anniversary of my life being flipped upside down and what a way to celebrate it. I didn't even realize it until I was sitting in church on sunday and all the sudden I was like the day that I leave for Italy is the exact day that I choose to walk away from what had become so familiar to me, focusing on someone who wasn't there for me, who didn't care about me, and someone who put my every move/action down. Now I stand a year later, healed of those wounds and moving forward in the direction this person told me was not possible. At the time that I made that decision to walk away I didn't think I was strong enough, that I couldn't do it on my own, that I was everything he told me I was, but today I realize that those words were not describing me or my life. I am destined for greatness and great things because my faith is in someone else. He was right about one thing, I couldn't do it on my own, I had a lot of friends and family that supported, guided, and encouraged me throughout the entire years journey and I thank them all. As I went to reread what I just wrote my eyes began to well up with tears but they are not tears of sadness about the past, they are tears of gratitude, I am so thankful for the many blessings I have been given, most of all a new lease on life! I am expecting Italy to continue the transformation of my life.
I just recently watched Eat, Pray, Love. I cried through the entire movie. It did stir up so many memories. In a way I related to her journey, the spark of the beginning of the situation wasn't necessarily the same but it was that unhappiness that led her to make a radical change in her life and I am too. It led her to Italy, funny unknowingly mine did too. For me it has been a Pray, Eat, Love!
Well, BIG thanks to all that have stood by me and loved and supported me throughout this year, please continue. Expect lots of blog entries while I am Italy.

And to sign off for this edition, Arrivederci Grazie Mi Amici!