vacation revelations.
matthew barber’s “and you give” is the melody i’ve been listening to on repeat the past twenty-four hours. it’s hauntingly beautiful. you must listen. in unrelated news, family vacation has come to a close. for the first time since starting my business three years ago, i actually felt like i was on vacation. i’m pretty mentally tied to my work and i find it near impossible to let go of business. this may sound so ridiculous but i went four days without internet access. i haven’t been four whole days without internet since i went to europe in 2007. i wish i was kidding. this time, i let it go. i’m so addicted, it’s ridiculous. i get “check email” cravings every thirty minutes or so when i know i have an available wi-fi connection. it’s bad news. gah.
i grew up in a family that vacations often. families that vacation together, stay together, perhaps? ;) as i’ve grown older and more contemplative, (ha!) vacations have been a chance to spend time reflecting. every day, i try to fit in a run, time with my bible, a few pages of journaling and as much sleeping as possible. it’s taken me a while: this figuring out how to rest thing, but i’m getting better. i’m trying. i come home from most vacations determined to eat even healthier, run even more miles, make my time in the Word more meaningful and continue to pursue a better work/life balance. sometimes you need to get away from all the noise to listen.
i need to get it through my head that the world doesn’t exist on the internet. the internet has brought me some amazing opportunities, completely propelled my business to what it is today, made me some great connections… but it’s not everything. outside this shiny little macbook, there is real interaction and conversation and life and sunshine and fresh air and people. great people. i’m highly considering email-free weekends… if i find the guts! excuse my ramblings: these are my honest “vacation revelations.”
enjoy some photos below of our week in washington. this weekend, i’m shooting a wedding on saturday, partying it up on sunday, shooting an engagement session on monday afternoon, revelling in the magic that is the bachelorette finale on monday night and flying to california on tuesday. busy days.
p.s. i guess i turn twenty in THIRTY-TWO HOURS. (i was born at 6:02AM on August 1, 1990) — STOKED.
p.p.s. listen to “happy in love” by deer and the headlights. it’s also wonderful, but not as wonderful as that matthew barber song.
p.p.p.s. summer is brilliant but so is autumn. autumn, autumn, autumn. i can’t wait. i can’t wait. i love september – december more than any other time!
Hey, Jamie! What kind of lens did you use there? Looks really good!
Well done! There’s a lot to be said for time away… And fooling around documenting your own family and friends… I forget to do that sometimes :)
what a beautiful spot to vacation!! the picture of the little boy with his hand in the back of his pants? Awesome!! You rock, lady. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Looks like a simply splendid vacation!
I couldn’t have written this post better myself. I’m on vacation right now and am going through a very similar thought process. How to have a better, simpler life but find that balance with internet/email. Thanks for sharing :) Love your images!!
Your birthday is on my new anniversary! It’s me and my husbands first anniversary on August 1st! Happy Birthday!
Beautiful photos! Makes me really excited for my vacation on Monday :D My family vacationed together every summer, and I think you are right – families that vacation together stay together :)
what a lovely vacation, jamie! i appreciate and relate to the honest reflections that came out of your time away. i often have to remind myself that it is GOD who prospers me… and not my striving to network and market myself. (Deut 8:18). anyway, welcome back and happy shooting!
Great pictures! These totally could have come out looking generic and blah if anyone else had taken them. Great job, as always! Kristin
I enjoy reading all your reflective thoughts after being on vacation. As much as I love when you blog often, taking a break to enjoy the world and people in front of you is completely respectable!
Your images are amazing
on vacation, as well! and yes, it is brilliant!!!! a God-invention to rest. looks good on ya! :)))
Happy Birthday, Jamie! Have an AWESOME year being 20! And enjoy all your celebrations … Nice pictures from your vacation. It’s none of my business, but I think you *should* have go at email free weekends. ;) I do and have found it very liberating. You would love the book "Simpler Times" by Thomas Kinkade – you will find your heart (as glimpsed in this post) reflected in it. I love it! :) Enjoy every one of your 365 days as 20!!!
beautiful photos, Jamie! Happy Birthday today, too!!
happy birthday jamie! enjoy your special day and all the days to come! i wish you all the best, sunshine, love and happiness. thanks for sharing life and photos with us! i’m following from germany, and have never left a comment before… but i will do so in the future to let you know how special it is what you’re sharing. thank you and have a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday Jamie! Welcome to your 20s. They’re AWESOME! :)
Love the vacation photos and glimpses into your life!
what camera do you have? and what photo editing software do you use? :)