the little box.

This is so hard. I have been reading through my entire blog for the past few days. Deleting posts after printing them that seemed to share personal details in the lives of my family that just seem so...vulnerable.

Yes, deleting stories.

Deleting names.

Deleting photos.

And then, I'll read a post that was not even *about* me. It wasn't about my family. It wasn't about my life or my comfort or my material gain or my business life.

It was simply about how God moves me and how He has impressed my heart to share something that I didn't even know I was going to write about when I sat down to blog that particular night! I've read some of these posts and think "wow...did I write that? why? where did it come from?".

Posts that generated personal emails to me from all over the country and even around the world that were very heart-felt, and in-turn, very inspiring to me as well. Your stories and your faith and your own words of inpiration to me ranging from simple "thank yous" to wonderful testimonies and your life stories have been a great inspiration to me.

And I just simply haven't been able to push the "delete" button on those entries.

It's all the trend these days for professional photographers to start blogs that are strictly geared towards their customer base. A way to promote their business, be professional, and share some photos. Blogs that are directly linked from their photography sites. A great way to reach out to a target market, for sure!

I've been thinking these past few weeks that maybe I would start a blog JUST for my business. Keep my personal one separate. And then...

This all happened. (see prior post).

Made me think "well, so much for a personal blog. I'll just wipe the slate clean, and recreate this blog into a STRICLTY business blog like lots of other are doing." Great thing to do. And besides, this one was created with my full name anyway so it made sense to use it for my pro blog.

But then, my dh walked into the room last night and said "why don't you think about it before you wipe everything out. Give it some time to think about what you REALLY want to do with your blog whether it's for business, personal use or not at all".

So...today, it struck me. Why does my faith have to be hidden from my business? Why do all of these posts that I've read through that have generated so many heart-felt emails have to be "separated" from this blog?

In the end, I've decided to remove photos and names of my children and posts with specific details that don't need to be made public for safety reasons. After all, in promoting my photography business with my full name---together with the exposure of being published over the past few years---means I do need to be very careful as it relates to my family.

But this is...who I am.

A photographer that has been blessed by God. A photographer that loves the Lord above all else.

And is inspired to share that along this journey that is called...life.

So.

My blog continues to be a way for me to share my thoughts, my artistic impressions, my loves, my faith in the all-powerful God, and a way for me to share a few images that He inspires me to capture with a little box called...

a camera.

Comments

[Alette]

So glad you thought it all over and keep telling us some stories about your lifes. So gald you keep sharing those photos with us you are such a blessed photographer. I enjoy the things you write and the photos you share with all of us.
So from the other side of the world, a very bit hug, love you Teri, thank you for being such a good friend

Alette

[Linda J]

Again - a wonderful, heartfelt blog post that I was able to read this morning as I drink my coffee and thank God for my day ahead. I am so glad that you are choosing to let your love of the Lord shine through in your writings here. It is so much a part of who you are - even if you tried ... it can not be deleted. Wishing you and your family a joy filled weekend.:)

[Melissa]

Well - if you delete all your posts...........you could write a book! Hee Hee!

Like I said in the last post, God shines through in all that you do.

It is inevitable.

It is undeniably you.

[bree]

amen! yippee!! praise God!!!

so glad you chose to continue shining for Him through all that you do on this blog. i think it will make you and your professional blog stand OUT amoungst the worldly blogs!

b.

[Sarah T.]

I love your blog! One of my very favorites! So glad you are choosing to continue to share your faith and inspirations plus your beautiful photos. Glad you are staying safe and understand your choice. Smart move.

Sarah

[Jen]

I know- you don't know me and probably never will, but somehow I feel as though I know you and am thankful that I have been able to discover you throughout the last year or so and look forward to what is yet to come.I am glad that you will still continue to post. I am so inspired not only by your photography, but also your faith and would hate to loose that.

[Maria]

So thankful for this amazing decision!

[Wendy Baker]

I know this comment will just re-state what others have already said, but thank-you for keeping your faith a part of your blog. I can't even remember how I found your blog, but it has been a blessing to me over the past year. You are extremely talented and have been blessed with many creative gifts and I thank-you for sharing them with the world. Have a blessed week.
Wendy