Saying Yes to a New Adventure

Sometimes social media and blogs can be everyone’s highlight reel, instead of just plain real. Life isn’t perfect. It’s exciting and fun, but also uncertain and challenging at times. That’s what makes it interesting and keeps us dependent on the One who created us.  So here goes “real”… And sorry in advance for the lengthy post! 

The Durham family is about to have a new adventure. My husband, Brad, has accepted a wonderful new job opportunity, so we’re packing up and moving to Nashville sometime this summer. I’m thrilled for my hubby and love seeing a new spring in his step from the excitement and anticipation!

I like change. I usually don’t ever mind it. Change is fun…whether it’s a new pair of shoes, a fresh coat of paint in a room, new pillows thrown on the bed, trying a new restaurant, finding new locations to shoot, new places to vacation, etc.…but changing every single thing in my life all at once?! It’s a little overwhelming.

I’ve lived in Birmingham my entire life, except for college in Tuscaloosa and an internship in Atlanta, so my roots run deep here and moving to Music City is a big deal for me. Huge. This move has kinda been rocking my comfortable little world because I LOVE Birmingham and our life here. I love that all of my family and all of Brad’s family lives here. I love our friends. I love my clients that have become friends. I love my gym friends and my favorite running route in Homewood, where I grew up. I love the wonderful and talented creative community I collaborate with. I love our home and neighbors and that we can call on each other anytime for help or a favor. We love our church and our kids love their friends, schools and activities. All of this makes life easy and comfortable most of the time. But, maybe, just maybe, I’ve gotten too comfortable and God thought it was time to shake things up a bit to fulfill His plan for us. It’s interesting that this is the year I chose to do my 365 Project again and I’m so glad it will be a journal for us to look back on. 

Whenever Brad and I have visited Nashville, we’ve always said to each other that it’s probably the one place we’d want to move if we had to move anywhere. So, He didn’t have to, but it seems that God smiled on that wish. Nashville is still in the south, close enough to drive home to Birmingham, and we love its food and music scene. 

My favorite Bible verse since I was a young girl is Proverbs 3:5,6…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” 

He’s always been faithful to follow through with that promise, and I know He won’t fail me now either. It’s obvious he’s directing our path to Nashville. Without a doubt, this is right where He wants me to be…trusting Him for direction and completely stripping me of many things in my life that make me secure in myself, so I can find my security in Him. I trust His plan and I’m thrilled for Brad. We know this is the right decision for our family and our future, even if it’s uncomfortable and ruffling my feathers right now. My heart is just a little slower getting caught up with my head. (Read this: The Blessing of Brokenness {Encouragement for Today}  I feel a little broken, but I’m eagerly anticipating the blessing! 😉

Although I’m sad to leave Birmingham, I’m thrilled to reconnect with friends who live in Nashville. I’m also excited about new friends, new opportunities, new business partners, new collaborations, new shoot locations, and new experiences in Music City. I’m ready to explore this town that I’ve always loved visiting and will now become home. My mind is whirling with ideas, but they will have to wait a bit for me to fulfill my work commitments in Birmingham and beyond through the end of 2016, get our family settled in a new home and our kids settled in a new community and schools. Once that happens, I will add Nashville as a new market for my photography. Just gotta take care of my family and learn this new town first! 

I do want my clients to rest assured that I will be fulfilling every contract in 2016 that I’ve already committed to and will continue to book editorial and commercial work, and weddings in Birmingham, Nashville, the Florida coast, and anywhere in the world. I love to travel and do it often with my job! However, as of right now, I will not be booking any more kids & family and senior shoots during my transition. It will be a short sabbatical for me and I will announce when I will start taking those bookings again. I will continue to shoot in Birmingham indefinitely. It’s where I started and have grown my business over the last 13 years. It’s a quick trip, and with all of our family here, there’s always a place for me to stay. I’ll announce Birmingham Shoot dates on social media just like I do Beach and Lake Sessions.

I’m truly grateful for every friend, every neighbor, every business partner, every client, every fitness class participant, trainer and instructor that has been a part of my Birmingham life all these years; and for every person and experience that has helped me to grow both personally and professionally. I’m also very thankful for social media that will keep us connected. When I come home, I hope to run into you at some of my favorite Birmingham spots. And anytime you are in Nashville, give me a shout. I’m looking forward to trying all the local coffee shops to see which one might become my new office away from home. I sure am gonna need the caffeine for at least the next 6 months! 

So it’s official, this Bama girl is going to become a Tennessee resident. But, for the record, my football allegiance will never waver…”I will not wear that gaudy orange, I will not. It is not in my color wheel and I’m not gonna wear it.”