Stacy Richardson Photography 365 l Annapolis Wedding Photographer l Birmingham Wedding Photographer

First of all I CAN’T BELIEVE IT DID IT…I actually stuck with it for a FULL YEAR!

As I sit here reflecting on the new year and the closing of the past year I am in awe of the many blessings in my life.

I have a wonderful family, who loves me in spite of my various flaws.  I have a roof over my head and a bed to keep me warm at night.  I have an abundance of friends whom I love to be with. I live in a neighborhood where we borrow sugar and eggs and share in each other’s lives.  I have two beautiful children whom I adore and enjoy watching them learn and grow. I have a sweet tenderhearted husband who puts up with my goofiness. We have an amazing church family.  I am physically able to do and go places and for all of this I am grateful.

As I look back on my personal 365 project, I am amazed at what has happened over the past year.  We have laughed, we have cried, we have been hurt, we have rejoiced, we have been serious and silly, sometimes all in the same day.

Over the past year, I have grieved the loss of my grandmother, a pillar of faith in our family who will be dearly missed.  There is a photograph that brings me back to the moment I found out she was gone. There are also photographs of happy things, like the first lost tooth, scooter rides, tickles and bedtime stories. There is a photograph of our first family dog, and long road trips. These photographs are about more than images, they are about a gift called my life.

You see I am a human being, living a somewhat simple life just like you.  I have moments throughout my day that I want to remember (and some I wish to forget).  Throughout this past year there have been moments when I want to stop time and preserve a memory and to place it in our family history books for generations to come.  I have learned that the things I want to remember most are the people in my life and the experiences we share.  How fun to be able to look back on my 2010 and see what I did each and every day.  Some days were fun filled and exciting. Other days were just your run of the mill days, each still holding something special in it’s own way. Each day is different. Each day a gift to be treasured all on it’s own. Each day a gift from God, fashioned just for me.

The greatest thing I have learned  is to treasure the small things in life, those things that may sometimes pass you by if you don’t stop and really look for them.  This project has caused me to do that, to see things in a different light and for that I am grateful.

I appreciate all the wonderful words of encouragement I have gotten along the way and am thankful for the friends I have made on this journey.

So now what….where do we go from here? I have had many people ask are you going to keep on taking a picture a day?

Well…I have to say…it has become a part of the fabric of my life, something I do like brushing my teeth or making my bed…

Forrest Gump says it best:

Forrest: Momma always says there’s an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they’re going. Where they’ve been. I’ve worn lots of shoes.

Forrest: That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road, and when I got there, I thought maybe I’d run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d just run across Greenbow County. And I figured since I run this far, maybe I’d just run across the great state of Alabama. And that’s what I did I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason, I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured since I’d gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured since I’ve gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going. When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go, you know, I went.

Reporter: Forrest, why are you doing this?

Forrest: I just felt like running…

So friends….although 2010 is over…we’ll see you again tomorrow. Why?

I just feel like running…