This is what TAKING TIME out looks like

SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE A TIME OUT......

The timing for this project could not have been more perfect. Let me fill you in on a little background info to set the scene...My name is Keri. I have been married to my husband Dave for almost 7 1/2 years. We have a beautiful daughter Addison, as well as my daughter Alyssa from a previous marriage. Just like many other married couples who have kids and full time jobs and hobbies and responsibilities and bills to pay, Dave and I are guilty of letting "life" get in the way of our relationship.....


Dave is an amazing individual. However, it wasn't until about 7 weeks ago that I truly realized just how amazing he is, and that I have been neglecting "my best friend." You see, Dave and I have been somewhat living our lives, wrapped in our own worlds, thinking we know each others wants, needs and desires. However, wrapped up as we were in each of our "own lives" we were traveling two paths, with our own agendas, not tending to "our life." He was wrapped up in work and other responsibilities, while I was wrapped up in photography and writing and work as well. We were not listening to each other. We were not respecting each other. We were not taking the time necessary for each other. We put forth all of our own energies on work (we both work for the same place), the kids, paying the bills, cleaning the house, etc. We spent more time in front of the TV or the computer, on the ipad/iphone/ipod, or reading a book, than we spent with each other. We did not tend to our marriage as we should have. We let it go by the wayside, taking for granted that it would always be there. Well, let me tell you something... 


IF you do not tend to your marriage it most likely will NOT thrive. Plants need water to grow. Kids need nurtured to feel safe.  Cars need gas to run. A marriage needs attention to simply survive in this world, let alone thrive in this world. However it was discovered, that with even a small amount of attention, comes understanding and respect and love and nurture and happiness--at least for me--and I am certain for Dave as well. BUT, most importantly for me, all this led me back better than ever before to "my best friend," who has been sitting right here before me the entire time. AND WE COULD NOT BE HAPPIER!!


SO all that said--probably more than you wanted to know--brings me to where I am today:
                    THIS IS WHAT REJUVENATING YOUR MARRIAGE LOOKS LIKE.....

This is what PEACEFUL looks like.

This is what trying to BEAT THE TIMER
looks like!!!!

This is what being with my BEST FRIEND
 looks like :)

This is what HAPPY looks like :)

This is what LAUGHTER looks like!

This is what MARRIAGE looks like.

This is what TAKING TIME looks like...

Dave and I had a wedding picture disaster. Therefore, as a result, we have very few and poor quality wedding pictures. Needless to say I have been bothered by this experience since our wedding day. I have no pics on the wall. I have no pics that anyone has ever seen from my wedding. SO, that fact, along with the fact our marriage needed a little TLC, Dave and I scheduled a weekend away at a Bed and Breakfast. I decided that this would be a good weekend to become one with my tripod and capture the rejuvenation of my marriage--to my best friend :) 


I hope that if you have walked away from this entry with even one thing it is this: In this day and age life keeps us moving forward too quickly. It is easy to do your thing and get caught up in the everyday. It is easy to put your marriage off, put your spouse on the back burner. It is easy to forget that marriage needs just as much attention as the next thing does. And let me tell you, when you realize all this and you begin to focus on your marriage, attend to your spouse, rediscover your best friend-- LIFE IS A MUCH HAPPIER AND MORE PEACEFUL JOURNEY :)

Please check back at the end of next month for another "This Is What _______Looks Like."
Please check out another fellow photographer, Danielle Sullivan,  participating in this project at the following: http://daniellesullivanphotoraphy.blogspot.com/2012/06/ok-all-i-have-never-blogged-before-and.html