2011: a year in review

2011 was a year of change. The same year that surprised me, left me speechless at times, spent working a LOT of late hours, dreamed bigger and made me a stronger and better version of my 2010 self.

In January, I watched my niece turn one this year! Savannah is quite possibly one of my favorite little ladies who constantly lights up B man and I's world.



I fell deeper in love with my best friend. More importantly, I learned what a selfless, kind and giving man I married as he pushes me to achieve my big, crazy dreams.



We watched two of our best friends get married and got the chance to visit Omaha for the first time!

I took a BIG risk and decided to shoot weddings. Not one, not two but three weddings this year. I also listened to my heart when I realized I love photographing weddings, but I LOVE being a lifestyle photographer and my Saturdays more.



Bryan and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary in California, which was amazing and still to this day has us dreaming about owning a winery and biking through Sonoma and Napa. Everyday with Bryan has been a new adventure and married life with him keeps getting better and better!



Three little blessings (Jackson, Bentley and Leia) graced Bryan's family this year that made Thanksgiving and Christmas extra special! They are full of personality, so different from one another and have completed our big ol' fun-filled family! Not to mention, they are darling. Absolutely darling!



I celebrated 2 years of being a Celiac. Something that for so long I could only say with distaste. But, today, I am proud, happy and so blessed to be leading a healthy lifestyle and helping others do the same!

This year I took some risks in photography! I said no a little more, I met many new families and saw many old faces who have started with me from the beginning. I am forever indebted to my amazing and wonderful clients. These same clients have become lifelong friends who have helped me in more ways than one!

More lessons were learned. Those including faith, trust, overcoming obstacles and being proven wrong just in time for my 27th birthday.



Ever so slowly, I am learning that life is not to be lived perfectly. There is an art to the balance of this beautiful life. I have a feeling the learning part will continue for many years, but my hope is that every year I get better at the balancing piece! This means saying no more and yes to time with the ones I love and doing work that fills my heart with everlasting joy.

I got the chance to help a very good friend raise money to one day in the very near future adopt a little one! Jeremy and Stephanie are doing amazing things and their faith and patience in the adoption process leaves me speechless.



My ever so wonderful home team won the World Series and gave B and I the chance to tell our grandchildren someday about the game that stunned all believers and non-believers when the Cardinals won Game 6 of the World Series. It makes it extra special that the night they won Game 7 happened to be when two more best friends of ours got married! October 28th, 2011 is one that goes down in history in the Lindsey home.

Bryan celebrated his Golden Birthday, and I finally got the chance to throw him a party that he has deserved for the past eight years! I should make mention that 29 looks good on him.



To end the year, I watched my best friend's little man turn one, we slowed down and soaked up our favorite time of the year, celebrated an amazing 2011 by completing a big item from our Bucket List in NYC and ended with a wonderful trip home for Christmas with our families!



All I remember at the start of this year was I had no plans. Not even one. I thought I would play the cards a little different this go around and let go. Let God do His thing and let Him guide me down the path I was meant to walk on with an open heart. Doors shut in my face throughout the year, but by the grace of God, B and my wonderful family and friends, I was able to allow my heart to open new doors and to new adventures. Scary adventures. Adventures that involved risks and the possibility of failing. Never have I been so grateful for those risks. They made me stronger. They made me who I am today. They made me believe. They made unknown dreams come true.

As for 2012, I have a feeling it will not disappoint. There are some big changes coming personally and professionally in 2012. Ones that I cannot wait to share along the way. And, I am sure I will learn many more lessons, take more risks and let my heart open to many more adventures. For now, I will walk into 2012 with these "goals" (I do not do resolutions) in mind...

*in the words of one of my favorite Southern designers/mamas, Emily Ley, I will hold myself to a standard of grace not perfection in 2012
*learn to say no more
*venture into gluten-free baking
*give my time and talents to those in need
*wear one hat at a time
*breathe a LOT more
*practice a healthier lifestyle and the art of balance
*only do work that fills my heart with joy
*take more risks
*celebrate in the small and big moments in life
*continue to build integrity, compassion, honesty, trust and love in all aspects of my life
*never forget that I am a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece and friend first and then a writer, photographer, student, designer and artist second
*pray more, worry less
*dream bigger
*trust God's plan and kick "my plans" to the curb
*say yes to movies on the couch with B, nights out with girlfriends, visits home, Wednesday night yoga classes, making a mess in the kitchen and losing track of time

This year has been nothing short of fabulous, and I am ready for new adventures and exciting moments that 2012 will bring!

I hope you can take a few moments to celebrate all the small, big and in between moments of this year.

Happy New Years!!!