one year ago.

My photography journey officially began one year ago today. Get out of here. One mom, with three active boys, took a chance on me and said, "Yes" to letting me capture her boys, in action. My first official photo shoot. {And I'll be honest, I've come so far since that first official shoot and that's fun, and embarrassing and exciting all wrapped into one big album. I had to start somewhere ... and I'm glad that somewhere led to today.}

And look where we are, one year later. Why just yesterday I set up Water Street Dream's very own bank account. THAT seems to make it official.

And then there's the website. Water Street Dreams Loads of hard work, but for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed that process. And to see the finished result is oh-so-fulfilling.

And now it's marketing and sales. Of which, I'm not too concerned, because after all, I do have DePoyster and Correll blood running through both sides of my veins {those DePoyster's could probably sell a glass of water to a drowning man - they're good! And let's not forget Grandpa Correll. Top oil salesman for his company, for decades.}

So much is ahead. SO MUCH. At some point, I hope to be able to give away a big chunk of the money I make. Re-phrase: MOST of what I make I want to give away, and I'm so not kidding. {I wish that could happen right this minute, but as anyone that has her/his own business knows, it takes a fair bit of cash, upfront, to get a business off the ground. But some day this WILL happen. Mark my words.}

As I've said from the beginning, I never, ever want to make money just for the sake of making money. Life is simply too short to chase after money. And quite frankly, I've known plenty of people that have made it their goal to live for money and I've seen their misery. No thanks.

I want to use the money I make for good. God's good. I'm praying about how God could use my camera - and me - to help others. To share stories to motivate others to give or to get involved. I wonder where missions and ministry will intersect with Water Street Dreams. I wonder what that will look like. I wonder how that part of the dream will expand or be realized. THAT excites me. TRULY.

We have more than we could ever need or want. We have been blessed by our Heavenly Father and from the beginning of our marriage we intentionally decided that we would live below our means so that we could be generous. And Water Street Dreams excites me because it simply allows us to expand our generosity. {Eventually.} And so little by little, frame by frame, this story unfolds. I can't get ahead of myself and wonder what next year will look like {because you KNOW the dreamer in me wants to go there, and starts to go there and then I have to reign in little miss dreamer }, but rather, I'll live in today, and I'll enjoy the journey to destination unknown.

Hold onto your scooter!!!

One year ago today, who would have guessed?

I couldn't end this post without saying a few thank yous {What is this, the Emmy Awards?}

Anyway, I have to say thank you to my dear friends and family members who have believed that I could do this. You each know who you are. You said I should try. I needed to know that you thought I could do this. You encouraged and challenged and made suggestions and jumped up and down with excitement right alongside me.

And my mom. Everyone needs a mom to be her number-one cheerleader. You know, the same mom that thought I could be an astronaut or a doctor, well she thought I could be a photographer, too. She was the one I would call, after I posted some pictures and she'd say they looked great and then I could sheepishly say, "But really, mom, do you think I can do this? Am I any good at this?"

And my extra supportive husband. You're definitely above-average {inside joke}. I could NOT have started on this journey without knowing that YOU believed I could do it. That YOU felt like I had what it took to chase down this dream. In fact, I'll never, ever forget where we were, driving in the car, on a particular Saturday, when we had the heart-to-heart conversation where you said I should definitely go for it. That I should start thinking about a website. You can do this, you said. And I remember sobbing, feeling this huge weight lifted. I remember thinking, "Okay, if Jack thinks I can do this, than I really can. I'm goin' for it. I'm really, really gonna try!!!" It's hard to put into words what your support means to me.

And then there's my Heavenly Father.  HE is my bottom line. I believe He put these entrepreneurial dreams deep inside of me a long, LONG time ago. He made me who I am. He has given me the experiences of my past and the dreams of my future, and the desires of my todays, to give this dream a go. I've prayed a lot of prayers over this one. Believe me. I just want my life to count for Him. For HIS purposes. For His Kingdom's work. I want to live on purpose and out loud, for Jesus Christ.

I end with one of my favorite Psalms. And I sing it out loud to God.

Psalm 145

"I will exalt you, my God the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.

Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They will tell of the power of your awesome works and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyful sing of your righteousness.

The Lord IS gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord."