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Patience. What a blessing it is. Not that I have it all the time, but rather I’m quite thankful God has a never ending supply. He is so patience with me…ALL the time.

This year was going to be different, 2012. After a long time in prayer I just knew it would be. However, my heart so easily doubts God’s plans. And he simply waits, knowing I would doubt, to remind me of His love and HIS plan.

WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) is an international convention in Las Vegas where photographers gather to be reminded they are not in this journey alone, encouraged and taught how to better their work/business for their clients. This conference is the place to be if you want to be challenged and grow in your work. It seemed so far away for so long. For the past four years I had only hoped I would at least get to hear what others learned about from their experience attending the conference. This year was going to be different though. Or at least that’s what I thought.

I had prayed for most of last year if 2012 was the year for me to go and his answer: yes. Hard to explain, but I knew that was the answer. So I began to pursue plans to make it happen. Looking into hotels, rates, airfare, etc., all quite overwhelming, but it was going to happen.

Then…the door closed. A harsh slam, rather, in my face.

I was left confused and struggling with trying to be grateful in ALL circumstances and praising Jesus when deep down I knew I was terribly disappointed. It’s not the worst of things, to not be able to attend, but it’s never easy to deal with a crushed dream. All I’ve longed for was for someone to teach me more. More about photography, running a business and relating to clients. Remember, I’ve only ever taken 3 photography courses at the University of Central Florida. Yep even till this day. Three might be more than others have taken, but these were classes for artistic photographs. “Pretty” photographs were considered undesirable compared to artsy ones and certainly never brought in the “A’s”. So I sought to please the teachers, get the A and call it a day. Trying to bring that photographic understanding into the wedding world left my work a hot mess. Essentially I started with a basic understanding of the camera and a mission to bring others photographs that made them smile. But the desire to learn how to be a good wedding photographer has always been there since the beginning.

Feeling defeated I just wanted to bury my hope of ever going. Goodness, my heart was on such a roller coaster. I would continue on though, quietly. No one would know of my battle. I started to pray that God would simply open up the opportunity for me to have a chance to learn from any photographer out there. Something about photography, working with clients, how to run the business. Anything really, I just wanted to learn.

His answer, not yet. I heard of a photographer coming to Miami for a one day conference and was excited, but deep down it wasn’t what I wanted. So again, I was left with the challenge of praising my savior despite my disappointment – my feeling that his provision just wasn’t enough.

As if his sacrifice wasn’t enough.

It was then that I felt ridiculous for not praising him regardless of the outcome. Why should I only thank him when things are going my way? I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:18). Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:20 <- fun fact, Ephesians is my favorite book of the Bible!).

It wasn’t until then that God started to change things, open doors and provide a way. A much better way of getting to and attending the conference than I could have ever imagined. Had the waiting not been necessary I wouldn’t have experienced his blessing in such a way. Little did I know his way would be better, but he knew the whole time. What patience he has with me, with us. I can only pray he continues to teach me of his patience so that I might live it out more.

 

So I am thrilled to say that because of God’s provision, I will be able to attend WPPI along with a few other delightful young photographers. I share this not to boast in my going to the conference, but rather share with you what God has done to make it possible in His time.

 

We have so much to be thankful for my friends! I thought over this for some time, but I will be  posting every Thursday on something that I’m thankful for. My hope is to share it through a photo because that’s how I process things. I hope that you  join in the challenge to be seeking what your thankful for and capture it to remember. So today I have a photo taken while I was in the air. I’m thankful for the opportunity to embark on this journey. It’s somewhere so unfamiliar to me, but I trust in His guidance and look forward to being thrown into a crowd full of strangers that have a similar passion.