Formally Introducing to You: The Cracked Peach...

The Cracked Peach is my personal Blog that has been in the making for quite some time.  If you happen to be friends with me on facebook, or you follow my Photography by DonnaKay photography facebook {or any of the many other ways through social media that you can keep up with what's going on in my life}, then you know I'm a pretty transparent what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of woman.  I don't hide behind too much, as I've never found real safety in that anyway.  I also don't believe we can help each other through life when we're busy wearing a mask to hide our true selves.  Right away, let me warn you that this Blog will be real - it will be transparent - it may sometimes make you angry, it may sometimes make you cry, and hopefully it will most of the time make you laugh or smile.   My hope is that it will always make you feel; that it will give hope and encouragement.  None of my words are ever intended to hurt anyone else, actually just the opposite.  It helps me to know that I'm not the only one who has ever felt the way I feel at a certain time... that I'm not the only one who has experienced some of the hard times life takes us through.  Okay... so now that we've gotten that disclaimer out of the way,  let's move on and get better acquainted....

2013 has been quite a year. It started like any other, I suppose.  I was never so glad to say goodbye to any year as I was 2012, yet didn't immediately see that there would be any difference in 2013.  Yet, I had hope.  Before the first month was over we had already started the ball rolling for some pretty big changes to start taking place.  Near the end of January there was an occurrence that made us realize more than ever that it was time to "pack our bags and get out of Dodge," so to say.  Our current home had served its purpose well in raising our family, but the kids are all grown and living their lives.  There were circumstances around us that we just didn't have the power to change.  Other people were making decisions that were greatly affecting us, and rather than fight people {which is simply not my style anyway!} it's sometimes best to just bow out and move on.  Let the win, if that's how they see it!  Often it is more about holding onto your dignity and integrity than going after what is fairly yours.  So... my husband {his name is David, just so you know whenever I reference him!} and I talked about finally making a big move - THE BIG move.  Putting our house on the market, leaving his private practice to finding something new & better, and making a complete change.  Suddenly it was as if a tornado hit our lives, but not in a bad way... kind of that "somewhere over the rainbow" way where you end up in a better place!  Within six weeks everything in our lives was turned upside down.  Our house was on the market, my husband had tons of offers for jobs - and we settled on the perfect one in my favorite location, and we started telling friends and family to prepare for the big changes coming.  It was mid-Summer before we moved, and those months in between January & July were often very long and trying, but when MOVING DAY arrived it was definitely a don't-look-back kinda day!  While we miss so many of our friends, we know true friendships do not have to change.  We all have choices to keep those alive and well.  What we don't miss is the UNtrue relationships that were hurting our life. The tension my husband had to work in with his partners had brought too much tension into our own lives...and we were living in a pinch that we should have walked away from a very long time before.  But as they say: "better late than never!"

Now move ahead to the last month of 2013, and the thoughts and feelings are so much different than a year ago.  It is simply amazing!  We wake up each morning in a place that we love.  Life is not perfect: the house in NC is still FOR SALE {ugh!!!} and we are living in a rental house for the time being.  But sometimes the place we live is about more than the location... it's where we are inside our hearts and minds.  We hold tight to our faith that God has been in control of this change from the very start. Therefore we have faith that He will also provide a buyer for our house in the perfect time.  I am in a good place in my heart and mind.  The fear of new things has been defeated over and over again these past months, and I am about to start up my photography business in this new hometown after the first of the year.  I'm hopeful and excited - more so than I've been in a very long time.  

The Purpose of this blog is not to just ramble {although at times that it what it may end up sounding like}, rather it is a place for me to share with you this awesome journey of life: the ups and downs, triumphs and disappointments, fears and accomplishments. We all have a story, and I want to share mine.  I would love to hear yours....

Thanks so much for sharing your time with me... I look forward to the next time!