1.09.2012

merry christmas & happy new year!

i could sit here at talk about how i haven't blogged in 40 days but that would be completely boring and not worth your time.

it's been a while, eh?

and somehow i've gained more followers on my hiatus.  which is odd, because i tend to lose followers when i blog.  so we will see how this goes.

i'm not even sure if anyone even reads this blog anymore except my mom.
hi, mom!

but just in case, i will still update you on our mundane life.

it seems like everyone in the blogging world, and everyone in our circle of friends has announced within the last month that they are expecting a baby!  while this is super exciting and happy, it sure makes our life seem rather dull.  the pressure is also on like donkey kong!  for real, peeps.  lincoln is even more baby hungry than before.  i guess he likes to keep up with the joneses.
serious baby boom coming next summer.  maybe there is something in the water?
so everyone has super exciting things to blog about, like babies.  and all we have over here is work and school and eating and sleeping.  so naturally, there are much more exciting things going on other than here.


but just in case you're still reading, i'll tell you about something else!
so basically for the last... 4 months i have been burning my candle at both ends,
working my little tail-feather off,
balancing two full-time jobs.
and it has been HARD!
needless to say, i've been busy.
working full-time at a day job and running my photography business during every spare second of the day.  i've been extremely blessed to work with some fabulous clients during the fall.  it has been such a joy to have so much photography business to keep me sane.

at the same time, it was killing me to wake up and go to my day job.  i worked there for four long years, all throughout college.  i felt like i had reached my potential there and spending 40 hours there a week was making me miserable.  miserable!!!

again, i was so fortunate having so much photography business the 2nd half of the year, that i felt like it was a good time to pursue photography full-time.  this decision had been eating at me for months.  it was probably one of the hardest decisions i've ever had to make.  leaving something secure and familiar is extremely frightening.  but finally getting to pursue my dream career is extremely exhilarating!

some people did not agree with or support my decision, but after prayerfully considering it, my last day was thursday.  it was a bitter sweet goodbye.  i have made so many friends during my four years there and change isn't always easy.

but again, i am so excited and relieved to finally be pursuing my photography business full-time.  i have to thank all my fabulous blog friends who have trusted me as their photographer and helped me progress on this road.  i strongly feel like my quality of life will increase and i will be a much happier, pleasant person.  (good news for lincoln!)  i have so many plans and ideas for my business that i am so excited to implement.  i'm looking forward to not working myself to death.

so there is my life.  it's been a super stressful but exciting thing for me.
it's not a baby!  but that will come with time.

hopefully i will visit this blog more often now :)



give me some comment love to let me know you're still reading!



22 comments:

elizabeth, eliza, liza, liz, elles, etc. said...

so happy for you!

Amberly said...

Bahaha, I feel the same way about the baby boom summer, what was up with those three months? I think it was something in the air that affected pretty much everyone!!!

Gretchen said...

I still read! And I'm totally impressed that you decided to leave your job. Good for you for doing what you feel like you're supposed to, even if certain people aren't supporting you. Keep up your positive attitude!

Krista & Tyler said...

We love you and support your decisions! haha But, then again, you already knew that. haha

Mary Jane said...

Jalene! I'm still reading. And I totally 100% support you in your career move. You are so talented! You definitely deserve to do what you love all the time.

Kelsie said...

Jalene!! It's been so long since you've updated, but I love your blog as always. I am proud of you too! Making a decision like that is always hard, but doing what you love is such a wonderful thing, and life is too short to spend it on something that makes you miserable. I know you'll excel at whatever you do! Good luck! And update your blog more :)

Jacob said...

yay!!!!! better than a baby. for now. your photo baby!!!! so so so so so hppy for you. yay for doing more of what you love. what it is all about!!!

Anna said...

Definite kudos to you for being so brave! I'm so impressed and I know you will do great things and be much happier, too! But you knew that already. Good luck!

Catherine said...

Of course I'm still reading! :) That was a super brave decision. I have had those feelings about work on occasion, but for the most part, work is great. I hope that one day I can be that brave one day when I do need to move on with life! Yay for being more happy and taking more pictures!!! We love our pictures you did and everyone always compliments us on them. Thanks a million again! :)

Mitch and Serretta Barlow said...

Good for you! How exciting!!! I sure miss you Jalene!!!!!!!

Kylie said...

Good for you for standing up for what you know is right for you. I know how you feel with the naysayers...but there's nothing that compares to the peace of knowing you're doing something you love or something that is right for you.

brynne frei said...

i am reading and i support your photography business! i'm so excited to see your photos and have you back in blog world. good luck and enjoy!! come back to LA for spring break? we'd love it.

Laura Conte said...

i enjoy reading your blog very much! i am always glad when you have time to update it!

Becs said...

Jalene! I love your blog and definitely am still reading. So happy to see you back! And congrats on quitting your full-time hourly (or salary) position! You go girl!

Spratt said...

So I won't get to run into you at the bank anymore? Oh well, it sounds like you will be much happier focusing on photography. Good job! :)

Heather said...

I think it's a wonderful gift to be able to do what you love for a living, so best of luck!!

Sarah said...

Good for you! I'm so glad that you are going 100% photographer. You're so amazing. Our favorite pictures are still the ones that you did for us.

Christine Chioma said...

Wow that's so cool. You're definitely talented enough to do photography 24/7! And it sounds like you'll be way happier!

Plus it will be more flexible when baby Jalincoln comes! ;)

andrea said...

definitely still reading! i love your blog & all your stories! congrats on feeling better about quitting your former job. that takes guts and i am at the same crossroads, and am coming up on 4 years. it is a long time and it is taking more of an effort to be excited to come every day.. so i say, "you go girl!" can't wait to see more posts on your photog blog too!

Nicole said...

Yaaaay you're back :) I love your blog!

Unknown said...

SO happy for you! You are incredibly talented, and will go very far with your business, I just know it!

I love your work, and plan on using you as "my photographer" (that's what I refer to you as sometimes) for the rest of my life!

audrey said...

SO proud of you girlie!! I LOVE your pictures and your blog so hooray for more of them!! Miss you and hope you're well!