My Life ROCKS! (and a contest)

About 2 weeks ago, I visited one of my favorite sites for ideas, inspiration, and t-shirts. You should make sure that you check out Print Liberation on a regular basis too. So, when I was there, I saw a couple of shirts that I couldn't pass up. The first, I've talked about before - "Don't Give Up" - in a new style...I couldn't pass that up.

  Expect to see me in it on a regular basis.

While I was there though, I also saw a new shirt (at least to me), I got one, and it's been nice for me to have. It's really made me think about how my life truly does rock.

 
My life does rock, and it's important for me to be conscious of it. It's so easy to forget all the great things that you have going on in your world when you're in the midst of life and everything that it throws at you.

So my life does rock. I have my health. I never have had any real health issues to deal with outside the occasional flu bug. I've been very active all my life, playing sports most of that time. Until a couple of years ago, I had never had any kind of major injury, and then (tore my ACL) I've been able to recover just fine. Just played soccer 2 out of the last 4 nights.

My life does rock. I have a wonderful wife. Intelligent, beautiful, creative, fun, great sense of humor, and an incredible mother. We've been married for a little over 14 years now, and I can't imagine life being any other way.

My life does rock. I have 4 awesome kids, who I get to spend a lot of time with. I coach their soccer teams, I laugh with them, play with them, study with them, and love who they are growing up to be. I just took all them to get a pumpkin and cider slushes and donuts at the local cider mill. Though I am very much glad we won't be having more, I wouldn't give up any of them for anything.

My life really does rock. I have a great business. Despite what you may think, we're not making money hand over fist (which as you know does cause some stress in life), but we are making a decent living doing something that helps us to connect with photographers as business owners and more importantly people. We're learning more about business, marketing, and what drives people to move.

My life rocks. I have a great church and pastor who I trust, I'm involved in, and that feeds my need for spiritual food. I can't tell you how important this is for me and my family. A sense of connection is huge in life. Our church helps give us that connection.

So when my life seems to not rock...my soccer teams get smoked - on a regular basis...a business venture loses money - lot's of it that I can't really afford...why our youngest needs stitches - it's never a good time for that to happen...when Kia and I get into a fight...when my fantasy football team loses - again...when I just can't seem to get enough sleep - ever...I remember that my life truly does rock.

So I got my own shirt to help me remember. I read a book a few years ago that told a story about a town that collectively was developing amnesia. Little by little the town forgot what was what. They couldn't remember what a chicken was or a watch or anything, so they labeled everything in their lives. They labeled the shed, the door, the plates, everything. Sometimes we need to wear our own labels to remember what our life is. These 2 shirts are a couple of my labels.

Which brings me to you...and the little contest I am going to hold. I want to know why your life rocks. Just post a comment here on the blog why your life is great! It can be short, it can be long, it can be simple, it can be deep. I am going to choose my favorite 3 entries to send a shirt. My very favorite will get a "My Life Rocks" shirt, and the two runner ups will get the below "Don't Give Up" shirt. Post your entries by Friday, November 6 for your chance to win.

 
 

Comments

[Eric Lundgren]

My life rocks because I live a creatively fulfilled life that gives my clients photographs they will treasure for a lifetime and I get to help other photographers achieve this same dream.

[john pyle]

My life rocks because I'm married to my best friend who gave me a beautiful 3 month old daughter and I got to photograph and film her delivery with my 5D MKII. AWESOME!

[jen basford]

my life rocks because i have found that trusting in God to show us the way really DOES provide for a wonderful life, even in the midst of insanity and failures.

[Jayme]

My life ROCKS because I got to go to the pumpkin patch with my daughter's class at 1:00 in the afternoon on a beautiful day. Life is good!

[Tiffany Schmitt]

There are so many reasons my life Rocks, but todays reason is that God has given me a talent that I can use to reach others. One day I spoke with a mom about my cancer battle, not knowing she was at that moment waiting on test results. She later called me and told me she was meant to be there to talk to me that day and that it helped her in so many ways.

[Amy Parrish]

My life rocks because I get to go to work every day with my family (dog & hubby) and meet some of the most incredible people around. Not only that, but here in my life, creativity is valued. I can pay the bills by living out my dreams. Now *that* rocks!

[Laura Yoder]

My Life Rocks: because Jesus is my redeemer and friend, He will carry me in times of trouble and rejoice with me in times of joy.... He has given me the gift of photography to share with others and as long as He allows I will use it to His glory.