This weekend I held a super small retreat in Driftwood, Texas. Leading up to it I was in a car accident, and then my son got sick and then my Dad and daughter and then the morning of - I woke up with a fever. I told Thomas I wanted to cancel. I begged him to let me cancel. But he, in his gentle and beautiful way, simply said, “Once you are there, it will all be magic.”
Day 1 I had the greasiest top knot you’ve ever seen and tears streaming down my cheeks. I was up the night before with my sick girl and I made a promise to myself a million years ago that if I was going to put myself out there, then I’d do my best to always tell, and be, the truth. So that was me. Welcoming my guests with a virus, mid panic attack, gift bags in hand.
It was messy and beautiful. We laughed until we cried and also just plain ol’ cried. We ate BBQ and pizza and store-brand sour cream and onion chips. We played in the rain and met a few goats and were visited by a curious coyote. We made weavings and pottery and bonds that I am certain will last forever.
I shared my shooting secrets and presets and business advice but more importantly, I shared my struggles, unfiltered, and allowed myself to be seen completely.
I could have canceled but I didn’t. I could have beat myself up for not being polished and poised, but I won’t.
It was incredible in every way. In all the ways that matter.
I want to share all of the images from this weekend, and I will (maybe), but for now, here are 4 frames of Lily in the backyard of where we stayed. In the rain and in her power. My girl.