I spent a couple hours at Fort Fisher yesterday. It's a rare treat, to be able to spend some time by myself - with just my camera for company; so to speak. I often feel like there are so many other things I should be doing, I'm sure a lot of mothers and wives feel the same way. But I'm so glad I took the time to go out there...it was amazing! The tide was high and the surf was crashing against the rocks, it was beautiful. Here are some of the pictures I took while I was there... 
I am such an amateur, I know the pictures don't do the ocean justice, but I hope you can feel how majestic and powerful it was. The ocean re-energizes me and gives me new focus. I remember hearing a talk once; (Relief Society Lesson? Conference? Time Out For Women? I can't remember), it spoke of how as wives and mothers, we tend to put ourselves last - thinking that we have to do and be everything to everybody before we can do anything for ourselves. The speaker went on to say that this was flawed thinking, we can only be at our best for everybody else when we feel our best about ourselves. I understand this to mean that we have to take time for ourselves, to do those things that mean something to us and give us the chance to center, meditate, find peace or whatever you want to call it, and that in doing so we can come back to our responsibilities, families and lives with a renewed sense of purpose. For some this could mean painting, or running, or reading...for me it's taking my camera out and photographing (is that a real word?) something beautiful. I have made myself a promise that each week I will find a few stolen hours that are all mine...hopefully in doing so I will not only become a better mother and wife, but maybe a better photographer as well.
