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On Friday morning, I headed out to hear the conference speakers and guests.
Brian – my husband and the real superhero of this trip – took the kids to Disneyland by himself! I cannot say enough about how supportive and easygoing he was during this entire trip. As I watched the clock, to be sure I was following the itinerary , Brian made sure the kids were having their own kind of fun!
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The day was full of inspiration. I was very aware of the same messages pulling on my heart that were present at Hope Spoken.
Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has a voice. When you share your story, you just might be helping someone get through one of the toughest times of their life.
Maybe they are a new mom needing encouragement. Maybe they are a tired mom just trying to find a little joy and beauty in the day. Or maybe someone told them to give up and they need us to tell them to just keep on going!
Here are a few quotes I wrote down for you:
“When your job is about making people happy, you end up with a lot of happiness. It’s a nice bi-product.” – Tom Staggs
“This is a love letter, to our fans.” – Jay Ward
“People connect with people, not logos.” – Tom Smith
“Blog for a reason, not for attention.” – Donald Driver
“Whatever your plan, whatever your passion, keep going – your blog changes lives.” – Donald Driver
“It’s not what you have, it’s what you give that determines your legacy.” – Maxine Clark
Right?! Wow. Over and over again – those in leadership positions – are telling us the secret of their success. And it is surprising. It’s not about us. It’s about others.
Let that soak in for a second.
When I sit down to blog and I think about the original reason I started to blog – I wanted to share my song and invite others to come along.
What is my song? My family and my Faith. I wanted to remember the moments and share them with my family.
If others find inspiration, wonderful! If I can encourage and lift up someone, wow! If God chooses to use me to light up someone’s day for a minute, I’d be honored.
But… when my children have grown and when there are other photographers that can chase after little ones much faster than I can – what is left? What do I want my legacy to look like?
I am going to define it right here, right now, so that it is always a beacon before me:
Kate’s (hopeful) legacy – Love. A love that is innocent and true and humble and kind. A love that always points back to my Savior as the giver of everything good. A love that wraps my children in comfort. A love that encourages my husband as he works everyday to provide for us. A love that respects others. A love that shows grace.
Now wait… how does this line up with Disney?
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”. – Walt Disney
Courage. Yes, it takes courage to just be yourself. Thank you, Walt, for being courageous and showing us that it can be done! Let’s do this!
Disclosure: Our family was invited to the 2014 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. We were provided hotel accommodations, park tickets, and delicious meals. We were not asked to post, but these are the moments of my family – moments I want to remember. Thank you for sharing them with me!
