Drag your forefinger west along the Yucatan Peninsula and your finger will eventually pass over this little village. It sits along the coast watching pelicans come and go - as often as the wind whips, and changes direction. The old fisherman's boat is worn from sand, abusive waves, exhausted steps and the wet drag of his net. How many years has this very boat visited this very beach? It rests on this one particular day...tired, or ready for its next adventure? Only the fisherman knows...

A villager's turquoise dream

Exact location: Champoton, Mexico. December 2015.

Images from our frozen tundra.

It would seem we're living in 're-freeze" mode.

Nothing wrong with a good old fashioned Canadian Arctic breeze to freeze your bones in place...nope. This is just fine as long as the wood burning fireplace continues to thaw us out at the end of the day. I have found that the more kids you add to your little village, the more complicated winter becomes. It's a joke among parents that you take 45 minutes to dress everyone in the 525 layers required to prevent pneumonia, but by the time you touch the snow everyone has either lost interest or roasting because the 525th layer was just a little bit too much. Carseats, jackets and little snow mits almost spell chaos. Also, have you ever noticed that the baby's head disappears inside the ever creeping jacket that is insistent on riding upwards...before long their nose is level with the middle of the closed zipper which translates to half way down the jacket. Or perhaps this one - fully winterize yourself and baby to walk out the door, thanks to the slick waterproof material of winter jackets, by the time you grab baby, keys, purse, lunch bags and the kitchen sink, you realize the baby is slicker than a slug and sliding rapidly down your hip. Get to the car and you're at this point walking in full drag mode while attempting to maintain posture. No? Ok, perhaps I am the only one.

This year I've been doing a lot of reflection and self discovery in an effort to identify my gifts. I've carefully selected inspirational writers, bloggers and speakers to invest my "free" time in. I've spoken to God more, sought him in my every day - and found him gently whistling through the crispy winter leaves, or shining through the pink and purple clouds that caress the setting sun. He has woken me at 3am, asking me to listen...to pay attention. Last weekend I attended the IF Gathering 2016 - and it was incredible! I'm realizing more and more than I cannot pour from an empty cup...so events like the IF, inspirational speakers like Dale Partridge and photographers that inspire me and up lift me - they help fill my cup so I have more to give.

Through my journey I am reminded time and time again that it's words and photographs that make my heart skip a beat. God has strategically placed them in my life to use and enjoy, and then ultimately bless. I've taken almost 2 years off from photography... mainly because of time and the current chapter of my life. BUT I do know that one day I will return to professional photography. I want to continue to richly bless those smiling for my shutter. I learned quickly that a photograph can show our generation how incredible they are, and that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. A true gift, and a beautiful one at that! I want to show this generation that they have worth - they just have to believe in themselves - love themselves through self confidence. Through my self discovery and preparation to use my gifts, I've been gathering inspiration from the photography world and was encouraged by several photographers to submit my work to Shoot and Share 2016. I was nervous to have my photographs shown alongside those I count more skilled than I. Out of nowhere I received an email from a world renown photographer that I have followed for a couple years now, and he said this to me "We know how nerve-racking it can be, and we want to encourage you to put yourself out there. You never know what will happen. Head over to the contest site and get brave and enter your 50 photographs today. Once you do, you'll receive your very own badge of courage". So I did. And here is my badge of courage!

What if I fail? Oh, but darling, what if you fly? - Shoot and Share 2016

So, voting begins February 15th. 185,000+ photographs represent over 7,000 photographers. 50 of those are mine. If you'd like to join the movement and vote for your favorite, here is the link: Shoot and Share 2016.

Wishing all my fellow photographers the best of luck! Especially my own cousin - Shaun Edwards!

Stare into the near horizon and you'll visualize the wild mustangs galloping along the mesa top. We let our eyes feast on this view in 2006. We were newly married, exploring this world together. . .

Where The Wild Mustangs Roamed

Legend has it this point was used as a natural corral for wild mustangs. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land leading on to the point (seen along the middle of my photograph). The neck, which is only 30 yards wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush. The cowboys then hand selected their horses, letting the rest run free. One time, for an unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River - just 2000 feet below.

Exact location: Dead Horse Point State Park, Elevation 5,900 feet