Can you believe it's already time to go back to school? I always love when the kid's schedules are a little more planned but it always adds so many more activities to our days. Plus at our house having to keep up with students at four different schools is kind of crazy. I have my 12 year old daughter moving up to junior high this year. I can't believe she's already there. I still remember her running around with her adorable bouncy little curls. My youngest is in elementary school and my oldest studies at OSU. Then there's the mama. Yes, I'm going back to school full time again this fall. I'm finally a senior at the University of Oklahoma. Had I not changed schools, changed majors several times and had OU allowed my credits from New York, I would have graduated quite a while ago. It's funny how when you try to change your major and think you want to do something else in life, your heart always finds a way to tell you what you're supposed to be doing.
So yes, I'm back to my Fine Art Photography major and well, after all, isn't that what I am, a photographer?
When my father passed away in January I was so sad and I just didn't even want to get out of bed some mornings. While my Dad was still in the hospital and we found out he would be needing help with dialysis and his care if he were to ever get to go home, I told him I was going to quit school to help take care of him. He made me promise to go back. He told me how well I did and he knew I loved it. He didn't want me to change anything I had planned before he got sick for the spring semester. Little did I know at the time that a week later, he would go Heaven and I wouldn't be taking care of him anymore. My return to OU helped me so. When I felt like I didn't want to get up and do anything I knew I had to go to school because I had promised my Dad. Going back to photography school was helping me and I was doing one more thing for my Dad.
So here it is, Back to School time and Yes, I am going back to school too. A forty year old college senior. In this life, I have learned there are so many things to be thankful for and one of them is being back in college. I appreciate it so much more now than when I started as a freshman at the age of nineteen. When my kiddos think I am crazy because I LOVE doing my homework, hopefully I'm instilling the desire to learn and the importance of school and most of all, the importance of following your heart. Follow your heart and follow your dreams, whether it's going back to school, changing your job, having another child, or confessing your heart to the one you love. Life is too short to not do what love and love what you do. God bless ~ Shelly
.....about the photo.... I created this image of my youngest daughter for a magazine cover that will be coming out this fall. We did a couple of outfits and although this is not the one that will be on the cover, this is the one that I love the most. I wanted to share it with you and tell everyone to enjoy your time this fall as the kids (and mamas) go back to school.
Shelly Perkins Photography www.shellyperkins.com
