A date with God.

Ever since my mom got cancer in 2004, I made a vow to myself that I would start doing things that scared me and to walk through my fears.

It came in baby steps.

First, I broke up with my first love.
Then I went surfing.
Then I got up on stage and performed karaoke.
Then I tried online dating.
Then I broke up with the online date.
Then I quit my secure corporate job.
Then I moved out of my parent’s house.
Then I started my own graphic design turned video business.
Then I agreed to model for some photographer friends.
Then I became a photographer.

Then last Friday night, I did something else that has always scared me. I went on a date... with just myself. I was in Destin, FL to shoot a destination wedding for Julia and Hugo (their photos are coming soon!), but I was supposed to have dinner with my cousin Becky who lives near by. However, Becky was sick as as a dog, so our dinner plans got canceled. And my second shooters were still driving down from Atlanta, so I was left in Destin, all by myself, with nothing to do. So rather than go back to the hotel, I decided to live it up.

For the first time ever, I walked into a restaurant and asked for a “table for one” followed by a movie for one. Two things I never thought I would ever do in one night. As independent as I’ve always been, eating by myself and going to a movie by myself were two things I never ever ever ever wanted to do by myself. But wow, I honestly had so much fun!!

As I wrote the list above, I kept thinking “Psh, that’s not so bad.” But let me tell you, at the time when they were huge mountains in my life I had to climb and overcome, including Friday night. And it’s just amazing the places God can take you when we finally let Him have control.

For example. Tonight I had dinner at a restaurant that just 2 years ago, I conquered one of the fears... singing karaoke. My cousin Becky had just broken up with a great love of hers too, so I dedicated and belted out “I Will Survive” to her while celebrating her birthday. Here’s a video clip below (Becky is the hot blonde!).

Yes, I know, I’m blackmailing myself here.



So tonight I went back to the same restaurant to celebrate the fact that I DID survive. All the fears that I continue to work through, I have survived. All the dreams I have been scared to chase, I have survived. All the moments I could have settled for less, I chose not to and instead have survived. I proudly lifted my Cosmo and toasted to being single and fabulous all over again.

Since I had just come from the wedding rehearsal, I had my camera on me and decided to document the night to share the highlights of my date. When we let Him, God totally knows how to romance us. First He picked me up in my car I’m saving up for, a convertible Mercedes (ok, so I didn’t ride in it, but I parked right in front of it and couldn’t resist taking a photo). Then I got out of the car to see He painted me the most beautiful hot pink sunset sky. Seriously, it was breathtaking. Then our dinner at the restaurant, and onto my Heaven aka ColdStone Creamery, then finally ending the night with a great movie, “Why Did I Get Married?” Though I’m not married yet, the movie had a lot of great lessons on how important commitment is through the good and bad of married life. I really recommend it and it was a great date movie for the Big Guy and I. Even afterward, I couldn’t resist, I went in the photobooth at the movie theater, and used my camera to take a bunch of funny photos.

So here’s a slideshow of my night. And may you also find the courage to do something this week that scares you. There’s no greater feeling than conquering your fear to discover it is only False Evidence Appearing Real. Start by taking a bunch of photos of yourself at a photobooth. It’s so much fun!