One of the best purchases ever made

My personality is one of being scared to try new things. I can remember the first time I had to learn to use a computer. It absolutely terrified me. What if I pushed the wrong button and I deleted everything? What if I did something wrong and I blew out the computer? You see, I am a "what if" person; and therefore, it causes me to hesitate to try something new. Even when I started to teach piano lessons, the "what ifs" kicked in. "What if they don't like me", "what if they think I am not very talented and can't teach"? Maybe it is my lack of self-confidence, I don't really know.

What does this have to do with "one of the best purchases I ever made"? My digital camera. Obviously, everybody in our family had a digital camera quite a few years ago. As for me, good ol' Kodak disposable cameras. Eric had been constantly telling me to buy a digital camera. Why didn't I? Change!! How could I ever learn to use something like a digital camera? These cameras have so many gadgets; and a memory card, what was that and how did I use it to get my photos printed? I let so many years go by of absolutely wonderful photos because of my "what if" syndrome.

Now, I absolutely love my digital camera. On our trip, I took almost 400 photos. Can you believe that? I just kept clicking away. I am so grateful for a husband and 5 children who kept saying "Go get a digital camera". This was a couple of years ago; and since then, the click, click, click of my digital camera is a constant noise.

Therefore, I am posting a photo that I took when Eric and I arrived home last night to Beaumont after an 1800 mile drive (which was absolutely breathtaking). Without my handy, dandy digital camera I would have missed this great memory produced by Maren and her day with Gabi and Braydon. Don't worry, I will be posting many, many more photos as the weekend progresses and my "unvacation" is beginning.

Braydon holding the poster that he and Gabi made for us. It was very
creative with hand prints and fantastic, colorful smudges of pink and purple!!