I hope you have a beautiful weekend, and do something very very weekendly.
xx!
Me
Hello.
I'm Natalie. Welcome to my little piece of the www.
I love avocados, sometimes (read: daily) stand on my head to get my creative juices flowing, and I could listen to The Beatles sing, “I’ve Just Seen A Face” everyday, for the rest of forever.
Wondering what goes on here? Yup, so are the rest of us.
1. I am a lifestyle photographer. I have the most remarkable clients in the world, and I share their images here to inspire us all to live life with greater love, meaning and joy.
2. I am a writer. This blog is full of many of the curious thinks I have thunk.
3. I am a speaker and life/business consultant. I post upcoming speaking engagements and consulting information here as well.
4. I am most fulfilled by my work as a wife and mother to my 4 sons, one of whom now lives in Heaven. I share bits and pieces of our journey here on this blog. Including our ongoing struggle with grief, our experiences with ADHD and SPD, and our solid faith in a God much bigger than the challenges we face.
But ultimately, I hope that this blog is about something much bigger than all of that. My dream is for this blog to be a place where real life comes to be celebrated and enthusiastically embraced. Not just the pretty stuff, with tailored hems, clean lines,and the new colors for spring . . . but everything else, too. The frazzled mornings, broken hearts, crazy dreams, messy kitchens. . . even the fear, failure, hopelessness and devastation. I want this blog to be a place for every bit of what makes us all living, breathing, feeling human beings, experiencing together this remarkable thing called life.
May this be a place of passion, purpose, laughter, tears, friendship, encouragement and inspiration for us all.
Thank you for being here. Let's be friends forever!
xx,
Natalie
I am based out of Gilbert, Arizona and Oahu, Hawaii. I am available for travel worldwide. Please contact me for information at aloha@natalienortonblog.com.
In 2010, our perfect *”Baby Gavin” returned to Heaven after losing a courageous battle with **Pertussis (whooping cough). We are eternally and profoundly grateful to the thousands upon thousands (upon thousands) of friends and strangers from all over the world, of all faiths and creeds, who united with our family in prayer during Baby Gavin’s horrific illness and who grieved with us and continued to petition God in our behalf during the dark days following his tragic death. You may read Gavin’s story as it unfolded by visiting my old blog here. I am committed to sharing my ongoing struggles with grief and our journey toward joy here on the new blog. I am always humbled and amazed by the continued outpouring of love and support. Thank you for sharing in our journey and inspiring us with your unceasing love! God is good!
*My brother Gavin passed away unexpectedly in 2007. With all these Angel Gavins, it can get a little confusing at times, so just know that when I refer to “Gavin” I’m referring to my wonderful brother. When I refer to “Baby Gavin,” it is in reference to my perfect son, both of whom I cannot wait to see in Heaven!
**You will periodically see me blog about The Sounds of Pertussis campaign. I am an unpaid spokesperson and am only compensated travel expenses where applicable for my involvement with this important cause. Join our fight against this deadly communicable disease at www.soundsofpertussis.com or like us on facebook at www.facebook.com/soundsofpertussis.
Jan 13, 2011
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posted in business tips, For Photographers, Inspire, on the agenda, Personal
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15 comments
When you’re on the hunt for absolute magic, it’s hard not to get sidetracked along the way. It’s hard not to settle for FANTASTIC. Because, fantastic, is well. . . FANTASTIC! But I had to keep reminding myself, I wasn’t looking for fantastic, no matter how bright and shiny the lights or how clear and clean the bells and whistles. I was looking for just.right.for.me. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there is power in patience (though granted this was over and done in under a week) but MOST importantly, there is power in specificity (as evidenced by the fact that this WAS in fact over and done with in under a week).
I had laid it all out there. . . defined exactly what “just right for me” looked like, felt like, smelled like for crying out loud! And I found her. Erin Jane is just right. For me. For my family. For my business . . . And the beauty of it (which I also specifically laid out in my ad) is that I am just right for her. For her dreams, her ambitions, her remarkable potential! I’m beyond excited to see what we can make happen together, and I’m doubly excited to introduce her to you, now!
Here’s Erin’s application in response to my (again, very lofty and very extraordinarily specific) want ad. Tell me you wouldn’t have hired her on the spot.
Perfect cover page.
Perfect cover letter.
Perfect resumé.
Folks, what do you want for yourself? Your family? Your business? What do you DESERVE for yourself? Your family? Your business? Do you even know?
One of my very favorite concepts of all time was taught to me by Stephen R. Covey (and if you’ve EVER heard me speak, it’s quite likely you’ve heard this before). Summarized: don’t waste your time climbing up the “ladder of success” until you’re sure it’s leaning against the right wall!
You deserve to know what you want and where you’re headed. You.deserve.it.
If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never feel satisfied by, or comfortable with, your forward momentum. You’ll find yourself constantly revving the engine with one foot while simultaneously slamming on the breaks with the other, and that’s no way to drive. That’s no way to live.
YOU.DESERVE.MORE.
And to Erin I say, welcome to the family girlfriend! Let’s get a move on!
xx!
Me
The search is over!
I spent the last week pouring over a billion of the most wonderful applications, resumes and portfolios. I’m a.m.a.z.e.d by how many talented, beautiful, CREATIVE and connected people there are out there! I wish I could hire each and every one of you. Sincerely.
When you post something like my ad, it feels a little reminiscent of throwing a big high school party; you can’t help but be TERRIFIED that no one will show up! When I wrote that ad, I took a real leap. It’s not your typical job posting. Not by any stretch of the imagination. And it was scary. I was afraid people wouldn’t take me seriously or worse, that they’d laugh at me behind my back. But in the end, I didn’t care. I was all in, committed to finding what I need, because I think that I (not to mention my business and my family) deserve it. I hoped that if I was willing to share EXACTLY what I was hoping for, that somehow it would show up at my doorstep. And guess what? It totally did.
Please know, I am significantly touched and astonished by the number of applications I received. It was truly humbling. In fact, as the applications kept pouring in, I started to have this overwhelming fear that I wasn’t up for this! I wasn’t going to be able to choose, or WORSE I’d make the WRONG decision somehow and have to fire someone a few months down the road! That would be my WORST.NIGHTMARE.EVER. I don’t ever want to have to fire anybody.
I also want you to know that many of your applications literally moved me to tears. So many answered my ad in kind and simply laid it all out there; to you I say, I could FEEL your hearts, your drive, your commitment, your intense desire to make BIG things happen in your lives. I want that for you too. Keep laying it all out there with this much authenticity, and you won’t be able to avoid falling into the perfect situation for you, no matter how hard you try!
I’ll be making the official announcement and introducing “the new girl” soon. :)
xx!
Me
During the beginning part of 2010, I felt a lot like I look here. Only about 72 billion times worse. Times 2.
Plus there were a full 48lbs more of me to love. Which didn’t lighten my spirits any, trust you me.
I’ve been thinking a lot about 2010. Like most of us, I tend to become introspective at the close of a year.
For example:
I clearly remember at the end of 2006, looking back with Richie at the ups and downs of that year and saying, “Babe, 2007 is going to be OUR YEAR! What else could POSSIBLY happen?!” Then my brother died June 17th 2007 (Father’s Day), and that pretty much threw 2007 (and a good portion of 2008) straight to The Underworld (in a busted up hand basket).
But I survived. Despite (lots more) death, betrayal and huge financial set backs, and despite far more doubt than I’d ever admit publicly, and despite fear, Hell and high water, 2007-2008 were the years I survived. Many times during that period I had wanted to be dead and done, so surviving was all a girl could hope for. I patted myself on the back (wholeheartedly), stood up, and brushed off my back side to face 2009 like any big girl should.
I’m genuinely proud of myself for 2007 and 2008. Sometimes, I wish I could scoop “that girl” (the 2007-2008 Natalie) up into my arms and give her a big hug. To rock her back and forth, and quietly tell her, “it’s going to be all right.” So I’ll say it to you, yes YOU, It’s going to be all right. It really, truly is. Promise.
In 2009 things were looking up. There were still struggles (a’plenty) to be negotiated, but thankfully I’d learned a thing or two or four hundred in 2007 and 2008 and was ready to face difficulty head on. Plus I had a beautiful little bun in my oven! Who could doubt that things were looking up?! Yahoo!
Well. . . at the end of 2009, there I sat, in a hospital room, with a dying child and bottle of Martinellis (that I had no way of opening). 2009 left without a shred of crowning glory, and 2010 was deemed nothing more than the year my son would get better. I couldn’t see beyond that. Didn’t want to. Didn’t need to. All I needed was for that boy to be well.
So, 2010.
This post is meant to be dedicated to you, so what do you have to say for yourself?
After Gavin died, I had ZERO expectations, so you didn’t have much to live up to. If all you’d done was float me like your baby brothers 2007 and 2008 did, that would have been enough. No one had the right to expect a single thing out of me. If I’d of holed up in my bedroom, with a pillow over my face the entire year, I’d have been pittied, sure, but blamed for it? Not a chance.
Well, here it is. Humbly, and from my heart.
2010 was the year I found my ROAR.
I learned how to laugh, how to cry, how to hurt, how to love, how to believe, how to trust, how to simplify, how to let go . . . how to change.
I learned:
Every.single.morning, the sun will rise.
Circumstance has no power except the power we give it.
Many of life’s largest “problems” are born of thoughts and feelings and have zero basis in reality.
There is always SOMEONE to reach out to.
God can’t sail a ship that hasn’t left the harbor.
I am responsible for my life. No matter what.
I may not be able to choose my circumstances, but I can always choose my reaction to them.
The Savior is not only my Redeember, but my dearest friend.
There is a reason we are commanded to cleave unto one another as husband and wife.
A happy marriage takes real effort. And it’s worth it. 1000%. I love you Richie!
My children deserve all of me, and not what happens to be left over after everything else.
The world will go on spinning without me!!!! Fancy that!
It’s OK to have lofty dreams and ambitions!!!
ANYTHING is possible!
My brother is always closer than I think. I can often feel him in stillness.
Stillness is an essential part of my search for happiness.
Physical and spiritual health are my lifelines to success. If I want to be balanced and successful in ANY other areas of my life, these have GOT to come first.
I have to stay hydrated/I have got to avoid sugar/I need to be well rested/I have to make time for serious exercise at least 5 times a week.
I can’t do everything at the same time: at least not by myself.
It’s OK to ask for help.
Letting go is a wonderful gift.
All in all . . . I learned to BREATHE.
I could write 82 blog posts outlining everything I learned this year, and I could type until my fingers turned blue only to BEGIN to tell you everything I’m grateful for!
Because guess what? And I can say this with ZERO hesitation:
2010 was the best year of my life!
How on Earth can that be?! EVERYTHING was stacked up against me. It’s important remember that not all my living is done within the confines of this here blog. This was a BIG year, Gavin being the biggest part of it, yes, but oh boy was it a big FAT year in just about EVERY other way as well.
and yet. . .
and yet.
and yet.
Gets you thinking doesn’t it?!
Despite it all, oh what a healthy dose of faith and some determination can do!
“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Heavenly Father has given US, my family and I, a complete and total miracle in 2010. For that I say, “Thank you. . . THANK YOU. . . THANK YOU!” For lessons learned, tears shed, faith exercised and roar found.
Watch out 2011, here WE come!
