laurenlesleyphotography.com » everyday extraordinary

(I wrote this in 2010.  I was getting ready to start another blog post and this caught my eye – as much as I want to edit and rewrite a few things – I’m going to leave it just like it is and post this.  Excuse the bad formatting on the blogre-vamping takes me longer than it used too. I’ll get around to that soon enough.  I am often asked who Lesley is because most everyone who knows me knows my real middle name is not Lesley – so this is the story of who Lesley is and why I use that name.  The stunning woman is my mother’s mother and the unbelievably handsome guy is my grandaddy Lesley.)

I am a lot of things.  I am a mother of twins.  I am a mother that lost babies I desprately wanted.  I will forever be a different kind of mother because of that.  I am a dancer.  I am a bad runner because I was a dancer.  I am an artist.  I am a photographer.  In spite of my own beliefs in my abilities, am told I am a writer.  I am a total nerd.  I am parts of my past, but not completely any of those parts.  I am parts of all the people I love.   I am unfortunately a little bit cynical, but ever hopeful and expect the best before the worst, even if I know the worst is a possibility.  I am completely and utterly devoted to the people who have done that for me, run into the fire devoted.  I am lucky enough to know true love.  I can be fearless, but am still afraid of the dark sometimes.  I am not afraid to ask for help.  I have been taught many things by the people I am surrounded by, but mostly, if you simply accept poeple for who they are, you will be amazed by what they are not afraid to show you, simply because they know they can.  I am a terrible joke teller, but a great laugher if you want to tell me one.  I am a constant surprise and adventure, I like being around other people who are those things too.  I don’t enjoy confrontation, will never be great at debate, but won’t back down when it’s important to me.  I’ll get messy.

I value anything authentic, strong, and honest.  I have seen a one pound baby beat the odds, have been with a family as they have taken their precious child off life support, watched my friends rise to the occasion in every way, I have seen all of those qualities I value in immeasurable ammounts in the people I am around, I am a better person for it.

Lesley is my mom’s maiden name.  I always thought if I had another child one day, Lesley would be part of the name somehow.  So, the path your on turns sometimes when you’re not looking, Lelsey became part of my business name.  I think it’s fitting because some of my favorite childhood memories were with the Lesley family.  I have a great heritage (from both sides of my family) – it’s awesome to reflect that here, while I capture moments like those  for the families I work with.

I am just a girl, normal in every way, except not.  Just the same way I see life around me.  Everyday extraordinary.