Posts in Goals
August 2016 Goals

Y’all, I’m feeling the urge to CLEAN OUT. Does that ever just hit you? When you get fed up with all your clutter, when you want to get rid of everything and start fresh?

To be honest, I like to clean out when I’m avoiding doing something else difficult. It’s my “go to” thing when I have something hard to accomplish, but I don’t want to. It’s like how I tidied my room and desk in college in order to avoid studying for an exam. “Instead, I’ll just clean out so I feel like I’ve accomplished something big.”

Well, I’ve declared that this month is all about our home. The really important aspects of our home. Usually, that means cleaning out our clutter and making our space meaningful. But do you want to know the really hard thing I’m avoiding?

Cleaning out and organizing my photographs.

The history behind our home. Our most valued possessions. Our photographs.

THIS SHOULD BE EASY FOR ME. I’m a photographer! I organize and edit and blog photos every single day. But when it comes to my personal photos… I’m just like you. My own photos are put on the back burner wayyyy too often.

You see, I’m in the middle of creating a product in the Nancy Ray Shop that is going to be so, SO helpful for so many of you : a guide on how to organize and enjoy your personal photos. And I’m PUMPED about it! I’ve asked so many of my friends, some who are photographers, some who aren’t, how they organize their photos. I want to honestly compare my (broken) system with theirs. I’ve also scoured the internet, and I am determined to not be a hypocrite, but to actually do this while creating the product. So this month, I’ve set out to first DO IT MYSELF, then I’ll create a guide for you! What works, what doesn’t. I’m determined to find the very best system for printing, storing, framing, album-ing, and organizing our digital and physical photos.

I’m excited, and pretty overwhelmed. I wish I was more organized than I am with my photos, but I’m going to be honest with you: I’m not. My professional photos are immaculate. My personal photos are a mess. It’s the “project I keep putting off,” but I’m prioritizing it this August.

Because really, they are the most important items in my home. And once I organize my photos, you better believe the attic and the garage and the closet are for September!

August Goals

  • Read Seven, staying on track with the Nancy Ray Book Club

  • Read Wild and Free

  • Finish organizing our personal photos

  • Photograph 3 home tours (of real NRP clients and how they display their photos!)

  • Schedule and finalize NRP Filming with Heartstone Films

  • Continue to keep our weekly Sabbath and Family Dinners

  • Enjoy a day on the lake

  • Getaway with friends for our 3rd annual mountain retreat with the Schultzes and Wheatons

GoalsNancy RayGoalsComment
July 2016 Goals

I’m feeling a little like summer is slipping away. And sometimes I feel hesitant to go outside and do fun things because it’s hot, or because I have too much work to do, or because I don’t have time.

There’s always an excuse, isn’t there?

I’m determined to not let July slip away. These monthly goals can get on my nerves sometimes… I try to always schedule them and blog them and create them in time for the 1st of the month. Sometimes, it can just be routine. But you know what? By the end of the blogpost, I’m always so, so thankful that I made them.

Why? Because if I didn’t sit down and create these goals, I wouldn’t actually do the things that really matter. I wouldn’t have thought to “take pictures of Milly in Beaufort” this July 4th, and I probably would have just left my film camera at home. I wouldn’t have written down to do 4 long runs (one a week) in order to keep up my distance running, but instead I would have become lazy and gotten back into my usual running routine of once or twice a week.

Have you sat down and thought of what you want to make of July?

My precious Aunt Margaret passed away in June, and her life was incredible. I am so grateful and proud of her legacy. As funerals often do, it got me thinking about my life. How do I want to spend these precious days I’ve been given? What do I want to do? Who do I want to invest in?

Let’s make this precious life count, friends.

July Goals

  • Read the 4 Hour Work Week

  • Start reading Wild and Free

  • Take pictures of Milly in Beaufort over July 4th

  • Finish Filming Digital Basics and Film + Digital Integration Courses for the Nancy Ray Shop

  • Join Will’s C12 Key Players Group

  • Photograph Callie’s home tour

  • Finish organizing my printed personal photos

  • Do 4 “long” runs (5 miles or longer) to keep up my running

GoalsNancy RayGoalsComment
June 2016 Goals

I have to admit – I never really thought through the fact that as soon as we had a baby, we would automatically get 3 brand new holidays in our lives! A new birthday, Mother’s Day, and now Father’s day – all back to back. It’s pretty great.

Father’s day is around the corner, and this year I’ve really been hit with the significance of a Father’s relationship with his children. I watch Will with Milly and I come absolutely undone. I tell Milly all the time, “You have the best Daddy in the world.” I think back to all the encouragement and life lessons my Dad spoke into me, and I realize it really shaped who I am today. When I photograph weddings now, I cry my eyes out at every toast a Dad gives, every Father-Daughter dance, every Daddy “first look,” every gift given. Let’s take the time to love on our Dads this year! I know that’s a major goal for me this month – to honor Will, and to let my own Daddy know how much I love and appreciate him.

June Goals

GoalsNancy RayGoalsComment