here goes nothin'

wow-i guess this is my blog so here goes nothin'!

my name is juli jones. i live in kansas city, 12 miles from the place i was born and raised. i love jesus, my husband and being a mama to my 3 beautiful boys. easton is 8, cooper is 6 and porter is 4. they are my life. besides being a wife and mom i'm also a daughter, sister, friend, photographer, artist, and wanna be writer. (i could say wanna be for those last 3 things really) i love creating of any kind.

so the question is why do i want to join the wonderful world of blogging? good question.

i have kept a journal off and on since i was 8 years old with my little precious moments diary that had a lock and key. i thought that was so cool! it wasn't until i became a mom that i  actually filled one up completely though. of course after my 3rd child got here i started just writing on whatever is in reach. usually when something comes to mind my journal is not right there hence--i have stacks of random journaling/scribbles scattered in places throughout the house.

i'll admit i didn't really know what a blog was until probably about a year and a half to 2 years ago. the first memory i have of looking at one was after i devoured ali edward's book life artist. in the back she had a list of her favorite blogs and websites. i went through them one by one and have been hooked ever since. i love being inspired by other people's stories, journeys, daily life, artwork and creativity.

right away i knew i would want to do this someday but kept telling myself  i'd do it when this or that was in order or the boys were in school, when i was better organized and had a plan, when i got a studio set up and especially when i got some more confidence! also, fighting the voices in my head that say who cares what you have to say or what your kid did today etc... i have come to the point now though where i can't ignore the tugging of my heart any longer and i've come to the realization that i can make excuses all day long and that it will never be the "perfect" time and my life is happening now and my kids are growing up now so why not just go for it? i mean i am really just doing this for myself (and my family) right now anyway. i actually have only told my parents and my sister that i am doing this until i'm a bit more comfortable.

seems like i have read so many times from women that they didn't find their creativity, start scrap-booking, become an artist or photographer until after they had kids and for me it's the complete opposite. i have always been an artist. in fact the only 2 things i ever said while growing up that i wanted to be was an artist and a mother. but for some reason when i became a mom i felt like any creativity i ever had was sucked dry! i graduated with a bfa from the kansas city art institute and haven't done any artwork since. sad. another reason for this blog though...hoping to use it to help me get back into art and find who i am as an artist.

three things this blog is and what i want it to be:

1. documenting our everyday life around here with lots of photos and journaling
2. posting pics of people i take pictures for
3. hopefully the journey of awakening the artist in me

this blog is a work in progress as am i.

*photo by sara haworth of mud pies & pixie dust photography

Comments

[Candi]

Friend - I adore your blog!! It's hilarious! I love that you take the time to ponder life with your guys in all their "boyness" - it makes me laugh so hard!!

[Juli Jones]

Thank you so much Candi! I really appreciate you taking the time to read it:)