today I’m 29.

so this year is the LAST year of my twenties.

the biggest decade of my life.

If you would’ve asked me ten years ago where I’d be now, I’d probably have said “in an office, probably at some big marketing corporation in Tallahassee, working a  9-5 with a 401K & benefits.” That’s what I thought I wanted.

Funny how life goes. and I’m SO GLAD it’s gone how it has!

So far, 29 doesn’t feel as much of a transition as, say, 27. At 27, I felt like there was an actual transition to be an “adult” then… ha! No more early-20s – and honestly, I’m almost relieved that part is behind us, and thankfully now most of our major life decisions are made. We can finally start to relax and enjoy it!

I wanted to write this as a quick synopsis of my 20s, but then I remembered… there’s nothing quick about it! SO much happened!

In a nutshell:  I got engaged, married, graduated college, became a mom twice and an official business owner, a first-time homeowner then bought another, opened our photography studio downtown and then built our forever home and did a major renovation and rebrand for Rebecca Vann Photography.

I’m also looking forward and deciding goals for this last year in my 20s – they’re mostly financial, and I want to finalize the girls’ college savings, weddings and cars, and get a good grasp on our retirement & future investment planning.

Okay! So here goes! Here’s a quick rundown of my 20s (as quick as it can be!) along with the biggest lessons I’ve learned!

2009 – I got engaged at 19.

Lots of people said we were crazy! Haha. Maybe we were!! But I’m so glad we were!!!

2010 – Married at 20!

2011 – Surprise!! Some health issue I’d had lent to some antibiotics and …. I found myself Pregnant right around my 21st birthday! Haha!  I was a Senior at Florida State’s College of Business, and I literally had to sit in the front handicap seats of the auditoriums the last couple months of Business Law because my belly was too huge to fit in the normal seats, haha! That was super funnnnnnn.

 

See that big bump!? I remember my friends taking me out for my birthday…and I wanted nothing to drink- but I had no clue I was pregnant at the time, ha!

I waddled across  that graduation stage on December 17th, and had our first baby on December 30th.

While we were in the hospital – literally while I was in labor – one of our family members brought us the papers to sign to get our first house under contract! We’d been renting the cutest little 1BR1BA from Joey’s parents up until this time. I’ll try to find a house pic of these and add it in here!

I learned that having a baby means that part of your heart can actually be held in your arms.  I also learned that having a baby does not mean you have to lose yourself to motherhood, and diapers and all the baby things.

December 2012 – Surprise!! Pregnant again… with little sissy! Found out the night of Kaylee’s First Birthday Party. I remember walking out to tell Joey and finding Kaylee climbing all over the dishwasher…. thinking here we go – again!!

I learned parenting has its seasons – it won’t always be crazy, busy, messy and dirty and overwhelming. But, ironically, I learned the giggles, smiles, tickles, and arms open wide running “Mommyyyyyyyy!!!!!” won’t always be there either. So I learned to balance what was important to all of us at the time, in a healthy way.

2013 – Welcomed our little Emma! I also got my business license at this time, realizing I was really struggling with the stay-at-home mom life. Turned a backyard building into my first photo studio! But, right before Emma was born, we lost my Daddy Ken. It was a very confusing time for me- so overjoyed with this new little life, but grieving one of the people who shaped me so much into who I am today.

2014– Survived an entire YEAR with a Newborn and 1 year old!! Haha! I was in total Mama whirlwind. I don’t remember most of it honestly, lol! Hosted our first Food Drive, and according to the pictures.. it seems that was the time I realized my love for clean, natural light portraits. I started to really nail down what would eventually become my signature style.

 

Also, Emma spent her first Easter in the hospital with pneumonia. I was at the appointment alone when we found out, had Kaylee with me too, and I remember feeling SO overwhelmed! But, she was SUCH a trooper and just look how cute!!!

2015- Craziest. Year. Ever. Decided to open our Downtown Photography Studio in April, and launched our retail Lilly Pulitzer & Sugar Paper Lines in November at our Grand Opening.  Scariest thing I ever did, ha!! (I’ll do a whole post on this – I have lots of pics!) We also sold our house that summer (with the studio in the back), and bought a temporary home and moved it to our new property to start prepping for building our dream home.  I felt a very strong pull to change churches this year. I wasn’t sure why, but I just felt so pulled, that we left our sweet little church and joined a different church family – the one we’re still in today! I believe this was the year we put both of the girls in full time day care as well.

Dorie Foshee Photography
Party Design by Willoughby Interiors

Emma Kate turned 2!

In October, J and I celebrated 10 years together- we started dating at 15, and we were now 25.

Dorie Foshee Photography

Took the girls on our first Disney vacation – to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas! So many people were going, and we wanted the girls to experience it while they were little.

2016 – This was a big year. I hired 3-4 in-studio team members. Really expanded my photo offerings and was doing #allthethings (too many really), and nixed retail from the shop- it was too much for me to manage! Ha! I took the Thriving Photographer Mastermind, and went to NOLA for the first time!

I helped a friend start her boutique biz in the studio, so we had lots of celebrations! We also saved up and took our first, official family Vacation to Panama City Beach… and that was so sweet!

This year, I really started craving a community of people that did what I did. Other business owners. Even though I LOVED what I was doing – it was hard, being the only one, and not having someone to go to for help, and say, “hey… can you help me with this?!”

So I took the last of my college money that I had saved. I invested it into the Creative at Heart Conference that November, and – oh my.

I discovered Katelyn James.

I then followed her around like a little puppy dog, haha!!

I met Kat Schmoyer, the mastermind behind the conference and now, one of my really great friends!!

The community I met here changed the course of my entire career… to say the least! And I loved visiting Memphis for the first time – especially the Peabody Hotel!

I learned that even when you feel alone – to follow your calling. The Lord will provide the support you need, when you’re on the path He created for you!

Joey and I took our first anniversary trip that summer as well, since the girls were born. We took time to focus on US and our MARRIAGE, not just the hustle of kids and work and the business. If you don’t do this – YOU HAVE TO!!

I learned that time with the MOST important people needs to be at the top of my list. It’s hard to make time, get childcare … all the things. But our marriage – it’s worth taking time to work on and celebrate!

2017-My baby sister had a baby (BIG DEAL!)!! My oldest baby graduated from VPK, and started Kindergarten.

2018- We FINALLY finalized our home’s design, and signed the papers for the new house!

I also (obviously) began the rebranding process for Rebecca Vann Photography, and hired Megan Martin Creative & Laura Foote Photography to help! There’s a whole post on that, here!

Meanwhile… the house progress was coming!

I’ll do another post on the house build!

I was also invited into a 12-Lady Mastermind Group, with a Retreat planned for September. (Then a hurricane postponed the retreat in Hilton Head Island to last month!) I’ll do a whole other post on that too – it’s a GOOD one!

And… at the last minute, a spot opened up for the November Creative @ Heart Conference. I saw it, and COMPLETELY on a whim, decided to go! (Hadn’t even run it by Joey yet — ahh! So not like me.) Anyway… I went to Winmock for C@H Round 8, and it was SO AMAZING… as expected!! I was completely refreshed by other entrepreneurs with the SAME EVERYTHING as me – the same jobs, same struggles, same wins… all of it! I also got to learn from the BEST in the entire industry (maybe I’ll have to do a post in this too… haha)!

And the last surprise of 2018 – I became the Instagram Coordinator for Creative @ Heart Round 9!!! And I LOVE it!!! I love being on the team, I love Kat, I love Em – I love the ENTIRE team, and I’m super passionate about the heart behind C@H!

Bethanne Arthur Photography

 

There’s to the last nine years – and here’s to the last one of my twenties!

till next time,

xoxo
becca