Today has been one of those days I am so very grateful for. I have been in the studio painting since 9:30am. I have spent the day painting backgrounds for all the commissions I have. A client came in to order a painting for her aunt, an email came in from St. Simons Island for a commission and I have been sending out emails to various magazines and newspapers to try to get more exposure. My cover art was officially accepted by the Chicago magazine and after work I am going to go by the pet store to pick up the Atlanta Dog Life magazine that has an article featuring my art. I am thankful that I am making money doing what I adore. I am working in a magical house that is filled with happy, bright colors. Sometimes I need to pinch myself because life is so good and this gets to be my life. Sure, I still have my panic-y moments when the bills and rent are due, but I am beginning to accept that that is just part of it right now. A few years ago I could not have imagined that this would be my life. That I could have so much and be so fullfilled. I do, however, temper all of this with a part of my life that has been the most difficult. I only see my children 2 weeks out of every month. I share custody with their dad half the time. The road to get to that agreement between us was so hard, so terribly rough, and I cried more in the past two years than I have in my entire life. I never had children imagining that I might not see them every day of their young lives. For every amazing career moment, if my kids are not there to share it with, there is a moment of sadness. Most days I call them each night, they tell me about their day, I tell them about mine. I am so very proud of everything they do and they are proud of their mom. There are moments my love for them consumes me. And on days like today, when my whole world seems perfect, there is a part of my heart that breaks that I will not go home to them tonite. They are the reason I strive to live my life like I do. I want to show them that this life is what we make it, that we all deserve to have what we want and dream of and sometimes it means working harder for ourselves than we have ever worked before. When they figure out what it is they want to do in this life, I want them to not have a moment of doubt in their minds that they can have it, no matter how far fetched or fantastical it may seem. They just have to be willing to work for it and be patient. I miss my babies so much right now, I can't wait to hear their voices on the phone tonite. Here is my office and how it looks after a perfect day. And the last photo is what I look at a billion times a day and see where my heart is every single moment.