2013 was certainly a great year!

So I decided to look at some personal posts I wrote earlier this year. Since it’s the end of the year, it’s nice to be reminded of where exactly I was at the beginning of it. Looking through old posts I came across this gem from early February:

life is meant to be lived.
courtney|Feb 15, 2013
Back in November, I had come to terms with a few things. Those things were:
1. I hated my job.
2. I was 27 years old, living at home, with ZERO responsibilities.
3. I was sick of Kansas.
4. There’s a big world outside of the Kansas City Metro Area.
5. My big brother lives in Los Angeles.

I would literally mope around the house because I just felt so stifled. I’ve always had aspirations of going out and just traveling, yet with each year that passed, in Kansas I remained. And everyday I would tell myself that I am 27. With no husband. No kids. WHY AM I STILL STILL HERE WALLOWING IN SELF PITY?!?! So I decided to do something about it.

I told my parents that I was going to quit my job (definitely wasn’t getting paid enough to stay) and that I was going to head to Los Angeles indefinitely. I wanted to explore expanding my wedding photography business to another city in addition to Kansas City and I wanted to pursue music photography so I figured coming out to Los Angeles would be a good idea! To be completely honest, I didn’t think I was going to do it until I actually did.

I had absolutely no plans of what I would be doing when I came out to Los Angeles. Just figured that I’d come out here and see what happens. I truly wanted to make 2013 my “adventure year”. And if you know me, you know I’m really not the adventure type.

And what an adventure this year has been! So I decided that I would write out the highlights of the awesome things that happened this year 🙂

January
• I received my first ever passport!
• Signed up for my trip to India
• My dad and I packed up my car and made the 27 hour trip to California! I had no idea of when or if ever 2013 I’d be coming back to Kansas City as a permanent resident. Now I have an idea (and the idea is that I have no intentions of moving back lol)

March
• Got to shoot at a couple of live shows since making the move to LA–at the Satellite and at the Bardot
• Went to a secret rap concert (Snoop, Big Sean) at an abandoned warehouse in downtown LA
• Shot at a runway show during OC Fashion Week
• I got to do a photoshoot near the Hollywood sign on Mulholland Drive.

April
• Learned how to make Panda Express’s Orange Chicken (only theirs tastes better 🙂 )
• Began a very brief internship with a commercial photographer here in LA. I’m obsessed with his work so it was cool to be able to see for a little while how a successful, thriving photography business is run. While I loved the experience, I found out quickly that I didn’t want to commit to studio work. I like being on location and not having to direct every single thing.
• All because of Kansas t-shirt, I met four very incredible Christians at a Starbucks down the street from where I live while I was studying and practicing and writing Hindi in preparation for my trip to India. I began going to their church the very next day!

May
• I began attending my church! Never had I met so many genuine, loving people all in one space. It was so refreshing. I was sold! And the cherry on top of it all: I met other people that are as obsessed with Bollywood movies as me (Kike I’m talking about you lol)!
• I began studying the Bible with four women (Erica, Katrina, Diane, and Gladys) that I’m so happy to call my sisters in Christ.
• I went to my first music industry mixer at the House of Blues. After connecting with the coordinator, I landed myself a monthly gig, shooting at their mixers each month.

June
• Got to eat at Foo Chow restaurant in Chinatown. That’s where one of the scenes from the original Rush Hour was filmed.
• As part of my internship, I got to spend the day at the infamous Siren Studios in Hollywood.
• First time trying to shoot and edit video. It wasn’t that bad. It also wasn’t that good lol.
• I got baptized! After understanding the difference between having an intellectual knowledge of God and an intimate knowledge of God, I made the decision to truly make Jesus Lord of my life and I got baptized after midweek service on June 12th 🙂
• I got to shoot at the House of Blues for the first time!
• I turned 28 years old on the 17th! And what’s funny, is I don’t feel like I’m 28! Now mind you, I don’t know how 28 is supposed to feel like.
2013_2 • I took my first trip out of the country! I went to beautiful Nassau, Bahamas to photograph my sorority sister’s wedding. The thing that stuck with me the most was seeing people drive on the opposite side of the road. It was BANANAS! And seeing water that blue–it was amazing!
• I got to do a photoshoot at a private airport. That was way cool.

July
• Photographed two weddings back home in Kansas City
• Had my wild hair phase.
• I got to travel to San Diego! We ate at this place called Kansas City Barbecue where Top Gun was filmed. It wasn’t as good as actual Kansas City barbecue but it was alright–I’d eat there again. They even did me 2013_3 favor and tried to make me their rendition of the Z-Man but it wasn’t even close to tasting like it. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts. And the owner and a couple of the waitresses were Kansas natives!
• While photographing a rapper, we got run off the property we were apparently trespassing on. Oops.

August
• I got to shoot a band’s (Uniform Standard) album release party at the Viper Room!
• I received my visa to go to India!
• In some semblance of trying to be healthy, I began walking again and going on prayer walks with some of my friends.
• More photographing–this time at the Higher Ground concert!

September
• A definite first time experience–watching a TV show premiere in a cemetery. I got to watch the advanced screening of the Fox TV show “Sleepy Hollow” at the Hollywood Forever cemetery. Some of the show’s stars and producers were there as well. I almost forgot I was in a cemetery until after it got dark and we were all walking back to our cars. Then I remembered!
2013_4 • After speaking with an elderly woman that I had never met before, who was pouring her heart out to me about her son dying and the trouble she had with his landlord and getting into his apartment, I prayed with her. This was definitely a highlight for me because I chose to be obedient and listen to God, who was telling me to pray with her (because my flesh was telling me otherwise).

October
• I experienced the goodness that is Ross Dress For Less. That store is A-MAZING.
• Karaoke at a Filipino restaurant. Anytime there’s karaoke, it’s destined to be a good time.
• Got to shoot at LA Fashion Week! Thanks to my awesome friend Taujma for that hookup. 2013_5
• India! Way too much to talk about with that trip to plug into this post. Which reminds me, I need to write a post about that! And no, I didn’t meet any Bollywood stars 🙁 But let’s just say after flying there, I am officially obsessed with international travel.

November
• Went to my first conference at my church (the Breakthrough Conference). In between my many jetlagged moments, I had a great time!
• Got to see my Jayhawks play for the first time this season–and what a game for me to see: we beat Duke!
• Went shopping in Little India (in Artesia). I bought two movies: Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola and Agneepath. I’m really kicking myself that I didn’t buy Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. That’s my movie–I LOVE it.
• Went back home to Kansas and photographed a gorgeous Indian bride!
• One big highlight: my mother FINALLY gave me her sweet potato pie recipe. YUM
• I got to see my friend Laya get married! We’ve been friends since 1998. Their wedding was beautiful and definitely a testament to God’s goodness.

December
• Being able to spend a day on the beach in the wintertime.
• Christmas. Lights.
• Courtney’s got full time employment! For the first time in 3 years. God is good!
• Being able to serve veterans in Long Beach on Christmas Day.
• Looking back over this past year and seeing just how tremendously God has blessed me and seeing all of the wonderful friends He has brought in my life whom I love dearly!