last week i randomly checked out what was happening on twitter - i still have not got the hang of using twitter the way i do facebook. though i did read a good article on how to use twitter to get a "following." you can check that article out by following me on twitter and checking out my retweets! :)
anyway, i saw that one of the photographer's that i follow had tweeted about a free full registration for wppi 2011 being given away! all one had to do was follow this george fellow and retweet his tweet in order to be entered in to the contest. george works for the company planning the wedding and portrait photographer's international convention and trade show (wppi 2011). i don't what made me be so persistent to win this thing but something in me made me retweet everything george had tweeted about winning the full registration. i also retweeted the tweets of numerous other photographers promoting the contest and tagged george in my own tweet declaring that i had been retweeting everything to do with winning the full registration and that i really wanted to win. the thing is, i never believed i would win and didn't know what i would do if i won because the convention is in las vegas and there is no way i could afford the trip down there!
but, when george announced the winners on mondays, wouldn't you know... i won. I WON! i won! i was stunned. something this has never happened to me before, and i couldn't be more thrilled, this is an incredible opportunity that has been handed to me. the wppi is a learning intensive, community building and business building retreat all in one! the wppi even boasts a two day "university" for newbies like myself. how can i not go.
inspired by a friend of a friend of a friend, i decided to do something completely out of character... seriously, this is way out of my comfort zone. i have planned a fundraiser for myself. for me. i have asked my family and friends via facebook to invest in me, my dream of being a professional photograph and my plans for a business. i figure if each one of my facebook friends could donate $5 i would have enough to cover the expenses to get to vegas! course, i had to ask a few people close to me if this was a tacky idea or not because i did not want to offend anyone... can you imagine someone asking for money for a trip to las vegas. come on! but i did. i swallowed my pride and my fear... and i am already feeling the love!
this past year i believe that God is really teaching me about trusting Him through people. that is, by asking for help from my family and friends for things that i just cannot do on my own and believing that He is helping me in the process, and not letting another's inability to help be a let down or reflection of His love for me and His promise to 'work all things together for good.' i think for the first time ever i am beginning to understand what it means to 'ask and you shall receive.'
thank you to all who have already donated, to those that have shared this fundraiser with your friends and family, and thank you to those that have challenged others to give more. in the spirit of giving, any monies that i receive that exceed my needs for this trip will be passed on and donated to opportunity international!
if you wish to make a donation, you can click here: donate
love & sunshine,
shannon-may
