Cali Marie Visual Work

1 hour is not that long, 63 miles is not that far, 30$ in gas isn’t too much.

But it’s enough to make a difference. It’s enough to lose 10pm milkshake adventures, it’s enough to make a slow walk into just getting to point A, it’s enough to make me feel the distance.

I know it’s really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, and thank God we’re not farther! But I still miss being a 5 minute drive from my Bestfriend, especially since we’ve never lived any further from each other since we started dating 2.5 years ago.

But here’s to new chapters and late night FaceTime calls. I love this boy and every time I get to see him is a treasure. Distance does make the heart grow fonder.

Ooo how I love all my beautiful friends! Honestly, something I’ve learned about myself over these last couple years is that I love people. As introverted and independent as I may be, I love people. And that may seem easier to say after a year of quarantine and living alone, but I believe it to be true. Since coming to college and growing comfortable in my skin, i have felt more confident and open in my friendships. And what a blessing it has been to open my heart and mind to all the wonderful people around me who are always pouring out love and wisdom ❤️ Like this beautiful friend here!

*long emotional post alert*

On my right I arm I have the line “Every painted sky, a canvas of your grace” tattooed in a pretty handwritten font. It’s my 5th tattoo but my first tattoo to hold significant meaning to me.
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In high school I was bullied, I had severe anxiety and depression, I felt zero self worth and saw nothing important for my future.
The only reason I applied for Western was my AVID teacher who (bless her heart) begged me to. I pushed the idea away as I never thought college was in the books for me, and I didn’t feel smart or important enough to get in either.
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It wasn’t until I got waitlisted and was walking home from a particularly bad day of bullying, that I found myself begging a God I hadn’t known since I was a child to give me a reason to believe life was worth living.
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That’s when God placed on my heart WWU. A new start, new friends, a new life. And I got in 3 days later. Moving to Bellingham after high school and going to WWU felt like a gift from God, before I even knew who He was.
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My first day of college after my parents left, I felt that anxiety slipping back in, what if I’m not good enough? I don’t deserve this. What am I doing? Two people from a community called ccf show up and invited me to hangout with them. I remember staying up all night with these people and feeling a sense of home.
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They believed in Jesus, and I felt my heart rest in that. That night there was a beautiful sunset. It filled my room with pink and yellow. I felt it was God telling me that life is beautiful, and there’s nothing that I did or have to do to deserve to live it. I learned It’s by God’s grace that I am unconditionally loved. And for me every “painted sky”, is a reminder of that love.
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Now, I feel blessed to be leaving Bellingham in this season where the sunsets start popping out of the grey skies. People ask if I’m worried about moving or starting a new life in a new city. Yes, but I’m no longer anxious. I know my God will bring me where He needs me to go because I asked Him to, and He will love me unconditionally no matter what I do because that’s who He is. And that truth that I’ve learned will always outweigh the anxiety.

HELLO FACEBOOK - Have I ever made a post on here that wasn't from instagram? Honestly, I started this page right before I ran straight into a wall. But I have gotten myself out of that rut and I AM HERE.

You can look forward to me updating this page with all of the things I've been up to. Job changes, living changes, and of course all the photoshoots and video work I have been up to.

Please be patient with me as I update literally everything and flood your feed. But I look forward to building a community on facebook with my family and friends, I have missed interacting with you all so much! Along with updating you all, I look forward to everything you all have been up to and supporting all of your creative endeavors as well. ❤

- Cali Marie

• WOAH It has been months since I made a post! I won’t go into details, but between struggling with mental health, big life changes, and normal life stresses I decided to put social media on the back burner. • But recently ya girl has been on the up & up and feeling more motivated than ever! I am moving to Seattle in about a month and finally ready to jump out of my Bellingham nest. • If you know me, you know I’ve LOVED it here the last 6 years. The people, community, adventure and environment is the epitome of everything I love. However, it’s time to put my career and family in the spotlight. • So friends and family in the Seattle area, I can’t wait to see you and reconnect with you so soon ❤️
📸: .waltz