I believe we all have a mission in life. It is up to each of us to discover that mission and determine how we can best fulfill it. My mission has been clear to me since I was a very young child; I need to share the beauty and sanctity of life with others. I want to help create awareness about both the miracles around us and the cruelties that exist, of which we choose to ignore.

The two passions that I have carried consistently throughout my life are my love for animals and my obsession for photography. At age 45, I retired from my career in healthcare and started a rescue ranch for special-needs animals. Shortly before that, my husband gave me a digital camera. I hadn't used a camera for many years but was anxious to try my hand at it again.

Very soon, I realized that photography was becoming a huge part of my life! I needed a way to justify the time and money that I was spending on it. At the same time, I found that caring for our animals was extremely rewarding, but just not enough. I wanted to do more for the animals who needed our help so desperately. There had to be some way I could merge my passions and use them in this cause.

In 2011, a national animal rescue group requested auction items for a fundraising event. It occurred to me that, possibly, this was something I could do although I had no experience whatsoever! It was then that I started Ark Aid Imaging, a not-for-profit endeavor, created solely for the purpose of raising money for animal rescue groups. From there, I became involved in other national and local non-profit animal rescue organizations, providing photography and fine art images for fundraising events.

A very important lesson I have learned in life is to stop "talking" and start "doing". For many years I looked at other artist's work and said to myself, "I could do that"; but it doesn't help to say it if you don't do it! So find a cause that is worthy of your time and efforts and make the world a better place!

I feel very blessed to know "who I am" and "where I fit into the universe". This brings about a calm, peaceful feeling that many people seek their whole lives and never find. I am truly blessed! I hope that you can feel this in my images. As always, my images are available, free of charge, to non-profit animal rights groups. Please contact me at arkaidimaging@hotmail.com.