Author: Paula Thompson

Paula Thompson-Bio
Paula was born in suburban Los Angeles and when, at the age of 16, her parents divorced she moved with her mother to the Denver, CO area. Having grown up with sunny days filled with roller skating, swimming, bicycling and going to the beach with friends she had known since birth, Colorado was a stark contrast but the change of seasons never failed to delight her and no matter where she lived Colorado remained in her heart as home.
At the age of 23 she married a childhood friend from her California days, although they had not stayed in contact throughout the years, they met again this time as adults through a mutual friend in Colorado. Her husband was an officer in the Navy and even when he went into the reserves they moved considerably over the years, two children a dog or two and typically a boat in tow.
Having been a young wife and having grown up fairly sheltered, Paula struggled while trying to maneuver the ‘food chain’ of military structure and more than once ended up in tears on the couch and wondering what exactly she had gotten herself into. Nearing the end of the first of what was supposed to be two tours on the island of Oahu, HI and after a particularly difficult few months she received news of her father’s illness and life as she knew it was about to change drastically. It was early 1995 and she began a fervent search to try to make sense of all the disorder in her life as she wonder why God would allow all of this “stuff” to come crashing down on her and why oh why did everyone expect her to take care of it. Somewhere in the midst of moving to San Diego and dealing with her father’s subsequent death, her two young children, and realizing that she had no choice but to step up to the proverbial plate she began to pray a specific prayer: “God I don’t like who I am, change me. Make be into a woman that is positive and encouraging to others…a woman others trust and want to talk to.” Knowing that it would not happen over night she was surprised by how fast she did start to change. People started to talk to her, really talk to her and listen.
In the following years she found herself faced with more military deployments and therefore distraught wives as well as her own health issues and family and marital issues. Yet she continued to pray the same prayer, everyday, knowing that God would need to shape her in order to change her.
Through daily struggles as well as major health issues she has learned to laugh and love and enjoy life so much more! Through trusting God and claiming Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…” as her daily strength she has overcome what her doctors told her was impossible and finds herself daily trying to live up to the expectations that came with the answering of her prayer.
Paula currently lives and works in Colorado, as both a sign language interpreter and a photographer. Her "God Sized Dream" is to see her 'Tribute Shoots' take off and expand as a way to honor those women who have overcome great obstacles in their lives, to show their inner beauty and strength in an outward and tangible way.