7/366 Leaving on a jet plane

This picture of my youngest son was taken Saturday morning just before his dad came to get him to take him to the airport.

And it was a good thing his dad was taking him as my husband was taking me to the doctor because of a pain in my side that wouldn't go away -- and was getting worse. I ended up in the hospital for three nights. Two days to pump me full of antibiotics and one day for the surgery to take out my very infected gallbladder.

I'm finally home!

6/366 Berries and bokeh

Even the holly tree outside my office window was happy about today being Friday.

5/366 Making a Difference

One of the best things about my job is that I get to work with children. They say the funniest things and I just really like the way they think. One of the hardest things about my job is when children aren't taken care of. Recently, we became aware of some children who were stealing food for other people in their family. They were hungry.

Nothing breaks my heart more than hearing about hungry children. (Actually, abused children break my heart a little more....)

Today, we had a meeting about setting up and organizing a program that will send food home to specific students and their family each weekend. I had sent out an email to the faculty asking for volunteers - but didn't know what to expect as it seems that so many of my teachers are just downright overwhelmed. I was truly blown away today when we had standing room only. The majority of the faculty voluntarily came to see what they could do to help the children!

I'm so excited about getting this program up and running. It feels so good to be a part of a group of people who are passionate about making a difference for children!

Mili gets to be the picture of the day. There have been many days when I've said that my dog has had a better life than some children I know.

4/366 "Winter reminds us of the human condition..."~ Mignon McLaughlin

I'm getting used to carrying (lugging) the camera around with me everywhere I go. And it paid off this evening when I stopped between laps at the track to snap this bird with the moon in the background.

3/366 A Starry Night

It was a back-work-after-the-holiday kind of day. And that wasn't so bad.

I'm ready for the kids to be back tomorrow. I love to hear them talk!

In the picture, I was just playing around with a homemade filter and the aperture. We have some lights on some plants to try to save them from the hard freeze. Might as well make hay while the sun shines, eh?

2/366 I promise....

I promise that all 366 pictures taken for the year won't be flowers. THIS flower called my name from across the yard to remind me that she doesn't usually bloom in the winter.

With the freezing temperatures rolling in, I fear that she will dwindle during the night. The winter in south Georgia has been delightfully mild and tonight will mark the first night of below freezing temperatures.

I will not complain. I will not complain. I will not complain.

1/366 Overrated or Not

I've been guilty of calling New Years an overrated holiday -- but overrated or not, I am always compelled to set some goals for myself.

This years goals:
*I will take on another 365 (which is really a 366 because of Leap Year) and push myself to learn some new things related to photography.
*I want to run 1,000 miles again.
*I want to read 50 books.
*I want to wear more orange.

Hope everyone has a fantastic 2012!