49 of 365 - Wind Chimes

2 weeks ago, the boys and I had a half day at school/work, so we headed to the cemetery. Yep, you read that right, a cemetery. My SIL said I was really weird for taking the boys to the cemetery when we didn't even know anyone, but I don't think so. Cemetery's are very peaceful and beautiful places. One of the main reasons I wanted to go was to take pictures of the Jesus statue up on the hill. The boys didn't mind going to the cemetery, it was an adventure for them. They walked through the cemetery, reading the headstones and sometimes asking questions on how the person may have died. We saw a baby's headstone, he was only 4 days old. The boys had a tough time understanding how a baby could day at only 4 days old. I just told them that people of all ages die, babies, kids, moms, dads. You never know when it's your time, only God knows that.

While walking through the cemetery, I kept hearing chimes. All over there were wind chimes hung in tress. It seemed kind of strange, but it was a hauntingly beautiful sound that I won't soon forget.....

48 of 365 - Playing

We do not stop playing because we grow old.
We grow old because we stop playing.

~Anonymous

28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 of 365

I'm playing catch up again with the 365 project. When I started this project I didn't think I would a problem with taking a picture a day, and that really isn't the problem. I can take a hundred or more pictures a day, it's the loading and posting I'm having trouble with. There just never seems to be enough time in a day. The past month we have been in the middle of basketball season. Ezekiel and Elijah are playing on city leagues and Fonzy is coaching at the middle school. The boys and I have been going to all Fonzy's team home games while keeping up with their games too. Some nights we don't make it home until almost 9pm. By that time we are all ready for showers and bed. The season ended this weekend for the boys and Fonzy has about 3 games left, so maybe posting will be on time now, but I'm not making any promises. Next sport is baseball, but we should have about a month break before we start that. Maybe now I can take some of the photography classes I need to learn all the great things my new camera can do. I'm still using it in auto mode. I have a few books from the library on photography, but haven't had the time to read either. I'll get there eventually. Until then, here are some SOOC (straight out of camera)/shot on auto mode shots for you.

Here are the boys taking pictures at Fonzy's game....following in Momma's footsteps.

Saturday Karen and I took the boys to the park. It was in the 60's and nice out. I was feeling young and carefree, hence the pigtails. OK, maybe I was just having a bad hair day.

While at the park, we meet a lady who had 1yr old twins, boy and girl. The little girl was so cute. I wanted to take pictures of her so bad, but of course you just can't go around taking pictures of other people's kids. Luckily for me, Karen was there. She talks to everyone. When I say everyone, I mean everyone. She mentioned to the mom that I took pictures and would love to take pictures of her and her kids. Of course I let the mom know I am a beginner photographer and need the practice and would love to take their photo's and she agreed, we just have to set a date. I'm excited. I need to make a little portfolio of my favorite pictures and make some business cards and see what happens. Right now I wouldn't charge anyone for pictures. I just want the practice, but if the pictures come out nice, I want to use them in my portfolio. I'm just going to take pictures of family and friends and build my skills that way, and maybe hit a few parks and offer to take pictures. You never know what may come of it.

And last but not least, on the update, we are having a birthday party! Elijah will be 7 on Valentines day, and has never had a party. You know, we do the family thing with cake and ice cream at home, but this year he is having a party and invited all his friends. He is too excited and so are we. Of course I will take plenty of pictures, because as much as this party is costing, he may not have another one in a very long time.

27 of 365 - Playground

I took the boys to the park today for some photo taking practice. It was freezing out, but we had a good time. We decided we need to do that more often. It beats being in the house yelling at them to stop jumping around, stop throwing the ball around the house, and stop fighting. This way they could do all of the above and I can happily snap pictures. A win win for all of us.

You can view the whole set here: click on Playground set.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/isaida/

26 0f 365 - Tonight's Dinner

E.T. (you know who you are) this post is just for you. Look at all that pork....YUMMY!

25 of 365 - Rose

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon--instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.

-Dale Carnegie

23 and 24 of 365 - Easy Like a Sunday Morning

This is what our Sunday morning looked like, messy bed, us getting ready for church and the boys tired of waiting for us.

22 of 365 - No pork please

No pork please, originally uploaded by Mami Dearest.

It has been over two years since Ezekiel cut pork from his diet. He was 7yrs old when he quit and hasn't eaten pork since. I wish I had his willpower, but I like my bacon, sausage, and pork chops too much.

21 0f 365 - Birthday Roses

21 0f 365 - Birthday Roses, originally uploaded by Mami Dearest.

Happy Birthday to ME! I am 38 years young today.

20 of 365 - Yes We Can!

20 of 365 - Yes We Can!, originally uploaded by Mami Dearest.

I asked Fonzy what should be the title of this post and he said "Yes We Can", but not in the sense of Obama saying "Yes We Can", but our boys watching this historical moment and thinking, "Yes We Can!" If Obama can be President, so can we.

19 of 365 - Ezekiel

Ezekiel is my poser. No matter how many times I ask him to pose for pictures he obliges. Who knows, maybe one day he will become a model...you never know.

18 of 365 - Fonzy

18 of 365, originally uploaded by Mami Dearest.

Fonzy does not like to have his picture taken, so I have to get cameo shots of him whenever I can. I snapped this one while we were at Elijah's basketball game Saturday morning.

17 of 365 - Elijah

17 of 365, originally uploaded by Mami Dearest.

We are in the middle of basketball season for the boys. Elijah thinks he's Lebron James or somebody. You can't tell him nothing while he is on the court.

16 of 365

16 of 365, originally uploaded by Mami Dearest.

Baby, it's cold outside!

15 of 365 - Brotherly Love

"He's my brother and I love him like myself"
~Brutha

14 of 365 - Moonlight

across the street from our apartment

I tried to capture the moon tonight, but this was the best I got. My poor point and shoot camera just couldn't get the picture I wanted. The moon was beautiful. Can I say again, I can't wait to get my new camera. I know I won't automatically take great pictures because I have a new camera, but I'm sure it will be better than this.

13 of 365 - Return to Me

I have been struggling recently in my walk with Christ. I have not been the Christian I should be, have not been obedient and have let the Devil win. But you know what? God has not given up on me. No matter how far away I've gone from Him, He is still there, and he wants me to "return to Him", that is the message I received tonight from my Aunt Nadia. My Aunt Nadia has been a servant of the Lord for many years and such a shining example of His Love. The Lord put it on her heart to call me tonight. When I saw her number on the caller ID, I hesitated to call her back, because I knew what was coming, but you know what, that was the Devil. He did not want me to call her back, but I did, even though I knew she was going to ask me how my walk with Christ has been going. And of course, that is what she did. When I told her that I had not been to service in a few months, and had been struggling with my walk with the Lord, she said that God still loves me and wants me to return to him. She said that if you look throughout the Old Testament, it is filled with God telling His people to return to Him, and when she said that, I got chills. I know God was speaking to me through her. I just started to cry. My Aunt Nadia prayed with me and asked God to strengthen me to return to Him, and I truly felt Him. Once off the phone, I had to get my Bible and find His words and there it is, in Zechariah 1:3, The Lord telling me to return to Him, and He will return to me. Isn't God wonderful! No matter how far I've strayed, no matter how disobedient I've been, if I return to Him, He will return to me, it says so right there.

12 of 365 - Breakfast

I remembered to grab my camera this morning before we took off for Elijah's basketball game. When I look at my pictures taken with my point and shoot camera I can't help but want the new SLR camera I'm saving up for. The pictures taken with a SLR camera are so much better. Fonzy said I'm driving him crazy. All I talk about is getting a new camera. I hope to have my new camera by this summer. Fonzy and the boys think I'm bad now taking pictures all the time, wait until I get my new camera. I'm going to be a picture taking fool. I can't wait!

11 of 365 - Diego

Today's picture is courtesy of TJ, my 4yr old nephew.

10 of 365 - Rainbow

The past 2 days we've been having stormy weather and the skies have been beautiful! I almost always have my camera with me, but the past 2 days, I haven't, so I've been taking pictures with my Blackberry. This shot was taken this afternoon at work. Do you see the rainbow?