Day 12  New shoes.  I have worn these shoes everyday for four years.  I wear them to the office to mow in to the lake, I mean everywhere.  I really thought that they still looked new until I put them beside some real new shoes.  So I got new shoes.  But don't worry, I bought new laces for the old ones and will still use them.  It sure is hard to get rid of the old.  I wish they would last forever and I would never have to get new ones.  Ok, not really, not forever.  I am so glad that God's love never wears out.

This is really fun.  Today is day 11.  This is Dugan as seen through a glass wall.  The most amazing thing about these photos is that he actually let me take them.  But it was fun to see how they would turn out.  He is so handsome (takes after his dad) but sure reminds me of some one else somedays.   We credit Dugan with saving his sister's life before they were born.  All he cares about is that he is two minutes older.  I know I was just going to post one picture a day but this second one was too funny not to share.

Day 10.  Wow. I have made it 10 days.  Not only am I taking pictures but also writing on the blog everyday.  This is Annie, but you can call her princess.  She is the youngest of four and all four think she is the favorite.  They will tell you so too.  Do I love her? Yes, very much, but not more than I love the others.  Annie was and is a very special blessing in our family.  I just knew that God had made a mistake when I heard there would be another.  But God doesn't make mistakes.  Thank you God for my Annie.

Life is full of oddities.  How about this, a bird's nest in a frog's mouth.  Now that is a paradox.  Absurd but true.  Ok, so it's a frog head shaped bird house.  You would think that a bird would not nest in anything that resembled a mouth.  But, every spring without fail there is a new nest inside this frog's mouth.  Maybe they don't recognise it as a mouth or maybe the parent birds like to live dangerously.  I'm sure it's the first but sometimes even people like to push the limits of living dangerously.  Some times it works out and some time it doesn't.  Just ask the people of Pompeii.  Anyway, this frog hangs just a few feet away from the kitchen window and when the babies have outgrown their nest the window sill fills up with little sparrows peeking in the window.  And then they are off on their next adventure.  So I have come to this conclusion, not all frogs are bad.

Day 8.  Took the family to the lake today.  I found a small ball on the shore and we used it to play keep away.  Everyone got involved and we all had a blast.  And when we were ready to get out of the water there were our flip flops waiting patiently.  Who knew flip flops were so loyal?  It was a great day and we made some wonderful memories.  I just imagine everyone will sleep well tonight.   

Day 7.  When I found this many Cicada shells all on the same tree I realized something important.  I must have a terrible grub problem in my yard.  I can take care of that.  I guess it's the kid in me but I still like to play with the shells. 

Day 6.  It's Wednesday, and that is a busy day for me so today's photo was set up and not spontaneous.  But that's ok.  It's a glass flame that was given to me by a very good friend to remind me of a campfire.  One of the walls in our living room is decorated with crosses so I took one down to pair with the flame.  Together they are a powerful image for me.  Two things that have shaped my life into who I am. 

Day 5.  It is really incredible what you can find if you only look around.  Found this little guy hiding at the base of a tree in the back yard.  I noticed a bird hopping around the tree so I went to see what he was trying to get.  And there was this guy hiding down in his secret place safe from the dangers that were trying to devour him.  I wonder if he was praying.

As I began this project just 4 days ago I knew that finding subjects for everyday would get difficult.  So I have started close to home and will spread out as I go.  This is a picture of some flowers on our Rose of Sharon bush beside the house.  I thought that it is cool how as one set dies another is getting ready to bloom.  Life really is a cycle.  And at the heart of that cycle is the creator of all life.  He makes everything new.

This is one of our two dogs.  We wanted to name him Harley but he is way too small to carry that name.  So we went with Scooter.  He is a Morkie, half Maltese and half Yorkie.  He is very smart and pretty stubborn, but wants to please so he trained easily.  I have harrassed him with the camera so much that he runs and hides when he sees it now.  He is now 4 and still has a lot of puppy left.

Day 2
This is the pie a wonderful lady in our church made for my birthday.  She said I was too hard to buy for.  So I told her that I am always easy to bake for.  And this sure hit the spot.  Thanks Jeanie!!

It occurred to me last week that on my birthday (July 20) I would be 49 years old.  That wasn't so bad.  Then I realized that meant I had been alive for 49 years and would be starting year number 50.  So I decided that for such a great year I need to do something to remember it.  That's when I decided to do what I am calling Project 365.  Every day this year I will take pictures and post one for everyday and then next year on my birthday (number 50) I can look back at all the memories.  I have seen others doing this and thought it would be fun.  So for my first day I took a picture of myself to remind me what I look like now.  Not all of them will be of me.  I think the pictures will be pretty random.  I don't have a plan to do a series where all the pics are of the same thing, like flowers or butterflies.  I would just rather make it random.  As I look back at the pictures I have taken in the past I realize that most of these will probably be of my family.  As fast as the kids are growing it will be cool to see them change.  Anyway, this is number 1.  I will also be posting them on my Flickr acct. under "dgakins2".  Of course that will be just the pics without the commentary.  So, here we go into the next adventure.  Thank you Lord Jesus for the life you have given me.