a long way from home

© Angela W
I'm spending a few days in Illinois at a small photography workshop hosted by Jeff and Julia Woods. I'm headed out to a welcome reception to meet everyone, only 12 folks in the class (eight are husband and wife teams). It's three full days from 8:30am through dinner; and I'm beyond excited. I've spent the last two hours sitting in the hotel writing down everything I need covered about running my business. Wed afternoon I have a one on one hour with the Woods to discuss any remaining questions. I figure I'll cross off of my list as the class goes.

My husband brought the kids up to N VA this afternoon. It was his Mom's birthday dinner and she's thrilled to be watching her babies again. Third month in a row I've been away from my kids for 3-4 days. I'm beating myself up about it one minute and then feeling like my life is so much more balanced the next. I even let The Son get up when he heard me packing about 11 pm and stay up with me until 2am. It was so much fun being silly with him. I miss them and this is the first time I have flown alone in many, many years :)

I've been to Chicago twice in my adult life but never the surrounding areas. I spent about three hours this afternoon just driving around the vast countryside (between Bloomington and Peoria) taking pictures and just checking things out.. The sky is huge here. Since all the fields are plowed there is nothing blocking the horizon. Quite a difference change of scenery for sure.